Hypertension in dogs

Re: Hypertension in dogs

Catherine Hemingway — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 09:10:48 GMT

Thanks everyone! I'll discuss further imaging when the owner is in next and keep you all posted

Re: Hypertension in dogs

Simon Neuhoff — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 12:41:49 GMT

Our cuffs also have the size range but I have been "eyeballing" the measurements rather than actually measuring them. Might measure the next one to make sure I'm in the ballpark.

Re: Hypertension in dogs

Kate Richardson — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 12:25:31 GMT

Measure the circumference of the forelimb (midway between elbow and carpus)- the cuff width should be >30% and closest to 40% of that measurement . An over sized cuff will underestimate the BP and an undersized cuff will overestimate it. Having said that I usually measure the limb circumference and our cuffs have a range on them eg 7-11cm so I use the appropriate cuff and thus don't need to get the calculator out

Re: Hypertension in dogs

Simon Neuhoff — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 12:04:40 GMT

[quote user="Kate Richardson"]

Ratio of cuff to leg is between 30-40%, nearer to 40% best.

[/quote]

How is that measured as such? I tend to go with the guidelines printed on the cuffs themselves.

Re: Hypertension in dogs

Christopher Saul — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 11:52:20 GMT

Have you done some abdominal imaging? Could this dog have pheochromocytoma? Just a thought....

As regards your treatment regime, sounds fine, I think there is less known about the effectiveness of antihypertensive drugs in dogs ( as compared with in cats), so not sure if the gold-standard regime has been worked out. I would perhaps go straight in with amlodipine as the first line medication if I saw hypertension of that degree (ACE inhibitors are fairly weak antihypertensives), but ACE inhibitors and Calcium channel blockers can be used together so that's fine.Be sure to keep a close eye on the BP at this level.

Hope this helps

Chris

Re: Hypertension in dogs

Kate Richardson — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 11:35:51 GMT

That protocol sounds fine, I would gradually increase doses as needed, enalapril can be given bid if necessary, 0.25mg/kg-1mg/kg q12-24hrs, amlodipine 0.05-01.mg/kg q12-24hrs as well. I find hypertension much harder to control in dogs compared to cats, not sure why this is. Would be worth getting an echo done, to assess the cause of the murmur. Cats can certainly get murmurs/cardiac disease secondary to hypertension, not sure if this is the case in dogs; I have never been able to find much info on hypertension in dogs.

Ratio of cuff to leg is between 30-40%, nearer to 40% best.

Re: Hypertension in dogs

Mark Holmes — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 11:25:38 GMT

Can I just check what is the recommended ratio between the cuff and the leg? I know I have it somewhere but cannot find it