Did you know dogs can get high blood pressure? Although you might have never heard of it before, canine high blood pressure is a real issue, and it can be very dangerous for your dog. If your dog has recently been diagnosed with high blood pressure, it’s important to learn what you can about taking good care of her moving forward.
The better the care you provide for your pet, the healthier she will be, even with her blood pressure issue. In the article below, you’ll find several tips for helping your dog combat her high blood pressure so she can feel better fast. Read on to find out more.
Symptoms of Hypertension in Dogs
Listed below are the main symptoms of high blood pressure in dogs:
Hypertension in Dogs Can Cause Nosebleeds
One of the most common symptoms of high blood pressure in dogs that tends to get the most attention from pet owners is frequent nosebleed. If your dog has nosebleeds often and without an obvious reason (such as a scratch on or inside the nose), high blood pressure could be the cause.
Hypertensive Dogs May Show Confusion
Dogs with high blood pressure often become confused and disoriented. They may not recognize their surroundings and could become aggressive or defensive toward humans they no longer recognize, too.
Seizures Can Be Due to High Blood Pressure in Dogs
Seizures are typical in dogs with very high blood pressure, or with high blood pressure that lasts for a long while. If your dog suffers from seizures, your vet will probably check her blood pressure to rule out or diagnose this problem. However, many other problems can cause seizures in dogs too, including epilepsy.
Dog's Vision Loss May Be Due to High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
The longer high blood pressure continues, the more likely it is to cause vision loss in dogs. Dogs who have unexplained vision loss, especially without old age as a possibility, may be at risk of a high blood pressure diagnosis.
At-Home Management of High Blood Pressure in Dogs
Listed below are ways you help a hypertensive canine right at home:
A Healthy Diet Can Help Combat Dog's Hypertension
One of the best ways to manage high blood pressure and most other heart-related conditions in your dog is to help her eat a healthy diet. If she has been eating poor quality food or food that isn’t quite right for her size, breed, or activity level, then she should be put on a more appropriate food blend and fed the proper amount every day, too.
Appropriate Exercise Can Reduce High Blood Pressure in Dogs
Exercise is also important for your dog. If you have a large dog, long walks may be the appropriate amount of exercise in a day. On the other hand, if you have a very small dog, a few laps around the back yard may be more than enough. Ask your vet for guidance if you’re unsure how much exercise your pet needs.
Weight Loss Can Benefit Dogs with Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
If your pet is already at a healthy weight, you don’t have to worry about weight loss. However, since high blood pressure is often associated with obesity in pets, it can be beneficial to help your pet lose a healthy amount of weight if she is overweight already.
Know What to Expect from Your Vet
High blood pressure in dogs is nothing to play around with. If you notice any signs or symptoms to lead you to think your dog has hypertension, call VEG and speak directly with an emergency veterinarian.
Listed below are ways our emergency veterinarian will help your dog with high blood pressure:
Blood Pressure Medication for Dogs
Most dogs with high blood pressure will need to go on some type of medication to combat the problem. If your dog was experiencing emergency symptoms and you had your dog diagnosed at one of VEG's emergency rooms, our experienced vet will choose the right type of medication for your dog’s high blood pressure. This medication is based on your dog's size, breed, activity level, age, and more.
Frequent Monitoring Your Hypertensive Dog
Once your dog is diagnosed with high blood pressure, your primary care vet may recommend you bring your dog in for frequent monitoring of blood pressure. It may also be pertinent for you to purchase equipment that will allow you to check your dog’s blood pressure at home in between vet visits, so you can know if they're having a BP crisis.
Treatment of Underlying Problems
A VEG vet will work with you, asking you questions about your dog, and offer a diagnosis and treatment options. If a VEG ER vet finds your dog has underlying health problems as well as high blood pressure, our vet is skilled in delivering a plan to manage the ailment. With other issues under control, your dog’s high blood pressure may become less of a problem on its own.
VEG is here if Your Dog Has High Blood Pressure
Based on this information, you should have a better idea of what high blood pressure might mean for your dog. Although high blood pressure typically requires some veterinary care to help your pet recover, there are many options you can try at home along with your vet’s recommended treatment to help your dog feel better fast.
Keep in mind that high blood pressure is sometimes its own problem, but it is also sometimes related to other underlying health issues too. For more information or if you would like to speak to an emergency vet, contact VEG by calling one of our locations. The emergency vets at all of our VEG locations are available every day, including weekends and holidays, to help if your dog has high blood pressure. We’ll find out the reason for this and develop the best course of action to take in solving the problem.
