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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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Popular blog posts

  • Vet nurse with cat How to become a veterinary nurse
    Posted on 13 May 2013
    Are you thinking of a career as a veterinary nurse but you're not sure how to get started? To celebrate National Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month Blue Cross has put together a guide to help you with your future career... ... 
  • Cat in garden subWhat flowers and plants are poisonous to pets?
    Posted on 24 May 2013
    Flowers and plants look gorgeous and brighten up our gardens but behind the pretty blooms can lie dangers to our pets. Read our advice to find out which ones are toxic for animals…  The most common toxic plants are lilies which... 
Cat in garden subWhat flowers and plants are poisonous to pets? Posted on 24 May 2013Flowers and plants look gorgeous and brighten up our gardens but behind the pretty blooms can lie dangers to our pets. Read our advice to find out which ones are toxic for animals…  The most common toxic plants are lilies which... Teagan subA match made in heaven for Ciarán and Blue Cross pony TeaganPosted on 22 May 2013  Blue Cross pony Teagan inspired her new rider, nine-year-old Ciarán Vella, so much that he even donated half of his reward for doing well in his school exams to us so we can help more animals like her. He tells us why his bel... Fireworks and horsesWhy the horse welfare crisis is now a reality and what you can do to help Posted on 22 May 2013  With thousands of unwanted and abandoned horses facing an uncertain future, the feared horse welfare crisis is now a reality across the UK.   Blue Cross, along with other horse charities, has spent the last six months trying t... Obese horseObesity in horses – the silent killerPosted on 22 May 2013  Being overweight is one of the most serious problems a horse can have. Ruth Court, Blue Cross Horse Welfare Manager, reveals what makes this condition life-threatening and the history behind the current obesity epidemic… ... HHP lurcher Why greyhounds and lurchers can make the best family pets Posted on 21 May 2013  Last year Blue Cross took in 126 unwanted and abandoned lurchers and 26 greyhounds – and sadly these dogs often take longer to rehome because people just don’t see them as family pets. But they can actually make the perf... Kipper subDon’t forget us! The advantages of rehoming an older catPosted on 16 May 2013  Yes, kittens are cute and adorable but they’re also high maintenance. Meanwhile Blue Cross has dozens of gorgeous and lovable older cats who are being passed by in favour of a younger model. Find out why mature moggies can mak... Cat and young ladyWhat’s your cat really thinking? Posted on 14 May 2013  Who can resist a cute, funny or even “grumpy” cat? Moggies are an internet hit and provide us with lots of laughs – but do their online personas reflect the real musings of a cat? Caroline Reay, Chief Vet at the Bl... Vet nurse with cat How to become a veterinary nurse Posted on 13 May 2013 Are you thinking of a career as a veterinary nurse but you're not sure how to get started? To celebrate National Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month Blue Cross has put together a guide to help you with your future career... ... AIN sad dog subWhat is pyometra and how can you prevent it? Posted on 10 May 2013  Blue Cross is warning pet owners about the dangers of pyometra after treating five seriously ill pets in just one weekend. Find out more about this condition here…  Pyometra is a very serious infection of the womb which... Gino's cheesecakeBake like Gino D’Acampo and help poorly and abandoned pets Posted on 08 May 2013To celebrate the Blue Cross Tea Party on Friday, celebrity chef Gino D’Acampo has shared his favourite baked cheesecake recipe for everyone to enjoy – so get baking, have fun and help raise money for sick, injured and homeless p... Basic healthcare in rabbitsFood for thought - keeping your rabbit happy and healthyPosted on 07 May 2013  New research has shown that muesli-style foods can be dangerous for rabbits – so what should you feed them? As part of Rabbit Awareness Week, Blue Cross has some top tips for making sure your rabbit’s diet keeps them hap... Protect your dog