Pet Care

Process of Pet Blood Donation in India

November 17, 2023

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Process of Pet Blood Donation in India

Donating blood saves life in animals also as well as in humans. What many people don’t know is that just like humans, our dogs and cats are also able to donate blood and help save the lives of other dogs and cats in need. Similar to humans, sometimes our pets require life-saving blood transfusions.

Blood donation does not harm your dog’s health but helps their body creating new blood. Blood taking is a simple 10-15 minutes process that collects the donor’s blood to transfuse to the recipient.

There are a number of reasons why a pet would require a transfusion, such as:

Acute blood loss (accident or injury)
Clotting disorders
Snake bite (Viper venom)
Anaemia
Cancer
Surgery

Every year since 2004, countries across the globe celebrate World Blood Donor Day to raise awareness about the need for safe human blood. But much like their human counterparts, the demand for canine blood transfusion is also on a steady rise. While canine blood donation is not unheard of, there is a serious lack of awareness surrounding the subject.

Our furry friends are particularly prone to blood loss or anemia due to various diseases, especially tick-borne diseases. Besides this, major surgeries and injuries due to accidents result in blood loss which requires to be compensated with a life-saving blood transfusion.

It is in difficult times like these that pet parents struggle to find suitable donors for their pooches. Currently, there is at least one dog that needs blood every week, while there are hundreds that lose their lives on a monthly basis. These numbers are on an upward trend, however, as a pet parent, you can do your bit to bring about a change!

First things first, what is your dog’s blood type?

Yes, just like you, your furry friend also has a blood type. Dogs have 7 blood groups that are determined by the presence or absence of certain antigens (proteins and sugars). Out of all these blood groups, DEA 1.1 negative is generally considered the universal donor. Most of the dogs are universal donors and in the case of first time transfusion, the animal can receive blood from any animal of the same species. It’s only after the first time that the animal will develop an antibody in its blood. Therefore, from the second time on, pet parents need to be mindful about their pet’s blood group. Canine blood transfusion is based on blood group and is not breed-specific, that means a dog from a particular breed can donate blood to another breed.

First things first,

what is your dog’s blood type?

Can your dog make a life-saving donation?

In order for your dog to be eligible to donate blood, it must be in general good health. Here’s a checklist you can keep handy to ensure your dog can make a safe blood donation:

Clinically healthy—assessed with exams and tests
Between 1 and 8 years of age
Weighing more than 25 kgs
Good temperament
No history of foreign travel
Regularly vaccinated
Not under medication
Packed cell volume (more than 40)
Negative for DEA 1 (ideally negative DEA 1, 3, 5,7 and positive for 4)
No history of receiving a blood transfusion

Not pregnant or history of pregnancy

Healthy dogs can donate blood every 2 to 3 months

Is the process uncomfortable?

Once your dog is cleared to donate blood, it will be lifted onto an operating table and laid on its side. Blood is usually drawn from the jugular vein at the neck and this area will be prepped (shaved and cleaned) before the procedure is carried out. A needle is then inserted into the jugular vein and up to 20% of their blood volume or 15- 20 ml per kg body weight, around 450 ml of blood is collected. Throughout the procedure, your pet will receive attention and praise so as to keep it at ease. In some cases, when the procedure is complete, dogs may need to be given fluids through an IV. However, most dogs recover quickly and are able to go about the rest of their day as they normally would without any strenuous activity.

Blood donation is not a painful procedure and can be stopped if your dog shows signs of distress at any point.

How should you care for your dog after the procedure?

There are a few measures you can take to provide necessary aftercare for your furball. It is advisable to maintain the normal feeding regime before and after blood donation unless requiring sedation. You should also provide fresh and clean drinking water right after the procedure. Make sure to leave the bandage on and dry for at least an hour after the procedure to prevent bruising and swelling. It is also advisable to refrain from using choke or pinch collars for 12 hours after the donation. You could contact your vet or officials at the blood donation centre if you notice extensive bruising at the site or if your pet shows any signs of being unwell within a two-week period after donating.

How can you contribute to the life-saving initiative?

While there may be a lack of awareness about blood donation for dogs, there are a few good samaritans who spare no effort when it comes to connecting dogs in need with suitable donors. Some do it using websites that act as a register of donors across the country, while some use social media groups that unite recipients with donors.

Process And FAQs On Blood Donation

Pet blood donation is a life-saving act and can be a little scary when you are unaware of the process and the know-how. We get that. Our fur babies mean the world to us, so when something like donating their blood comes into the picture, it is understandable to have a lot of questions. Because our fur babies mean the world to us, we must look out for other pets too and help any pet or streetie who needs us. We, more than anyone else, know what it’s like to love an animal and help save their lives.

There have been a lot of questions that pet parents have been asking us about blood donation in pets. So let’s get right into the process of blood donation and the questions you want to know the answers to.

Before we begin, let’s quickly understand-

Blood transfusion and blood types in dogs & cats

Like humans, pets too have blood types. Blood transfusion in cats and dogs is not breed specific but species specific. That means a Golden Retriever dog can receive blood from an Indie dog and a Maine Coon cat can receive blood from a Persian cat. Crossmatching (a test to ensure the compatibility of the two types of blood) is done before a pet receives blood from another. However, crossmatching is not necessary if your pet is receiving blood for the first time. There are over 13 recognized blood types in dogs and 3 in cats. Because of evolution and mutation, new blood types in dogs and cats are still being discovered.

