28
Blood
Pressure
Values
in
Cats
and
Dogs
Blood
pressure
(BP)
is
most
accurately
measured
directly
using
an
intra
‐
arterial
catheter.
Knowing
an
animal's
BP
is
often
required
for
diagnosis
and
treatment.
However,
since
intra
‐
arterial
pressures
are
often
impossible
or
impractical
to
measure,
a
variety
of
indirect
measurement
devices
(Doppler
and
oscillometric)
have
been
developed
to
permit
estimation
of
an
animal's
BP.
It
is
important
to
note
that
the
different
methods
and
different
brands
of
indirect
BP
devices
will
likely
produce
different
BP
values
in
the
same
animal,
as
each
estimates
blood
pressure
in
a
somewhat
different
way.
Further,
all
indirect
methods
are
dependent
on
the
state
of
the
animal
and,
to
some
extent,
the
experience
and
skill
of
the
user.
petMAPs
have
been
designed
to
better
correlate
with
intra
‐
arterial
pressure
readings
through
optimizations
for
species
and
cuff
site.
The
result
of
this
better
correlation
with
intra
‐
arterial
readings
is
that
petMAP’s
readings
will
almost
always
be
10
‐
20%
higher
than
Doppler
or
other
oscillometric
devices
since
they
do
not
have
the
petMAP
Proprietary
Optimization
(PPO).
Consequently,
if
correlation
of
petMAP
BP
readings
with
other
BP
devices
(other
than
direct
intra
‐
arterial
readings)
is
desired
by
the
user,
petMAP
should
be
used
in
the
non
‐
optimized
mode.
"Normal”
BP
in
companion
animals
varies
with
the
species,
age
of
the
animal,
method
used
for
BP
determination,
and
the
emotional
state
of
the
animal
as
a
result
of
animal
handling
and
other
circumstances.
"Normal”
systolic
values
can
range
from
110
to160
mmHg
and
most
diastolic
values
range
from
55
to
100
mmHg,
if
the
animal
is
undisturbed
and
at
rest.
Normal
BP
is
different
for
cats
and
dogs
and
can
also
vary
by
breed
within
species.
Hypertension
is
generally
characterized
as
pressure
>170/110
mmHg
in
relaxed
animals;
hypotension
is
pressure
<90/50
mmHg
in
the
awake
animal.
However,
much
of
the
BP
data
that
has
been
used
to
establish
these
ranges
has
been
measured
with
indirect
devices
and,
as
previously
mentioned,
most
of
these
devices
(Doppler
and
oscillometric)
underestimate
the
intra
‐
arterial
systolic
pressure
by
10
‐
20%.
The
study
of
hypertension
and
its
treatment
is
an
evolving
subject
in
veterinary
medicine.
It
is
suggested
that
veterinarians
refer
to
the
literature,
including
the
ACVIM
Consensus
Statements,
published
on
this
topic,
but
remember
that
the
data
in
the
literature
is
mostly
from
BP
measurements
using
BP
devices
that
do
not
have
PPO.
