Blue Cross Animal Clinic

08/26/2026

Did you know that Dr. England treats sugar gliders? 🩺

Toph was brought to our clinic for her initial assessment to ensure that she is healthy and clear to be slowly introduced to the rest of her owner’s sugar glider clan! Toph was acquired following the passing of her male counterpart in the previous home — since sugar gliders are social animals, it was for the best that she was brought into an environment with an established group of sugar gliders.

Sugar gliders are small, nocturnal, marsupials that require a large enclosure, at least one sugar glider companion, and a balanced, appropriate omnivorous diet to be kept happily and healthily. These unique creatures also require species-appropriate environmental enrichment (heat supplementation, sufficient space, safe obstacles for climbing, playing, and sleeping) and daily interaction, socialization, and handling from their human caretakers!

When kept as pets and given proper care and regular exotic veterinary care, sugar gliders can live to be up to 12-14 years old! While they are not considered suitable for beginner exotic pet owners, they are a fascinating and rewarding pet for experienced owners. If you are looking to keep sugar gliders, it is crucial to do thorough research and speak with responsible sugar glider owners about their care and behavior to determine if they are right for you! We look forward to continue treating Toph for years to come!

07/22/2026

🌾 Foxtails are spiked seed heads found on many varieties of w**d plants and long grasses throughout residential areas, such as parks and backyards, as well as nature trails.

When fully dried, the seed head’s sharp point can easily burrow into a pet’s skin and quickly migrate through tissue as the pet moves.

The primary danger lies within this migration of the seed, and associated abscessing or infection that can result. Foxtails commonly enter through a pet’s eyes, nose, mouth, or ears, and are quite irritating and painful. When a foxtail enters a pet’s body through one of these openings, common symptoms include persistent sneezing, nasal discharge, shaking of or pawing at the head, or head tilting.

If a foxtail has penetrated the skin of the paw, a pet may exhibit limping, a painful reaction when the paw is handled, or swelling and discharge seen at the point of entry when an abscess has developed.

As seen with our patient, Mason, long or dense fur types can easily hide the site where a seed has penetrated and the extent of swelling — especially between the toes, where these culprits were found! Fortunately, the seeds were removed, and Mason was prescribed antibiotics to prevent infection while the wounds healed.

Foxtail removal is not always straightforward, especially if the point of entry is the nose, mouth, or ears. In these cases, sedation is commonly required to safely remove the seed if it is directly accessible. If the seed is embedded deeply in the nose or ear, an otoscopy or rhinoscopy must be done.

We always recommend checking your dog’s paws, nose, ears, eyes, and mouth after walks or excursions where foxtails are present. If your dog has a long coat type, it can be helpful to shave the fur between the toes or around the ears and stomach to aid with preventing embedded foxtails.

Is never recommended to attempt removal of a foxtail seed at home if it has become embedded in your pet’s skin, as pieces can break away and remain in the tissue.

If you suspect your pet is experiencing an issue related to a foxtail, please give us a call!

06/30/2026

06/21/2026

Happy Father’s Day to all the amazing pet dads!
Your love, walks, and belly rubs make a huge difference. 🐾❤️

06/19/2026

Heartworm Disease Awareness 🦠🦟

We bring an important case to you in partnership with the wonderful organization, NMDOG!

Angela Stell, founder of NMDOG, provides crucial and compassionate support and rescue to the community and dogs of New Mexico, with a special focus on chained and forgotten dogs.

Jace is a newly rescued dog evaluated here at Blue Cross Animal Clinic.

A cornerstone of Jace’s assessment included a Heartworm Antigen Test — this test screens for proteins of adult female heartworms in the blood.

Unfortunately, Jace’s test came back positive.

The only bright side to this discovery is that Jace was diagnosed during the Class I stage of the disease, meaning that the antigen test was positive, but the disease had not progressed enough to result in outward symptoms. Jace is at the lowest risk of complications during this stage, but treatment is still necessary to eliminate the infection.

Many heartworm positive dogs are not as fortunate, and their disease is discovered during a later stage that has caused damage to the heart, blood vessels, and lungs inflicted by mature worms. Damage inflicted by worms is ongoing without treatment, and symptoms can include exercise intolerance, fainting, coughing, and weight loss. Long-standing Heartworm Disease can result in eventual heart failure and death.

Treat worm for Heartworm Disease is a costly, long-term endeavor and requires strict crate rest for multiple months. The medication injected to kill adult heartworms in a dog’s body is arsenic-based and painful, and dogs are still at risk for complications following the injection, such as immune reaction or worm embolus caused by dead worms lodged in smaller blood vessels.

The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) classifies New Mexico to be at “medium” risk for Heartworm Disease, with 357 dogs positive for the disease in 2024.

It is considerably easier, safer, and strongly recommended to protect your dog with heartworm preventative medication. There are many options and formats of these preventatives, such as extended-release injections, tablets, chewables, and topicals.

Reach out to us today to schedule your dog’s heartworm test, or to discuss the best preventative option for your dog! 🩺🐶

06/09/2026

🚨 PET & LIVESTOCK HEALTH ALERT

A confirmed case of New World Screwworm (NWS) has been identified in a dog in Lea County, New Mexico.
NWS larvae feed on healthy living tissue and can cause serious wounds in pets, livestock, and wildlife.
Please check your animals daily for:
• Wounds that are growing, draining, or not healing
• Visible larvae or eggs in wounds
• Unusual discomfort or behavior
• Sores near the ears, eyes, nose, ge***al area, or navel
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for Credelio (lotilaner) chewable tablets, concluding that, based on the scientific evidence available, it is reasonable to believe that Credelio may be effective in treating New World screwworm (NWS) infestations in dogs and puppies and the known and potential benefits of the product outweigh its known and potential risks. This is the first time ever that the FDA has issued an EUA for an animal drug.Early treatment is critical. If you notice any of these signs, contact Blue Cross Animal Clinic at 505-255-5250.
More information:https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/nws-myth-busters.pdf
Please share to help protect New Mexico’s animals.

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. 🐾

05/08/2026

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!