Today’s senior wellness exam at River Park Animal Hospital reminded us how powerful early screening can be. During a routine animal annual checkup, our medical team discovered a 15-year-old cat with extremely high blood pressure, measuring over 250.
Many pet parents do not realize that animal high blood pressure often shows little to no visible symptoms, especially in cats. When blood pressure suddenly becomes very high, the small blood vessels inside the eyes can rupture, which may lead to sudden and permanent blindness. Long-term, untreated animal high blood pressure can also quietly damage the heart and other vital organs. Constant pressure on the heart can cause the heart muscle to thicken, increasing the risk of heart disease and other serious complications.
The good news is that animal high blood pressure can be managed with medication. The key is simply finding it early. For super-senior cats and dogs, our doctors recommend checking blood pressure every six months. Early detection of animal high blood pressure allows treatment to begin before irreversible damage occurs to the eyes, heart, kidneys, and brain. To provide the most accurate and gentle testing for our patients, River Park Animal Hospital has invested in a Doppler blood pressure monitoring system—one of the most reliable and pet-friendly methods available for small animals today. This allows our team to detect hidden cases of animal high blood pressure and monitor treatment more precisely.