How to measure your dog's blood pressure at home. Measuring blood pressure in dogs and cats

Translation from English: Alexandra Konstantinova
Adaptation: Yulia Vorontsova
Consultant: Andrey Komolov

In medicine, the problem of increased blood pressure is given Special attention. Development arterial hypertension In people, daily stress, smoking, excess salt and fatty foods in the diet contribute. Every adult is well aware of how dangerous this condition is. What can you say about animals? They don't smoke, don't worry about loans, and cholesterol doesn't build up on the walls of their blood vessels. However, animals, especially older ones, are also susceptible to developing arterial hypertension.

What happens when blood pressure rises?

Imagine what would happen if you connected an ordinary garden hose to a fire pump. The water pressure will be too high for him and the hose will break. Something similar happens with blood vessels, and this primarily concerns small arteries and capillaries. Blood pressure increases, the vessels cannot cope with the increased blood flow, their walls tear, and hemorrhage occurs.

Why is this dangerous for the body? Blood vessels, branching into the tissue, are very similar to the crown of a tree: major artery- small arteries - arterioles - capillaries. If you tear off a leaf stalk, only one leaf will dry out, but if you break a branch, all the leaves that grew on it will dry out. The same thing happens with the tissue of the affected organ. If the capillaries are affected and the affected area is very small, the effects of hemorrhage are noticeable only at the tissue level. For example, at the site of a microinfarction (for example, a small hemorrhage in the heart muscle), over time a small scar is formed, visible only under a microscope, and the blood supply is provided by neighboring vessels - collaterals. It’s a completely different matter when small arteries and arterioles, or many capillaries rupture, the area of hemorrhage increases, which can lead to serious disruptions in the functioning of the affected organ.

Another version of the problem is when damage to blood vessels occurs at the micro level, but constantly over a period of time. The retina of the eye is especially susceptible to prolonged exposure to high blood pressure. The result of chronic arterial hypertension is sudden or gradual onset of blindness.

With a massive violation of the integrity of the renal capillaries, the filtration function of the kidneys suffers. Substances that are normally removed by the kidneys and excreted from the body in the urine are retained in the bloodstream, causing severe disorders (various toxins, waste products of the body, excess trace elements). On the other hand, kidney diseases can provoke an increase in blood pressure, which in turn worsens the course of the disease.

High blood pressure increases the risk of thromboembolism: small blood clots that form during abnormal blood flow are carried throughout the body and clog small vessels. In this case, as a rule, one must be wary of defeating such vital important organs, like the brain, lungs, heart, kidneys, intestines.

Causes of increased blood pressure in animals

Chronic renal failure : kidney disease, manifested by chronic renal failure, is accompanied by increased blood pressure in 93% of dogs and 61% of cats.
Hyperthyroidism: If this disease is not treated, 87% of cats develop arterial hypertension.
Cushing's syndrome
Diabetes
Acromegaly- disproportionate growth of individual parts of the skeleton due to excess growth hormone
Polycythemia- increase in the number of red blood cells per unit volume of blood
Pheochromocytoma- a tumor of the adrenal glands, in which there is increased secretion of adrenaline.

Attention! In animals, arterial hypertension is always secondary and is a manifestation of the underlying disease. And if as a result standard scheme diagnostics could not establish the cause of the high blood pressure; additional examination is necessary.

How to detect high blood pressure?

In medicine, high blood pressure is called a silent killer, since a person does not suspect that he is hypertensive. Therefore, blood pressure measurement is included in the standard patient examination plan: at an appointment with a therapist, upon admission to a hospital, during a stay in a sanatorium, etc.

IN veterinary medicine there is no such practice. Changes in blood pressure are regularly monitored only in hospital patients and in animals admitted for surgery. Pressure must be measured during ophthalmological examination, for example, in patients with blindness varying degrees. In other cases it is additional method diagnostics, which is included in the examination plan according to the doctor’s decision and is used mainly in animals with the diseases listed above.

How to measure blood pressure in animals?

The technique for measuring blood pressure in animals is similar to that in humans. For convenience use electronic blood pressure monitors and pediatric cuffs. The cuff of the device is secured around the animal's paw or forearm. Sometimes the base of the tail is used. The cuff fills with air, compressing the superficial artery.

