Diagnosis and treatment of feline systemic hypertension

The clinical signs of hypertension are usually referable to target organ damage, most notably in ophthalmic, renal, and cardiovascular tissues, which have a rich arteriolar supply. Hypertension frequently accompanies chronic renal disease and hyperthyroidism in old cats; antihypertensive medication should be administered if the indirect systolic blood pressure is consistently higher than 170 mm Hg. Amlodipine, a calcium channel-blocking drug, can be administered at an oral dosage of one fourth of a 2.5-mg tablet once daily (0.625 mg/day) for chronic control of hypertension. Blood pressure should be measured in any cat with renal disease, hyperthyroidism, an acquired murmur, blindness, retinal detachment, hyphema, or echocardiographically determined cardiac hypertrophy. It is advisable to measure blood pressure in a quiet room, separated from other animals, humans, and peripheral noise. The pressure should be measured before the physical examination but after the patient has had sufficient time to acclimate to it surroundings. This article considers the hypothesized pathophysiology of feline hypertension. Also discussed are the available methods for monitoring blood pressure and the clinical signs and treatment of hypertension in cats.