Joint Blood Drive Highlights Need For Pets And People To Donate Blood

An innovative blood drive aims to increase the flow of blood donations by both people and pets.

On July 10, employees of Mars Veterinary Health can visit the Mars Petcare headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee, to donate blood with the American Red Cross of Tennessee and also have their dogs screened as potential blood donors through the BluePearl Pet Blood Bank. (BluePearl Pet Hospital is a specialty and emergency arm of Mars Veterinary Health).

While many Americans are aware of the need for human blood donors, fewer are aware that animal hospitals need dogs and cats to donate blood to help save the lives of other pets, according to Lenore Bacek, DVM, MS, DACVECC, vice president of clinical affairs at BluePearl Pet Hospital.

“There’s definitely a lack of awareness that our pets have the same needs,” she said. “They need blood transfusions for all sorts of medical conditions and emergencies, just like people do.”

Around 950 dogs and cats currently participate in the pet blood bank program. While most domestic cats have type A blood, exotic breeds often have type B, which is extremely sought after because it’s so rare, according to Dr. Bacek.

“When we find a type B donor, we are very excited to have them in the program,” she said.

One blood donation from a cat or dog can save the lives up to three other pets, and BluePearl Pet Blood Bank sends a notification to pet parents of donors whenever their blood is used to help another pet.

In addition to the reward of saving the life of another animal, feline and canine blood donors receive a free checkup before every donation and free annual bloodwork.

“I think that is a tremendous financial savings for them,” Dr. Bacek said. “And we are working with VCA and Banfield, our two sister business units in North America, and they’ve offered up some discount visits.”

Requirements For Dogs And Cats To Donate Blood To Pet Blood Bank

The BluePearl Pet Blood Bank is completely voluntary, though the hope is enrolled dogs and cats will donate blood about every 12 weeks, or around four times a year, according to Dr. Bacek.

To qualify for the program, dogs must weigh at least 50 pounds and be 1-8 years old. Cats must also fall into that age range and weigh at least 10 pounds. Both species must be considered healthy, be up to date on certain vaccines like rabies and distemper, and take year-round flea, tick and heartworm preventive medication.

Dogs and cats cannot be fed a raw diet out of concerns of salmonella transmission; raw poultry diets can also put cats at risk of contracting bird flu). They also can’t be taking certain medications or have received a blood transfusion to quality as donors.

While most cats are sedated to donate blood, many dogs simply lie still while donating, Dr. Bacek noted.

“It’s nice when they’re friendly, calm and have a good disposition,” she said. “We can certainly sedate them, but some of the dogs don’t need sedation.”

The Blood Donation Process For Dogs and Cats

The blood donation process for dogs and cats is “very, very safe” and only lasts about 10 minutes, according to Dr. Bacek. Afterward, they are typically spoiled with treats and love from the veterinary team, as well as toys and bandanas that read “I’m a Hero.” Some repeat canine donors are excited when they arrive because they’ve enjoyed past donation experiences so much.

“It’s very quick and we try to make it a very calming, peaceful process,” she said.

It can also be a rewarding process. For instance, at a pet blood donor appreciation event in Tampa, Florida, Dr. Bacek and other attendees were touched when a golden retriever who received a blood donation met the blood donor – a Labrador retriever – who saved his life.

So knowing a beloved dog or cat saved another beloved pet through blood donation is often the greatest benefit of participation.

“There is a component that’s just very emotional,” she said. “It’s really special to know that your pet actually helped save another pet.”

In fact, Dr. Bacek and her husband are enrolling their two cats, Bert and Ernie, in the BluePearl Pet Blood Bank program in hopes of saving the lives of other cats. She hopes tomorrow’s joint blood drive inspires other pet parents to do the same.

“We just want people to understand that it’s not scary,” she said. “It’s very, very vital for our hospitals to have these products.”