High Blood Pressure may or may not be connected specifically to the heart. For example, dogs with Cushings may acquire High Blood Pressure. Most all vets NEVER check blood pressure no matter what diagnosis. This is VERY sad. I do not understand this at all. A lot of bad vets out there let me tell ya. I can say this from experience. If the heart or lungs are in question..CHECK BLOOD PRESSURE. This is so important. Your dog could die if this is not treated properly. Your dog could go blind. Your dog could kill over on the spot. ASK your vet to check blood pressure. If they cant or wont, go to an ER, they can and will.
My dog developed difficulty breathing and then he fainted, so we took him to the veterinary ER. I was told he has hypertension.
What Causes High Blood Pressure in Pets?
There are numerous diseases in pets that are associated with high blood pressure:
Chronic renal (kidney) failure In one study, 93% of dogs with chronic renal failure and 61% of cats with chronic renal failure also had systemic hypertension. More recent studies suggest this may be an overestimation but the percentages are still significant and patient screening is very important.
Hyperthyroidism In one study, 87% of cats with untreated hyperthyroidism had systemic hypertension. (Note: hyperthyroidism is a feline disease; dogs are not affected.)
Glomerular disease is one of the kidney filtration system in which protein is lost in urine. In this condition, blood proteins are lost into the urine. Hypertension is associated with this condition and screening blood pressure is important whenever the kidney is thought to be losing its protein.
Cushing's disease (an adrenal cortisone excess)
Diabetes mellitus (inability to properly reduce blood sugar)
Acromegaly (growth hormone excess)
Polycythemia (an excess in red blood cells)
Pheochromocytoma (an adrenaline secreting tumor of the adrenal gland)
Hyperaldosteronism (an imbalance of hormones that are supposed to regulate blood pressure)
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, usually occurs in dogs secondary to other diseases. In dogs, chronic renal failure, Cushing’s disease and certain forms of cancer cause hypertension. It can also occur as a side effect of medication.
Hypertension is a serious problem in pets.
Ideally, high blood pressure should be diagnosed and treated before the dog becomes blind or suffers brain damage. If your dog has been diagnosed with chronic renal failure, Cushing’s disease, hyperthyroidism or anemia, a blood pressure check will be recommended.
Some pets with high blood pressure will have heart murmurs or abnormal heart rhythms.
Another common problem with untreated high blood pressure is bleeding into the brain (stroke). Dogs may suddenly show signs of disorientation, circling around and around in one spot, or otherwise acting strange. As with people, a stroke can cause a sudden inability to walk or to use one side of the body. An affected pet may have a droop to one side of the face or drop food from his or her mouth, unable to chew it.
What are all the signs of pulmonary hypertension in dogs?
Most of the signs of pulmonary hypertension are due to high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries.
These signs include:
My dog developed difficulty breathing and then he fainted, so we took him to the veterinary ER. I was told he has hypertension.
What Causes High Blood Pressure in Pets?
There are numerous diseases in pets that are associated with high blood pressure:
Chronic renal (kidney) failure In one study, 93% of dogs with chronic renal failure and 61% of cats with chronic renal failure also had systemic hypertension. More recent studies suggest this may be an overestimation but the percentages are still significant and patient screening is very important.
Hyperthyroidism In one study, 87% of cats with untreated hyperthyroidism had systemic hypertension. (Note: hyperthyroidism is a feline disease; dogs are not affected.)
Glomerular disease is one of the kidney filtration system in which protein is lost in urine. In this condition, blood proteins are lost into the urine. Hypertension is associated with this condition and screening blood pressure is important whenever the kidney is thought to be losing its protein.
Cushing's disease (an adrenal cortisone excess)
Diabetes mellitus (inability to properly reduce blood sugar)
Acromegaly (growth hormone excess)
Polycythemia (an excess in red blood cells)
Pheochromocytoma (an adrenaline secreting tumor of the adrenal gland)
Hyperaldosteronism (an imbalance of hormones that are supposed to regulate blood pressure)
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, usually occurs in dogs secondary to other diseases. In dogs, chronic renal failure, Cushing’s disease and certain forms of cancer cause hypertension. It can also occur as a side effect of medication.
Hypertension is a serious problem in pets.
Ideally, high blood pressure should be diagnosed and treated before the dog becomes blind or suffers brain damage. If your dog has been diagnosed with chronic renal failure, Cushing’s disease, hyperthyroidism or anemia, a blood pressure check will be recommended.
Some pets with high blood pressure will have heart murmurs or abnormal heart rhythms.
Another common problem with untreated high blood pressure is bleeding into the brain (stroke). Dogs may suddenly show signs of disorientation, circling around and around in one spot, or otherwise acting strange. As with people, a stroke can cause a sudden inability to walk or to use one side of the body. An affected pet may have a droop to one side of the face or drop food from his or her mouth, unable to chew it.
What are all the signs of pulmonary hypertension in dogs?
Most of the signs of pulmonary hypertension are due to high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries.
