Dechra Launches Lodisure for Feline Hypertension
2 months ago 
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Dechra has launched Lodisure®, a new, first-line, easy-to- administer treatment for cats with hypertension.
Containing the active ingredient, amlodipine, Lodisure is a chicken-flavoured 1mg tablet that can be administered directly to the cat or given with a small quantity of food.
Available in packs of 56 (4 x 14 tablet blister packs), Lodisure tablets are easily divisible to ensure accurate dosing. The recommended starting dose is 0.125-0.25 mg amlodipine per kg bodyweight per day, which equates to half a tablet for cats weighing less than 4kg (and more than 2kg) and one tablet per day for cats weighing between 4kg and 8kg.
The risk of developing feline hypertension increases with age, especially in cats over 9 years old1 and is often found in cats with underlying health issues, such as chronic kidney disease (CKD) and hyperthyroidism. If left untreated, it can cause target organ damage to organs including the eyes, kidneys, heart and brain.
Feline hypertension is also described as the ‘silent killer’ because there are often no obvious clinical signs until hypertension is severe.
The ISFM (International Society of Feline Medicine) recommends regular blood pressure checks in cats from seven years of age2. Initially, blood pressure may be checked at least once a year, but as the cat gets older the frequency is increased to at least twice a year. Frequency of monitoring should be increased in cats with additional risk factors such as CKD. The ISFM also suggests that blood pressure assessment should be included in the routine clinical examination of all older cats.
Dechra companion animal brand manager, Sarah Musgrave, comments: “Feline hypertension is very often part of a more complex diagnosis, therefore it is important that antihypertensive therapies are easy to dose and administer. Lodisure is a new, first-line, easy to dose and administer treatment to control systolic blood pressure in cats while the underlying primary cause is diagnosed and treated, which vets can rely on in their day-to-day practice.”
For further information on Lodisure please contact your local Dechra territory sales manager or visit https://www.dechra.co.uk/products/cat/prescription/lodisure.
References
- Conroy et al., Survival after diagnosis of hypertension in cats attending primary care practice in the UK, JVIM, 2018 32(6): 1846-1855.
- Taylor et al., ISFM consensus guidelines on the diagnosis and management of hypertension, JFMS 2017 19(3): 288-303.
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