High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) and Your Pets
High Blood Pressure (hypertension) is very common in our pets, but often goes undiagnosed until it leads to life threatening emergencies. Problems from high blood pressure arise when a blood vessel gets too small for the high pressure flow going through it. Since the affected vessels are small, the bleeding may not be noticeable but a lot of little bleeds and a lot of blood vessel destruction can create big problems over time.
Your pet’s retina is especially at risk, with either sudden or gradual blindness often being the first sign of latent high blood pressure. The kidneys are also targets since they rely upon tiny vessels to filter toxins from the bloodstream. High blood pressure also increases the risk of embolism: tiny blood clots that form when blood flow is abnormal. These clots can lodge throughout your pet’s body - including the brain.
