We are offering free nurse checks this May to all cats, but mainly aimed at those over the age of 7 years, to check their blood pressure if they have not previously been diagnosed with high blood pressure.
As cats get older, the chance of developing high blood pressure, and conditions that can lead to high blood pressure, increases. We recommend screening senior cats at least once a year to check their blood pressure, in order for us to be able to pick of on any changes earlier in the process, and have more chance of diagnosing and treating hypertension before it goes on to cause further damage.
Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure.
It can affect the body in several ways, including affecting the heart, eyes, kidneys and nervous system.
What are the signs of hypertension?
In most cats, there won’t be any symptoms of hypertension until the condition is advanced, but they may be showing signs of related problems such as an overactive thyroid gland or kidney problems. When symptoms are present, they can include:
- Lethargy
- Blood seen in the eye
- Bumping into things (from blindness)
- Vocalisation
- Depression/becoming withdrawn
What does hypertension cause?
- Heart – hypertension can cause heart muscles to become thickened over time, and can cause heart disease.
- Eyes – bleeding into the eyes and changes to the retina (the bit at the back of the cats eye) can lead to blindness.
- Kidneys – high blood pressure can lead to damage in the kidneys, and in cats with chronic kidney disease, it can worsen the condition
- Nervous system – bleeding can cause nervous system signs, such as ataxia (walking as if drunk), seizures, dementia and coma.
How do we diagnose hypertension?
Blood pressure is measured by placing a cuff around a leg or tail. It only takes a few minutes and is not painful. Most cats tolerate it very well. It is also usually recommended to take blood samples to check for underlying causes such as kidney or thyroid problems if hypertension is diagnosed.
How do we treat hypertension?
Medication to lower blood pressure is used, and we monitor ongoing blood pressure on a regular basis to monitor the need for any changes in medication.
Bringing you cat for an appointment
Getting the carrier out a few days in advance of the appointment (or leaving it out all the time with a bed in it) reduced the stress of the cat seeing the basket just before coming. Put a non-slip comfy bed in it, and recommended carriers are ones that we can easily take the lid off, as sometimes blood pressure can even be done with them still in their basket. Spray with Feliway and/or Pet Remedy at least 15 minutes before your cat goes in the basket. On arrival at the clinic, head to the cat-only waiting area, put their basket on a perch rather than the floor and make sure they are out of sight of dogs. This will all help to keep their stress levels down as much as possible, meaning we can get more accurate blood pressure readings. For more information on cat-friendly travel, visit www.icatcare.org/articles/travelling-with-your-cat.
To book your appointment, please call us on 01902 424725