Chemotherapy, various surgeries, dental and even ophthalmological care are provided to sick dogs. What dog owners know less is that their pets can benefit from a blood transfusion when needed.
Blood donation, a vital need
In the event of an accident, hemorrhage, anemia, cancer or surgery, your dog may need a blood transfusion. But for this transfusion to be possible, there must be blood stocks that can only come from other dogs. Dog blood donation is therefore vital for the he alth of our canine friends. These donations are all the more important as dog blood does not keep well and must either be used immediately, within four hours, or stored for a period not exceeding fifteen days.
Transfusion is generally only considered as a last resort and in situations where the animal is at risk of dying, but blood is not always accessible.
There is, in fact, a cruel lack of blood banks for animals in France because there is not, strictly speaking, a blood bank for pets at the national level.
Some veterinary clinics have nevertheless taken the initiative to create them locally. These banks collect, package and store blood and blood products from dogs. The stocks of these banks are however mainly reserved for their internal needs, even if it is always possible that other clinics have recourse to them if necessary.
Which dog can donate blood?
In France, for a dog to be able to donate blood, he must be between 2 and 8 years old, weigh more than 25 kilograms, be up to date with his vaccines and be regularly wormed. Of course, he must be in perfect he alth.
Bitches that have already carried puppies or are pregnant, as well as animals that have already received a transfusion cannot donate blood, as they are likely to have developed antibodies against the groups blood to which they have already been exposed.
How does blood donation work?
Dog blood donation is quite similar to human blood donation. However, while the blood is taken in humans at the level of the arm, in dogs, it is at the neck, at the level of the jugular that the needle is introduced. This is where the blood flow is the highest, which allows the desired quantity to be collected in less time by immobilizing the dog for only a short time.
The dog is not anesthetized, but to prevent him from moving during the collection, he can be sedated.
The volume of blood taken is determined by the veterinarian based on the weight of the animal. The volume can be up to 20% of the animal's whole blood.
You should also know that a dog can donate blood 4 times a year with a delay of at least three weeks between two samples.
Blood donation is generally very well supported by dogs in which it leaves no sequelae. The entire collection takes 20 to 30 minutes after which the dog must eat, drink and rest.