Fox News reports about a unusual and wonderful service for dogs - Canine Blood Donors.
Here is a short excerpt of the article:
There's a golden retriever, an English springer spaniel, a Doberman and a handful of mixed breeds. But several times a year, they all become blood hounds. The dogs are part of a program that gives the gift of life to an injured or sick animal. They are blood donors. As often as every seven weeks, the area dogs arrive at the Animal Health Clinic of Funkstown, roll up their paws and provide between 8 and 16 ounces of blood. Over a year's time, the dogs will produce enough samples to save the lives of more than 40 dogs.
They are volunteers in the Canine Blood Donor Program, organized by the Blue Ridge Veterinary Blood Bank, based in Purcellville, Va. The blood bank has been in existence since 1993 and ships to more than 600 animal hospitals in the United States and Canada.
According to the blood bank, transfusions are necessary when blood is lost following an accident or during surgery. They also are needed when a dog's body cannot produce enough red blood cells by itself or when diseases cause the body to destroy its own red blood cells. The donation of a dog's blood means saving the lives of other animals and the demand for blood products continues to increase.
Just as humans have blood types, so do dogs. According to the Blue Ridge Veterinary Blood Bank, there are eight major blood groups in a dog, labeled as DEA - dog erythrocyte antigen - 1 to 8. The major antigens are DEA 1.1 and DEA 1.2. Dogs can be positive for either (not both) or negative for both. Positive dogs can give to other positive dogs, negative dogs can give to either negative or positive.
To become a canine blood donor there are some qualifications. The dog must weigh at least 35 pounds and be between the ages of 9 months and 7 years. It must be up to date on vaccines and heart worm prevention and cannot be on any long-term medications (pain medication, thyroid or seizure meds, for instance). The owner also has to be willing to make a yearlong commitment to bring their pet for donations every five to seven weeks.
During the first visit the dog will be blood typed and have blood drawn to run the necessary tests to make sure the pet is healthy. The cost to the owner of the pet? Zero, nothing, nada. In fact, if the donor pet would ever be in need of a transfusion, the blood product itself is free or discounted, depending on the length of commitment.
Donors also receive free yearly blood work at no cost to the owner and a free physical exam by the doctor at each donation. Each pet also is blood typed at no charge.
What a great idea!