If a patient's blood pressure is higher than 160 mmHg, the doctor will suspect hypertension if the blood pressure is greater than 180 mmHg. indicates pathology.

Some animals become very nervous while in the clinic, which must be taken into account when measuring blood pressure. An option is possible when the animal is registered at the clinic high blood pressure, and in home environment it will normalize. Thus, 5 measurements are usually taken to eliminate errors; the animal gets used to the procedure and makes sure there is no pain.

Treatment tactics

If an animal is diagnosed with high blood pressure, the cause must be determined. It is possible that by treating the underlying disease, hypertension can be completely eliminated (especially in the case of feline hyperthyroidism).

If the eyes are affected, consultation with an ophthalmologist is required. The doctor will select eye drops, taking into account the main diagnosis, the presence of hemorrhages and the prognosis of the disease.

As symptomatic treatment, as in medicine, are used medications, lowering blood pressure. Such drugs dilate peripheral blood vessels, which adapts them to blood flow under increased pressure.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors(ACEI) - 1st choice drugs for dogs. Prescribed 1-2 times a day.
Amlodipine- calcium channel blocker, 1st choice drug for cats. Prescribed once a day. The tablets are very small, we recommend that you purchase a special tablet knife for more accurate dosing.

The need to reduce salt in the diet is controversial issue. It is possible that this has a positive effect, but there is no exact information on this issue. This diet is relevant in the composition complex treatment kidney diseases, when the patient is recommended ready-made medicinal feed with reduced salt content.

And in conclusion, we draw your attention to the fact that patients with arterial hypertension should be examined every 2-4 months so that the attending physician can monitor blood pressure and promptly prevent hypertensive crises that are life-threatening for your pets.

Blood pressure (BP) in dogs is one of the most important indicators of their vital activity. As practice shows, owners usually neglect such a method of health monitoring as tonometry - or determining blood pressure levels. But in vain, because a sustained increase in performance will certainly affect the work of many internal organs and systems.

The concept of blood pressure, physiological norms in dogs, methods of determination

Arterial (or blood) pressure is the rate at which the blood literally presses on vascular walls in the moment heart rate(systole period) and the moment of its relaxed state (diastole period). It is designated by two numbers separated by a fraction - X/X and measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). The first indicator is systolic, the second is diastolic. There is a dependence of blood pressure values on the condition of the vessel walls and heart rate.

Normal blood pressure in dogs is very variable and ranges from 110-145/60-95.

Fluctuations strongly depend on breed and size. Typically, the larger the individual, the higher the performance. But there are exceptions - some miniature breeds indicators can be in the range of 130-135/75-85.

Why monitor your dog's blood pressure?

During the surgical interventions usually poses a danger to the life of the animal sharp decline blood flow pressure. This may indicate severe occult bleeding or negative impact anesthesia So as not to miss this state, blood pressure during surgical operations must always be under control.

Hypotonic dog in chronic course- a phenomenon that is almost impossible, but a long-term increase in blood pressure is a very real phenomenon. If you do not take any measures to stabilize it, then the risk of damage to internal organs due to hypertension increases several times.

First of all, the organ of vision suffers - the animal can go blind. Then problems appear in the functioning of the kidneys, heart failure develops (which leads directly to a heart attack), and the risks of strokes (bleeds in the brain when blood vessels burst) increase.

If at normal diagnostic examination If the dog has been diagnosed with high blood pressure, then a more detailed examination of the animal is indicated using additional ways, even if the pet looks healthy outwardly.

Methods for determining blood pressure

Tonometers can be electronic or mechanical, depending on how air is pumped into the cuff placed on the tail or paw - with a bulb or a compressor. The indicators are recorded on a special dial, at what digital value the pulse under the cuff begins to beat and at what value it stops - these will be the two blood pressure indicators. Usually 3 to 5 measurements are taken so that the dog gets used to the procedure, understands that it does not hurt and behaves calmly so that there are no errors in the results.

Hypertension (high blood pressure)

In dogs this pathology can only be secondary, i.e. against the background of some underlying disease. That is why, after elevated blood pressure has been detected, the examination of the animal must continue to find out what the reason for the deviation from the norm is.

