This article is sponsored content brought to you by Ceva Animal Health.
Up to 40% of cats over seven years are hypertensive – this is a concerning statistic that was uncovered as part of the Mercury Challenge, a global survey conducted by Ceva Animal Health across more than 20 countries in 2020 (www.mercurychallenge.ceva.com). Even more alarmingly, 21% of cats were classified as severely hypertensive (blood pressure value greater than 180 mmHg).
Unfortunately, less than 2% of cats get their blood pressure measured during routine veterinary consultations.1
Hypertension is a ticking time bomb for feline health and can cause potentially severe target organ damage with ocular, renal, cardiac and neurological effects.
The absence of early warning signs is the reason why this condition is often referred to as the ‘silent killer’. As it is often diagnosed too late, it can have a devastating impact on feline health – damage can be irreversible and severely impact the hypertensive cat’s quality of life.
40-70% of hypertensive cats have retinal damage2, and in severe cases, the consequences can lead to permanent blindness, which is not only debilitating for patients, but also for their owners.
Early diagnosis and treatment of hypertension is the key to limiting these systemic effects. A simple examination during routine consults can help identify affected cats earlier; the Mercury Challenge results demonstrate that blood pressure can be measured in less than 10 minutes in over 90% of cats.
The International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM) recommends that this quick and easy examination is performed once per year in cats aged 7 and over2.
It is especially important to consider regular blood pressure monitoring in cats suffering from chronic kidney disease or hyperthyroidism. The Mercury Challenge revealed that one in two cats suffering from one or both condition/s was also diagnosed as hypertensive – a significant increase in risk where this comorbidity exists.
If you are working in a practice that routinely examines blood pressure, you may be recommending amlodipine for your hypertensive feline patients. What you may not know is that AMODIP, the first amlodipine product designed specifically for cats, is available in Australia via veterinary wholesalers.
AMODIP is a chicken-flavoured, two-way break chewable tablet; its 1.25mg amlodipine concentration perfectly suited for accurate treatment of cats. The tablet’s easy-snap design makes dosing 0.625mg for smaller cats effortless. Each box contains 30 tablets in blister packs for quick and professional dispensing to clients.
The feline-friendly features make it easier for cat owners to be compliant with your recommended treatment protocol and ensure that each cat is getting the right dose, reducing the risk of treatment failure.
AMODIP has been recognised with an ‘Easy to Give’ award by International Cat Care after being trialed by vets and cat owners for ease of use at home3.
AMODIP is supported by videos and literature for vets and cat owners written by the ISFM, including resources that detail how to measure blood pressure in practice easily and with less stress. You can find these resources here: https://icatcare.org/veterinary/resources/
For further information on AMODIP, visit the Ceva Animal Health stand at the AVA conference this year. In the meantime, you can contact your local Ceva Animal Health territory manager or email [email protected].
References
1. Unpublished study estimating the proportion of cats receiving blood pressure assessment between 1 Jan 2012 and 31 Dec 2013 from all electronic patient records within the VetCompass Animal Surveillance Project,
2. Taylor SS et al. J Feline Med Surg 2017;19(3):288-303.,
3. https://icatcare.org/cat-campaigns/easy-give
