Companion Animals

Systemic Hypertension in Dogs: Welfare and Management

Recognising and treating high blood pressure in dogs to prevent organ damage and protect welfare.

Key Facts

Hypertension in dogs is most commonly secondary to kidney disease, Cushing's disease, or hypothyroidism
Causes retinal detachment, stroke, and cardiac hypertrophy when untreated
Blood pressure monitoring is now routine in dogs with predisposing conditions
Amlodipine is the first-line antihypertensive in most canine cases

Welfare Considerations

Hypertension causes insidious welfare compromise through progressive end-organ damage — retinal detachment causes acute blindness, and cardiac changes reduce exercise tolerance. Welfare-focused management screens at-risk dogs at every health check, initiates amlodipine treatment promptly when hypertension is confirmed, and monitors both blood pressure and retinal status regularly. Treating the underlying cause reduces long-term antihypertensive requirements.

What You Can Do

Ask your vet to measure blood pressure in any dog with kidney disease, Cushing's, or hypothyroidism
Seek urgent assessment for any dog with acute blindness — retinal detachment from hypertension is treatable if caught early
Monitor blood pressure regularly in treated dogs — adjust treatment to achieve target values