Meet November's Cat of the Month - the Lovely Lloyd!
Lloyd after a BP reading
Lloyd first joined our clinic in August, when we visited him at home for a full health check due to concerns about dental disease. After a thorough examination, it became clear that this handsome boy had quite a bit going on beneath the surface.
Lloyd had recently been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism at his previous vets and had already begun treatment. During our visit, we also found significant dental disease that was causing him discomfort and would need to be addressed under general anaesthetic.
Before planning his dental procedure, we checked his blood pressure for the first time - and thank goodness we did. Lloyd was found to have severe hypertension, along with retinopathy, meaning his high blood pressure was already affecting the delicate blood vessels in his eyes.
- Chronic, sustained increases in systolic blood pressure (SBP) can overwhelm any autoregulatory mechanisms or blood-retinal barriers, resulting in hypertensive retinopathy, choroidopathy, and optic neuropathy
- Hypertensive retinopathy: tortuosity of retinal vessels, retinal haemorrhages, intraretinal edema
- Hypertensive choroidopathy: severe bullous retinal detachment, choroidal haemorrhages
- Hypertensive optic neuropathy: papilledema and secondary optic nerve atrophy
Permission provided by the Feline Veterinary Medical Association: Photos and information included directly from the 2021 Feline Veterinary Medical Association
At that point, getting his blood pressure under control became our top priority. He started on medication straight away, and we kept him comfortable with pain relief while we held off on his dental treatment.
Fast forward to today: Lloyd’s blood pressure has come down, and although his eyes have some permanent scarring, the retinopathy has healed. He has now had his dental procedure and is doing brilliantly!
Silly Lloyd
Lloyd chilling at home the day after his dental procedure
His owner told us that from the very next day he was like a different cat - eating comfortably, brighter in himself, and clearly feeling so much better.
We are incredibly proud of Lloyd. He has handled every appointment with complete charm, purring his way through the process. We’re so glad to have helped him feel healthier, happier, and far more comfortable at home.
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