About Dr Tammy Powell Dvm
Dr. Tammy Powell is a small animal veterinarian who earned her degree from the University of Georgia in 2010. After that, she spent several years practicing in Florida, followed by two years overseas in the United Arab Emirates. Passionate about both animals and writing, Dr. Tammy then transitioned from clinical practice to freelance writing on pet and veterinary topics. She also writes about animals in a fictional format and is working on a childrens book about cats with superpowers. Dr. Tammy lives in the West Valley of Phoenix, Arizona with her husband, two stepchildren, and a beautiful rescued Himalayan cat named Luna. You can learn more about Tammy at PetCopywriter.com or TamaraSpellAuthor.com.
Diagnosis Of High Blood Pressure In Cats
A preliminary diagnosis is made by measuring the cat’s blood pressure by placing a cuff on the leg or tail. Two measurements are made: the systolic pressure, the pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts or beats, pumping blood, and the diastolic pressure, the pressure when the heart rests between beats and fills with blood. In addition, a full blood workup will be done to discover the underlying cause. Most vets will also take a urinalysis and assess the thyroid hormone level.
High Blood Pressure In Cats
High blood pressure is a common disorder that most often affects middle-aged to senior cats. Common causes include kidney problems, Cushings disease or hyperthyroidism.
Symptoms of hypertension can vary depending on the underlying cause. High blood pressure damages the blood vessels, leading to damage to organs, especially the eyes, heart, brain, and kidneys.
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Normal Systolic Blood Pressure Cat
Normal systolic blood pressure for cats is typically 140-200 mm Hg, with an ideal range being 160-180 mm Hg. This range may be different for individual cats, so it is important to work with a veterinarian to determine what is normal for your cat.
Systolic blood pressure of a clinically normal and conscious cat is measured in a clinical setting by indirect Doppler methods. The SBP ranged from 110 to 16.0 mmHg . Female cats SBPs were significantly lower and more variable than those of males.
Signs Your Cat May Have High Blood Pressure
You will have no doubt heard of high blood pressure when talking about humans.In recent times it has become a common diagnosis among felines, too.
Home> Pet Wellbeing> Signs your cat may have high blood pressure
High blood pressure, a result of pressure in the blood vessels being unusually elevated, can be extremely dangerous if the symptoms go undetected.
If a cats blood pressure remains higher than normal for a sustained period of time it can begin to significantly affect their heart, kidneys, nervous system and eyesight sometimes causing lasting damage.
It is more commonly found in older cats, or ones struggling with obesity, although it can be diagnosed in felines of any age.
Spotting the signs early is crucial in order to prevent a serious threat to health.
This article will discuss what signs you need to look out for, and how a cats diet can play a big role in regulating their blood pressure.
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Can Enlarged Thyroid Cause Trouble Swallowing
Can Enlarged Thyroid Cause Trouble Swallowing. Pressure on this nerve could cause some swallowing problems. Enlarged thyroid, difficulty swallowing, swollen lymph nodes, etc aspatrick05. Can a parathyroid tumor cause difficulty swallowing? It causes a bulge on your neck.
These issues might present as problems swallowing, changes to your vocal cords or a change in your voice, or a bulge that is noticeable in your neck. The thyroid gland, which is usually about the size of a quarter, can become enlarged as a symptom of various thyroid disorders, as well as other medical conditions. It will hurt when you try to swallow.
These issues might present as problems swallowing, changes to your vocal cords or a change in your voice, or a bulge that is noticeable in your neck. This is an enlargement of your thyroid gland. Motility disorders, such as distal esophageal spasm, jackhammer esophagus, ineffective esophageal motility, and esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction
If you are having a goiter or enlarged thyroid that is invading other tissues in the laryngeal area , it could be affecting a cranial nerve that loops down from the brain and into the throat area . Difficulty breathing that is sometimes compared to sucking air through a. A goiter may be an overall enlargement of the thyroid, or it may be the result of irregular cell growth that forms one or more lumps in the thyroid.
Indirect Blood Pressure Measuring Doppler And Oscillometric
Oscillometric blood pressure measures the variance of oscillations when the arterial walls contract. The Doppler method approximates arterial pressure from the changes to blood flow, caused by the inflation of a cuff. In a perfect world, the machines used for either method would be validated for use, but at the time of writing, neither have been. Until such time as validation comes, ACVIM has issued a set of guidelines to assist professionals to get reliable and repeatable results . The ACVIM guidelines refer to both Doppler and oscillometric methods for blood pressure measurement, as some practices may not have both methods available. Newer models of oscillometric machines are now seen to be as reliable as the Doppler method, although it does need to be used in conjunction with pulse wave analysis . A large study published in 2017 studying 780 cats used the Doppler method, and this does seem to be the preferred method of veterinary surgeons, due to either user experience or availability of HDO machines . It is recommended that whatever method is chosen, that a standardised technique is used, so that results can be reliably and repeatedly recorded . This is especially important when screening for disease and assessing antihypertensive treatment.