Hypertension is indicated by a systolic reading above 160 mm Hg. Above 180 mm Hg. - this is already a sign of persistent and long-term pathology, and there is already a need to carry out immediate antihypertensive therapy.

Causes

pathology excretory system(in particular, chronic renal failure takes a leading place among all causes);
Cushing's syndrome (the body produces excess corticosteroids);
thyroid diseases;
malfunctions of cardio-vascular system, cardiac arrhythmias;
diabetes;
acromegaly in puppies (disturbances in the functioning of the pituitary gland and a disproportionate increase in the size of the paws and skull compared to the whole body);
Vaquez disease or polycythemia (excessive production of red blood cells);
tumor process in the adrenal glands;
hyperestrogenism in bitches (excessive production of estrogen).

What to pay attention to

High blood pressure is often asymptomatic. Over time, if the condition progresses, signs appear that begin to attract attention and should prompt the idea to check the condition of the dog’s blood pressure:

vision deteriorates or disappears (the pet begins to bump into objects and is poorly oriented in space);
at rest, the eyes can make pendulum movements;
hemorrhages in the anterior chamber of the eye (as they say otherwise, a vessel in the eye has burst);
hard breath, rapid heartbeat (normal pulse is 70-100 beats/min), arrhythmia (failure in heart rate, which can be palpated, but is more often determined in the hospital on an ECG);
apathy, drowsiness, sometimes loss of consciousness;
manege movements (the dog begins to walk in a circle for no reason with its head lowered);
Swelling may appear on the paws.

How to help

Treatment of pressure should only be comprehensive, because Behind each jump in indicators there is some specific pathology hidden. Typically, the disease is treated in parallel with antihypertensive therapy. The duration of the course of drugs that normalize blood flow is determined veterinarian and often depends on eliminating the underlying disease. In some cases antihypertensive drugs are given to the animal for the rest of its life. It is important to monitor the condition of your eyes and kidney function.

ramipril(average price up to 120 rubles/30 tablets): orally at an initial dose of 0.125 mg/kg once a day and then raising it to a level that will keep the blood pressure normal (maximum up to 0.25 mg/kg) ;
benazepril, enalapril(price depends on the manufacturer: 65-300 rubles): once a day at a dose of 0.25-0.5 mg/kg. The dose can be increased to 1.5 mg/animal, but in combination with other drugs and diuretics;
lisinopril(100-215 rubles, depending on the number of tablets in the package and the manufacturer): initial dose - 0.125 mg/kg, average maintenance dose - 0.25 mg/kg, maximum daily dose should not exceed 0.5 mg/kg with subsequent reduction to medium after stabilization. Course 1-2 months. Be sure to monitor kidney function;
prazosin(up to 1400 rub./50 tablets): to reduce blood pressure quickly: 0.5-1 mg/animal up to 2 times a day. The dog should remain in a lying position for up to 20 minutes to avoid a sharp drop in blood pressure. In dosages from 0.1 mg it is used in systemic therapy;
sodium nitroprusside: in case of hypertensive crisis for emergency assistance: the dosage is selected strictly by a veterinary specialist and is in the range of 1-10 mcg/kg/min in the form intravenous injection. It is administered very slowly, the process of lowering blood pressure is constantly monitored, only in a hospital setting. At sharp drop pressure there are risks of developing pathologies of brain activity.

To relieve swelling, diuretics (diuretics) are prescribed:

torasemide(up to 250 rub./20 tablets): 0.2 mg/kg of dog’s weight up to 2 times a day by injection into the muscle or orally;
furosemide(30 rub./pack): up to 4 mg/kg up to 3 times a day, depending on the size of the dog and the intensity of edema (injections or oral tablets);
spironolactone (average price up to 50 rub./pack): orally 1-2 mg/kg of animal body weight twice a day after the same period of time.

Hypotension (low blood pressure)

In young, well-trained service, athletic or hunting dogs physiological hypotension is observed, i.e. low blood pressure is considered normal. At the same time, it is important not to forget that the animal should look healthy: active, cheerful, with good appetite, with regular bowel movements and urination.

