Creatinine Levels and Blood Pressure in Cats

Blood pressure in a cat can be difficult to detect but it is important to monitor as high blood pressure can indicate other health issues. The presence of elevated creatinine levels often occurs with elevated blood pressure and can indicate improper kidney function. Monitoring the blood pressure of cats has become easier with the development of new equipment, making early diagnosis for potentially threatening health conditions possible.

  1. False High Blood Pressure

    • When taking a cats blood pressure it is important to let the cat become comfortable with its surroundings. Going to a veterinarians office can often cause pets to become agitated, excited, or nervous. This can cause false readings of high blood pressure. If a blood pressure comes back high, the animal should be allowed to rest for awhile. Once the animal has relaxed for awhile repeat the test and see if the blood pressure is still high.

    Effects of High Blood Pressure

    • Symptoms of high are hard to detect in felines just as they are in humans. However, high blood pressure affects a cat differently. High feline high blood pressure generally won't cause a stroke, but will instead damage the cat's kidneys and eyes. If a cat starts to run into things or suddenly becomes aggressive it may because of loss of eyesight. When kidneys are damaged it can be diagnosed by testing a sample of the animal's urine. However, a sudden decrease in a feline's urine production or increased smell may be a sign that something is wrong.

    Kidney Function

    • Properly functioning kidneys are a key component to maintaining good blood pressure. If the kidneys are damaged by illness or injury they will no longer be able to purify the blood as they should. The kidneys are where creatinine is removed from the urine and absorbed back into the body. In a feline that is experiencing kidney failure the creatinine levels will be elevated.

    Measuring Creatinine

    • Creatinine is measured by drawing blood from a cat and measuring the parts per million that are present in the blood. If the creatinine content in the blood is elevated it is assumed that the kidnesy are not functioning properly. This can also be used to confirm a high blood pressure reading as elevated levels of creatinine is often found in conjunction with high blood pressure.

    Medication

    • High blood pressure can be treated with medication. Reducing high blood pressure with medication can make it easier for the kidneys to function and as a result the elevated levels of creatinine can be lowered as well. While the health benefits of lowering blood pressure can help to prevent further damage to the kidneys and eyes it is important to use the medication only as directed. Giving to much medication can lower the blood pressure of the cat too much and cause severe damage or even death.