High blood pressure is a cardiovascular disease that can affect cats, especially older cats or those with certain underlying conditions. It is characterized by an increase in the pressure of the blood in the arteries, which causes, if repeated and persistent, damage to various organs which can be very serious. Let’s discover the characteristics of hypertension, its causes and consequences, the clinical signs to be observed and the treatment to be implemented.
What is high blood pressure in cats? What are the causes ? What consequences for the animal?
Feline high blood pressure is a cardiovascular disease characterized by an increase in blood pressure in the arteries. If it is frequent in the elderly tomcat, it can occur in cases of temporary stress or anxiety, but it can also be more persistent and have serious consequences for the animal.
As long as it is persistent, arterial hypertension can be of two forms:
- The primary form, called idiopathic, is characterized by the onset of this disease without an underlying condition being the cause.
- The secondary form is evoked when a concomitant disease leads to an increase in blood pressure. It is the most common form.
The animal suffering from arterial hypertension must be taken care of very quickly by the veterinarian, because this serious disease can cause significant organic lesions, these organs receiving blood under too high pressure. If the eyes are the first to be affected, the disease can cause serious kidney, heart and brain damage.
What are the causes of hypertension in cats?
The average systolic pressure (during cardiac contraction) in cats is 124 mm Hg. We speak of hypertension when it exceeds 140 mm Hg repeatedly.
In 80 to 90% of cases, high blood pressure is the result of another disease. It is then qualified as a secondary pathology. Several conditions can cause an increase in blood pressure:
- diabetes mellitus;
- chronic or acute renal failure;
- hyperthyroidism which leads to the excessive production of thyroid hormones by the thyroid gland;
- Cushing’s disease (or hypercorticism) which causes excessive secretion of cortisol by the adrenal glands;
- hyperaldosteronism, which results in excessive production of aldosterone by the adrenal glands;
- obesity;
- aging.
What are the symptoms of high blood pressure in cats?
It is often difficult to detect high blood pressure in cats, because it develops gradually without really visible signs. In general, the animal does not present any apparent disorder and it appears to be in good health. Unfortunately, it is only when the disease has already caused lesions and internal damage that the first signs are apparent.
As a result, it is important to stay alert for any suspicious symptoms. In addition, here are the clinical signs that you will need to watch out for:
- the animal appears tired, downcast, listless, less playful;
- he eats less and loses weight;
- he drinks more abundantly;
- he seems nervous, sometimes hyperactive;
- he meows or utters plaintive meows more frequently and for no apparent reason;
- He vomits ;
- he suffers from a favorable disease;
- he suffers from dizziness, impaired coordination of movements;
- he defecates in unusual places;
- he gets out of breath more quickly, he coughs and seems embarrassed to breathe;
- he has temporary paralysis of the extremities;
- he suffers from vision problems (dilated pupils, loss of vision, blindness, etc.).
As soon as you notice a change in your cat’s condition and routine, consult the vet immediately, as the first symptoms of hypertension appear late, when the disease is already well advanced.
What diagnosis?
High blood pressure can be diagnosed by several means. The veterinarian can measure the animal’s blood pressure with a cuff that he places on its tail or a paw. On the other hand, the downside of this measurement is that it has to be taken multiple times in the same environment, as veterinary consultations usually cause temporary increases in stress and blood pressure.
The practitioner can also perform a Doppler ultrasound by placing a probe between the cat’s pads or at its tail. This allows him to study arterial blood flow.
How to treat hypertension in cats?
As we have seen, this disease is linked to a main disease in the majority of cases. It is therefore necessary to treat it to reduce the cat’s blood pressure.
At the same time, most veterinarians recommend the implementation of a low-salt nutritional diet, because this promotes the decrease in sodium level in the body and helps reduce the development of heart disease.
Can high blood pressure be prevented?
There is no vaccine or preventive treatment for high blood pressure. It is therefore important to ensure the healthy lifestyle of the animal to help prevent it.
If the cat has an underlying disease that can cause high blood pressure, it is important to measure it regularly as a precaution.
It is also important to avoid overweight and obesity in cats, which are factors favoring high blood pressure, by providing them with a healthy, quality and balanced diet and by allowing them to exercise every day.
Finally, since this cardiovascular disease is more common in elderly cats, it is preferable to ask your veterinarian to measure the animal’s blood pressure each year during the annual check-up, starting from the date of the check-up. 8 years old.
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