Canine Blood Donation
Who qualifies as a blood donor?
Who qualifies as a blood donor?
- Must be well behaved and friendly.
- Must be a minimum of 50 pounds.
- Must be between 1 and 8 years of age
- Current of all vaccinations and free from infectious diseases.
- The donor must take heartworm, flea and tick prevention between the months of April to October.
- No history of serious illnesses or previous blood transfusions.
- Females can never have been pregnant.
As the owner of a blood donor you will be asked to commit to 6 donations, usually in a 12 month time period. It has been proven safe for canines to donate every 4 weeks; however RMBS typically schedules donations every 6 to 8 weeks. In rare emergencies, donors may be asked to donate before their scheduled appointment.
Benefits
The possible donor is initially screened for any metabolic abnormalities. Once the prescreen is reviewed, DEA blood type is determined and the donor is screened for exposure to blood borne parasites and diseases. All blood screens are at no cost to the owner.
Reimbursements will be given once the donor has completed 6 donations. Receipts from routine veterinary care must be provided for reimbursement. Reimbursements are up to $150.00 per 6 donations, depending on the type of donor. If you choose to continue in the program after the 6th donation, another routine blood screen will be performed before the donor continues.
Donation Process
Donations will be scheduled at the owner's convenience. The actual donation process will take approximately 15-30 minutes. All donations are performed at Animal Emergency and Specialty Center (AESC). The donor must not have any food 12 hours prior to the donation and no strenuous activity 24 hours after the donation.
In accordance with asepsis, a small area will be shaved on the donors neck and will be cleaned using a sterile technique. Minimal side effects may occur such as: clipper burn, bruising and swelling.