May is feline hypertension awareness month. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is common in older cats. It can be found as a complication of other underlying medical conditions such as kidney disease, or as a standalone condition. To detect hypertension early, and because it is more common in older cats, regular blood pressure checks are recommended in cats from 7 years of age.
As part of our dedication to older cat care, we include an annual blood pressure check for all cats who are members of our Complete Care Club. This can be done at the same time as the 6 month nurse check, or at the time of the booster, if you let us know when booking. Otherwise, a blood pressure check with our nursing team costs £25.
Why is it important to detect high blood pressure?
High blood pressure can damage the body. The most serious effects are on the following organs:
Eyes – bleeding into the eyes and changes to the retina at the back of the eye can occur. This may result in damage to the cat’s vision and even blindness.
Brain – bleeding in the brain can cause neurological signs such as unusual behaviour and wobbliness.
Heart – the muscle of the heart can become thickened, as the heart must work harder to pump the blood.
Kidneys – high blood pressure can increase the risk of renal failure and make concurrent kidney disease worse over time.
In many cats no signs of the high blood pressure will be noticeable until the condition advances to the point that they present with severe effects such as blindness. Some will show signs that can be mistaken for old age e.g. yowling at night, or changes in behaviour. Early recognition is important to minimise the damaging effects and to manage any underlying diseases.
How do we diagnose high blood pressure in cats?
We use an inflatable cuff placed around one of the legs or the tail and then a device called a Doppler machine to listen to the pulse. Measuring blood pressure only takes a few minutes, is completely pain-free and is extremely well tolerated by most cats.
What do we do if high blood pressure is diagnosed?
If hypertension is diagnosed your cat will require an assessment to see if there are any underlying problems e.g. kidney disease and if there are any complications e.g. changes to the appearance of the back of the eye.
Treatment involves tablets to reduce the blood pressure and management of any underlying disease.
For more information, or to book, give us a call on 01803 606059 (Torquay) or 01803 843836 (Paignton), or book a nurse consult online.