Canine Blood Donors-Would you do it?

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Well I don't ever have to answer that question because Tara is too little. It appears there is a 55 or 60 pound minimum weight. What do you think about having your Doodle donate blood either by being on call for emergencies or donating to a canine blood bank?

Is there any one here who is already donating?

It was almost closing time at our clinic when a woman ran into our waiting room screaming that she had just found a dog lying in the street who had been hit by a car. The veterinary technicians rushed the dog into the clinic on a stretcher. "Lucky" was alive, but he was in shock and unable to move. We immediately began treatment to stabilize him, provide pain relief and treat his wounds.

Despite administering large volumes of fluids and drugs to treat the shock, Lucky's gums remained pale and his abdomen tender. An ultrasound revealed fluid in his abdomen; a stomach tap told us this fluid was blood. Lucky's spleen had ruptured and we had to remove it immediately or he would die. He would also die if we didn't have enough blood available to transfuse him during and after the surgery - and we didn't. We had exactly one unit of blood, and the nearest emergency hospital that could supply us with the blood we needed was three hours away. Thankfully, one of our technicians, Dawn, is the parent of a young, healthy Great Dane named Nathaniel who she volunteered as a blood donor. Dawn ran home to get Nathaniel while we prepped Lucky for emergency surgery.

Requirements:

• Healthy and Happy
•  Greater than 60 lbs
•  Between 1-6 yrs old
•  Able to lay still for 10 minutes

There are a few other requirements regarding vaccinations and such too.

Oh, and Lucky survived thanks to Nathaniel's donation! :)

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I don't know if titer tests for rabies would be acceptable or not but that might be a way around it...

[Lynda Kamrath]

Usually the vetinary office will ask somebody who has a dog that is large and well if they would consider donating blood at the time of an emergency.  This happened to my neighbor.  She said sure and the blood was taken from her lab right then.  I have been a blood donor many times, but never heard of dogs being registered as donors.  Both of my doodles now are needle shy and throw a fit even when they need a shot, so they probably would not be good donors.  But a large mellow dog usually won't mind being handled by the vet and giving blood.  My first doodle had this personality, but he also had liver failure and would not be asked to donate.  Depends on the dog.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I agree it would really depend on the dog. I'm not sure I've ever had a dog that was calm enough to be a good candidate. I guess when you have to drag them into the vet's office it isn't a good sign. :)

[Joanna, Zoe & Bender]

Zoe is too small but if I had a large, healthy dog and there were no bad effects i think i would.  As Andrea said in the previous comment, "You never know when your doodle might need it in return".

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I think it is a great idea to have a canine blood bank. It would be comforting for me to know that there would be blood available for Tara if she needed a transfusion. I don't know if we have that service available locally or not. I live in a fairly rural area. Maybe I will give the 24 hour emergency vet a call and see if they have donors on call or a blood bank. It would be good to know.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I can see donating and I think Bella would do fine with it. Murphy is afraid of Q-tips at the vets office so I'm thinking a needle would send him clawing through the wall.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

LOL! Tara and Murphy have that in common! The first time she had a blood draw (for her spay) they did a really lousy job and had to redo it, call in the doctor, etc.. Now she has to be peeled off the ceiling if someone comes in the room with a needle!

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Amazing how they remember so well. Yes, Murphy and Tara would race eachother to the door if they saw a needle at the same time. Lol

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

When Guinness had pancreatitis there was a good possibility that he would need a transfusion.  The Hospital where he was staying did have a blood bank, so he would have been okay.  I have definitely thought about Murph as a future blood donor.  He's slightly under 60 pounds, so right now he wouldn't qualify, but eventually I think it would be a good thing to do.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

It would be a wonderful thing to do.

[Camilla and Darwin]

I would definitely consider doing this with Darwin, he sounds like he fits the bill. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Jack couldn't qualify, he isn't healthy, but I would certainly do this if he was. He doesn't mind needles, either, he gets so many shots it's routine for him.