Ocular signs in four dogs with hypertension

Four dogs suddenly developed visual problems associated with retinal detachment and haemorrhage. They all had a high arterial blood pressure measured with a Doppler ultrasonic blood pressure monitor. Two of the dogs showed evidence of cardiac hypertrophy and one had hypercholesterolaemia; in three of them there was no conclusive evidence of underlying systemic disease. The condition was treated and assessed over a period of 12 months. In the absence of any findings suggesting the presence of underlying systemic disease, it is possible that the ocular changes were the result of primary hypertension, although not every possible cause of secondary hypertension could be excluded.