Gingival hyperplasia as an adverse effect of amlodipine administration in three Asiatic black bears and two Malayan sun bears

Abstract The following report is a review of five clinical cases of bears living at the Animals Asia Foundation's Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre. Three Asiatic black bears ( Ursus thibetanus ) and two Malayan sun bears ( Helarctos malayanus malayanus ) were treated with amlodipine for systemic hypertension, and subsequently diagnosed later in life with gingival hyperplasia, which is recognised in other species as an adverse effect of this medication. Based on this review, recommendations for the use of amlodipine and other medical management options for systemic hypertension in captive bears are discussed.