Under Control

Feline hypertension can be dangerous if not managed well.

Just because something is common doesn’t mean it’s easy to treat.

Take feline hypertension. Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a relatively common but potentially severe threat to feline health, according to the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.

“The condition can be dangerous in itself, responsible for a variety of disorders adversely affecting, for example, a cat’s eyesight, kidney activity, or cardiac function,” the college warns on its website. “It can also indicate the presence of a potentially deadly underlying systemic disease. Fortunately, with timely and appropriate veterinary monitoring and treatment, feline hypertension – whatever its cause – is almost always manageable.”

According to market research, hypertension is a common clinical problem, with up to 1 in 5 cats over the age of 7 being affected. Hypertension is most often associated with other diseases, chronic kidney disease (CKD) being the most common. Up to 2 out of 3 cats with hypertension also have CKD; when one is not managed well, it could potentially worsen the other. 

In October 2018, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration approved the first treatment for feline hypertension in an easy-to-give formulation. Boehringer Ingelheim’s SEMINTRA 10 mg/mL oral solution is designed for the control of systemic hypertension in cats. SEMINTRA was specifically designed with cats in mind to provide safe, reliable, and convenient long-term control of blood pressure, according to the company.

“Early disease detection and early treatment are key to ensure cats live longer and happier lives,” said Shawn Hooker, Global Head of Strategic Business Unit Pet Vet at Boehringer Ingelheim, at the time of the FDA news. “With Semintra® (telmisartan oral solution), we offer a pet owner–friendly, easy-to-give solution to help raise the quality of life of cats with hypertension, while providing reliable long-term blood pressure control.”