Pathological hypotension occurs only under the influence of any primary disorders; as a rule, it is not long-lasting. A separate disease does not occur, i.e. There are no sick dogs with persistent hypertension.

Causes

state of shock (during shock the pressure always drops due to vascular collapse– sharp relaxation of all vessels);
effect of anesthesia during operations;
active bleeding - open (external) or internal (especially important to diagnose during surgical interventions);
heart failure.

What to pay attention to

weakness, apathy;
lack of reaction to the owner, does not respond to the nickname, as if he is constantly sleeping;
weak shallow breathing;
the pulse is palpable weakly (due to weak blood supply to large veins and arteries);
cold extremities;
signals are triggered by life support monitors, to which the animal is connected during operations in some clinics.

How to help

Only a specialist can help in a situation where a dog’s blood pressure has dropped sharply and only in a veterinary facility. It is important to determine the cause, because Only when it is eliminated will therapy to normalize blood pressure be advisable. Usually this:

anti-shock procedures;
blood transfusion or blood-substituting droppers with special solutions (to restore the volume of circulating blood in the vessels);
administration of drugs that stimulate cardiac activity.

Question answer

The dog ate a blood pressure pill - what should I do?

If 1-2 tablets were swallowed healthy pet, then this will not affect his condition much. But a lot depends on the name of the tablets. It's always best to call your veterinarian, name the drug, and get advice on what to do next.

If the pack was swallowed, then you need to try to get the tablets out before they begin to be absorbed and cause an overdose with side effects. To do this, vomiting is induced and adsorbents are given. It’s good if eaten pills are found in the vomit.

If the pet behaves strangely, is lethargic, half-asleep, there is a loss of consciousness or difficulty breathing, then you immediately need to take the pet to the veterinary clinic with a package of those tablets that he supposedly ate.

How to measure a dog's blood pressure at home?

At home, you can try to measure blood pressure in dogs with a regular human tonometer, but using a pediatric (children's) cuff, which is placed on the forearm of one of the front paws. Several measurements should be taken so that the dog stops being nervous about the procedure and false hypertension is not recorded. In small breeds, the pressure cannot be determined at home due to their size; it is better to go to the clinic.

Is it noticeable externally that the dog has high blood pressure?

Not always, sometimes hypertension is asymptomatic. But sometimes you can notice hemorrhages in the eyes, heavy breathing, the heart begins to beat faster, and decreased activity. You need to measure your blood pressure.

How to urgently lower your pet's blood pressure?

You can’t lower your pet’s blood pressure at home on your own! If there is suspicion of clinical signs what does the pet have? arterial surge, you need to show it to a specialist who will determine the blood pressure level using tonometry and take appropriate measures.

Is your dog's blood pressure normal?

A dog's normal blood pressure varies depending on its size and age. Young and physically trained individuals may experience physiological hypotension. Average normal values range from 110-145/60-95.

Can hypertension be prevented?

This pathology occurs in every second dog, starting at the age of 7-8 years. Therefore, from this period it is important to regularly measure blood pressure in animals, and it is advisable to do this quarterly. This is the only way to prevent the development of persistent hypertension by promptly carrying out appropriate therapy to eliminate the cause of its occurrence.

The “honorable” diseases of old age are usually associated with abnormal blood pressure readings. Most often, hypertension comes into play in this case. This pathology also occurs in dogs, and not only in old age. In animals, this disease is recorded relatively rarely, but when it appears, you need to sound the alarm, as it indicates serious primary pathologies. The second name of the disease is arterial hypertension. We will use it on the pages of our article.

This condition is more often called secondary arterial hypertension. Primary, that is, directly dependent on diseases of the heart and blood vessels, occurs in dogs only in the most exceptional and very rare cases. As in humans, the disease is very dangerous, as it leads to serious disorders not only in the functioning of the cardiovascular system, but also in the kidneys, liver and brain. It especially affects the kidneys, which should be taken into account during treatment.

