Pulmonary Arterial Pressure Measurement
(Pap Test)
PAP Risk Category Flow Chart
Dunn Ranches
Location of 1st PAP Test
Jefferson, Colorado - Elevation 9563 feet
Tested November 2, 2025, after 89 days in elevation
Location of 2nd PAP Test
Pierce, Colorado - Elevation 5033 feet
Tested January 28, 2026
Tim Holt, DVM
PAP Risk Factor
High Elevation Test Chart
PAP test conducted at elevation >7000 ft.
(95% Repeatable, Predictive Value)
| PAP Score |
Use at Low Elev. (<4000 feet) |
Use at Moderate Elev. (4000-5500 FEET) |
Use at High Elev. (5500-7500 feet) |
Use at Extreme (>7500 feet) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34-39 | Low Risk | Low Risk | Low Risk | Low Risk |
| 40-45 | Low Risk | Low Risk | Low Risk | Low Risk |
| 46-49 | Moderate Risk | Moderate Risk | Moderate Risk | High Risk |
| >50 | Moderate Risk | Moderate Risk | High Risk | High Risk |
*When selecting an animal based on a PAP measurement other factor besides those listed above should be considered such as genetics or pedigree, PAP EPD’s, Systolic/Diastolic pressures, breed and previous illness.
*Special consideration should be given to the amount of time the animal was exposed to elevation (>5500 ft) prior to testing. The predictability and repeatability of the PAP measurement improves with longer the exposure to higher elevation (minimum of 4 weeks is required).
*This chart is based on animals greater than 10 months of age. Testing older animals (>12 months) results in a higher predictive and repeatability measurement.
*Testing of younger animals (<12months) may result in a greater variability to the predictive and repeatability measurement.
Definitions:
*Repeatable or Repeatability percent is a term used to give strength to a given PAP score predicting that If a PAP retest was carried out later in life, then the score would be close to or within the same category as the original measurement. For example, a PAP measurement taken below 4000 feet only has a 40% repeatable percent meaning that a repeat test only has a 40% chance of staying within the same risk category as the original test.
*Predictive Value—this term is closely related to repeatability percent but specifically says that the original score can accurately predict what that animal will retest in a higher elevation.
*Risk—Defined as the likelihood of an animal developing pulmonary hypertension themselves or being at risk for having a genetic predisposition for the disease