[1e] Essential Facts of Blood Pressure in Dogs and Cats

Egner B., Carr A, Brown S. Essential Facts of Blood Pressure in Dogs and Cats. Lifelearn Inc., Guelph. Ontario, 2003 ISBN 3-00-011096-8. CDN$ 89.00

Is it possible that blood pressure measurement in dogs and cats is the most neglected aspect of routine health care provided by today's small animal practitioner? Authors Egner, Carr, and Brown mount a convincing argument that this is indeed so. In fairness to the practising veterinarian, technology has limited our ability to easily and adequately assess systemic blood pressure in the past. This excuse, however, seems no longer valid.

Having established the need and indications for blood pressure measurement in Chapters 1 and 2 of Section 1, the authors provide an in-depth explanation and comparison of techniques used to accurately measure systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressures in both dogs and cats. Techniques are well illustrated and tables help with the comparisons of technologies (Doppler, oscillometry, and invasive). Consistent with Lifelearn's integrated approach to continuing education, an enclosed CD-ROM enables the reader to visualize the procedures currently available for blood pressure measurement.

In Section 2, the pathophysiology of several disease processes that result in the alteration of blood pressure are reviewed, including heart disease, renal disease, endocrine disorders, and shock. This assists the reader in later discussions (Section 4) on therapy and management of the hyper- or hypotensive patient.

Section 3 reviews endorgan damage due to alteration of blood pressures. There are chapters on the heart, eye, brain, and kidney. The review of organ physiology serves to drive home points made earlier in the book as the importance of monitoring and managing changes in blood pressure.

The pharmacology of blood pressure alteration is reviewed in considerable depth in Section 4. The highlighted text and tables used in this portion of the text assist the practitioner in formulating a treatment plan from the various classes of medications available.

Last but not least, the authors mount a case for blood pressure monitoring based on the economic returns to the practice. Any skeptics should be converted at this point as the adage ''good medicine is good business" is amply supported.

The layout of the book is attractive with a good balance of tables, photos, case examples, and text. It is well indexed and provides the information needed to understand blood pressure and integrate its measurement into everyday clinical practice. Get this book. Better still, get this book and a blood pressure monitor, and help to advance patient care in your practice.

The 2nd edition will include adapting the anesthesiology chapter to the common standards of the United States focusing on details of blood pressure changes during anesthesia, prevention and treatment, authored by Tanya Duke, DVM, Diplomate American College of Anesthesia.

Reviewed by Ken L. Mould B.Sc. (hons), DVM, Centennial Animal Hospital, 2747 Pembina Highway, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2H5.

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