Dog Blood Donor

We are accustomed to participate in blood drives, especially after a natural disaster or major event, because we understand that blood transfusions save lives. Blood is needed every time there is significant blood loss caused by trauma or surgery. What happens when our pets need blood? Did you know that they too need blood available for them when they have surgery, accident or illness? There is a critical need for animal blood because it is not well understood that pet owners can bring their pet to donate to this cause. Just as we depend on blood donors in human blood banks for dogs belonging to other dogs to donate blood.

veterinary blood banks are a relatively new phenomenon (in the last 10 years) that most people do not know. Sometimes dogs need blood transfusions and emergency there are 13 different types of dog blood. Several regional banks have opened in animal blood in order to provide blood products to veterinary hospitals. Because our dogs are like our family members, owners, more than ever are willing to do whatever it takes to take care of their best friends when they are sick or if surgery is necessary. Pet health insurance is more readily able to integrate and now, so pet owners are better able to pay the cost of recommended treatment.

So how to get the dogs need they need before there were animal blood banks? Vets actually had to use their own dogs or ask your friends, staff and others to make them take their dogs to acquire the blood they need for surgery of an animal.

If you are thinking about allowing your dog to donate blood for use in a blood bank for animals, here are some guidelines for who they accept as a donor:

• Dogs must be healthy and vaccinated.
• Dogs should have a good temperament and calm enough to remain motionless on the side for 15 minutes.
• Dogs must have no history of having received a blood transfusion.
• Dogs should not be on any medication.
• Females must have a history of no pregnancy.
• Dog must enter the age and weight as follows:

1. Between the ages of 1 and 9 years old and weigh at least 50 pounds.
2. Between the ages of 1 and 7 years old weighing more than 50 pounds.
3. Between the age of 9 months and 7-1/2 years old and weigh 35 pounds or more.
4. Between the ages of 1 and 6 years old and weigh at least 55 pounds.
5. Between the ages of 2 and 6 years old and weigh over 55 pounds.
6. Less than 8 years old and weigh at least 55 pounds.

Veterinarians believe that the best dog blood donors are the largest breed of dog that have a universal blood group. About 40% of the canine population generally has the universal blood type and Greyhound dogs 60% chance of being the universal blood types. Only dogs that have a universal blood group are used as donors.

Most animal blood banks depend on voluntary blood donations and organizing regular blood drives similar to how the Red Cross blood drives held for people. Other regional banks with animal blood to maintain the stability of their own dogs in kennels on site to be used for blood collection. These dogs are given internally by the local shelters who prefer to retire, dogs, a blood bank to have to euthanize them if they are not adopted. The blood bank uses dogs as blood donors for a period of time and then tries to find them a permanent home.