The process of blood donation

There are some parameters that a donor pet needs to meet to be able to donate blood. We get this question asked a lot by most pet parents. So here’s a list that can help you ensure if your pet is fit to donate blood:

Donor Eligibility Criteria

Clinically healthy and between 1 to 8 years of age
Weighing above 8 kg for small breeds, 14 kg for medium breeds, 25 kg for large breeds in dogs and above 4 kg in cats
Completely vaccinated and dewormed
Free from any diseases
Free from any illnesses in the last 6 months
Free from ticks and fleas
Genetic diseases should be known by Pet Parent
Not under any medication
Should not have a travel history which is recent
If the pet is female, she should have not been pregnant in the last 6 months

Your vet may conduct some tests before your pet donates blood.

IMP: Healthy dogs and cats can donate blood every 4 to 5 months

Once the pet is cleared to donate blood, the vet will start the blood donation process.

Following is the process of blood donation in pets:

The pet is made comfortable before donation, making sure they’re calm and relaxed
The pet will then be laid on a table on their side. Blood is usually drawn from the jugular vein at the neck but the vet may also collect the blood from their paw
This is done by using an IV catheter which is attached to a specialized EDTA blood bag
Up to 20% of the blood volume is usually collected in one time
Throughout the process, the pet receives a lot of care, praise & attention for the amazing job they’re doing
The process of blood donation lasts from 1 to 3 hrs depending on the clinical situation of the pet and the process of blood collection lasts for less than 30 minutes
Once done, the pet is provided with a health supplement or an energy booster and kept under observation for 2 hours
Most pets recover quickly and go about their day as they normally would. It is recommended that you give your pet nutritious food, provide hydrating drinks like coconut water and avoid any strenuous activities after blood donation.

FAQs on Pet Blood Donation

Donating your pet’s blood may seem scary, but blood donation can actually revive your pet’s blood cells, improve immunity and is completely safe. We also understand that you have questions and concerns but we want to know that blood donation in pets is safe and a noble life-saving act.

Here are the answers to the questions that are frequently asked by parents about blood donation:

Which pets cannot donate blood?

The parameters for a pet to donate blood have been stated above. Pets with the following conditions cannot donate blood:

Abnormal blood clotting mechanism
Cancer
Low platelet count
Cardiac arrest
Snakebite
Pregnancy
Genetic disability
Pet recovered/suffering from canine distemper

Is blood donation in pets safe?
Blood donation in pets is completely safe as it is carried out in a clinical environment under a vet’s supervision. Most pets go back to normal within 24-48 hours.

Is blood donation painful for pets?

The entire process is quick and painless. The pet is made comfortable before donation and the process is carried out in a clinical environment by trained medical professionals who make sure your pet is comfortable throughout the process of blood donation.

Does blood donation make my pet weak or vulnerable to other diseases?

Blood donation does not make your pet weak or compromise their immunity. In fact, their immunity gets stronger after blood donation. Pets are provided with health boosters and kept under observation for 2 hours to check for any signs of weakness, if noticed, they are addressed immediately.

Can pets be sedated during blood donation?

Pees shouldn’t be sedated during the process of blood donation. Sedation can be life-threatening to the blood donor.

What should I do before my pet donates blood?

Your pet should be fed 2 hours before donation to avoid vomiting during traveling. You can give them medicines to control their motion sickness, speak to your vet about what would be the best option. Apart from that, CBC test, platelet counts test and all the blood tests recommended by the vet should be conducted before donation.
What should I do after my pet donates blood?

Your pet should be provided with nutritious food, a healthy drink and lots of water after they have donated blood. Keep a close eye on them for at least 48 hours, look out for any signs of distress or unusual activity, speak to your vet if you notice any.

Can blood donation take place across breeds?
Yes! As mentioned earlier, blood donation is species specific and not breed specific. So your Indie dog can donate blood to a Labrador and a Persian cat can donate blood to a Scottish Fold. Breeds do not play a role in blood donation but blood types do.

Can a pet who has recovered from parvovirus or tick fever donate blood to a pet suffering from the same?

Absolutely! A pet who has recovered from parvovirus or tick fever can donate blood as they have antibodies that aid faster recovery of the recipient.

How often can cats and dogs donate blood?

Healthy cats and dogs can donate blood every 2 to 3 months.

How long is the procedure of blood donation?
The process of blood donation usually lasts for 1 to 3 hrs and the process of blood collection lasts for less than 30 minutes.
Can I be present with my pet when they are donating blood?
You can, but since blood donation is carried out in a clinical environment and pets, especially dogs behave much better without the pet parents, the blood donation procedure is faster when the pet parent is not around. However, you can still stay with your pet if you wish to do so.
Where can I donate my pet’s blood?
Currently, there are no private blood banks for pets in India. That is why Wiggles.in has come up with the #BondedByBlood initiative that aims to connect blood donors & recipients from all over India.
Can I get paid to donate my pet’s blood?
A blood transfusion in pets is carried out only in life-threatening conditions and pets need blood only as a last resort for survival. Morally, blood donors should not charge any money for donations. The recipients can foot the traveling bill for the donor if the distance to be covered by the donor is too much.
How much does a blood test report cost?
A blood test usually costs around Rs. 500 to Rs. 2000 depending on the tests required.
Why is it important to know my pet’s blood type?

Dogs and cats have blood types just like us. If your pet is receiving blood for the first time cross-matching (test for compatibility) is not necessary. But if a pet is receiving blood for the second time, it is important to give them blood that is compatible with their own. Transfusion of incompatible blood can be fatal. Hence, knowing your pet’s blood type is important to donate & receive blood.

Compiled & Shared by- This paper is a compilation of groupwork provided by the

Team, LITD (Livestock Institute of Training & Development)

Image-Courtesy-Google

Reference-On Request.

Disclaimer: This blog is vet-approved and includes original content which is compiled after thorough research and authenticity by our team of vets and content experts. It is always advisable to consult a veterinarian before you try any products, pet food or any kind of treatment/medicines on your pets, as each pet is unique and will respond differently.