These signs include:
- exercise intolerance
- difficulty breathing with or without exertion/exercise
- rapid breathing
- coughing
- spitting up blood from the lungs
- fainting
- weight loss
- heart murmur
- bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes (cyanosis) due to low oxygen levels in the blood
- distended jugular veins in the neck
- fluid buildup under the skin
- sudden death
Other symptoms of hypertension in dogs to keep an eye out for are:
Because these symptoms aren’t specific to high blood pressure and could have other causes, it’s important to see your vet and get diagnostic work done if your dog is exhibiting any of these symptoms.
- Seizures
- Changes in urination habits or bloody urine
- Nosebleeds
- Confusion, circling, and disorientation
- Broken blood vessels in the eye
- Changes in vision
- Weakness
- Loss of sight
- Disorientation
- Nosebleeds
- Heart murmurs
- Enlarged kidneys
- Rapid breathing
Because these symptoms aren’t specific to high blood pressure and could have other causes, it’s important to see your vet and get diagnostic work done if your dog is exhibiting any of these symptoms.
What causes pulmonary hypertension in dogs?
There are many potential causes of pulmonary hypertension. A developmental disorder of the blood vessels in the lungs has been identified in people and may be a problem in dogs. There may be abnormal levels of the chemicals in the blood that regulate constriction or dilation of blood vessels. Pneumonia and bronchitis have been implicated, as has chronic lung disease that leads to fibrosis or scarring of lung tissues. Tumors or blood clots in the lungs can also lead to pulmonary hypertension.
Other potential causes of hypertension include canine heartworm disease, Cushing’s disease (hyperadrenocorticism), bacteria in the blood, immune-mediated diseases in which the body’s immune system targets the dog’s own tissues, and inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis).
Finally, changes to the heart muscle itself are implicated in the development of pulmonary hypertension. The heart muscle may become stiff and not expand to fill with blood appropriately, or the heart walls may become thickened, preventing the heart from filling and emptying normally. The mitral valves may narrow, causing increased back-pressure into the lungs, or a tumor may form in the upper chambers of the heart.
Living at high altitude and obesity may also be risk factors for developing pulmonary hypertension.
There are many potential causes of pulmonary hypertension. A developmental disorder of the blood vessels in the lungs has been identified in people and may be a problem in dogs. There may be abnormal levels of the chemicals in the blood that regulate constriction or dilation of blood vessels. Pneumonia and bronchitis have been implicated, as has chronic lung disease that leads to fibrosis or scarring of lung tissues. Tumors or blood clots in the lungs can also lead to pulmonary hypertension.
Other potential causes of hypertension include canine heartworm disease, Cushing’s disease (hyperadrenocorticism), bacteria in the blood, immune-mediated diseases in which the body’s immune system targets the dog’s own tissues, and inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis).
Finally, changes to the heart muscle itself are implicated in the development of pulmonary hypertension. The heart muscle may become stiff and not expand to fill with blood appropriately, or the heart walls may become thickened, preventing the heart from filling and emptying normally. The mitral valves may narrow, causing increased back-pressure into the lungs, or a tumor may form in the upper chambers of the heart.
Living at high altitude and obesity may also be risk factors for developing pulmonary hypertension.
Is there any treatment for hypertension in dogs?
In dogs, medications such as sildenafil (Viagra®), tadalafil (Cialis®), pimobendan (Vetmedin®), and imatinib (Glivec®) have been used to treat this condition. Your veterinarian will guide you through the use of the drugs.
Vetmedin is for the heart and isn't always needed for just High Blood Pressure. Enalapril is used for high blood pressure as well. Sometimes in the beginning, Lasix may or may not be used if their happens to be a fluid build up around heart or lungs. At least given until dog is breathing well on other medications which may only be a few days to a few weeks.
Veterinarians also use a variety of medications to directly manage hypertension. If your dog is put on medication, it’s important to monitor them regularly, as their medicine type and dose rate may need to be adjusted. These can include ACE inhibitors, beta blockers, or calcium channel blockers, just like the ones humans take to treat hypertension, such as:
Zestril (lisinopril)
Altace (ramipril)
Lotensin (benazepril)
Vasotec (enalapril)
Norvasc (amlodipine)
Phenoxybenzamine
Minipress (prazosin)
For a dog with severe breathing distress, treatment includes hospitalization with oxygen therapy and medication to dilate the breathing passages. If needed, medication to remove excess fluid from the lungs will be given. If heart failure is a component of the illness, medication to manage that disease will be added.
"Once home, it is important to maintain a low-stress environment while any underlying cardiac or respiratory disease is treated and managed."
Once home, it is important to maintain a low-stress environment while any underlying cardiac or respiratory disease is treated and managed. Activity may need to be restricted. Avoid environments that may increase the likelihood of breathing distress, including excessively cold or dry air, excessive heat, second-hand smoke, and high altitudes. It is important to give medications according to the directions.
What kind of follow-up will be required for my dog with hypertension?
Rechecks will be needed once hypertension is diagnosed, so that we can adjust the medication dosage of the blood pressure medication. As with humans, different pets respond better to different medications and we may need to try more than one or change the dosage over the first few weeks of treatment. Once the treatment is established we usually will recheck the blood pressure every 3-6 months. For pets with chronic renal failure but a normal first blood pressure check, rechecks are also recommended every 3 months. Hypertension may show up later in the course of the disease, as kidney function gradually worsens with time.