Most characteristic symptoms Hypertension in dogs includes the following clinical signs:

Neurological disorders, at times the dog may behave inappropriately (with a significant increase in pressure).
Disorientation in space, the animal bumps into interior items and even the owners themselves.
Dilated pupils.
Retinal detachment (but this is more likely to be characteristic of increased intraocular pressure).
Bleeding from the eyes.
Protein in urine.
Heart murmurs.
The dog is noticeably weakened, limbs are trembling.

Read also: Pinched nerve in a dog: treatment and causes of the problem

Particularly dangerous is chronic renal failure, which is diagnosed in many dogs in old age. Practice shows disappointing statistics: if renal pathologies no treatment at all, then arterial hypertension develops in 93% of cases, further increasing the already considerable chances of death.

What causes it?

The cause of primary hypertension in dogs is unknown. However, professional breeders in different countries Cases have been repeatedly recorded when parents, among whom there was at least one individual with hypertension, gave birth to puppies that were initially predisposed to it. So there is a high probability that, specifically in dogs, this is a genetically determined anomaly. Since this pathology is really rare in dogs, this version can be considered the main one.

How common is hypertension in dogs? Research has shown that this disease affects between 0.5 and 10% of all dogs in the world. Oddly enough, the age of sick animals is quite vague, ranging from 2 to 14 years. Of course, in the vast majority of cases, it is the old dogs who suffer.

Secondary hypertension is much more common (more than 80% of all cases of high blood pressure in dogs), and its development can be caused by many adverse factors and primary diseases, including kidney damage and hormonal imbalances. Hyperthyroidism is especially dangerous in this regard. Diabetes can also cause hypertension, although it is uncommon in dogs. In short, at the slightest suspicion that your dog has high blood pressure, immediately take it to the vet.

Read also: How can you get rabies from a dog: ways and means

Diagnostic techniques

Measuring blood pressure in dogs is no different from that in humans. An inflatable cuff is placed on the dog's paw or tail, after which the doctor performs a standard procedure. It is important to remember here that animals are usually very frightened at this moment, and therefore the exact value of blood pressure can only be obtained about the fifth time. Here is a scale of values that you need to focus on when diagnosing arterial hypertension:

150/95 – the pressure is almost normal, no treatment is required.

From 150/99 before 159/95 - intervention is not necessary, especially in cases where the animal feels normal, without showing any signs of anxiety or pain.

From 160/119 before 179/100 – in this case, it is necessary to urgently begin treatment, since otherwise there is a high risk of organ damage.

180/120 – immediate hospitalization with the introduction of “killer” drugs. Death from cerebral vascular damage is possible.

Let us repeat once again that it is usually necessary to take at least five (or preferably seven) measurements in order for the result to be as accurate as possible. If a dog is nervous and excited, its blood pressure may go through the roof, whereas in reality it is not far from normal indicators. In cases where the animal is very worried and angry, it is worth trying to take measurements at home. It is also possible that the use of sedatives cannot be avoided.

Hypertension can be primary due to the pathology of the vessels themselves (idiopathic or essential) and secondary, arising against the background of problems with some organ or system (for example, kidneys or hormonal system), and can sometimes occur due to the use of certain drugs. Secondary hypertension in cats and dogs is more common than primary hypertension. Hypertension develops more often in older animals age groups(After 6-7 years).

How is blood pressure regulated in dogs and cats and why does hypertension occur?

Blood pressure (BP) depends on two quantities: the volume of blood that the heart pumps per unit of time (varies depending on the heart rate and cardiac output) and general vascular resistance (elasticity of the vascular walls).

Simply put, the pressure of a liquid in any pipe system is regulated by the pumped volume of this very liquid and the diameter of the pipes through which it flows. An increase in the volume of liquid and/or a decrease in the lumen of the pipe (vessel) leads to an increase in pressure.

The mechanisms of blood pressure regulation are complex. Normally, the relative constancy of blood pressure is maintained due to the coordinated work of the nervous (central and peripheral) and hormonal systems.

One of the main organs that influence blood pressure is the kidneys. The kidneys perform several functions that help regulate blood pressure: they filter salts and water, and also take part in the functioning of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS).

One of endocrine glands influencing the value of blood pressure are the adrenal glands (due to catecholamines and aldosterone).

