Almost everyone knows how serious high blood pressure (Systemic Hypertension) is in people. High stress, smoking, high cholesterol and high salt diets can contribute to this potentially dangerous condition.

Does high blood pressure affect our pets? Most pets do not live a high stress life or smoke and are lucky that they do not get cholesterol deposits in their blood vessels. But in fact, they can, and often do, get high blood pressure, especially after the age of seven.

Systemic hypertension occurs when blood vessels are too small for the high blood pressure flow going through them. The high pressure can cause the small vessels to explode and bleeding results. Because these vessels are small, the bleeding may not be noticeable at first. Over time, these small bleeding events can create a big problem.

In cats and dogs, the two most common organs affected by high blood pressure are the eyes and the kidneys. The retina of the eye has very small blood vessels that are very sensitive to high blood pressure. Damage to these vessels can cause either gradual or sudden blindness.

Proper kidney function depends on tiny vessels to filter toxins from the blood stream. Kidney disease is an important cause of high blood pressure and also progresses far more rapidly in the presence of high blood pressure.

The risk of embolism increases with systemic hypertension. Emboli are tiny blood clots that form when blood flow is abnormal. These clots can lodge and occlude blood flow to many organs including the brain.

High blood pressure is frequently considered a primary disease in people, meaning there is no underlying disease causing it. In animals, primary hypertension is highly unusual and there is almost always another disease causing it. Chronic kidney failure, diabetes and hyperthyroidism are three of the more common causes of high blood pressure. In a recent study, 61% of cats with chronic kidney failure and 93% of dogs with chronic kidney failure also had systemic hypertension.

Usually we discover hypertension in pets through routine screening. Your veterinarian may want to check your pet for high blood pressure on his or her yearly exam, especially if your pet is more than 7 years old. Screening is necessary because, just like in people, high blood pressure usually has no symptoms. However, there is one sign that owners may notice at home. Loss of vision, even a slight degree, could be a sign of high blood pressure. Do not assume that your older pet’s poor vision is due to old age and not retinal damage from high blood pressure. Let your veterinarian know if you think your pet’s vision is not normal.

Blood pressure is measured in pets very similarly to the way it is taken in people, with one exception. In animals, the stethoscope is just not sensitive enough and an ultrasonic probe must be taped or held over the artery. Using ultrasound, the sound of the systolic pressure is converted into an audible signal.

Most pets should have a systolic pressure reading below 160. A reading of 180 is considered by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine to indicate high risk for organ damage.

In pets, as in people, medication is used to lower high blood pressure. Your veterinarian may want to send home a pill or have the medication compounded to make it easier to give.

Once your veterinarian has successfully controlled your pet’s blood pressure, make sure to have it rechecked several times each year.

Dr. Greg Perrault owns and operates Cats & Dogs Animal Hospital in Long Beach.