Pulmonary hypertension in dogs and cats is different from the type of high blood pressure most people are familiar with.
Pulmonary hypertension refers to elevated blood pressure in the lungs. It is a cardiac condition that we diagnose and treat through veterinary cardiology, but it can also develop secondary to chronic lung disease.
That connection can make pulmonary hypertension a condition in which more than one veterinary specialty becomes involved. Our cardiology specialists may diagnose and manage the pulmonary hypertension, while our internal medicine specialists may evaluate and manage an underlying respiratory disease.
At MarQueen Veterinary Specialty Group, our specialists can work together when a pet’s condition involves more than one body system.
What Is Pulmonary Hypertension in Dogs and Cats?
Pulmonary hypertension means that blood pressure within the lungs is elevated.
Our Cardiology service specifically evaluates dogs and cats with elevated lung blood pressure, or pulmonary hypertension, along with other cardiac conditions.
Pulmonary hypertension is different from systemic hypertension, also called arterial hypertension.
Systemic hypertension involves elevated blood pressure within the systemic circulation. Pulmonary hypertension involves elevated blood pressure in the lungs.
While the terminology sounds similar, they are separate medical conditions that can involve different underlying diseases and different areas of specialty care.
How Is Pulmonary Hypertension Connected to Lung Disease?
In veterinary patients, pulmonary hypertension can occur secondary to chronic lung disease.
This creates an important connection between the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
While pulmonary hypertension itself is diagnosed and treated through cardiology, the chronic respiratory disease contributing to it may be evaluated and managed through internal medicine.
Our internal medicine specialists diagnose and manage respiratory disorders in dogs and cats and have access to advanced diagnostic testing for complex medical conditions.
For some patients, looking at both the cardiac and respiratory components of the condition helps us develop a more complete understanding of what is happening.
Why Might Both Cardiology and Internal Medicine Be Involved?
Complex veterinary conditions do not always fit neatly within a single specialty.
A dog or cat may have pulmonary hypertension involving the cardiovascular system while also having chronic lung disease that requires internal medicine care.
In those situations, our specialists can collaborate, with each focusing on the area that falls within their expertise.
Our cardiologist also works closely with other veterinary specialists at MarQueen, including internal medicine specialists, radiologists, emergency and critical care doctors, and surgeons.
Having these specialties available allows our crew to take a collaborative approach when a patient’s condition requires it.
How Do We Evaluate Pulmonary Hypertension?
Accurate diagnosis is an important part of veterinary cardiology.
When we evaluate a dog or cat with a suspected cardiac condition, our goal is to understand the specific problem and determine the most appropriate next steps for that individual patient.
Pulmonary hypertension is one of the conditions specifically evaluated through our cardiology service.
If there is also concern about an underlying respiratory condition, our internal medicine specialists may become involved in the diagnostic process.
MarQueen provides access to advanced diagnostic capabilities, including x-rays, ultrasound, CT, bronchoscopy, echocardiography, and other specialized procedures. The specific tests recommended will depend on the individual dog or cat and what our specialists are investigating.
Pulmonary Hypertension vs. Systemic Hypertension
Understanding the difference between these two conditions can help explain why pets with different forms of hypertension may require very different evaluations.
Pulmonary hypertension involves elevated blood pressure in the lungs. We diagnose and treat pulmonary hypertension through cardiology, although the condition can occur secondary to chronic lung disease.
Systemic hypertension involves elevated blood pressure within the systemic circulation. In veterinary patients, it is often associated with underlying conditions such as kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, or Cushing’s disease and is frequently managed through internal medicine.
You can learn more about that condition in our related article, Systemic Hypertension in Dogs and Cats: Understanding High Blood Pressure and Its Causes.
Why an Accurate Cardiac Diagnosis Matters
Our cardiology specialists evaluate dogs and cats with a variety of cardiac concerns.
In addition to pulmonary hypertension, our cardiology service evaluates pets for congenital and acquired heart disease, heart murmurs, irregular heart rhythms, heart failure, and other cardiac issues.
A cardiology consultation gives us an opportunity to thoroughly evaluate the patient, determine which diagnostic testing may be appropriate, discuss our findings and treatment options, and answer questions from the pet’s family.
Our goal is to understand the complete cardiac picture rather than assuming that a single finding explains everything that may be happening.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pulmonary Hypertension
What is pulmonary hypertension in dogs and cats?
Pulmonary hypertension refers to elevated blood pressure in the lungs.
Is pulmonary hypertension the same as regular high blood pressure?
No. Pulmonary hypertension involves elevated blood pressure in the lungs, while systemic hypertension involves elevated blood pressure within the systemic circulation.
Can lung disease be connected to pulmonary hypertension?
Yes. In veterinary patients, pulmonary hypertension can develop secondary to chronic lung disease.
Is pulmonary hypertension treated by a veterinary cardiologist?
Yes. Pulmonary hypertension is diagnosed and treated through veterinary cardiology.
Why might an internal medicine specialist also be involved?
If pulmonary hypertension occurs secondary to chronic lung disease, our internal medicine specialists may evaluate and manage the underlying respiratory disease while our cardiology specialists address the pulmonary hypertension.
Cardiology Care at MarQueen Veterinary Specialty Group
Pulmonary hypertension can involve both cardiovascular and respiratory health, which makes an accurate diagnosis and appropriate specialty care important.
At MarQueen Veterinary Specialty Group in Upland, California, our cardiology specialists evaluate and treat cardiac conditions in dogs and cats and can collaborate with our internal medicine and other specialty services when a patient would benefit from a multidisciplinary approach.
Learn more about our veterinary Cardiology service or contact our crew if your family veterinarian has recommended a cardiac evaluation.
Medical Disclaimer
This article provides general educational information and is not a substitute for a veterinary examination, diagnosis, or individualized treatment recommendations.