Diet and high-sodium foods can make hypertension in dogs worse, but one of the biggest contributors for today’s dogs is obesity.
In dogs, medications such as sildenafil (Viagra®), tadalafil (Cialis®), pimobendan (Vetmedin®), and imatinib (Glivec®) have been used to treat this condition. Your veterinarian will guide you through the use of the drugs.
Vetmedin is for the heart and isn't always needed for just High Blood Pressure. Enalapril is used for high blood pressure as well. Sometimes in the beginning, Lasix may or may not be used if their happens to be a fluid build up around heart or lungs. At least given until dog is breathing well on other medications which may only be a few days to a few weeks.
Veterinarians also use a variety of medications to directly manage hypertension. If your dog is put on medication, it’s important to monitor them regularly, as their medicine type and dose rate may need to be adjusted. These can include ACE inhibitors, beta blockers, or calcium channel blockers, just like the ones humans take to treat hypertension, such as:
Zestril (lisinopril)
Altace (ramipril)
Lotensin (benazepril)
Vasotec (enalapril)
Norvasc (amlodipine)
Phenoxybenzamine
Minipress (prazosin)
For a dog with severe breathing distress, treatment includes hospitalization with oxygen therapy and medication to dilate the breathing passages. If needed, medication to remove excess fluid from the lungs will be given. If heart failure is a component of the illness, medication to manage that disease will be added.
"Once home, it is important to maintain a low-stress environment while any underlying cardiac or respiratory disease is treated and managed."
Once home, it is important to maintain a low-stress environment while any underlying cardiac or respiratory disease is treated and managed. Activity may need to be restricted. Avoid environments that may increase the likelihood of breathing distress, including excessively cold or dry air, excessive heat, second-hand smoke, and high altitudes. It is important to give medications according to the directions.
What kind of follow-up will be required for my dog with hypertension?
Rechecks will be needed once hypertension is diagnosed, so that we can adjust the medication dosage of the blood pressure medication. As with humans, different pets respond better to different medications and we may need to try more than one or change the dosage over the first few weeks of treatment. Once the treatment is established we usually will recheck the blood pressure every 3-6 months. For pets with chronic renal failure but a normal first blood pressure check, rechecks are also recommended every 3 months. Hypertension may show up later in the course of the disease, as kidney function gradually worsens with time.
Diet and high-sodium foods can make hypertension in dogs worse, but one of the biggest contributors for today’s dogs is obesity.
Normal systolic blood pressure is below 160. Stress can increase blood pressure to as high as 210. Any blood pressure over 200 is considered abnormal. A reading between 160 and 200 is a gray area – the pet should be monitored but the pressure may be perfectly normal at home in its own environment. If the underlying cause of the high blood pressure is chronic renal failure we will aim for a blood pressure under 140, so even 160 or 180 would be too high for these pets.
The goal of treatment is to decrease the blood pressure gradually to avoid a sudden decrease in blood flow to the kidneys, which will make kidney disease worse. In pets with chronic renal failure and high blood pressure, the pressure should be rechecked 3 days after starting on blood pressure medication, then every 3-7 days, depending on how good the first reading was. Once two good readings on two successive visits are obtained, the pet is considered stable on the medication. The blood pressure is then rechecked along with kidney blood testing about every three to six months. Drug treatment will be necessary for the rest of the pet’s life.
Possible complications of hypertension include heart failure, fainting, and progressive debilitation. Oftentimes, changes to the heart and lungs are irreversible, and treatment will focus on comfort care rather than curing the disease.
The prognosis for pulmonary hypertension is very guarded, mostly due to the changes that can occur in the blood vessels of the lungs.
The goal of treatment is to decrease the blood pressure gradually to avoid a sudden decrease in blood flow to the kidneys, which will make kidney disease worse. In pets with chronic renal failure and high blood pressure, the pressure should be rechecked 3 days after starting on blood pressure medication, then every 3-7 days, depending on how good the first reading was. Once two good readings on two successive visits are obtained, the pet is considered stable on the medication. The blood pressure is then rechecked along with kidney blood testing about every three to six months. Drug treatment will be necessary for the rest of the pet’s life.
Possible complications of hypertension include heart failure, fainting, and progressive debilitation. Oftentimes, changes to the heart and lungs are irreversible, and treatment will focus on comfort care rather than curing the disease.
The prognosis for pulmonary hypertension is very guarded, mostly due to the changes that can occur in the blood vessels of the lungs.
For helping to treat high blood pressure in your dog is the same as using heart supplements.
Ubiquinol (highly recommended)
Hawthorn
Taurine
Grape Seed Extract
Vitamin D
Magnesium
Nattokinase
Astaxanthin
Turmeric
Dandelion
Ubiquinol (highly recommended)
Hawthorn
Taurine
Grape Seed Extract
Vitamin D
Magnesium
Nattokinase
Astaxanthin
Turmeric
Dandelion
