Comparison of Two Methods of Blood Pressure Measurement in Conscious Outpatient Dogs
The purpose of this study was to compare two methods of blood pressure measurement oscillometric sphygmomanometry and Doppler ultrasonography in outpatient dogs in a clinical setting. One hundred dogs admitted to the National Taiwan University Veterinary Hospital for various medical disorders were randomly enrolled for the study. For each dog, five consecutive measurements were taken for each method. The mean (± standard deviation) blood pressure measured using oscillometric sphygmomanometry was 135 ± 35.3 mmHg; whereas the mean blood pressure measured using Doppler ultrasonography was 153 ± 36.3 mmHg. The blood pressure readings measured using these two methods were statistically different (P<0.001). The coefficient of variance from five consecutive measurements using oscillometric sphygmomanometry was ranged from 2.6 to 51.4 (20.1 ± 9.9); whilst, the coefficient of variance from five consecutive measurements using Doppler ultrasonography was ranged 1.8 to 36.4 (9.2 ± 6.5). The coefficient of variance of both methods was statistically different (P<0.001). Based upon the results of this study, oscillometric sphygmomanometry was lack of consistency to obtain blood pressure readings, and tended to obtain lower blood pressure readings in conscious outpatient dogs in a clinical setting.