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)]

Poor Jack! :(

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Yeah, but he is so amazing, Ricki. Anybody can do anything to him. On Tuesday, he let his vet tech do a hand-scaling of his canines, unassisted. Nobody in the room with him but her, and she had her hands and a sharp instrument in his mouth. She said they've never been able to do that with any other dog, "but I knew he would let me do it." He is such a trooper!

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

What a good boy Jack!! I bet Winston would be good at this too. They are always remarking on how good and calm and tolerant he is.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Wow, that IS amazing. I can't even imagine it!! LOL!  What a good boy and to be so trusting of people after all he has been through. It's almost like he knows that they are trying to help him.

[Pat and Traveler]

Jack is just amazing!  He's been through so much and is, like you said, a real trooper.  Trav is really mellow at the vet's too--he loves to go there, and needles don't bother him.  He's a bit too small to give blood, but I'm sure he wouldn't mind.  Laying still for 10 minutes---hmmmm...that might be a problem!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

At the risk of sounding like a nauseatingly proud doodle mom, he really is amazing. A few years ago, he stood (literally) for 30 minutes while the vet removed a small growth at the base of his tail under local anesthetic! I was all for anesthetizing him, but the vet felt that with "this dog", he could do it with just local. Much safer and cheaper, too.

If it was me, they would have had to put me out, lol.

[F, Calla & Luca]

What a good dog. I like to be awake for things, too.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I would do it to save a dog's life. Calla is just over 60 pounds now and I am hoping she will lose another couple of pounds so neither of my dogs would be eligible. I used to give blood regularly when I was younger and in fine health. I think it is a good thing to do.

[F, Calla & Luca]

It occurred to me when reading this that I didn't know much about dog transfusions and whether in fact all dogs can be used to transfuse others. Well, dogs do have blood types and there are universal donors and recipients but not all dogs can give blood for all other dogs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_type_%28non-human%29

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

I was wondering that very thing F. Stands to reason right?!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

That's very interesting.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Thanks for the additional info. It would be interesting to know your dogs type. Well, it would be to me but then I am the one that went for DNA testing too! :)