Human medicine relies heavily on blood donations, and increasing awareness and capability is bringing the benefits of that system to pet care. If you have a young healthy pet, you could sign them up to save lives today.
Of course, there is plenty to consider and understand about pet blood donation before sticking your best friend with a needle. Keep reading as we look at the basics of pet blood donors and why they are so important.
The Importance of Pet Blood Donors
According to the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies “Highlights of Transfusion Medicine History”, the first recorded successful transfusion of blood was actually between two dogs in 1665 by Physician Richard Lower, over 100 years before the first successful human transfusion.
Just like humans, pets unfortunately suffer from emergencies and medical conditions that can exacerbate their usual blood stores. Maybe they suffered from severe trauma, like getting hit by a car, or they have an immune mediated disease that causes their body to attack its own blood cells. Maybe they got into poisons known to cause bleeding, like rat bait, or they were bitten by a snake.
Regardless of the reason, animals that find themselves in these situations are forever indebted to the blood donors of their species. Without them and the technology to match, fatalities would occur more frequently, and some pets may never receive the care they so desperately need.
Types of Blood in Pets
Blood donations are most common in cats and dogs, but other house pets (like horses) can also donate blood and plasma.
For dogs, there are 8 common blood types determined by the antigens in their blood, referred to as Dog Erythrocyte Antigen and a specific number. Like humans, their blood types can be positive or negative.
DEA 1.1 is the most common type, with breeds like Golden Retrievers predisposed to positive typing and breeds like German Shepherds predisposed to DEA 1.1 negative. DEA 4 is considered universal because all types include the DEA 4 red cell protein. Surprisingly, up to 75 percent of Doberman Pinschers have this type only.
Cats have only 4 blood types, with no one type as the universal donor. Most have blood type A, but some breeds (like Burmese) are prone to Type B. Types AB and O are the least common, with fewer than 1.1 percent of cats having either type.
Because there are so many different types out there, it’s important that as many healthy pets as possible get out and donate.
Pet Blood Donor Requirements
In order to donate blood your pet must meet a few basic requirements. These differ depending on where your pet is donating blood, but generally they must:
- Be between the ages of 1 and 8
- Be free of disease
- Meet healthy weight requirements (depending on pet type and breed)
- Be up to date on necessary vaccinations
- Not have had a blood transfusion
Veterinarians who participate in blood donation programs also prefer animals who are calm and collected to prevent complications, and it’s best that high-strung animals are not subjected to what can be a stressful process.
How to Register Your Pet as a Blood Donor
The North American Veterinary Blood Bank (NAVB) is the most popular bank in North America, but there may be smaller banks in your area. Check with your vet to see if they work with anyone in particular or can direct you to someone local.
To register, you fill out a simple form explaining some basic information about your pet. This includes what you typically update with your vet, including some specifics relating to heart and blood health.
Before approving your pet as a donor, they must go through a mandatory blood, infectious disease, and blood type screening. This helps determine their suitability as a blood donor.
What to Expect When Your Pet Donates Blood
When your pet donates blood, they first get a general health checkup to make sure there are no issues that may interfere with donation or put your pet at risk. As long as everything is clear, the attending veterinarian will then clip and clean a small area of their neck.
Pets donating blood are sometimes given a tranquilizer to help them relax during the process. They’re expected to lay on their side on the exam table for about 5 to 10 minutes while blood is drawn.
The exact time and amount of blood drawn differs and depends on their size and condition. Dogs average about 16 ounces per donation, while cats manage about 3 tablespoons worth.
When they’re done, donors are given the chance to rehydrate and a well-deserved treat. They may be a bit sore where they were poked, but that’s usually the biggest worry. Most pets can return for another donation in another 4 to 8 weeks.
What Happens to Your Pet’s Blood Once it is Donated
Preserving your pet’s donation starts when it’s drawn into a special collection bag featuring an anti-clotting solution. It’s kept cool as it’s sent to a processing center, where each bag is carefully inspected and recorded before it is sent through a centrifuge.
This machine spins quickly to separate the blood from plasma. The two parts are stored separately so that they last longer. With careful planning, a single donation can be used to treat up to 4 others.
Unfortunately, red blood cells have an extremely short shelf life and only remain viable for about 35 days. With more pet blood donors signing up every day, this problem gets less and less troublesome, but it’s still a huge problem in the United States.
