Like humans, after a certain age, many cats suffer from high blood pressure, with the aggravation that many of these hypertensive felines are not diagnosed. And the consequences can be serious: damage to the vascular system, the heart, the brain, the kidneys and, above all, the eyes . In fact, 50% of domestic cats with abnormally high pressure suffer from eye damage, which can lead to retinal detachment and partial or total loss of vision.
In a recent article published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery , an international group of veterinarians warns of the need for regular blood pressure checks in cats and offers a comprehensive guide to action for specialists. The panel of experts advises to start taking their blood pressure after they turn three, and do it routinely at least once every year from the age of seven. When the cat is over ten years old , it is considered to be of advanced age, and then it is advisable to repeat these controls every two years.
This consensual guide also details the best way to use the blood pressure monitor (which is normally placed on a leg or tail), according to the age or health of the specimens, and how to avoid stress during these measurements.
As for the ideal treatment to combat cat hypertension, experts have found that the best responses are produced with amlodipine , a vasodilator classified as a calcium channel blocker that is also used in people.
