Diagnosis and treatment of systemic hypertension.

Systemic hypertension is often observed in dogs and cats with chronic renal failure and other metabolic and endocrinological abnormalities. High systemic arterial blood pressure has been associated with chronic renal failure, ocular injury, neurologic complications, and cardiovascular changes. Recent advances in our knowledge of the prevalence and consequences of systemic hypertension dictate that proper diagnosis and treatment of this problem should become a component of routine therapy for many of our patients.