Pet Blood Donations --- It’s likely you Can Help!!
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Have you ever had a pet that needed surgery? Has your dog or cat ever been in critical condition and needed a blood transfusion? Have you ever wondered where this life-saving elixir comes from?
In most cases, we reallydon’twonder about it. We just expect they needed blood to magically be there for us and our beloved pooch or kitty.
But…that’s not how it works.
Did you know that there is a nationwide network of blood banks for animals?
This network supplies veterinarians, emergency and specialty animal hospitals with the blood products necessary for:
- Surgeries
- Acute conditions such as trauma, and
- Chronic illnesses like cancer or kidney disease.
Dr. Meghan Respess
Dr. Meghan Respess, a critical care veterinarian and board member of theAssociation of Veterinary Hemotology and Transfusion Medicine, has long had a passion for growing and developing blood banks for animals around the country.
“We have come a long way in the past few years,” says Dr. Respess. “Historically, many veterinary practices have screened their own donors, many of which are their own employees’ pets. Then they bring these donors in for donations when a need arises. This can be problematic, because there’s a gap in time between getting the blood and the immediate need. But since the inception of commercial blood banks, the blood has been more readily available for critical situations. So things have improved.”
However, there’s a problem: There’s a serious blood shortage.
Pet Blood Donations are desperately needed
Dog receiving blood
Dr. Respess explains: “Our pets are part of our family. More and more pet owners seek emergency and specialty care to save their pets’ lives when they are faced with serious illnesses. So the need for animal blood products has grown exponentially. But the number of blood donations available for use remains dangerously low.”
“Experts in the field are saying we’ll need a significantly higher amount of donations this year than we needed last year to meet the demand,” she says.
Consequently, because of the lack of donations, a number of commercial blood banks have been forced to close their doors. Respess says,“They’re in it to save lives. But without the blood donors, they cannot stay open, thus worsening the shortage.”
What can We Do?
Look for a specialized vet
Pet lovers who have healthy cats and/or dogs have generous hearts and most are willing to help alleviate this dire situation. Accordingly, here’s what you can do:
- Look for a specialty and emergency practice near you.These hospitals provide specialized care for diseases or illnesses such as orthopedics, cancer, kidney or liver disease, and trauma, among others. Inquire about having your pet donate blood. [If you live in a rural area that’s not near a specialty practice, contact other veterinary practices. They may welcome having your cat or dog donate in emergency situations).
- Your pet will go through a screening process. Here are some of the requirements:
- Your pet must be healthy
- Must be between 1 and 8 years old
- Dogs must weigh over 50 pounds
- Cats must weigh over 10 pounds
- Must not be on any medication (except flea, tick, and heartworm preventatives)
- Be current on all required vaccines (rabies, DHPP)
- Cats must be indoor cats
Screenings to Protect your Pet and any blood Recipient.
Dog getting blood screened
Of course, the safety of the blood products is incredibly important. For this reason, your pooch or kitty will receive some health screenings and checks for infectious diseases. If they pass these diagnostics, they may then be scheduled to come in and make their donations.
The blood is usually replenished within a couple of weeks, and the only side effects might be some slight bruising.
Respess assures pet parents, “With the pre-blood work that needs to happen to ensure your pet is still healthy and comfortable donating, the entire procedure takes 30 – 60 minutes. The blood donation itself only takes 5-10 minutes, and for most pets, the experience is positive. The well-being of the donor is of the utmost importance. If the pet is stressed during the screening process, we do not recommend them enrolling in the donor program.”
“Pets that have passed the screening process can donate on a regular basis,” she continues. “We generally recommend at least 8 weeks between donations in dogs and 10 weeks in cats, but more frequent donations can occur when needed.”
The bottom line…
Pet blood donations not only save lives but increase the chances for longer quality of life in many pets.
“For animal blood banks to serve the growing needs of pet lovers, we need to increase the donor pool tremendously,” Dr. Respess concludes. “So I strongly urge you to learn more about pet blood donations and consider if your own pet can be a donor. Tell other pet owners about the need. Spread the word. After all, it’s all about you and your pet helping to save lives and keep families together.”
One last Note – Blood Donations is Not a new Invention!
Donate for a free Banixx Pet Care spray!
Healthy humans have been safely donating blood since the early 17th century. In 2017 approximately 8 million people in the USA donated about 12 million units of blood….safely! updated figures for 2023/2024 are not available. So, for me, I’m trotting my healthy 6-year-old spayed female dog to the nearest facility to do my part…how about you?
“To AnyOne who takes their dog or cat for a blood donation, send us a copy of the receipt and Banixx will send you a 2oz Banixx Antimicrobial Spray (worth $9 on average)PLUSdonate $10 toDanny & Ron’s Rescuein Camden, SC. This rescue alone has saved 14,000 dogs and placed them in ForEver Homes!
Did you know?
Pets have different blood types, too!
Cats and dogs are different blood types
Just like humans, dogs and cats have different blood types:
- Dogs have 13 known blood types, but the most important one to consider when giving blood is DEA 1 (negative vs positive). DEA stands for Dog Erythrocyte Antigen.
- Cats have 3 main blood types: A, B and AB. Type A is most common – about 99% of cats in the United States are Type A but vary by region. Type B is most common in certain pedigreed breeds. There is no universal donor among cats, since they have antibodies against the blood group antigen they lack.
Banixx Pet Spray
Banixx for Pet Lovers
We hope you’ll continue to come back and visit our blog soon to learn more about how to keep your pet happy and healthy. On the other hand, if you ever wondered about other cat and dog matters such asHow long can my do go without peeing? Orif you can pet a cat with ringworm? Well as you can see, we’ve got that covered too! Enjoy!
Source
https://avhtm.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=1
