Blue Cross Dog & Cat Hospital

Blue Cross Dog & Cat Hospital We are a small animal veterinary hospital serving the northern New Jersey area originally established in 1941.

Blue Cross Dog & Cat Hospital is a full-service veterinary medical facility, located in Paterson, New Jersey. The professional and courteous staff at Blue Cross Dog & Cat Hospital seeks to provide the best possible medical care, surgical care and dental care for our highly-valued patients. We are committed to promoting responsible pet ownership, preventative health care and health-related educational opportunities for our clients.

Some dog breeds are more expensive to care for due to health issues! Trupanion's survey says the top 5 are English Bulld...
10/25/2025

Some dog breeds are more expensive to care for due to health issues! Trupanion's survey says the top 5 are English Bulldogs (cherry eye, breathing problems, hip dysplasia), Bernese Mountain Dogs (cataracts, cancer, elbow dysplasia, gastric torsion), Rottweilers (elbow dysplasia, gastric torsion, hypothyroidism, allergies), Great Danes (elbow/hip dysplasia, gastric torsion, cardiomyopathy), and French Bulldogs (allergies, breathing problems, hip dysplasia). Talk to your vet about breed-specific health concerns before adopting!

It is well known that each breed of dog tends to have certain health problems more common to that breed. This is probably due to genetics. As canine DNA is studied, it is hoped that we can eventually develop genetic tests for early detection and possible prevention of these diseases. In the meantime...

Did you know pets can suffer from chronic pain just like us, often from arthritis, cancer, or joint problems. If your pe...
10/24/2025

Did you know pets can suffer from chronic pain just like us, often from arthritis, cancer, or joint problems. If your pet seems lethargic or withdrawn, see the vet! They can diagnose the cause and recommend treatment like meds, physical therapy, or surgery. You can help by managing their weight, making exercise a priority, giving massages, and making their environment more comfortable with ramps, pet beds, and easy access to litter boxes.

It's hard to see your pet in pain day after day, particularly if your formerly energetic friend has now become lethargic and withdrawn due to a health condition or disease. Unfortunately, pets suffer from chronic pain just like people do. Learning about types of chronic pain and treatments can help....

Xylitol is a sugar substitute that's super toxic to dogs (and possibly ferrets)! It's in lots of sweets, sugar-free stuf...
10/23/2025

Xylitol is a sugar substitute that's super toxic to dogs (and possibly ferrets)! It's in lots of sweets, sugar-free stuff, toothpaste, and even vitamins. Even a little bit can cause liver failure and dangerously low blood sugar. Keep all xylitol products far away from your pets, and if you think they've eaten any, call your vet, poison control, or the pet poison hotline ASAP!

People love sweets and so do many dogs. In fact, some dogs love their family's sweet treats and sneak bites of it when the humans aren't looking. You or your children probably also share goodies with your family pet. Many sweets are made with the substance called xylitol. Xylitol is used to manufact...

So if your cat's losing weight, it's a red flag! Could be cancer, parasites, diabetes, kidney disease, or stress. GI pro...
10/22/2025

So if your cat's losing weight, it's a red flag! Could be cancer, parasites, diabetes, kidney disease, or stress. GI problems, conflicts with other pets, dental issues, or just old age can also be to blame. Watch for other symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, changes in appetite, or behavior. If you're worried, call your vet!

Does your cat look thinner than usual? One of these nine reasons may explain why your cat is losing weight.

Cats are good at hiding pain, but there are clues! Watch for more meowing, breathing changes, hiding, trouble moving, or...
10/21/2025

Cats are good at hiding pain, but there are clues! Watch for more meowing, breathing changes, hiding, trouble moving, or behavior changes like poor appetite, messy fur, p*eing outside the box, or disinterest in playing. Physical signs include a grimace, glazed eyes, or a hunched posture. Pain can be from injuries, accidents, or health problems like toothaches, arthritis, or infections. If you spot these signs, call your vet ASAP!

Do you know when your cat is in pain?

Acupuncture for pets is like it is for people: tiny needles stimulate pressure points to relieve pain and help with othe...
10/19/2025

Acupuncture for pets is like it is for people: tiny needles stimulate pressure points to relieve pain and help with other issues. It's based on the idea of energy pathways, but modern science sees it as stimulating the nervous system. It's used for pain, arthritis, paralysis, seizures, back pain, and more. Most pets handle it well and even relax during treatment.

If your pet is suffering from pain or another illness but not responding to traditional veterinary care, veterinary acupuncture may be an effective treatment option. Veterinary acupuncture is very similar to the type of acupuncture used to treat humans. Long, thin needles are inserted at specific pr...

