Beau is going to the Blood Bank

[tla0126]

Hey all, I was reading through the posts here a while back, and ran across someone who's dog donated blood. I thought that was the neatest thing and did some research and found an animal blood bank in Tucson. I have an appointment for Beau today to have a full blood panel done and a urinalysis to make sure he's in good health. After that, they will schedule and appointment for him to come in and donate blood!

Just to think he could help a pup in need is really exciting. Just to cover my bases, does anyone know of any complications with giving blood? They don't put him under, and from what the lady said at the blood bank, it sounds really safe... If anyone knows any different, or if any one has ever volunteered their dog, let me know! Thanks!

[KateG]

Hey, that's great! Abby has been a blood donor for about a year now, with no ill effects. She loves to go to the vet, where they make a total fuss over her and shower her with attention and treats. And they are so grateful to have a dog who just sits there and lets them poke her to draw the blood and then rehydrate her. Not only is she saving lives, she's being a splendid ambassadress for the breed!

I was a bit nervous the first time, but Abby did great. In fact, on the way home I passed a Red Cross blood drive and stopped in and donated myself. You should have seen the looks on the nurses faces when I told them I was donating that day was "because my dog just gave blood, and I figured it was only fair."

The only time Abby had to be sedated was when we responded to a late night emergency call and they did a dog to dog transfusion right there in the operating room. The other dog's family were sitting huddled in the car when I dropped Abby off. I wanted to go hug them, 'cause the vet wasn't sure their dog would make it. Fortunately when I called next morning to find out about picking Abby up, the other dog was making the rafters ring with its barking (something the Abbers is far too well behaved to do ).

We've only got another year or so before Abby ages out of the program (she loses her eligibility at 8). So go for it!!!

[targonrotts]

my dogs are donors for our clinic. they have been doing it for years.
they had their blood typed(dea positive) and get yearly blood work, cbc, blood parasite checks.
they usually doante 250-500ml at a time for their size. i let them donate between ages 18 months to 7 or 8 years. depending on health too.
they are pretty good about it so no sedation required. they get cookies and traets afterwards, so it becomes a not-so-bad experience.
we use them a couple of times a year. only when we need fresh whole blood for a particular case. we mostly get blood from a blood bank.
it is rewarding though.
when a life is saved it is worth watching the happy owners and pet reunited.

[Silvermarten]

Both my dogs are canine blood donors

That's great that you are going to have Beau be one and help other dogs.

There really doesn't seem to be much in the way of possable complications . *if* you have a fussy dog that won't lay still with the needle in their jugular then a large hematoma could result. Usually it's obvious which dogs won't be still before the needle is inserted and those ones are sent home so as to avoid any trauma. Often the next time they try to donate they've become a little calmer and all goes well

Henry is sensitive to the Nolvason scrub that is used to prep the venipuncture site . He developes a giant nasty dermatitus ( like a hotspot ) within 12 hours .
Now I just make sure to rinse his neck well with water afterwards and then he's fine .
Blaze has no issues ( other than being Blaze ).
I had hoped it would slow both dogs down but they show no signs of any effect and have both left the clinic and immediately gone to agility and been their normal tornado selves.

[Terri Lambert]

My older rottie donated blood earlier this year, actually the day after I lost my dachshund to heart failure, to a dog in need but unfortunely the other dog did not make it. But we tried and I would do it again if needed at the hospital where I work.

[tla0126]

Update.....

Well, Beau is a flop... hahaha! He was so goofy at the doctor's. He acted like such a baby!!!! They took him out of the room to take his heart rate, temp, urinalysis, and blood, and he acted like they were coming at him with knives.... The poor blood donation manager came out and was like, I don't know if this is going to work out, he seems to be really suspicious of everything. They finally were able to take his heart rate, but it was a NO GO with the temperature. So, unfortunately, it didn't work out. I have an appointment again next Wed for our Chow mix sam... He's a lot more mellow. Hopefully it will work out, I'd really like to help!