Hypertension: A review of the mechanisms, manifestations and management

Hypertension is a common disease of man although it is rarely diagnosed in veterinary medicine. This partly reflects a failure of recognition of the incidence and importance of hypertension in animals. Recognition of hypertension is usually late in the course following acute ocular, cardiac, renal or neurological presentation. Early screening and identification of hypertension is important as it is an organ destructive and self-perpetuating process. The physiological control and measurement of blood pressure and the pathogenesis and management of hypertension in small animals is reviewed.