High blood pressure in cats

Most of us have heard of high blood pressure in people but probably haven't realised that the condition can affect our feline companions too. High blood pressure or hypertension usually occurs as a symptom of another underlying disease such as kidney disease or hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), but it can be a standalone condition with no discernible cause.

The health risks of high blood pressure in felines

The effects on health can be similar, with high blood pressure causing damage to organs with the eyes, kidneys, heart and brain being most at risk. Unlike people who tend to visit their surgery to have their blood pressure checked at least once a year; there is no such preventative check for cats, and so there can be little in the way of signs to let you know as the owner that your feline’s blood pressure is dangerously climbing.

Symptoms to watch out for

However, sometimes symptoms do suddenly appear, and these can include:

• Blindness

• Changes inside the eye such as bleeding

• Seizures

• Disorientation

It is essential to seek veterinary advice as soon as possible because there is a risk of these symptoms becoming irreversible. If the hypertension is secondary in that is being caused by another underlying disease; there will likely be other presenting signs, and a vet should be able to reach a diagnosis after examination and carrying out additional tests if needed.

Correct Diagnosis

Your vet will perform a thorough examination to diagnose hypertension including applying a blood pressure cuff to the tail or leg. As is usually the case with animals and humans – several measurements will be taken over a period of time to see if blood pressure truly is at an elevated level or begins to fall and stabilise. This helps to eliminate “white coat” syndrome where blood pressure automatically rises due to the stress of being in a clinical setting but is not actually an indicator of actual disease.

Blood and urine tests may also be carried out to check for those conditions that are commonly linked to high blood pressure.

To treat or not to treat

It may be that your cat does have an underlying health condition and if this is the case, then your veterinarian will likely address this first to see if the blood pressure lowers naturally when the underlying condition resolves. However; in some instances, blood pressure is so high that it presents an immediate health risk and in these cases treatment to reduce the BP readings will begin immediately. High blood pressure linked to hyperthyroidism will usually resolve as the thyroid condition is treated although a short course of medication to keep blood pressure readings in the normal range may be necessary while this is the case. In conditions where hypertension is linked to kidney or heart disease however; it is likely that the patient will be on medication to help keep blood pressure lowered for the rest of the animal's life.