Blue Cross Dog & Cat Hospital

06/03/2026

🥰🐾Summer safety starts with a few key rules: never leave your pet in a parked car, as temperatures skyrocket fast, and keep walks to cooler times to avoid burning their paws. In the car, always secure them with a harness or carrier in the back seat—letting them roam or hang their head out the window is dangerous. Also, watch them closely near water, since not all pets are natural swimmers, and bring them indoors during the hottest part of the day to prevent heatstroke.

You’ll also want to keep harmful things like lawn chemicals, fireworks, and unscreened windows out of reach. Fireworks are risky both for burns and from the loud noise, so give scared pets a quiet, safe spot inside. Following these simple steps helps keep your pet protected and lets everyone enjoy the season safely.

Do you know how to keep your pet safe this summer?

05/30/2026

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05/29/2026

In summer, heat can be dangerous for pets, especially for young, old, or short-nosed animals. Keep outdoor time to mornings or evenings, always provide shade and cool water, and never leave them in a parked car — temperatures spike fast and can be deadly. Watch for heavy panting, weakness, or vomiting; if you see these signs, cool them gently and call the vet right away.

Hot pavement, sand, or metal can burn paw pads in seconds, so test surfaces with your hand first and stick to grass or shaded paths. Car parts like buckles and dashboards also get scorching, so cover them or run the AC first. After walks, check paws for cuts, burns, or stuck debris, and consider using booties to add extra protection.

Don't let heatstroke or sore paws keep your pet from enjoying the summer.

05/28/2026

Fleas and ticks become a big problem when the weather warms up, and they carry serious risks. Ticks spread diseases like Lyme disease, which causes joint pain, fever, and long-term health issues, along with other infections that can be dangerous or even fatal. Fleas make pets miserable with constant itching, can cause skin sores or anemia, and quickly spread to your whole home. Be sure to check hidden spots like between toes or under collars after going out, and watch for scratching or tiny black specks in their fur.

You can keep your pet safe by using vet-approved preventatives like spot-ons, collars, or shampoos that kill these pests at every stage. It also helps to keep your yard tidy—trim grass, clear away brush, and use yard sprays—to reduce their habitat. A fence keeps out strays and wild animals that might bring pests in. If you find a tick, remove it carefully with tweezers right away; acting fast lowers the chance of illness.

Would you like to keep your pet free of ticks and fleas? Try a few of these tips.

05/26/2026

Coughing in pets usually points to one of three common issues. Kennel cough, very contagious among dogs, causes a dry, honking sound and spreads easily where dogs gather. Most cases are mild and clear up in a couple of weeks, though rest and medication help, and it can get serious for puppies or weak pets. Then there’s pet flu, affecting both dogs and cats, with symptoms like sneezing, fever, and a wet cough. It lasts longer, sometimes weeks, and needs supportive care like fluids and rest, plus antibiotics if a secondary infection sets in. Vaccines exist for both, but they don’t cover every strain.

For cats, coughing often means asthma, where airways narrow and fill with mucus, leading to wheezing or rapid, shallow breathing. Triggers include dust, pollen, smoke, or strong sprays, but switching litter or cleaning products can help reduce flare-ups. It’s managed with medications similar to what humans use, but trouble breathing or blue gums needs urgent care. No matter the cause, if your pet seems sick, has a fever, or struggles to breathe, a vet visit is always the safest choice.

Wondering why your pet is coughing? Check out three common reasons.

05/22/2026

Abscesses are painful bacterial infections that often show up as swollen lumps, red, warm skin, or oozing pus with a bad smell. They usually happen after bites, scratches, injuries, or from issues like bad teeth, clogged glands, or ear infections. You might notice your pet licking the spot constantly, acting tired, running a fever, losing their appetite, limping, or scooting their bottom. Since pets tend to hide pain, these signs are important clues that something is wrong.

Treatment means draining the infection and giving antibiotics to stop it from spreading, sometimes along with other care like fluids or dental work. You can lower the chances of them happening by cleaning any cuts right away, keeping cats indoors to avoid fights, taking your pet for regular dental check-ups, and having their a**l glands checked or emptied when needed. If you spot any swelling, odor, or changes in how your pet acts, it’s best to have your vet take a look quickly.

Could that lump on your pet's body be caused by an abscess?

05/21/2026

Over the years, many pet food brands and treats have been recalled due to dangerous issues like Salmonella contamination, including major brands made at one specific plant that sickened dozens of people and animals. Chicken jerky treats from China are an even bigger concern—hundreds of pets have died from eating them, and despite testing, the exact cause remains unknown. These risks are serious because contaminated food can make both your dog and your whole family sick, even if your pet doesn’t show any symptoms.

While you can’t control manufacturing, there are simple ways to keep your dog safer. Store food in clean, sealed containers, keep the barcode from the package, wash and disinfect bowls often, and always wash your hands after feeding. If you notice vomiting, diarrhea, or low energy, see your vet right away and report concerns to the FDA. These small steps help lower the chance of illness and make it easier to trace problems if they happen.

Over the last several years, numerous dog food brands and treats have been recalled for chemical contamination or Salmonella. This last summer many dog food brands were recalled due to Salmonella; all were manufactured in a Diamond Pet Foods plant in Gaston, South Carolina, USA. This plant makes man...

05/20/2026

Feline diabetes is becoming more common, and being overweight is the biggest risk factor—heavy cats are up to four times more likely to develop it. Watch for early signs like drinking and peeing much more than usual, eating more but still losing weight. Your vet can confirm it with blood and urine tests, and it’s important to catch it early so you can start managing it before it gets serious.

Treatment usually means daily insulin shots and switching to a high-protein, low-carb diet, which works really well—about 70% of cats eventually stop needing insulin altogether. In severe cases, a dangerous condition called ketoacidosis can happen, with symptoms like sweet-smelling breath, vomiting, or extreme tiredness, and that needs immediate hospital care. With the right food and regular monitoring, most cats live comfortably and many even go into remission.

Diabetes in cats, also known as feline diabetes mellitus, is an increasingly common disease affecting 1 out of every 400 cats. Obesity is the leading risk factor for diabetes.