The 14th June is #WorldBloodDonorDay, and to mark the occasion Sally (the fluffy one) is going to donate blood for Pet Blood Bank UK.

Actually the dates aligning is just coincidence. Sally is a dog blood donor and she’s on the standby donor list, so if anyone can’t make their appointment we get a call up at short notice. We got the call yesterday to ask could we attend.

Pet Blood Banks

Just as there are blood donor banks for humans, several countries now have national or statewide blood banks for dogs (and cats). These tend to be established by charities or veterinary hospitals and sadly they always have high demand for their services so they are always looking to recruit new donors.

In the UK there’s PetBloodBankUK, in the USA the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation has a list of donor programs, in Australia it’s the Australian Animal Blood Bank, in New Zealand the New Zealand Companion Animal Blood Bank and Canada has the Canadian Animal Blood Bank. Asking Google for “pet blood bank” and your home state/country will give you their details.

Why Should My Dog Donate Blood?

Just one blood donation could SAVE THE LIVES OF UP TO FOUR OTHER DOGS. A single unit of donated blood is processed into two units of plasma and two of red cells. These are used in transfusions to canine patients who have suffered trauma, major surgery, or suffer from genetic blood disorders. Basically, for any situation in which a human might need a blood transfusion there’s a doggie equivalent. While previously, without access to blood transfusion services, these conditions would be fatal for our pets, today with the help of dog blood donors and blood transfusions it is possible to save and extend canine lives.

Why Does Sally Donate Her Blood?

One of Sal’s dog friends had an accident and required major surgery and then had major internal bleeding following the surgery. They needed a blood transfusion to stabilize them. They’ve since made a full recovery. This is how we first heard about dog blood donation and as Sal fitted the donor criteria I signed her up. I felt that we should give something back as her friend’s life had been saved through someone’s selfless donation.

Donor Criteria – Wanted: Large Friendly Dogs

• Be in good health, between 1-7 years old, and over 25kg
• Be friendly and calm in new surroundings and with new people
• Not having travelled abroad
• Be fully vaccinated and/or titre tested
• Not on any current medication
• Not have undergone major surgery (except spay/neuter) and not have received a blood donation

Note: each pet blood donor scheme has slightly different donor criteria so check with your local scheme.

Negative is a Positive in a Donor

Similarly to people, dogs have blood groups. There are at least 7, perhaps 11 different dog blood groups but they can be simplified as dog erythrocyte antigen (DEA 1) positive or negative or as a third rare group: weakly positive. Always the awkward nonconformist, you can guess which blood group Sally is! Negative blood types make up a third or less of the donor population, but these are the most valuable as they are universal donors. DEA 1- blood is able to be given to any dog in an emergency. Breeds and crosses most likely to be DEA 1- include:

• Airedale Terriers
• American Bulldogs
• Border Collies
• Boxers
• Dobermans
• Dogue de Bordeaux
• English Bull Terriers
• Flat Coated Retrievers
• German Shepherds
• Greyhounds
• Lurchers
• Old English Sheepdogs
• Pointers
• Weimaraners

If you are lucky enough to share your life with one of these breeds, and they meet the donation criteria, then please think about registering them as a donor. All dogs are special, but as blood donors these breeds are extra-special.

What Happens When Your Dog Donates Blood?

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This will vary depending on where in the world you are, and at the moment COVID restrictions mean that that for the safety of the humans involved, only the pets go into the donor centre.

In normal times you are met by a representative of the blood donor service. They ask you to fill out a health check questionnaire, weigh your dog on a step-on scales, and then you wait until the vet is ready to examine your dog.

Next, your dog is given a through examination. A small patch of fur is shaved on both sides of their neck (over the jugular veins). This is the part that is most tickly and scary to Sally. She doesn’t like the sound of the shavers and the feel of being shaved. After this is done, the nurses will withdraw a small vial of blood to check for clotting, cell count and to send off for screening for blood-borne diseases. If your dog’s blood clotting and cell count are within normal range you will then be asked to wait again until the blood donor team are ready.

Your dog is then taken into the donation room (in normal times you could go too and hold their paw!). They are lifted up onto a padded table and made comfortable lying on their side. A vet nurse then places the extraction needle in the dog’s neck and begins the donation. The dog is bled for no more than 10 minutes. In this time they hope to extract 1 pint of blood. If the dog gets distressed, the blood flow slows, or their heart rate changes then the donation session is immediately cut short. The welfare of the donor is of paramount importance. After the needle is removed they get a colourful vet-wrap neck-bandage and a lot of cuddles and fussing and told they are a good girl/boy!

After they have donated you are asked to remain in or near the session venue until your dog has drunk some fluids (plenty of waterbowls are provided) and eaten some food (bring your own or let your dog partake of the free treats on offer!) and has been checked over by the vet. There’s the obligatory photographs for the blood bank’s social media pages and then you are free to go.

Donors are not paid, but in the UK, Pet Blood Bank gives you a goodie bag with Fish4dogs treats, a dog toy and a bandana. More valuable than a cash incentive is the complete health check your dog has received for free, and the knowledge that your dog is helping save lives.

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Please Help Spread the Word

If your dog fits the criteria then please sign them up as a doggie blood donor today, if they are ineligible you can still help – please spread the word to friends with large friendly dogs that dog blood donors are needed. Take a moment to spread the word and save a life. Thank you!

Is your dog a blood donor? Any questions or comments about dog blood donation then leave a comment below.