Did you know that pets now have life-saving blood banks in many cities? Did you even know pets sometimes need transfusisons? Maybe I’m the last one to the party, but I wasn’t aware of this until earlier this year when I received a newsletter from Seattle’s Acces Blood Bank.
If your pet has a serious injury or illness that requires transfusion, do an internet search on Pet Blood Banks or Animal Blood Products in your city. The blood is supplied by donor pets volunteered by their caring owners.
Acces and any good blood bank sets high standards for the quality of blood products, so they have to be selective in the animals they accept as volunteers. Don’t be offended if yours is disqualified. You would appreciate these standards if your cat or dog needed a transfusion. The age for donors can range between 8 months and 8 years, varying from one program to another. Here is a sample of criteria required by the Access Blood Bank:
Dogs
- Must be healthy and in good physical condition
- Needs to be well-behaved and have a good temperament
- Is between the ages of 1 and 5
- Weighs at least 50 pounds
- Does not have a heart murmur
- Is current on vaccines
- Is able to sit still for at least 10 minutes
- Has never received a blood or plasma transfusion
- Is not used for breeding
Cats
- Must be healthy and in good physical condition
- Is an indoor-only cat
- Is between the ages of 1 and 5
- Weighs at least 10 pounds
- Does not have a heart murmur
- Is current on vaccines
- Is not on any long-term medication
- Has never received a blood or plasma transfusion
- Is not used for breeding
If you know of someone who might be willing to participate in this program and whose pets fit these profiles, please pass along the information to them. Canine and feline blood supplies are always in short supply nationwide. If you don’t have a qualifying animal, the blood banks also need volunteer help with related activities. Please give a gift of life to another pet by volunteering with a pet blood bank.
If you’re in the Seattle area, you can contact Access at 206-364-1660.
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Thank you so much for posting this for us, we really appreciate it. Any help we can get for our blood bank at ACCES is much appreciated. Our sincerest gratitude.