Box 1.Guidelines for taking blood pressure
Figure 3. An example of gold standard blood pressure measurement.
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What Is Normal Blood Pressure For A Cat
The normal blood pressure for cats is around the same as it is for humans, 120 mmHg, says Chyrle Bonk, DVM, a veterinarian working with Excited Cats. Anything over 160 mmHg will have your vet concerned.
The discrepancy in range between a healthy blood pressure and a concerning number is because some cats get higher than normal blood pressure at the vets office because theyre in a new, potentially scary environment. Over 180 is considered severe hypertension.
What Is High Blood Pressure In Cats
Your cats blood pressure is influenced by the heart and blood vessels. A complex feedback loop regulates blood pressure throughout the entire body.
Blood pressure is the amount of pressure or force exerted by blood inside of veins and arteries, measured in a unit called mmHg .
This pressure is impacted by the hearts rate and capacity for pumping blood, as well as by blood vessel diameter . Additionally, there is a complex feedback loop that regulates blood pressure throughout the whole body, or systemic blood pressure.
Like humans, blood pressure measurement in cats can include systolic pressure and diastolic pressure . But while an average healthy blood pressure in humans is 120/80 , those numbers run a little higher for cats.
The systolic measurement is the most important value veterinarians use to screen for systemic hypertension.
In cats, here is what systolic blood pressure readings can mean:
- < 140 mmHg = Normal.
- 140-159 mmHg = Possible early hypertension, more frequent monitoring may be needed.
- 160-179 mmHg = Hypertension, cause for concern.
- > 180 mmHg = Hypertension, severe risk.
If diastolic pressure is measured, anything over 90 mmHg is considered abnormal.
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What Causes High Blood Pressure In Older Cats
Hypertension is more common in older cats, particularly overweight or obese ones. The most common causes of feline hypertension are kidney, thyroid, and heart disease, with detailed descriptions to follow. It is more common in older cats, particularly those with an overweight or obese body.
A senior cat with high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, has a serious health problem. Kidney failure and hyperthyroidism are the two most common causes of feline high blood pressure. High blood pressure can be classified as a primary or secondary . Increased demand for blood causes a rise in blood pressure. A decrease in blood volume within the hearts chambers can eventually result in an increase in pressure. High blood pressure can cause irreversible damage to the kidneys, eye, and nervous system. It is never a good idea to overstate the importance of properly monitoring hypertension.
When it comes to a successful outcome, it is critical to have an early diagnosis and treatment. Complications in primary hypertension can be avoided with the proper management of hypertension. If hypertension is caused by a condition such as hyperthyroidism, heart disease, or kidney disease, aggressive treatment is required.
How Does Gabapentin Make Cats Feel
Gabapentin side effects in dogs and cats are typically mild. Sleepiness is the primary side effect, but that may be beneficial depending on your pets condition. Your pet may also experience some incoordination and staggering. If you dont want your pet to grow sleepy, your vet may be able to recommend a smaller dose.
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Blood Pressure Monitoring From A Veterinary Nursing Perspective Part : Techniques
Lila K. Sierra
CVT, VTS
Lila K. Sierra, CVT, VTS is the assistant nursing supervisor of the intensive care unit at Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital of University of Pennsylvania. She has lectured at state conferences and has published chapters in various veterinary manuals. Her passion lies in all aspects of advanced nursing care, including patient advocacy, innovative nursing development, and education of prospective veterinarians and nurses.
Emily Savino
BA, CVT, VTS
Emily Savino, BA, CVT, VTS is the nursing supervisor of the intensive care unit at Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital of University of Pennsylvania. She has lectured on veterinary critical care nursing at conferences, and has published chapters in veterinary texts. She enjoys teaching new veterinary nurses the art of critical thinking and working in an environment where she is learning new things every day.
Systemic arterial blood pressure is created by the pumping action of the heart, circulating arterial blood volume, and the smooth muscle tone of blood vessel walls.
Arterial blood pressure is essential for adequate perfusion of tissues, delivering oxygen for energy demands. The ability to measure and monitor blood pressure trends provides important data about patient cardiovascular status and may help define approach to treatment.
Symptoms Of Low Blood Pressure In Cats
Clinical signs associated with low blood pressure are often not specific, including weakness, non-responsiveness, disorientation and other signs that the cat is not normal. It is not possible to diagnose blood pressure by observing or examining a cat: specific blood pressure measurements need to be taken.
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How Do You Treat Hypertension In Cats
Because high blood pressure can lead to adverse health outcomes, youll want to address hypertension in your cat right away. Pets left untreated can experience long-term damage to vision, neurological function, heart function, or kidney damage, Dr. Burch explains. The underlying health condition can lead to early death.
Fortunately, Dr. Bonk says, if caught early and the underlying disease can be properly managed, high blood pressure and any of its side effects can usually be treated. Some lifestyle changes can help with a cats blood pressure.
Changes in a hypertensive cats diet will include a lower sodium content to help control blood pressure, Dr. Burch suggests. In the case of hyperthyroidism or cancer, your pet may need surgery.
