#WorldBloodDonorDay: Did you know dogs can donate blood?
SANDTON – Your dog can be a hero – find out how they can save a life.
It’s World Blood Donor Day (14 June) and many people rush to assist with blood donations for humans.
However, animals are often also in need of blood, and your furry friend might be able to save another dog’s life.
It is not uncommon for dogs to donate blood and most veterinaries do offer this service. There is a set criteria for your dog to become a donor.
Sandton Chronicle spoke to Jacqui Ruttimann, veterinary hospital manager at the Bryanston Vet to find out more about this process.
Ruttimann said that any dog that is healthy, weighs more than 25kg and older than a year can donate blood. “They must have a reasonably calm temperament and not be aggressive in any way.”
She said the blood is stored in an anticoagulant in the fridge until it expires after one month.
“At the time of each donation, we do a basic TPR [temperature, pulse and respiration] check and a blood smear to ensure the animal has enough platelets and it doesn’t have biliary [tick bite fever].”
Dogs who may need a blood transfusion include any dog suffering from anemia, which can be caused by a multitude of conditions such as biliary, trauma, splenic masses and haemolytic anaemia.
Ruttimann said that dogs have a number of different blood types, but Dea 1.1 is the one they are concerned with. Dea 1.1 negative is the ‘universal’ blood.
“All dog blood can be used for different breeds but not different species of animals and there is no cost to the client whose dog is a blood donor,” said Ruttimann.
The NSPCA has a policy in place regarding blood donations and it is accepted that from time to time SPCA’s will be called upon to provide blood donors to their local veterinarians.
The animal selected to be a donor must be a healthy animal but already identified to be one that will be euthanised.
If the animal is removed from the SPCA to the veterinarian’s clinic, the animal must be euthanised after blood has been taken and returned to the SPCA – the animal must not be bled to death.
The alternative, if no animal identified to be euthanised is available, is for the veterinarian to draw the blood, give the animal a vitamin injection and return it to the SPCA.
Did you know your dog can be a blood donor? Share your stories with us on the Sandton Chronicle Facebook page.
