What are the symptoms of high blood pressure in dogs? Tips and Tricks

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What are the signs of hypertension?

The signs of hypertension include:

  • sudden blindness, bleeding inside the globe of the eye, and persistently dilated pupils
  • detached retinas
  • nervous system signs like depression, head tilt, seizures, disorientation, wobbly or uncoordinated movements (called ataxia), circling, weakness or partial paralysis, or short, rapid, back-and-forth movements of the eyes (called nystagmus)
  • increased drinking and urinating with the progression of chronic kidney disease
  • blood in the urine (called hematuria)
  • bleeding in the nose and nasal passages (known as epistaxis or nosebleed)
  • heart murmurs or abnormal heart rhythms

    • The cause of primary hypertension is unknown. Secondary hypertension accounts for a majority of hypertension in dogs, and can be attributed to kidney disease, adrenal gland disease, diabetes mellitus (less common), pheochromocytoma (adrenal gland tumor and very uncommon), or central nervous system disease (very rare).

    My 10-year-old dog has been diagnosed with systemic hypertension high blood pressure. Is this like hypertension in people?

    Like people, dogs can experience temporary elevations in blood pressure due to stress effects; for example, just being in a veterinary hospital. It is important to take several readings and to create as quiet an environment as possible. Hypertension in dogs is often due to an underlying disease and when this is the case, it is called secondary hypertension. If no underlying disease is present or can be identified, then it is called primary hypertension.

    Hypertension is more common in older dogs, consistent with the development of underlying disease such as chronic kidney disease, or excessive levels of steroids produced by the adrenal glands in dogs with Cushings syndrome. Younger dogs may develop hypertension if they have kidney disease due to infection (such as leptospirosis) or a developmental kidney abnormality.

    Dog breeds susceptible to high blood pressure

    Some dog breeds are at greater risk of developing hypertension. These include:

  • Dachshund
  • Poodle
  • Schnauzer
  • Bichon frise
  • Australian terrier

    • How To Treat High Blood Pressure In Dogs (TESTED) | Symptoms & Remedies

    There are plenty of things to worry about when you get a dog. Inviting a pet into the home means bringing in a new level of scrutiny. Things that you would never have thought to be a danger could be. Chocolate needs to be put out of reach. You must make sure your dog isnt eating grass. And what if your new best friend takes a liking to the remote control as a snack?

    Because we love our pets, we worry about their safety. We take them to the vet and keep our eyes peeled for problems to prevent anything bad from happening.

    But how often do we think about high blood pressure in dogs? Just as we can develop hypertension as we age, so can dogs. If you dont know what signs to look for, then you wont see them when they pop up.