Arterial blood pressure measurement in a population of healthy geriatric dogs

The purpose of this study was to evaluate healthy geriatric dogs for the presence of systemic hypertension. Thirty-three geriatric dogs (i.e., dogs exceeding the geriatric age range for their weight group) and 22 control dogs (i.e., dogs less than six years of age) were evaluated by measuring blood pressure with an oscillometric monitor. Five consecutive blood pressure measurements were taken in each dog, averaged, and compared. Diastolic and mean blood pressure measurements were significantly lower in the geriatric group as compared to the control group. Systolic blood pressure measurements were not significantly different between the two groups. Systemic hypertension does not appear to be a common clinical problem in the healthy geriatric dog.