Veterinary Practices Urged To Participate In Europes Largest Ever Feline Hypertension Study
6 years ago 
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Veterinary practices across the UK are being urged to participate in Europe’s largest ever study into blood pressure in cats over seven years old.
The Mercury Challenge from Ceva Animal Health is aiming to collate data on 10,000 cats across Europe to provide a revolutionary insight into the detection and management of feline hypertension, a frequent and severe condition that is still not routinely checked. Indeed, 82% of vets admitted to not measuring blood pressure routinely in their senior feline patients1.
Vets participating in the initiative need to input five mandatory pieces of information into the Mercury Challenge website - mercurychallenge.ceva.com - the owner’s name, cat’s name, age, systolic blood pressure and time spent measuring blood pressure. Additional information includes: weight, breed, sex and whether the animal has any concurrent diseases, such as chronic kidney disease or hyperthyroidism, or is on any treatments.
Participating practices will be given exclusive access to the study’s progression and results, as well as acknowledgements for their contribution to the Mercury Challenge, depending on the number of cats entered.
“It is quick and easy to take part in the Mercury Challenge, which we hope will revolutionise the way that feline hypertension is understood and treated by both cat owners and veterinary professionals,” comments Imane Mahlous, cardiology-nephrology and hypertension product manager at Ceva Animal Health.
The launch of the Mercury Challenge follows Ceva’s inaugural Feline Hypertension Month which took place in May to raise awareness of hypertension and improve the detection and management of high blood pressure in cats. As part of the on-going campaign, veterinary surgeons are encouraged to measure their feline patients’ blood pressure at least once a year if they are over seven years of age, as recommended by the ISFM (International Society of Feline Medicine) consensus guidelines2.
For information on feline hypertension or the Mercury Challenge please contact your local Ceva Animal Health account manager or visit mercurychallenge.ceva.com.
References
- Ceva Market Research into The Veterinary Perceptions of Feline Hypertension, 100 U.K. Vets. March 2017.
- Taylor et al. ISFM Consensus guidelines on the diagnosis and management of hypertension in cats, JFMS, 2017:19(3):288-303.
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