Causes

• Most common causes of high blood pressure in dogs are chronic kidney failure, hyperthyroidism, glomerular disease, Cushing's disease and diabetes mellitus.
  
  

Medication

• The most common drug used to treat hypertension in dogs is Enalapril. Enalapril is an ACE-inhibitor.
  
  

Enalapril Toxicity

• Enalapril toxicity will cause hypotension (low blood pressure) and will cause a dog to be dizzy or faint. If for some reason your dog receives more than the prescribed amount, contact a veterinarian or pet poison hotline to determine whether medical intervention is needed.
  
  

Kidney Effects

• Due to the effect Enalapril has on the kidneys, monitoring the kidney function throughout the duration of treatment is important. Enalapril may also lead to elevated potassium blood levels.
  
  

Side Effects

• The side effects from Enalapril include nausea, loss of appetite and diarrhea. It is important to make sure a dog taking medication for hypertension does not become dehydrated due to the side effects.