Systemic hypertension and its management

The pathophysiology of hypertension in dogs and cats, the methods available to monitor blood pressure, and the signs and treatment of hypertension are reviewed. Clinical signs of hypertension usually referable to target organ damage, most notably in Ophthalmic, renal, and cardiovascular tissues, which have a rich arteriolar supply. Blood pressure should be measured in any animal with renal disease, hyperthyroidism, hyperadrenocorticism, retinal detachment or hemorrhage, hyphema, or echocardiographically determined cardiac hypertrophy. All cats with acquired cardiac murmur should also be evaluated for hypertension. Antihypertensive medication should be administered if the indirect blood pressure in cats is consistently over 170/100 mmHg, or if the indirect blood pressure in dogs is greater than 180/100 mmHg.