The relationship between diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension is complex. In humans, DM is associated with hypertension, but information on blood pressure in diabetic dogs is scarce. It has been reported in diabetic dogs, that males and dogs with longer duration of diabetes have higher blood pressure (BP) values. Furthermore, obesity is associated with increases in BP in a variety of species but its role in dogs is unclear. Aims of this study were to identify the frequency of hypertension in dogs with DM, and characterize the relationship between hypertension and age, sex, reproductive status, duration of DM, body condition score, concurrent diseases and treatment with corticoids.

Medical records of all diabetic dogs presented to the Internal Medicine Service of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital Complutense Madrid from July 2013 to March 2017 were reviewed. BP using a Doppler device was assessed at the first visit. Hypertension was defined as a systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥160 mm. Dogs receiving antihypertensive medication at this moment were excluded. Following the ACVIM guidelines, hypertensive animals were sub-classified according to the risk of target organ damage and antihypertensive treatment was administered if deemed appropriate. Good control of DM was considered with fructosamine values <350 micromol/l, glucose curve values ranging from 90 to 250 mg/dl and absence of DM clinical signs.

Fifty-three dogs were included, 25 females (12/25 intact and 13/25 neutered), and 28 males (15/28 intact and 13/28 neutered). Ages ranged from 0.2 to 13.7 years. At first visit in our hospital, 44/53 dogs did not have a good control of DM.

Twenty-five dogs were considered hypertensive (25/53; 47%). Hypertension was significantly positively correlated to age (p=0.009). No significant correlation between hypertension and sex, reproductive status, concurrent diseases, time since DM diagnosis or obesity was observed. Hypertension was not significantly correlated with the control of DM; however, none of the dogs considered as in good control of the diabetes had severe hypertension (p=0.067).

Hypertension was significantly associated with chronic corticoid excess, due to hyperadrenocorticism or exogenous administration (12/19) (p=0.05).

Hypertension was present in 47% of diabetic dogs (similar to the prevalence reported in previous studies), and age and corticoid excess were significantly related to it. Obesity in diabetic dogs was not related to hypertension as it has been observed in non-diabetic dogs.

Disclosures

No disclosures to report.