against theftWhat to do if you’ve lost your dog Posted on 25 Apr 2013  Losing your dog can be very traumatic but it’s important to gather your thoughts and start thinking about the practical things you can do as soon as possible. Blue Cross Editor Natasha Kleanthous has put together some tips for... LuluTop tips for running with your dog Posted on 22 Apr 2013  Running with your dog can be great fun and it’s fabulous exercise for both of you. Read Blue Cross's top tips to find out more and help you get started…  For most of us, finding the motivation to actually put thos... BCW fat cat vet nurse subWhy do vets carry out blood tests on pets? Posted on 19 Apr 2013 Caroline Reay, Chief Vet of the Blue Cross animal hospital in Merton, discusses the importance of blood tests for diagnosing problems with pets…  Everybody knows that medics take blood tests but the reasons are often a myster... HHP rabbit sub Top tips to think about when getting a pet rabbitPosted on 17 Apr 2013 Rabbits can make fabulous pets but their needs and the time and money required to keep them happy and healthy are often misunderstood. If you’re thinking of getting one for your family, Blue Cross has some top tips…  ... OllieHow Behaviour Adjustment Training helped dog Ollie and his ownerPosted on 12 Apr 2013Melissa Fletcher loved her Blue Cross dog Ollie but going out on walks left them both feeling upset and frustrated, as she tells editor Natasha Kleanthous...   Walking the dog is supposed to be a fun and relaxing way to spend tim... Tayto ‘My 10 hour journey to rehome the dog of my dreams’ Posted on 09 Apr 2013When Jane Bridge read the story of abandoned dog Tayto, it didn’t matter that she lived hundreds of miles away because she knew she was the one for her. To thank Blue Cross for helping her find her dream dog she held a fundraising tea... AIN sad dog subWhy do animals attack and what should you do if threatened? Posted on 05 Apr 2013  Reports in the media of animals attacking people, whether it’s a grisly bear in a remote US forest or a Jack Russell terrier in a UK suburb, can lead to panic. But what are the chances of being attacked by an animal and what s... May deaf dog subThumbs up for deaf dog MayPosted on 03 Apr 2013Deaf dogs can often end up unwanted because they’re seen as damaged goods, but they are just as trainable – and lovable – as any other dog. Little lurcher puppy May was found tied to a tree outside a Blue Cross rehoming c... HHP rabbit outside subEaster presents gone wrong – are your family really ready for a pet rabbit? Posted on 28 Mar 2013 Your children may love the idea of a cute fluffy addition to your household, but how ready are you? Claire Stallard, Blue Cross Animal Behaviourist, reveals why rabbits are one of the most misunderstood pets…  It’s no s... SimbaStray dog Simba’s journey to happinessPosted on 26 Mar 2013Simba was found living as a stray on the streets of Ireland when he was just a puppy. Now, two years after Blue Cross took him in and found him a home, we caught up with Simba and his family to see how he’s getting on…  W... OllieThe future’s bright for Bobby Posted on 25 Mar 2013Bobby was a tiny puppy when he became homeless and was forced to fend for himself, but just look at him now...  When we first met Bobby he was a bewildered little puppy who had been found living on the streets of Ireland when he was o... HHP cat in garden Is your garden pet friendly? Posted on 20 Mar 2013Caroline Reay, chief vet at the Blue Cross Merton animal hospital, has some tips to transform your garden into a natural playground for your pets…  Pets can be a challenge for keen gardeners but there are great opportunities to... Dave Blue Cross pug Dave finds a new family – and an unexpected friend Posted on 19 Mar 2013As soon as Kimberley saw Dave the pug’s profile on the Blue Cross website, she was smitten. She tells editor Natasha Kleanthous how the newest member of the family is settling in and about his unlikely “bromance” with Tazz... PIN - bull terrier puppyWhy is your dog itchy? Posted on 18 Mar 2013 If your dog seems to be scratching a lot, there could be a few causes, as Caroline Reay, Blue Cross chief vet, discusses…  While mange may worry owners, the commonest cause of itchy or sore skin in dogs and cats is fleas, oft... 

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