It’s a question that comes up time and again in practices across the country. The names suggest a feline focus, so it’s only natural for veterinary teams to wonder whether these devices have a place in canine care too. The short answer is yes, both the CAT+ Doppler and the AutoCAT+ are well-suited to dogs as well as cats. Let’s look at why that is, how each device performs in canine patients, and what to keep in mind to get reliable readings every time.
The “CAT” in CAT+ and AutoCAT+ speaks to the brand and the small animal focus of the range, not a limitation on which species you can monitor. Both devices were developed for small animal practice as a whole, which very much includes dogs of all shapes and sizes.
Blood pressure monitoring is just as important in canine patients as it is in feline ones. Hypertension in dogs is frequently linked to underlying conditions such as chronic kidney disease, Cushing’s disease and diabetes mellitus. Catching elevated blood pressure early gives your team the chance to investigate and manage these conditions before they progress, which is exactly where reliable monitoring tools earn their place in the consulting room.
The CAT+ Doppler is a firm favourite for blood pressure measurement in small animals, and it works extremely well on dogs. Doppler ultrasound detects blood flow through the artery, allowing the clinician to hear the pulse and obtain a systolic reading. This method is widely regarded as dependable across a broad range of patients.
Dogs come in an enormous range of sizes, from tiny toy breeds to large working dogs, and the Doppler handles this variation comfortably. The key to success lies in cuff selection and limb positioning.
Getting the cuff width right matters a great deal. As a general rule, the cuff should measure roughly 40 percent of the circumference of the limb where it is placed. A cuff that is too narrow will give falsely high readings, while one that is too wide can give falsely low ones. With the correct cuff in place and the probe positioned over the artery, the Doppler gives a clear audible signal that experienced and newer team members alike can work with.
Some dogs find the clinic environment stressful, and stress raises blood pressure. Allowing the patient to settle for five to ten minutes before measuring, keeping the owner present where appropriate, and working in a quiet space all help reduce the white coat effect. The hands-on nature of Doppler monitoring also means you can take your time and confirm readings, which is reassuring when working with patients who need a little extra patience.
The AutoCAT+ is an automatic oscillometric monitor, and it too is designed for both cats and dogs. Rather than relying on audible pulse detection, it measures systolic and diastolic blood pressure digitally, which removes a layer of operator variability and makes it especially friendly for nurse-led clinics and multi-user environments.
For busy practices, the AutoCAT+ offers a genuinely efficient way to fold blood pressure checks into routine canine appointments. Measurement starts at the touch of a button, the cuff inflates automatically, and the reading appears on a clear digital display. There is no need for advanced Doppler technique, which means more of your team can perform checks confidently and consistently.
This makes the AutoCAT+ a strong choice for senior dog health screening and ongoing monitoring of canine patients at risk of hypertension. Building structured monitoring protocols becomes far more achievable when any member of the team can carry out a check reliably.
One of the standout advantages of the AutoCAT+ in canine patients is that it doubles as a compact multi-parameter monitor. Alongside systolic and diastolic blood pressure, it displays pulse oximetry (SpO₂), a 3-lead ECG waveform, temperature via probe and respiration rate. For dogs undergoing anaesthesia or recovering after a procedure, having these vital signs on a single unit is enormously valuable, giving the clinical team continuous oversight without cluttering the theatre or recovery area with multiple devices.
Whichever device you reach for, a few fundamentals make all the difference when monitoring canine patients.
This is the single most important factor. Measure the limb, choose the appropriately sized cuff, and place it consistently. Both the CAT+ Doppler and the AutoCAT+ are supplied with a range of cuffs to suit small animal patients, so you have the flexibility to monitor everything from a Chihuahua to a Labrador.
Calm patients give the best results. Minimising movement, allowing the dog to acclimatise, and taking several readings to establish a reliable average all contribute to dependable data. Automated systems in particular perform best when the patient is settled and still.
Many practices find that the two devices complement one another beautifully. The AutoCAT+ excels at efficient, routine and multi-parameter monitoring, making it ideal for nurse-led clinics and anaesthetic settings. The CAT+ Doppler remains a trusted option for confirmation readings and for those individual patients where a hands-on approach is preferred. Using oscillometric measurement for everyday efficiency while keeping Doppler available for specific cases gives your team the best of both worlds, and that is exactly why the CAT+ Bundle pairs the two together.
To answer the original question plainly: yes, both the CAT+ Doppler and the AutoCAT+ can absolutely be used on dogs as well as cats. Despite their names, these devices are built for small animal practice as a whole. The CAT+ Doppler offers dependable, hands-on systolic readings across all breed sizes, while the AutoCAT+ delivers fast, automatic blood pressure measurement plus a full suite of vital signs in one compact unit. With the right cuff and a calm patient, both give your team reliable, repeatable results in canine care.
If you’d like to talk through which device, or combination of devices, would best suit your practice’s canine and feline patients, the team at Thames Medical is here to help. Get in touch to discuss your needs, or buy directly through our online shop and start monitoring with confidence.