While some interventions may be necessary, depending on the condition, medication is often required to help control a cats blood pressure. If possible, the underlying disease is treated as best as it can be, Dr. Bonk says. Otherwise, other medications that affect the blood volume and dilate the blood vessels may be used to try to reduce the blood pressure. Many medications used on humans are also used for treating hypertension in cats, but you should always speak to your veterinarian before starting or changing the dose of a medication. Blood pressure medications can be dangerous if given incorrectly. Some examples of medications used to control blood pressure in cats include:
| Blood pressure medication for cats |
|---|
| Drug name |
How Do Cats Get Low Blood Pressure
Low blood pressure develops when a cats body is under stress because of a primary problem of some kind, as mentioned above. The physiological reaction of the cats nervous system and vascular system is to reduce the blood pressure to try to stabilize a body under stress with another underlying disease issue.
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Are Certain Cats More Likely To Get High Blood Pressure
In humans, hypertension is related to several factors, including a stressful lifestyle. Although not all causes of feline hypertension have been identified, stress does not appear to play a role in the development of this disorder in cats.
“Hypertension is more common in older cats, especially overweight or obese cats.”
However, kidney, thyroid, and heart disease are the most common causes of feline hypertension and will be described in detail. Hypertension is more common in older cats, especially overweight or obese cats.
What Is Systemic Hypertension In Cats
Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure. Hypertension in cats is when the systolic blood pressure is above 160 mmHg. Normal blood pressure in cats is < 140 mmHg. There are 3 types of hypertension in cats:
Blood pressure in cats is managed by many, complex interactions between the nervous system, heart and kidneys. Systemic hypertension has the potential to cause a variety of adverse effects, with the brain, eyes, kidneys, and heart being particularly susceptible.
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Cat Blood Pressure Faqs
What are the symptoms of high blood pressure in cats?
The symptoms of high blood pressure in cats include behavioural changes, seizures, disorientation, blindness, weakness, heart murmurs, and nosebleeds. Some symptoms could be more prevalent than others but if you notice any of these changes, its important to get your cat to the vet immediately.
How do you check a cat’s blood pressure at home?
You can measure your cats blood pressure by using a cuff device which can be applied to the leg or tail. Wrap the inflatable cuff around a limb or tail, press the button and allow it to inflate, once the measurement is made, it will deflate, and you can take the cuff off your cat.
What is normal blood pressure in cats?
A normal blood pressure range for cats is in the 120-130 mmHg range. If you get a reading outside of this, please consult your vet immediately.
How can I lower my cats blood pressure?
You could try lowering the amount of sodium in your cats diet, and specific diets which contain lower amounts of sodium will be available from your vet. You should also avoid feeding your cat any other food which may contain additional sodium, such as tuna in brine or too many cat treats.
What causes low blood pressure in cats?
What Are The Clinical Signs Of High Blood Pressure In Cats
Abnormalities with vision are the most common clinical findings with feline hypertension. These abnormalities can include dilated pupils that do not constrict with light, blood within the chamber of the eye, and blindness. Blindness develops because high blood pressure in the eye causes the retina to detach. Blindness is usually noticed when the cat keeps bumping into objects in their path.
In some cases, hypertension is suspected because of a heart murmur or liver- or kidney-related clinical signs such as increased water intake or urination, vomiting, and weight loss. Other signs can include seizures, fainting episodes, or nose bleeds.
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How High Is Too High
For high blood pressure in cats, anything over 180 mmHg is considered severely high. Because hypertension compromises the function of many organs, it’s very important for your cat to receive treatment. However, high blood pressure puts cats at risk for life-threatening conditions like thromboembolism.
Treating Hypertension In Cats
ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers are two other medications that can be used to treat hypertension in cats. These medications are typically combined with diuretics to help with blood pressure control. Surgery may be required to correct the underlying cause of hypertension in some cats.
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How Often Are You Taking Your Feline Patients Blood Pressure
Odds are, not often enough.
Thats according to a new survey of cat owners in the United Kingdom.
The survey, carried out by Ceva Animal Health to coincide with Feline Hypertension Month, which runs until the end of May, revealed that cat owners view taking blood pressure as the most important check a physician can carry out in older human patients. Yet only 20% of owners whose cats are seven years or older say their veterinarian has suggested a blood pressure check, even though the International Society of Feline Medicine recommends that veterinarians perform annual blood pressure checks in cats starting at age seven.
Hypertension occurs commonly in aged cats, most notably those with chronic kidney disease . In fact, hypertension has been documented in up to 65% of cats with CKD, so its critical for practitioners to monitor blood pressure in their feline patients on a regular basis after they reach seven years of age. This is particularly true for cats with recognized risk factors, including CKD, hyperthyroidism, hyperadrenocorticism, or evidence of target organ damage.
The survey showed that 80% of respondents didnt know that cats could have high blood pressure and nearly 20% thought it was only a problem for humans. As for cat owners who were aware of feline hypertension, only one-quarter said they would consider asking their veterinarian to check their cats blood pressure.
Clearly, the interest is there.