BLOOD BANK

Most people would never think about it, donating blood is something humans do, not animals. But the reality is that everyday, pets just like yours, need blood transfusions. For many procedures and emergencies a transfusion is a necessity and can be lifesaving.

How it works:

• Blood is donated once every 3-4 months.
• We will make an appointment with you 1-2 days prior to the day of donation.

How it is done:

• The collection area on the neck is shaved and surgically prepared to avoid contamination or infection.
• Blood is collected using a collection bag and needle similar to those used in humans.
• In some cases a light sedation may be needed to calm nervous donors. One bag of 500ml is collected per donor.
• We store the blood in a dedicated fridge in our practice. It is used for critically ill patients suffering from tick bite fever, auto immune mediated blood disease or trauma patients. Another component of blood, called plasma is used for our parvo patients, as well as rodenticide toxicities.
• In all of the above cases, blood or plasma transfusions are essential for the patients and could mean the difference between life and death.

Donor requirements:

• Dog must be between 1-6 years old
• Have a good temperament, not aggressive
• Weigh more than 25kg
• Vaccinations up to date
• Must use tick and flea treatments monthly
• If they have ever received a blood transfusion themselves, they can’t become a blood donor.