The importance of arterial hypertension in geriatric dogs and asoociated diseases

Abstract

Systemic hypertension is an increasingly diagnosed disorder in dogs and cats and frequently occurs secondary to chronic kidney disease. Prevention of damage to organs such as the kidneys, brain, heart, and eyes is one of the primary concerns in the management of veterinary patients with hypertension. Hypertension can be classified as primary (essential) or secondary. Essential hypertension refers to hypertension for which the cause remains unknown after extensive diagnostic testing, whereas secondary hypertension is associated with underlying disease or administration of hypertensive agents. In contrast to humans, essential or idiopathic hypertension is rare in veterinary patients. In cats and dogs, systemic hypertension is most often associated with another disease or condition such as: Renal disease, hyperadrenocorticism, Hyperthyroidism, Pheochromocytoma, Primary hyperaldosteronism, Diabetes mellitus, Renal disease, especially chronic kidney disease (CKD), is the most common cause of hypertension in dogs; approximately 31% to 93% of dogs may be hypertensive. The Main objective of this study is to determine the importance of the detection of arterial hypertension in elderly dogs and its impact on the pathogenesis of associated diseases. Other objectives are, to determine the prevalence of hypertension in elderly dogs, the significance of the clinical manifestations of systemic hypertension and the prevalence of the most common diseases affecting geriatric dogs.