World blood donor day
Every year on the 14th of June countries around the world celebrate World Blood Donor Day. This day highlights the importance of donating blood to save lives. But did you know that your canine companion can give blood as well? The charity Pet Blood Bank operates across the UK, aiming to increase accessibility to blood products in the veterinary industry and save pet lives. Pet Blood Bank runs from lots of locations, including Mount Vets Hospital.
Why are blood products so critical in veterinary?
Blood products are lifesaving emergency treatments for many critical patients suffering from anything from acute blood loss to diseases causing a lack of red blood cells. Blood products help to stabilise these patients for long enough for a vet to correctly treat their underlying condition and are a vital part of their treatment.
Do dogs have blood types?
Just like humans, dogs have different blood types. Blood types are classified by the different proteins that are found on the surface of each red blood cell. In dogs there are seven major blood types, but the main type that matters for blood transfusions is DEA-1 which can be either positive or negative. DEA-1 positive is the most common blood type, meaning it is usually well stocked at Pet Blood Bank. DEA-1 negative however is a lot less common, making up approximately 30% of donor blood. DEA-1 negative is invaluable as it can be given to any dog in an emergency, meaning DEA-1 negative blood products are highly in demand. Certain dog breeds are more likely to have this blood type; you can check if your breed is likely to be a match on the Pet Blood Bank website.
What kind of dogs are suitable to donate?
Pet Blood Bank has the following criteria for the dogs that can donate blood, this is for your pet’s safety and the recipient’s.
Your dog must be:
- Fit and healthy
- Between one and eight years old
- Weigh more than 25kg
- Have a good temperament
- Have never travelled outside of the UK and Ireland
- Vaccinated or have an annual titre test after the first-year booster
- Not on any medication
What happens at a donation session?
Once you have signed your dog up to a Pet Blood Bank session (donation sessions are held at Mount Vets hospital) your dog will have an allocated time slot. In this time, they will be weighed and examined by a vet, as well as discussing their medical history. If everything is normal, a small amount of blood will be drawn to ensure taking blood will not be dangerous for your dog. Once this has run and has come back clear your dog will be placed on a table on their side. The blood is taken from the jugular vein in the neck and takes roughly 10-15 minutes to take the maximum volume of 450ml. During this time, they will receive lots of fuss and cuddles from the team. After the blood has been taken, your dog will have their “tea and biscuits” time where they will be monitored and offered snacks and a drink. Please remember that treats are a big part of the process of the Pet Blood Bank sessions, so if your dog has any allergies, please bring in their own food. After the session you will be given a goody bag containing some treats and a toy!
What about cats?
While cats still require blood transfusions, Pet Blood Bank is not yet set up to facilitate this. In an emergency, cats can have canine blood transfused as a single lifesaving treatment. In the meantime, if you have a suitable cat that could donate blood you can register them on the Pet Blood Bank website. This means you can be contacted when facilities have been expanded to include feline patients.
The aim of blood donor day is to raise awareness of the importance of donating blood, by donating one unit of blood, your pet could save up to four other lives. If you think your dog would make a good donor, please follow the link to register them on the Pet Blood Bank website.
Helpful Links
To register your dog as a blood donor:
https://www.petbloodbankuk.org/pet-owners/dog-blood-donation/register-your-dog/
To register your cat as a donor:
https://www.petbloodbankuk.org/pet-owners/cat-blood-donation/
To check if your dog is likely to be a DEA-1 negative donor:
https://www.petbloodbankuk.org/pet-owners/dog-blood-donation/dog-blood-types/
