Heathfield Vets

Quality Care With A Friendly Face

01435 864422

Heathfield East Sussex TN21 8AD

01435 864422

Heathfield East Sussex TN21 8AD

  • Home
  • Your Vets
    • Meet the Team
    • Testimonials
    • About Heathfield Vets
    • Careers and Vacancies
  • Your Pets
    • Repeat Prescriptions and Food
    • Register Online
    • Platinum Pet Club
    • Pay Online
    • Services
    • Insurance Claims
    • Pet Travel
    • Pet Advice Centre
    • Symptom Checker
    • Poisons Guide
  • Book Now
  • Emergencies
  • Referrals
    • Professional Referrals
    • Self Referral
  • News
  • Contact

Feline Hypertension

27/06/2019 By Heathfield Vets

Heathfield Vets, Advice, Blood Pressure

Feline hypertension or high-blood pressure is a common problem for older cats over the age of 10 years.  It can be difficult to tell whether your cat has hypertension as there is usually no outward sign until organ damage has occurred; the best way to identify the illness is with a blood pressure check. Early detection, with regular blood pressure checks, is the best way to prevent this and anti-hypertensive mediation can stop further deterioration occurring.

What damage can hypertension do?

Eyes

Damage to the eyes occurs in around 50% of cats with hypertension. Signs include bleeding at the back of the eyes, swelling and possible detachment of the retina, with owners commonly noticing blood within the eye, enlarged pupils and blindness or impaired vision.

Heart

Hypertension means that the heart must pump harder to counteract the higher pressures in the blood vessels. This causes thickening of the heart chambers, reducing the amount of blood they can hold, meaning that the heart has to work harder to pump blood around the body. It can eventually lead to heart failure. The vet might pick up an abnormal heart sounds (a gallop rhythm) and more rarely a heart murmur..

Kidneys

Hypertension increases the risk of kidney disease and can speed up the progression of kidney disease for cats already affected.

Nervous System and Brain

Bleeding in the brain can cause neurological symptoms such as odd behaviour, disorientation, ‘drunken’ gait, seizures or a coma. Neurological signs are seen between 15-46% of cats with hypertension.

What causes hypertension?

Hypertension can be caused by natural aging which increases blood pressure; this is referred to as ‘primary hypertension’.  More commonly, however, high blood pressure is caused by an underlying disease which is termed ‘secondary hypertension’.  Cats with chronic kidney disease and hyperthyroidism are predisposed to hypertension and should have their blood pressure checked routinely.

How is it diagnosed?

Hypertension can be diagnosed through a blood pressure check, this can be done with one of our veterinary nurses and it a painless and effective way of detecting a problem.  A small cuff is placed around the leg or tail and the nurse will monitor the blood pressure, just as a doctor would with a human using an arm cuff.  The check only takes a few minutes and most cats tolerate the procedure well.

For healthy cats between the ages of 7-10 years old, it is recommended that blood pressure is checked, yearly, for example at your routine vaccination appointment.  For cats over the age of 11, or for those who are suffering with underlying diseases, it is recommended to check blood pressure every 6 months.  This allows your vet to gauge your cat’s baseline normal blood pressure and detect when your cat is at risk of developing hypertension.

What is the prognosis?

Once diagnosed with hypertension, the majority of cats will need to be on lifelong medication to control their blood pressure. It is also important to diagnose and treat potential underlying disease which are contributing to their hypertension. Once controlled, affected cats can enjoy a long period of good quality life.

If you would like to book your cat in for a blood pressure check, please call us on 01435 864422.

Heathfield Vets – Quality Care With A Friendly Face

Facebooktwitterpinterestlinkedinmail

Filed Under: Cats Tagged With: advice, blood pressure, cats, Hypertension

Pet Advice Centre

Pet Advice – Dogs

Pet Advice – Cats

Pet Advice – Rabbits

Pet Advice – Ferrets

Pet Advice – Chickens

Practice Information

Recent blogs

Vaccinations for Dogs

Top Options For Nail Trimming

Help Us Step It Up For Ukraine’s Animals

Pre-anaesthetic Blood Tests

Re-opening our waiting and consult rooms

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in Cats

Festive Fun & Staying Safe

Walking Your Dog In Winter

Arthritis in Cats

Ear Infections

Pets and Fireworks

Vaccination Shortage – Update 4 October 2021

Puppy Vaccinations

Separation Anxiety

Kennel Cough

Beware Long Grass …

Car Sickness In Dogs

Changes to Our Out of Hours Emergency Services

Rabbit Awareness Week

When It Gets Hot …

Heathfield vets - rcvs-accredited-practice-logo

Full emergency service 8.30 am to 7 pm weekdays and 8.30 am to 6 pm at weekends
for all pets under our care

Plus overnight emergency cover with VetsNow

Contact

      • 01435 864 422
    • vets@heathfieldvets.co.uk
    • Facebook
    • Chimneys
      Hailsham Road, Heathfield
      East Sussex, TN21 8AD

Opening Hours

Appointments
Mon-Fri 9.00am – 12.15pm
2.00pm – 6.00pm
Sat 9.00am – 10.45am
Reception
Mon-Fri 8.30am – 6.00pm
Sat 8.30am – 11.00am

Copyright © 2022 Heathfield Vets Ltd | Privacy policy | Cookies policy |Terms of use | Terms of business | Website by Internet Power |Online portal

MENU
  • Home
  • Your Vets
    • Meet the Team
    • Testimonials
    • About Heathfield Vets
    • Careers and Vacancies
  • Your Pets
    • Repeat Prescriptions and Food
    • Register Online
    • Platinum Pet Club
    • Pay Online
    • Services
    • Insurance Claims
    • Pet Travel
    • Pet Advice Centre
    • Symptom Checker
    • Poisons Guide
  • Book Now
  • Emergencies
  • Referrals
    • Professional Referrals
    • Self Referral
  • News
  • Contact