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Hello,does anyone have a kitty with High Blood Pressure

484 views 13 replies 8 participants last post by  Calvine  
#1 ·
Maudey Puss has just given us a terrible scare and thought we were on a one way trip to the vets this morning, last night her eyes just became huge blacks pupils that weren't responding to light and she appeared to be blind, she was the same this morning so we managed to get an emergency appointment at the vets and her blood pressure was high and her retina has slightly detached in the right eye but the vet is hopeful that with medication her eyesight will improve, which I have to say now 5 hours after her first dose of Amodip her left eye is showing huge improvement and is contracting now the right was is slightly improved but not as much, she also presented with a heart murmur but again vet hopes that will improve if we can lower her blood pressure. She is 16 so not expecting miracles and also don't want to faff with her too much as she is not one too be over handled.
 
#2 ·
I’m glad she’s responding already to meds - that’s very positive. Has she had bloods done? High bp often occurs alongside other conditions such as CKD. My Jaffa had high bp when he had advanced CKD. If she’s not had bloods, I’d get them done asap to see what else, if anything, is going on. But high bp can certainly be successfully treated with meds, just like in humans.
 
#3 ·
This happened to mine after being diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. She suddenly appeared to be blind (not uncommon with HT ). It happens with HT because the BP rockets. She was put on Amlodipine which lowered her BP and although not perfect, her vision improved sufficiently that she could at least see shapes and not crash into a wall. She used to go in every three months and get her BP taken. Has your girl been diagnosed with HT (I'm guessing not as it's not mentioned)? Hope Maud is OK.
 
#5 ·
Thank you for all the responses, No she hasn't had bloods taken but I think that maybe the next step if she responds well, it's a tricky balance as she is a very timid stressbball so I want her to be happy and well but hopefully without too much intervention, she has is the last few years spent less time hiding, but even after 16 years she hasn't met any family or friends as she hides from them, she used to live under blankets either on the bed or a tented arrangement on a chair only coming out at night for fusses and singing/wailing performances, I don't think she has thyroid issues as appetite is the same and her size/weight is unchanged (teeny tiny, she weighed 2.9kg yesterday) and her coat is ok, she does sleep lots but she is older, I think I would lean more to CKD, but apart from the occasional vom and again the sleeping she doesn't outwardly show any signs but she is old and had a terrible start to life, she came from the Cats Protection who had rescued her and her brothers from a neglected home, her brothers sadly didn't make it as they had such terrible flea burdens and they were too far gone too pull through, she then came down with cat flu/calici virus just after I adopted her and ended up losing most of her teeth at a young age to ulcerative gingivitis, we lost our other cat Monty who was adopted with her at the age of 10 so I'm lucky and surprised she has lasted this long, I just want to keep her happy and healthy for how ever long she has left.
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#6 ·
Oh @MontyMaude sorry you’ve had a stressful time. Oscar had high BP (alongside his cardiac and liver issues) so had Amodip for his final three years of life. As an aside, he hated having his BP taken on his arm, so it was always done on his tail so that’s a thought if she gets worried at the vet. It was funny really, he would have bloods and ECGs absolutely fine without anything - but he hated that BP cuff!

I hope that Maudey Puss is okay with being pilled and she will take the amlodipine without too much stress for you both.
 
#7 ·
She has taken it or rather had it popped down her throat reasonably ok but then it might be because she feels poorly so isn't resisting that much, the vet showed me how to do it and it's a two man job but over so quickly that hopefully this is the least stressful way for all of us to do it, although must remember to clip her claws later 😂 She was sort of ok having the cuff on but it did take a few tries to get the reading.
 
#8 ·
Sorry to hear Maudey Puss hasn’t been well. Flint had high blood pressure and had to have amodip for his last year. It controlled it really well although towards the end he really didn’t want to take his tablet. The vet only ever took his bp from his tail which he tolerated very well.
 
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#9 ·
Bunty has high blood pressure linked to having hyperthyroidism but she hasn't experienced the blindness. It might be worth you getting a blood test done to see if there's any illness linked to Maudey Puss's problem. I've had friends who's cats this has happened to and if treated quickly, their sight usually returns.

Bunty is on Amlodip, half a tablet a day which was increased at her last check and blood test. She won't let me put it straight into her mouth, so it goes into her food, and can be a bit hit and miss as she's clever at eating everything in the dish but the pill sometimes.

Funnily enough, for a nervous cat, she puts up with the blood pressure check on the paw fairly well. My vet does it five times to get an average. It can be done on their tail if they won't tolerate the paw.

Hope Maudey's feeling better soon and its under control.
 
#10 ·
Hi. Lots of great tips shared already. My late Daisy had high bp linked to CKD last year. At one point the meds stopped working and she lost her sight for good at the age of 18.5 yo. It took her a few days to adjust and it was a steep learning curve for me to look after a blind kitty. But she copped so well.

Paws and fingers crossed it all goes well for you and Maudey Puss.
 
#11 ·
Well fingers crossed the pills are doing something, she can definitely see, not sure how well but the vision is there, we have discovered Arden Grange Turkey Paste which can e moulded round the pill and she swallows it straight down, so no more pilling stress, and she is back to the vets on Thursday.