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Blue Cross blog

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Our blog is written by our team of experts who are here to help you with your pet problems. They have extensive experience in veterinary care, animal behaviour and horse welfare.

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Black cat looking sadWhen is it time to say goodbye?Posted on 19 Sep 2012Facing the prospect of having a much loved pet put to sleep is horrible but it’s a decision that many pet owners have to make at some point. Blue Cross chief vet Caroline Reay urges people to remember quality of life when considering ... Puppy HHP subCaring for your new puppyPosted on 14 Sep 2012  Getting a new puppy is extremely exciting but it can also be a little daunting. As part of Puppy Awareness Week, Blue Cross has put together some advice to help…  Before you get a puppy  Taking on a new puppy is a... Puppy head/shoulder shotFinding your new puppy Posted on 12 Sep 2012There are so many ways to get a new puppy, so it’s sometimes hard to know which option is best. But it’s extremely important to do your research and make sure that you get your new pet from a responsible source. Blue Cross edito... HHP border collie puppyShould you get a puppy or an adult dog? Posted on 10 Sep 2012 There’s nothing quite as adorable as a little puppy looking at you like butter wouldn’t melt. But just because they’re cute doesn’t mean they’re always the right choice of pet. As part of Puppy Awareness Week... SashWhy is your pet limping?Posted on 03 Sep 2012  What does it mean if your cat or dog is limping? And what should you do? Blue Cross chief vet Caroline Reay reveals more about this problem and what causes it…  Dogs and cats are natural athletes and good mobility is vi... PugPets don’t care about their appearance – so why do we? Posted on 16 Aug 2012 Breeding for appearance might produce pretty looking pets, but the consequences can be great, as Blue Cross chief vet Caroline Reay reveals…  Anyone who has ever tried to run for a bus in high heels knows the risks of looking... AIN sad dog subWhat causes allergies in pets? Posted on 10 Aug 2012  Allergies are big business in both humans and animals. There are lots of “reduced allergy” products on sale, which is not surprising as allergies are becoming more common. Blue Cross chief vet Caroline Reay discusses wha... Sasha and Ice in actionFeeling Olympic? CaniX could be the sport for you and your dog Posted on 09 Aug 2012  If you’ve been bitten by the Olympic bug and fancy taking up a new sport, CaniX could be for you. It’s a great activity for dog owners and you could soon be competing at events across the UK. But don’t just take it... Cat and dog Do pets really enjoy sharing their space with other animals?Posted on 03 Aug 2012  Blue Cross has made some changes so that new clients at our animal hospitals will only be able to register two pets per household. We hope this will enable more pets to benefit from our services – but it could also help to imp... Children and pets 3Do children benefit from having a pet? Posted on 26 Jul 2012  A new survey has revealed that owning pets can have a positive effect on children’s health, happiness – and even their homework. Blue Cross editor Natasha Kleanthous discusses why a pet can be such wonderful addition to ... Puppies'Fostering for Blue Cross is a very special experience'Posted on 23 Jul 2012  Looking after eight bouncing puppies and five playful kittens is one mammoth feat but it’s also something that devoted Blue Cross foster carer Lesley Davis wouldn’t swap in a million years, as she tells editor Natasha Kl... PugThe dangers facing short-nosed dogs Posted on 12 Jul 2012  New research has suggested that some people aren’t recognising the dangers facing short-nosed dogs like pugs and bulldogs. Blue Cross chief vet Caroline Reay reveals more…  Dog owners may be failing to appreciate ... SashIs your pet in pain? Posted on 05 Jul 2012When people are in pain they can talk to a doctor about it, but how can we tell if our pets are suffering? Blue Cross chief vet Caroline Reay reveals more… It’s a common misconception that an animal cannot be in pain because ... MicrochippingCompulsory microchipping could help keep our nation’s pets safePosted on 28 Jun 2012It’s coming to the end of National Microchipping Month but there’s still a lot of work to do if we’re going to tackle the huge number of stray and abandoned dogs, as Blue Cross public affairs manager Rachel Cunningham reve... MicrochippingLost and found – much-loved dogs reunited thanks to a microchip Posted on 18 Jun 2012There’s nothing more heart-warming than reuniting a missing pet with their owner and seeing the relief on both faces. Here are some of our favourite reunion stories which would never have happened if it wasn’t for a microchip, a... Caring for your older catIs your older pet just slowing down – or is it time to go to the vet? Posted on 13 Jun 2012Growing older is an inevitable fact of life for us all, but how can you tell if your pet is simply slowing down or if they have a problem that needs veterinary attention? Blue Cross chief vet Caroline Reay has some advice to help… Ag... MicrochippingMicrochipping - your questions answeredPosted on 01 Jun 2012Thousands of animals go missing every year and sadly many of them never find their way home. But microchipping can help to keep your pet safe, as Blue Cross editor Natasha Kleanthous reveals… Here at Blue Cross we take in hundreds of... Protect your dog against theftWhat to do if your pet goes missing Posted on 08 Jun 2012If your pet has ever gone missing then you know just how terrifying it can be. Blue Cross has put together some tips to help if it happens to you… It’s every owner’s nightmare – they call their pet and no one comes.... Happy and LilyFinding a home for Blue Cross dogs Happy and Lily Posted on 22 May 2012The Blue Cross Lewknor rehoming centre looks after and finds happy homes for hundreds of cats and dogs every year. Animal welfare assistant Jess Hollis will be bringing you regular news from this busy centre – this week she tells us a... BenIt’s a scary world out there for nervous puppy Ben Posted on 14 May 2012The Blue Cross Lewknor rehoming centre looks after and finds happy homes for hundreds of cats and dogs every year. Our new blogger, animal welfare assistant Jess Hollis, will be bringing you regular news from this busy centre – this w... HHP cat subAllergies and pets: our advice for copingPosted on 04 May 2012Many pets and horses are sadly given up to Blue Cross rehoming centres due to allergies. If you think you may have a pet allergy, check out our advice before deciding to rehome... From cats to rats, so far this year we have had over 90 ani... Flood dogTop tips for keeping your pet safe during the floods Posted on 01 May 2012If your town or village is at risk of flooding, your pet’s probably the last thing on your mind during this stressful time. But have you thought through what might happen if you do need to evacuate? Blue Cross editor Natasha Kleanthou... HHP jack russell dog running subFeeling inspired by the marathon? Read some top tips for running with your dog Posted on 20 Apr 2012Has the build up to the Virgin London Marathon inspired you to get your running shoes on? If it has, it’s also a fabulous way to spend some quality time with your dog and get you both a bit fitter! Here’s some advice for how to ... Dog at the vet Dog owners: are you lungworm aware? Posted on 25 Mar 2013It’s Be Lungworm Aware month so you may have seen, heard or read more than usual about this nasty disease, which can be fatal to dogs. Susan Knox, chief vet of the Blue Cross Grimsby animal hospital, is here to tell you more about lun... BCW dog client centre sub How to convince your boss to let you bring your dog to workPosted on 12 Apr 2012All us dog lovers know that giving your pet a cuddle and a stroke, in fact even just having them around, can help the stress of daily life just melt away. But how can you convince your boss that bringing your four-legged friend to work wit...