Blood pressure in cats and dogs

A practical and simple manual on the methods and techniques to measure blood pressure in cats and dogs, how to interpret the results obtained, and the recommended treatments. It includes a brief review of the current official recommendations of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM), with clear rules and guidelines.

1. Blood pressure
 Introduction
 Blood pressure measurement methods
 Normal values
 Factors influencing blood pressure
 Blood pressure regulation mechanisms
  Immediate regulation: rapid control mechanisms
  Delayed regulation: mid‑term control mechanisms
  Delayed regulation: long-term control mechanisms
2. Blood pressure measurement
 Introduction
 Blood pressure dynamics
 Anatomical locations for measuring blood pressure
  Measurements at the base of the tail
  Measurements on a forelimb
  Measurements on a hindlimb
 Blood pressure measurement protocol for clinical practice
3. Blood pressure measurement techniques
 Introduction
 What other methods are available?
  Doppler systems
  Oscillometric systems
  High-definition oscillometry (HDO)
  Plethysmography and photoplethysmography
 Which parameters are measured?
4. Arterial hypertension
 Introduction
 Values obtained
 Diseases that cause hypertension in cats and dogs
  Hypertension and kidney disease
  Hypertension and obesity
  Hypertension and endocrine disorders
 Target organ damage
  The central nervous system
  The heart
  The eyeballs
  The kidneys
  The blood vessels
5. Drug treatment of hypertension
 Introduction
 Courses of action to reduce blood pressure
  Modification of cardiac output
  Control over circulating volume
  Vasodilation
 Antihypertensive drugs
  Adrenergic receptor blockers
  Calcium channel blockers
  Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs)
  Angiotensin II receptor antagonists (AIIRAs)
  Endothelin receptor antagonists
  Renin inhibitors
  Direct vasodilators
  Centrally acting antihypertensives
  Catecholamine-depleting drugs
  Aldosterone antagonists
6. Hypotension
 Introduction
 Causes of hypotension in cats and dogs
 Diseases and procedures that cause hypotension
  Heart failure
  Diabetic coma or ketoacidosis
  Hypoadrenocorticism
  Hypothyroidism
  Direct alterations in blood vessels
7. Drug treatment of hypotension
 Introduction
 Courses of action to increase blood pressure
 Drugs for treating hypotension
  Sympathomimetic drugs
  Phosphodiesterase inhibitors
  Other cardiac stimulants
  Fluid therapy solutions
References

Dr Ynaraja holds a degree and PhD in Veterinary Medicine from the Complutense University of Madrid. He is an AVEPA (Spanish Small Animal Veterinary Association) certified specialist in small animal cardiology. He has spent time as a professor at two faculties of Veterinary Medicine – at the Complutense University of Madrid and at the CEU Cardinal Herrera University in Valencia. Dr Ynaraja is a founding member of CardioVet, a company that provides remote diagnostic services in veterinary cardiology to over 1,000 clinics in Spain, Portugal and Latin America, and currently works as a vet for Servicios Veterinarios Albeytar in La Vall d’Uixó, Castellón, Spain. He has published 140 articles in international journals from 18 countries, participated in over 500 courses and conferences held in 22 different countries and published 8 books and several online courses. Dr Ynaraja also actively collaborates with leading companies from the Spanish small animal veterinary sector to develop training courses and programmes, to disseminate information and to introduce and launch both pharmacological and nutritional products.