Scheme of operation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS)

Example of participation nervous system in the process of blood pressure regulation is shown in the figure below: impulses from baroreceptors (which respond to changes in pressure and are located in the vessels) according to afferent nerve fiber They go to the central nervous system to the centers that process these impulses (vasomotor) and return along the efferent nerve fiber to the receptors/tissues/organs responsible for changes in pressure.

Scheme of the participation of the nervous system in the process of blood pressure regulation

The main mechanisms leading to the development of hypertension

impaired filtration of sodium salts by the kidneys and their retention in the body (i.e., an increase in the amount of sodium salts leads to an influx of water into the bloodstream, which is necessary to maintain a stable concentration of the latter, which increases the total blood volume and pressure);
disruption of the sympathetic nervous system;
disruption of the RAAS;
disruption of the functioning of endothelial cells (cells lining the vessels from the inside, take part in the expansion and contraction of blood vessels, which directly affect elasticity);
vascular hypertrophy (thickened walls, unable to react mobilely and expand the lumen of the vessel to changes, for example, blood volume or increased cardiac output).

Diseases that can cause secondary hypertension

kidney disease (comes first in both cats and dogs);
hyperthyroidism (more common in cats);
hyperadenocorticism;
diabetes;
hypothyroidism;
acromegaly;
pheochromacytoma;
hyperaldesteronism;
cardiac hyperkinesis and arrhythmias;
intracranial problems (for example, increased intracranial pressure);
hyperestrogenism.

The mechanisms of development of primary hypertension in cats and dogs (as, in general, in humans) are currently not fully known and understood. That is, what causes the thickening of the walls of blood vessels or leads to disruption of the endothelium (provided there are no other causes of hypertension) has not been fully studied.

Why is AG dangerous?

Any disease has its target organs (those that suffer the most during the development of pathology). In hypertension these are: kidneys, heart, brain, eyes.

Kidneys: with constantly high blood pressure in the vessels of the nephron, a gradual change in the structure of the tissue of this kidney unit occurs (an increase in the number of fibrous fibers), leading first to a disruption and then to a complete loss of the ability to filter urine. When such nephrons become more than 75%, irreversible renal failure occurs.
Heart: Constantly increased pressure forces the heart muscle to work with greater force, this leads over time to its thickening, complicating the nutrition of the heart muscle and increasing the risk of arrhythmias.
Brain: trophism (nutrition) of certain parts of the brain is disrupted as a result of tissue edema (due to high pressure part of the liquid component of the blood “sweats” into the surrounding tissues) or hemorrhages (as a result of ruptures of blood vessels). In some cases, these changes can lead to irreversible changes in the work of the central nervous system. Hydrocephalus (stagnation of fluid in the ventricles of the brain) also sometimes develops.
Eyes: due to increased pressure in the vessels of the eye, hemorrhages may occur in different parts eyeball, retinal detachment, glaucoma will develop. These changes often lead to partial or complete loss of vision.

As a rule, in the presence of hypertension, not one, but all of the listed organs suffer. And it doesn’t matter for what reason the hypertension arose. It is important how long and how strongly the pressure rises.

What are the symptoms of hypertension in cats and dogs?

Symptoms of hypertension vary in manifestation and strength. They depend, of course, on what, and how badly, the target organ was damaged. Symptoms that owners of animals with hypertension usually pay attention to:

vision impairment/loss (more often in cats);
pendulum eye movements;
hemorrhages (redness) in the anterior chamber of the eye;
causeless vocalization (in cats);
dyspnea;
fainting;
epileptiform seizures;
lethargy, apathy;
disturbance of appetite and water consumption;
Manege movements (movement in a circle).

Symptoms of high blood pressure in cats and dogs (changes) that can only be identified using specific methods in a veterinary clinic

proteinuria and hematuria (urinalysis);
concentric hypertrophy of the left ventricle of the heart (only by echo kg);
arrhythmia (using ECG);
systolic murmur (during auscultation);
retinal detachment or hemorrhage in the fundus of the eye (ophthalmoscopic);
changes in the structure of the central nervous system (according to CT or MRI).

The listed symptoms are nonspecific and often occur with other diseases. And this makes it much more difficult early diagnosis AH disease.

How to detect high blood pressure?

