Blood Pressure Monitoring
We use a non‑invasive and highly accurate method to measure your pet’s systolic arterial blood pressure. This quick, gentle and painless test can be performed on both awake and anaesthetised animals. A small cuff is placed around your pet’s leg or tail, and a Doppler ultrasonic probe is positioned over a peripheral artery. The cuff is inflated until blood flow briefly stops, then slowly released. The point at which the blood flow sound returns corresponds to your pet’s systolic blood pressure. Reliable readings depend on choosing the correct cuff size, positioning your pet comfortably, taking multiple measurements, and using skilled technique.
All anaesthetised patients at our clinic have their blood pressure monitored throughout their procedure. These readings help us adjust anaesthetic drug levels and intravenous fluid rates to maintain safe, balanced anaesthesia tailored to each patient.
We also use a hand‑held blood pressure monitor in our consult rooms, where pets are often more relaxed with their mum or dad present. Regular blood pressure checks are especially important for pets with heart disease, kidney disease or hyperthyroidism, allowing us to prescribe blood pressure medications accurately and monitor treatment effectiveness.