Norvasc is the brand name for Amlodipine Besylate. It is medication which is used to lower blood pressure, or hypertension, in cats. Feline hypertension is a very real condition which occurs in cats and it requires immediate treatment. Because consistent hypertension in cats can be destructive and sometimes fatal, it is extremely important that the condition be diagnosed and treated.
Causes of Feline Hypertension
Feline hypertension can almost always be attributed to an underlying condition. It is not a condition which appears for no apparent reason, but rather a condition that occurs more as a symptom of something more serious happening in your cat. The most common conditions which cause hypertension are kidney failure, heart disease and hyperthyroidism.
Effects of Hypertension in Cats
The most important thing to understand about feline hypertension is the effect that it can have on your cat. While the underlying condition which has caused it certainly requires treatment, hypertension can have devastating effects on your cat, as well.
The increase of blood pressure can cause an explosion of the blood vessels. Not only is this a bad situation, but where the blood vessels in the body rupture is equally important. If the rupture occurs in the eyes, it can almost always lead to blindness of severe loss of vision. Likewise, if the rupture occurs in the heart or the brain, it will lead to heart attack and stroke.
Not only can blood pressure cause stroke and heart attack, but the build-up of pressure can also lead damage of major blood vessels and arteries. The arteries and blood vessels are only designed to compensate for a certain amount of pressure. When the pressure is increased, and stays increased for an indefinite period of time, they start to become weak and their normal functions are interrupted.
Signs of Cat Hypertension
The most common sign of high blood pressure is the unwarranted loss of vision. Because of the increased pressure on blood vessels within the eye, the retina is destroyed and blindness usually occurs almost instantly. However, it can sometimes take years before the pressure builds to this level.
When hypertension is caused due to kidney failure, you will usually notice that your cat is drinking and urinating more than normal. When the kidneys have lost partial or complete function, these changes will become more pronounced.
It is important to note that hypertension can sometimes cause disorientation in your cat. When the blood pressure is elevated, it can make your cat feel lethargic and the excessive amount of pressure in the brain can cause your cat to become confused.
Diagnosing Hypertension in Cats
Diagnosing feline hypertension is no easy task. The only way to accurately diagnose it is to consistently monitor blood pressure readings; which usually can only be done in a hospital setting. In addition to that, there may be blood testing and urine testing that is required when hypertension is the suspected symptom of a more serious condition.
Feline Hypertension Treatment with Norvasc®
Norvasc is one of the most commonly used medications for treatment of hypertension. It works by prohibiting the entrance of calcium into the muscle cells; which, in turn, allows the blood vessels to relax and stops their constriction. This effectively lowers the pressure of blood in the body.
Norvasc is given in pill format and usually encounters very few side effects. Any blood pressure medication can be known for producing a situation in which the blood pressure becomes too low. The only way to avoid this problem is by consistently monitoring the medication until the correct dosage is found.