Estudo comparativo dos parâmetros clínicos, pressóricos, laboratoriais e de estresse de cães avaliados nos ambientes hospitalar e domiciliar

Abstract

Systemic arterial hypertension is characterized by a persistent increase in blood pressure, which can be classified as situational, secondary to underlying diseases, or idiopathic. It can be influenced by various factors such as stress, which must be considered prior to diagnosing hypertension and initiating pharmacological therapy. The objective of this experiment was to compare the blood pressure values, clinical-laboratory findings, and stress levels obtained from dogs in two distinct environments (hospital and domestic). A total of 40 dogs, with varying breed, age, and sex, were pre-selected for evaluations in both environments. The dogs were acclimatized in a room equipped with noise and lighting control, together with their owners. After acclimatization, the animals underwent a visual stress scale assessment and blood pressure measurement using two methods: Doppler ultrasound and oscillometry, in both sitting and right lateral recumbent positions. Subsequently, a systemic clinical evaluation and collection of biological samples for hematological analysis and cortisol measurement were conducted. Statistical analysis was performed using hypothesis testing for mean differences and linear regression; statistical significance was set at p<0.05 (95% confidence level). Of the total selected animals, 38 dogs participated in the study, with two being removed (one due to incompatible behavior and one due to death). The majority of the dogs were female, mixed-breed, with a mean age of 6.87 ± 4.46 years and a body weight of 16.05 ± 10.29 kg. Differences between the environments were observed for the following variables: stress scale, Doppler vascular blood pressure measurement in the sitting position, total leukocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, urinary protein concentration, urinary cortisol/creatinine ratio, and serum and urinary cortisol. Additionally, comparisons were made between hospital-collected urinary cortisol and that collected by the owner at home; no statistical difference was found in the other variables. The regression analysis revealed a significant difference only for the hospital dummy variable in Doppler vascular measurement and the coefficient of determination for the urinary cortisol/creatinine ratio, which requires further clarification. Overall, differences were observed in blood pressure, clinical-laboratory assessments, and stress levels in dogs evaluated in both environments (hospital and home). It is suggested that stress may influence the accuracy of blood pressure readings in dogs, especially in a hospital setting.