Blue Cross Animal Clinic

05/27/2026

💡🩵 Technician Spotlight — Embrace

Embrace is one of our experienced veterinary technicians, and we are so lucky to have her as a part of our team!

Embrace is known for her kindness, positive attitude, and compassionate demeanor towards patients and clients alike.

If you’ve interacted with Embrace, you are familiar with her warm and welcoming disposition! She always takes a moment to give our patients affection and reassurance to help ensure their time at our clinic is that much more comfortable. 🐾

05/20/2026

05/08/2026

Our patient, Henry, was recently treated on an urgent basis by Dr. Hamel so that she could safely remove the quills in his nose and mouth under sedation. Henry’s dad acted quickly and reached out right away to arrange for treatment, which greatly helped reduce the risk of complications!

It is extremely important to seek medical attention for your pet if they have quills lodged in any part of their body. Porcupine quills are barbed with scales that drive the quill further into the tissue, which makes them difficult to dislodge.

In some cases, these quills can migrate through the body cavities and puncture organs. Additionally, each quill is covered in bacteria, which poses a risk for infection and abscesses.

It is not recommended to attempt the removal of porcupine quills unless done by a veterinarian while your pet is under sedation. Attempting to remove quills by cutting them can splinter the shaft and make them more difficult to remove safely. Removing quills while your pet is awake is extremely painful, and they are likely to struggle and drive the quills deeper if attempted.

During transportation of your pet to a veterinary clinic or hospital, it is recommended to keep them from rubbing at their face or mouth so that the quills are not embedded further. A thorough exam conducted by a veterinarian will help ensure that as many quills as possible are removed, and that proper medications for pain and control of infection are dispensed!

05/04/2026

May the 4th Be With You!

05/01/2026

🩻 Freya was such a sweet, wonderful girl for her assessment with Dr. England — our veterinary technicians couldn’t help but get their dose of cuddles, and she was more than happy to reciprocate!

Freya’s mom brought her to Blue Cross with concerns about a worsening limp affecting her left hind leg, which had not improved with rest or pain medication. Dr. England proposed that a thorough exam under sedation and radiographs be completed to fully assess the nature of her injury.

With these diagnostics, it was discovered that Freya had sustained a CCL (cranial cruciate ligament) rupture and would require a referral to a board-certified veterinary surgeon to conduct a TPLO (tibial plateau leveling osteotomy). Freya was referred to Dr. Freeman, who practices at our sister clinic, Roadrunner Veterinary and Emergency Specialty Hospital.

With this surgery, Freya will be able to resume a normal, and, most importantly, comfortable activity level once the healing period is complete.

While we are a general practice and do not perform specialized procedures, such as orthopedic repairs, our doctors’ expertise allows them to conduct the initial diagnostics necessary to facilitate an outside referral to the appropriate specialist.

04/24/2026

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04/15/2026

Magic of the Microchip! 🪄

Dear little Rosie was missing for over a year! Dr. Markins had the honor of conducting an exam to ensure that she was in good health after being reunited with her loving family.

We are truly thrilled that one of our patients was found safely after such a long time, and this would not have been possible without her family’s tireless efforts to locate her — the critical factor was ensuring that she had been microchipped!

Pets adopted from city or county shelters will be microchipped before adoption, but it is incredibly important to ensure that your pet’s microchip information is up to date! Out of date phone numbers, addresses, or owner information drastically decrease the odds of a pet being reunited with their family if lost!

Pets acquired through a private party regime or accidental litters are far less likely to have had microchips implanted.

Are you unsure if your pet has a microchip? We can conduct a quick, painless scan with a microchip reader to verify this. If your pet has been microchipped, we can provide you with the number associated with the chip so that you may contact the company to update your contact information.

If you have any questions about microchipping, please give us a call today! 🐾

02/13/2026

February is PET DENTAL MONTH! 🐶🐱🦷🪥

What can you expect when you entrust a doctor at Blue Cross Animal Clinic with your pet’s dental procedure? It is normal, and expected, to feel curiosity about what goes on after you have checked your pet in with our veterinary staff.

Dr. Solan recently performed a dental cleaning for Momo, a 6-year-old Chihuahua and Pug mix. From the moment Momo was checked in, she was set up in a cozy kennel and kept as comfortable as possible while awaiting results from pre-anesthetic lab work done in-house. Blood work is vital to ensure that a pet is internally fit to undergo anesthesia!

A pre-anesthetic exam was conducted by Dr. Solan to ensure that there were no physical signs of illness or injury that would prevent the initiation of a safe procedure under anesthesia.

X-rays of Momo’s entire mouth were then taken as part of the comprehensive approach to assess the full extent of her periodontal disease. The discovery of a cyst at an incisor and furcation of a pre-molar was made, and both troublesome teeth were skillfully extracted. After the diseased teeth were removed, our lead veterinary technician, Davis, performed detailed cleaning and polishing of each tiny tooth.

Throughout the entire process, technicians Ari and Davis diligently monitored for any changes in blood pressure, temperature, cardiac activity, and other critical vitals.

Momo recovered smoothly from anesthesia, and any discomfort from the extractions was mitigated with pain medications and a diet of soft food. Davis reviewed all discharge instructions with Momo’s owner at check-out so that she felt at ease and well primed to continue care at home. The result was an uneventful and comfortable recovery for sweet Momo, and she is now back to chomping toys and chewing treats without issue!

02/06/2026

February is Pet Dental Health Month! 🦷🪥🐶🐱

Stay tuned for special insight about patients whose dental care we have been entrusted with!

01/29/2026

There’s always a moment to give our patients kisses and cuddles!
Nova, a sweet 3-year-old feline, was recently seen by Dr. Smith for a dental cleaning procedure. Urine collection was also done as part of his routine monitoring following previous urinary obstruction.
Our skilled and diligent veterinary technician, Shayea, ensured the smooth progression of the procedure by monitoring vitals, cleaning and polishing each of Nova’s teeth, and welcoming him gently back to the waking world after anesthesia!
Alongside excellent medical care from our doctors, the compassionate veterinary technicians on our team ensure that your pet receives love and comfort while in our care!