January is National Blood Donor Month, and BluePearl, which operates a number of pet hospitals, is taking this opportunity to raise awareness about pet blood donation.
Like people, pets sometimes require blood transfusions in medical emergencies, and these blood products often come from donations from healthy pets. Unfortunately, there is a nationwide shortage of blood products for pets, like the one experienced by humans, according to BluePearl.
To help combat this shortage, BluePearl is using Blood Donor Month to encourage pet parents to bring their cat or dog to the BluePearl Pet Blood Bank location to donate blood products. BluePearl Pet Blood Banks provide BluePearl Veterinary Hospitals with the blood products needed to save animals’ lives.
PEOPLE spoke with Dr. Meghan Respess, director of the National Blood Bank at BluePearl and a critical care veterinarian, about donating pet blood. Respess said she knows many pet owners aren’t aware that blood donation is an option for their cats and dogs, and that others may have questions about the process.
To learn more about how pet blood donation works and whether your pet is eligible to donate, read Repess’s advice below.
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A dog donates blood to the BluePearl Pet Blood Bank.
BluePearl Blood Bank
What is the situation with the shortage of blood products for pets?
“There is an increasing demand in the veterinary industry for blood products for pets as more pets seek urgent and specialized care. Just as in humans, blood products are essential for the treatment of a variety of conditions in pets, including bleeding, trauma and chronic conditions,” shared Respess.
Although demand is high, donations are low. BluePearl estimates it will need three times the donations it received last year to meet the demand for pet blood products in 2024.
Why is pet blood donation important?
According to BluePearl, one blood donation from a pet can save the lives of three animals. A pet blood product is used to treat a number of medical conditions and emergencies.
“Donating blood from pets gives patients a longer quality of life and saves them from emergencies. We see a lot of trauma, both blunt and penetrating trauma. We see chronic conditions. And as veterinary medicine advances, more and more people think of their pets as members of the family, we see that pets are living longer and we’re seeing more conditions. Some chronic health conditions in pets, like cancer, kidney disease and others, require transfusions of blood products — and some toxicities,” Respess said of cases where blood products are used.
What are the conditions for a pet to donate blood?
Repess told PEOPLE that BluePearl Pet Blood Banks is looking for healthy pets between the ages of 1 and 8. Pets must also meet certain weight requirements to donate blood, usually 10 pounds or more for cats and 50 pounds or more for dogs.
Even if pets are eligible to donate, BluePearl still screens the animals to ensure that donating a pet’s blood is right for them physically and emotionally.
“Pets undergo a physical examination and then laboratory diagnostics, which includes a general health profile and testing for infectious diseases because the safety of our blood products is of the utmost importance,” explained Respess.
“In that screening process, we also assess the pet’s behavior and stress level. That’s extremely important — and I can’t stress this enough — because even though we need blood products, we really want every pet to come in and have a positive experience. So behavioral assessments for stress also are extremely important for that process,” she added.
How does a pet parent organize a blood donation?
“BluePearl has about a dozen public blood banks,” where pet parents can make donations, Respess said. Owners can find the nearest BluePearl pet blood bank by visiting https://bluepearlvet.com/blood-bank/.
“If there isn’t a BluePearl near you, I encourage you to check out specialty emergency hospitals in your area and see if they have an active bank that you can participate in,” the vet added.
How long does it take to donate blood from a pet?
“The blood collection takes five to 10 minutes. But before the collection, the pets have an exam; we do a pre-blood test and make sure the red blood cell levels are appropriate. We check the hemoglobin to make sure the pet is not anemic and make sure the pet is feeling well enough comfortable to donate. So overall, pretty much anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes for the process from start to finish,” according to Respess.
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Do pet parents have to pay money to allow their pets to donate blood?
“No, this is completely free. Pet owners have the benefit of a free examination for their pets and all necessary laboratory diagnostics for them. There is no charge to the owner; they are there to make their pet a hero and help save lives,” he said. Respess.
How will pet blood donation fare in 2024?
“The Association for Veterinary Hematology and Transfusion Medicine is an organization, of which I am on the board, that works to develop blood bank standards in veterinary medicine, as well as research and promote other related industry standards,” Respess said, adding that the organization works to establish ” concrete answers when it comes to eligibility requirements for blood donation for pets and transfusion medicine and everything related to blood banks.”
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education