If your pet gets carsick, they're not alone! It's caused by confused signals between their eyes, nerves, and inner ear, ...
10/18/2025

If your pet gets carsick, they're not alone! It's caused by confused signals between their eyes, nerves, and inner ear, or anxiety about car rides. Signs include whining, yawning, drooling, and, of course, vomiting. To help, give them a good view out the front, skip a meal beforehand, use fresh air, avoid winding roads, take breaks, and make car rides fun with treats. Your vet can also prescribe medication.

Does your pet suffer from motion sickness? Find out how to treat the problem.

So to keep your pet happy and healthy, pay close attention to them! If you notice anything unusual, like weird discharge...
10/17/2025

So to keep your pet happy and healthy, pay close attention to them! If you notice anything unusual, like weird discharge, behavior changes, lumps, limping, appetite changes, trouble with potty breaks, excessive scratching, skin problems, or bad breath, it's time to call the vet.

Only a healthy pet is a happy companion. Assuring your pet's daily well-being requires regular care and close attention to any hint of ill health. The American Veterinary Medical Association therefore suggests that you consult your veterinarian if your pet shows any of the following signs: * Abnorma...

Seasonal Care🐾 Summer: Heatstroke is a killer! Never leave pets in cars, exercise in the cool, and watch for signs lik...
10/16/2025

Seasonal Care
🐾 Summer: Heatstroke is a killer! Never leave pets in cars, exercise in the cool, and watch for signs like heavy panting. Fleas are a pain – start prevention early! Fireworks can scare pets, so keep them safe indoors. Don't let pets follow kids to school.

🐾 Winter/Holidays: Keep pets warm indoors. If outside, provide shelter and extra food. Check under car hoods for stray cats. Remove snow/salt from paws. Watch out for toxic plants (mistletoe, poinsettias) and holiday items (tinsel, chocolate, antifreeze). Be careful with holiday treats and decorations. If traveling, make sure your pet is welcome!

Heat Stroke Heatstroke may kill or seriously injure your pet—but it can easily be avoided by adhering to the following tips. Never leave pets in cars on warm days. Exercise your pet during the cool part of the day. Look out for rapid breathing, loud panting or staggering; these can be signs of deh...

Puppies can get a bunch of orthopedic problems that cause limping. Some common ones are osteochondrosis (OCD), panosteit...
10/15/2025

Puppies can get a bunch of orthopedic problems that cause limping. Some common ones are osteochondrosis (OCD), panosteitis, Legg-Perthes, and elbow dysplasia. OCD and elbow dysplasia often need surgery. Panosteitis is painful but eventually goes away on its own. Legg-Perthes also needs surgery. HOD is rare and can be really bad. Of course, the most common cause of limping is just plain old puppy trauma from being wild!

Puppies are happy and full of energy, running, wrestling, and playing so much that we often wish we had that much energy! But when that puppy is not happy, when it is lethargic and limping, then a visit to the veterinarian is in order. There are several orthopedic diseases that affect young dogs. Os...

Acute kidney injury in dogs is serious. It can be caused by things like leptospirosis (from p*e of infected animals), an...
10/11/2025

Acute kidney injury in dogs is serious. It can be caused by things like leptospirosis (from p*e of infected animals), antifreeze (super toxic!), certain drugs, kidney infections, and even some foods like grapes and those chicken jerky treats from China. Watch for vomiting, lethargy, poor appetite, diarrhea, p*eing too much or too little. Treatment needs hospitalization and fluids ASAP. If you think your dog got into antifreeze, it's an emergency!

Leptospirosis is a bacterial, worldwide disease that can also affect humans. Dogs are usually exposed by contact with the urine of affected animals, often wildlife, or by drinking contaminated water. There is a vaccine that can protect dogs from four strains of Lepto. Antifreeze toxicity is another

Addison's disease in dogs is when their adrenal glands don't make enough hormones. It's not super common, but more so in...
10/10/2025

Addison's disease in dogs is when their adrenal glands don't make enough hormones. It's not super common, but more so in dogs than people. Symptoms are vague: lethargy, vomiting, weakness, etc. It's often missed, but can be fatal if untreated. It's tested with a special blood test. Treatment is either daily pills or monthly shots.

Addison's disease is an endocrine disorder where the adrenal glands, near the kidneys, fail to produce enough hormones. This disease is relatively uncommon (approximately one case per 3000 dogs) but it is more common in dogs than humans. It is very rare in cats. The common symptoms of Addison's are

Address

470 McLean Boulevard
Paterson, NJ
07513

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 5:30pm
Thursday 9am - 6:30pm
Friday 9am - 2pm
Saturday 9am - 12pm

Telephone

(973) 881-0430

Website

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