We all know that monitoring our own blood pressure is vital to maintaining a healthy body--but what taking that same approach for man's best friend, the family dog? Your beloved pet can suffer from hypertension, not from work-related stress or financial problems, but from reasons that are often challenging to determine, especially if the hypertension is not directly related to other underlying medical conditions.
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Types of Canine Hypertension
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Canine high blood pressure falls under two categories, primary and secondary. Primary hypertension is still a bit of a mystery, the exact cause not known. Diagnosing this type of high blood pressure is usually only done during a routine veterinary examination, or by an alert and knowledgeable pet owner. Secondary hypertension is almost always the result of other underlying medical conditions, such as renal (kidney) failure or diabetes.
Symptoms
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While there may be some truth to the old tale that a dog's cold nose is a sign of good health, a more accurate barometer is probably the condition of the eyes. One of the first signs of canine hypertension can be blood leaking into the eyes. As the pressure in blood vessels increase, one of the first places it usually escapes in is the ocular region. Other symptoms include lack of energy, difficulty breathing and lack of coordination.
Diagnosis
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As your pet's best friend, you can be the first line of defense when it comes to diagnosing health problems. Sudden changes in behavior should be relatively simple to detect. A healthy young dog will usually be loving, active and playful. Even an older animal will display typical daily routines, easily understood as normal to the attentive owner. Pay particular attention to the eyes during routine grooming, and plan wellness visits with your veterinarian.
Treatment
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Dogs with high blood pressure need specialized care. If the hypertension is detected early, it's possibly the primary type and can often be treated by a special diet. If the high blood pressure is the secondary type, the underlying medical conditions will be treated first. Once the dog has been properly treated for the main condition, your veterinarian can then determine which of several medications will be used to treat the dog's high blood pressure. The dog might also be put on dietary restrictions.
Prognosis
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Early detection, proper medical care and scheduled checkups are vital to canine wellness. Once the underlying causes have been treated, it is likely your beloved family pet will be able to live a long and happy life.
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