There are not many options for measuring pressure: these are direct methods when placing sensors directly into the central vessels (a traumatic method), but they are more accurate than indirect ones. In humane medicine and veterinary medicine, it is used in the intensive care unit and during complex operations.

The indirect method is to measure pressure with the tonometers we all know. However, in veterinary medicine, conventional medical tonometers often give too great an error or it is not possible to use them at all, for example, in cats and toy breeds of dogs.

In small animal veterinary medicine, it is recommended to use devices operating on the Doppler principle - one of them is PetMAP. The pressure is measured by placing a cuff on the paw or tail. It is recommended to make up to 3-5 changes in one place and display the average.

IN veterinary center“Constellation” you can measure the pressure of a cat and a dog using such a device. The price for measuring blood pressure in dogs and cats is indicated in the corresponding section.

For dogs, blood pressure norms range from 100/65mmHg - 160/100mmHg (systole/diastole). For cats - 110/70 - 180/110mmHg. Systolic pressure close to 200 always requires drug correction, and above 280 may require emergency measures.

However, in some pets, a blood pressure of 185/110 may already require therapeutic intervention. Unfortunately, finding out the presence of high blood pressure is not enough; it is important to understand primary or secondary hypertension. And this always requires additional research, which are prescribed by the doctor based on clinical symptoms abnormalities noticed by the owner and identified during inspection.

This is important, because in the presence of secondary hypertension, therapeutic correction (if possible) primary disease, removes the symptom of hypertension. If this is not possible, the doctor selects a drug to lower blood pressure. Dose adjustment of the drug often occurs during the first 1-2 weeks of treatment and is then applied for life.

Blood pressure expresses the numerical value of the state of the dog's circulatory system. Having information about blood pressure indicators, the veterinarian can judge the state of all systems in the body, in particular the cardiovascular system.

What is blood pressure

Blood pressure is the rate at which blood exerts pressure on the walls of blood vessels during the periods of systole (heart contraction) and diastole (relaxed state of the heart). Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury, with the first indicator indicating systolic pressure and the second indicating diastolic pressure. These values are considered as a ratio, which is expressed as a fraction (X/X).

In dogs, optimal blood pressure the indicator is considered to be from 110 to 145 and from 60 to 95 mmHg. The calculation of vibrations depends on the size of the animal. How bigger dog, the higher the blood pressure readings. However, there are ornamental breeds dogs who have normal values are 130-135/75-85.

Attention! At systolic pressure, close to 200, medication correction is required, above 280 - emergency care.

How to measure blood pressure in a dog

There are two methods - invasive and non-invasive.

With the first method in large blood vessel an arterial catheter is inserted and connected to the measuring base. This method is considered the most accurate, but is only used when the dog is under anesthesia after surgery.

The second method includes ultrasound with the Doppler effect and oscillometric methods. The first is rarely used due to inaccurate results indicators of diastole state. IN Everyday life Usually the oscillometric method is used, that is, tonometry, using special device- tonometer.

Devices for measuring blood pressure can be mechanical or automatic, depending on the ability to pump air into the cuff - with a bulb or a compressor. It is placed on the paw in the area of the forearm, hock joint, at the base of the tail and measurements are taken. A special dial allows you to record pressure readings. Rarely a dog will sit still during measurement, so errors may occur.

It is advisable to accustom him to this procedure. As a rule, five times is enough for the dog to realize that this manipulation is painless for him and stops worrying.

The following signs indicate high blood pressure:

redness, hemorrhages, pendulum rotation of the eyes;
fainting;
dyspnea;
violations of water and food consumption.

Behavior also changes pet. He becomes lethargic, apathetic, and begins to make manege (circular) movements.

Why you need to monitor blood pressure in dogs

Veterinarians are convinced: control over blood pressure is necessary measure, otherwise problems associated with the functioning of organs and systems cannot be avoided. A decrease in pressure in dogs is a rare manifestation, and its increase puts the organ of vision at risk (the development of glaucoma). There are malfunctions in the functioning of the cardiovascular system and brain (stroke, heart attack), kidney.

If your dog has been diagnosed with hypertension, your veterinarian will comprehensive examination using additional methods.