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Vets urged to offer feline blood pressure checks
More than 40 per cent of cats enrolled in Ceva Animal Health's Mercury Challenge were hypertensive.
One in five cats from nine years of age may suffer from high blood pressure.

Ceva Animal Health is calling on veterinary practices to offer feline blood pressure checks as part of a UK-wide testing and awareness event.

The ‘Know Your Numbers’ Campaign takes place 6-12 September, and veterinary professionals are being urged to focus on the importance of feline blood pressure checks amongst cat owners whose pets are seven years of age and older. 

It comes after Ceva Animal Health’s Mercury Challenge revealed that more than 40 per cent of cats enrolled in the initiative were hypertensive, with a blood pressure about 30 per cent higher than the blood pressure value found in healthy cats. The mean age of hypertensive cats was found to be 13 years old.

To help generate conversations between veterinary professionals and cat owners, CEVA has put together some ‘Know Your Numbers Week!’ facts, which include: 
  • It is estimated that one in five cats from nine years of age may suffer from high blood pressure, many of which are undiagnosed.
  • Four organs may be damaged due to high blood pressure in cats – eyes, brain, kidneys and heart.
  • A cat is generally thought to be hypertensive when its systolic blood pressure is above 160mm Hg1.
  • Best practice is to discard the first blood pressure reading and then take the average systolic blood pressure from five further readings.

Nicki Glen, marketing project manager at Ceva Animal Health, said: “Know Your Numbers Week! is a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness of the risks of feline hypertension, which is known as the ‘silent killer’ as it often develops insidiously without any early signs, and the importance of regular blood pressure checks in cats seven years of age and older to help detect, treat and control the condition."

Ceva's initiative coincides with the human health campaign, which has been running for 21 years.

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.