High Blood Pressure in Dogs: Signs, Causes, and Treatment

Regular veterinary visits an help catch health issues early, like high blood pressure in dogs (called systemic hypertension). Commonly caused by other underlying conditions, this condition can cause vision problems, neurological issues, and organ damage, if left untreated.

The disease is especially challenging to spot because dogs rarely show symptoms before irreversible harm occurs. Early identification of hypertension, targeted treatment, and consistent follow-ups can significantly improve your dog’s outlook.

Learn more about the causes of high blood pressure, how veterinarians diagnose it, and what treatment looks like to help protect your dog’s long-term health.

What Is High Blood Pressure in Dogs?

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Systemic hypertension occurs when your dog has abnormally high blood pressure in their arteries, which are the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to different parts of the body. As with humans, veterinarians measure the force of blood pushing against the arterial vessel walls in millimeters of mercury (mmHg).

In dogs, normal blood pressure is below 150 mmHg. If their blood pressure consistently reaches 160 mmHg, this is considered elevated (pre-hypertension) and can have adverse effects. Readings above 180mmHg significantly increase your dog’s risk of organ damage. This is because of the extra strain on the heart and vessels.

Don’t confuse systemic hypertension with pulmonary hypertension. Systemic hypertension occurs throughout the body. Pulmonary hypertension specifically affects the pressure in the arteries of the lungs.

“Systemic hypertension can be from endocrine or kidney conditions, and pulmonary hypertension is from respiratory or cardiac conditions,” explains Dr. Megan McClosky, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), Assistant Professor of Clinical Small Animal Internal Medicine and Director of House Officers in the Department of Clinical Sciences, in the Matthew J Ryan Veterinary Hospital, University of Pennsylvania.

Causes and Classification of Systemic Hypertension in Dogs

Most dogs with high blood pressure develop it secondary as a result of to another condition, not from rather than due to vascular (blood vessel) disease.

“High blood pressure without an identifiable cause is called primary hypertension, and is less common in dogs,” Dr. McClosky says. “Systemic hypertension is usually identified during a work-up for the underlying condition.”

A wide range of diseases and conditions can cause secondary hypertension, with some of the most common including:

• Chronic kidney disease (renal failure)
• Cushing’s disease (hyperadrenocorticism)
• Diabetes
• Adrenal tumors
• Polycythemia (excess red blood cells)
• Certain medications (including erythropoietins and corticosteroids)

Kidney disease is the most common cause of high blood pressure in dogs. These organs rely on blood vessels to filter waste, and high pressure can result from and speed up organ damage.

Senior, overweight, and certain breeds are at greater risk of developing diseases that cause hypertension, such as Cushing’s disease and diabetes. Some of these breeds include Bichon Frises, Border Terriers, Cairn Terriers, Miniature Schnauzers, Samoyeds, and Tibetan Terriers.

It’s worth noting that Sighthounds naturally have higher baseline blood pressures. Your veterinarian will consider this when looking at your dog’s results.

Signs and Symptoms of High Blood Pressure in Dogs

“Just like in human medicine, hypertension is usually silent, but it makes other conditions worse,” Dr. Charles Mintzer, medical director at All Pets Medical and Surgical Center in Phillips Ranch, California, a Thrive Pet Healthcare partner, says. Many This means that many affected pets don’t show any outward clinical signs until significant organ damage has occurred. That’s why routine screening, especially for senior dogs or those with known risk factors, is so important.

“If systemic hypertension causes clinical signs, they can be quite vague and include restlessness, agitation, or increased thirst and urination,” Dr. McClosky says. “In the most severe cases, untreated hypertension can cause blindness or neurologic signs like a stroke.”

The more severe symptoms often associated with organ damage include:

• Eye problems: Vessel damage, retinal bleeding or detachment, and sudden blindnessblindness.
• Neurologic signs: Disorientation, depression, seizures, and strokes.
• Kidney damage: Increased thirst and urination, weight loss, and build-up of toxins. When there is too much protein in urine, it’s called proteinuria. “Proteinuria damages the filtering system that helps support strong muscular support and remove certain toxins from the body,” Dr. Mintzer explains.
• Heart problems: Left-sided enlargement, congestive heart failure.

Diagnosis of High Blood Pressure in Dogs

According to Dr. Mintzer, it’s rare for veterinarians to recognize hypertension on a physical exam, unless the patient comes in acutely blind. “We can’t really tell when our patients have a headache or are just feeling a bit off,” he says. “An exception would be hypertension causing retinal detachment, which would lead to the above finding on a physical exam.” At this point, veterinarians would test to see if hypertension is a complication.

“Systemic hypertension is usually identified during a work-up for the underlying condition,” Dr. McClosky says. Measuring blood pressure is key when evaluating dogs with endocrine (hormone-related) or kidney disorders. This is why veterinarians recommend regular screening for senior dogs or those with diseases associated with high blood pressure.

The only way to diagnose hypertension is for a veterinarian to measure blood pressure. They typically use an inflatable cuff placed around your dog’s tail or one of their legs. To listen to your dog’s blood flow, they use a sensitive ultrasound probe rather than a stethoscope, which won’t provide an accurate measurement.

Your veterinarian will take multiple readings, as stress can temporarily elevate blood pressure.

Treatment of High Blood Pressure in Dogs

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Given that most canine hypertension is secondary, treating the underlying cause is a priority. While this can help lower blood pressure, many dogs also require blood pressure-lowering medications, and they may need to stay on them for life.

“The use of calcium channel blockers like amlodipine and ACE inhibitors like benazepril helps to lower blood pressure in most cases,” Dr. Mintzer says. “There are also nutritional considerations depending on the underlying cause, which can secondarily help.”

Lower-salt diets may help reduce secondary stress on the kidneys, and weight management is important for dogs whose hypertension is linked to obesity.

In dogs with sudden blindness or neurologic symptoms from hypertension, immediate treatment to control blood pressure may not reverse all damage, but it can help prevent further progression. Your dog may also require eye drops or, in extreme cases, surgical treatment.

Your veterinarian will need you to bring your dog in regularly for monitoring until their blood pressure is under control. This may start as early as 1 to 3 days following the start of treatment. Once your dog’s blood pressure stabilizes, your veterinarian will likely want them to visit for rechecks every 3 to 6 months. Dogs with advanced kidney disease will need more frequent monitoring.

Prognosis For Dogs With High Blood Pressure

The outlook for a dog with hypertension depends on how early the condition was detected, whether any organ damage is present, and how severe and treatable any underlying cause is.

If your veterinarian an treat the underlying cause and control the hypertension, your dog could continue to enjoy a good quality of life. Many dogs live for years with the right monitoring, medication, and management.