Ceva supports Tiny the cat with StreetVet donation

Ceva Animal Health has joined forces with StreetVet Cambridge to provide the veterinary outreach service with a doppler machine and feline hypertension medication for an 11 year-old cat called Tiny.

StreetVet was supporting Tiny and his owner while they were experiencing homelessness together at a StreetVet accredited hostel. During this time, the StreetVet Cambridge outreach team diagnosed Tiny with high blood pressure and bilaterally detached retinas after he experienced a sudden onset of blindness.

Ceva provided StreetVet Cambridge with a doppler machine to monitor Tiny’s blood pressure and Amodip^® for the treatment of feline hypertension.Tiny’s condition is now well controlled because of this effective treatment and the StreetVet Cambridge team can check his blood pressure every one to two weeks using the Ceva donated blood pressure monitor and adjust his medication as and when needed.

Jade Statt BVMS DVM (Hons) FRCVS, clinical director and co-founder of StreetVet, says: “We are very grateful to Ceva for its kind donation which will help monitor and treat Tiny for feline hypertension. Although Tiny’s sight won’t be restored, he has adjusted well without his sight and is relying on his other senses and his whiskers for guidance! Regular checks and treating clinical signs will help reduce the risk of further complications.”

“Feline hypertension is common in cats with approximately one in five cats nine years or over affected¹ and loss of vision is one of the clinical signs of the condition,” adds Andrew Fullerton BVSc (Hons) MRCVS, senior product manager at Ceva. “When we heard about Tiny’s plight we didn’t think twice about providing StreetVet Cambridge with the support needed to help preserve the special bond that Tiny shares with his owner and we are pleased to hear that he is doing so well following treatment with Amodip.”

Feline hypertension is known as the ‘silent killer’, as there are often no obvious signs. Early signs of hypertension can be subtle and are often misinterpreted by owners as ‘old age’, leading to the condition being underdiagnosed. Unfortunately, when more marked clinical signs occur, it is often too late and the eyes, kidneys, heart and brain can be severely affected.

iCatCare advises that blood pressure should be checked annually in cats once they reach seven years of age², but as they get older they should have their blood pressure checked every six months and this is particularly important if cats have underlying health conditions such as chronic kidney disease (CKD) or hyperthyroidism.

For further information on Amodip visit https://easethepressure.co.uk or contact your local Ceva account manager. A wide range of CPD courses on feline hypertension are available to view on Ceva Academy by visiting https://ceva.vbms-training.co.uk.

References

1. Conroy M, Chang YM, Brodbelt D, Elliott J. Survival after diagnosis of hypertension in cats attending primary care practice in the United Kingdom.  J Vet Intern Med.  2018 Nov;32(6): 1846-1855
2. Taylor SS, Sparkes AH, et al. ISFM Consensus Guidelines on the Diagnosis and Management of Hypertension in Cats. J Feline Med Surg. 19(3):288-303

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