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OPVMC Blood Bank
Advances in veterinary medicine in recent years have dramatically increased the need for and use of canine and feline blood and blood products. At OPVMC we maintain our own blood bank in order to furnish our patients who need a blood product transfusion, an immediate supply. In addition, a few local veterinarians receive canine blood products from OPVMC when they have a patient who needs a transfusion. Our blood bank management is overseen by a veterinarian and you can be sure that our donors are screened for communicable diseases and are healthy at the time of their donation. Our canine donors are our clients' pets who, on a voluntarily basis, donate blood regularly. Our feline donors are pets who belong to our employees of OPVMC. None of our donors live on-site, but reside with their families.
Our canine donors' blood is very precious, and because of this, is separated into several different components to allow several patients to receive blood products from only one donation. We maintain a supply of fresh blood on a limited basis, packed red cells, and fresh & fresh frozen plasma for our canine patients. We maintain only fresh whole blood for our feline patients.
Blood Types
Dogs and cats have blood types and blood typing is generally required before a transfusion is given. Canine blood types are commonly referred to as Dog Erythrocyte Antigens (DEA), followed by a number. A dog can be positive or negative for each specific DEA. The DEA 1.1 is of the most clinically important and about 50% of all dogs are positive DEA 1.1 antigen. A DEA negative donor dog is the "universal" donor, but the DEA positive canine is, as a rule, much more prevalent in canine population. We try to have ample positive and negative canine blood on hand at all times! In dogs without a history of a previous transfusion that may cause sensitization, any type of blood product may be given for the first time. Subsequent transfusions need to be of the correct type. Our patients needing a blood product transfusion are blood typed to be sure the correct type of blood is given. In addition, our prospective canine blood recipient's blood is cross-matched with several of the units of blood products we have on hand to ascertain which donor is the most compatible match.
For our feline patients needing a blood transfusion, the process is the same, but cats have only one blood group system that has been well defined, the AB system. Three blood types make up the AB system: type A, type B and type AB. Cats must have one of these blood types. There is no type "O" blood in the cat population, like in humans. Blood type A cats are the most prevalent world-wide in domestic cats, but in some pure breds, the frequency of type B cats can be greater than 50%. Breeds more likely to have higher type B frequency are; Devon, Cornish Rex, British and Exotic Shorthair, the Turkish Van and Angora. The majority of the domestic shorthair cats have blood type A.
Blood Donations
Each blood donation is collected in a special purpose collection bag. These are the same type bags used by human blood banks because they preserve clotting factors as well as allow for sterile separation of blood components in a closed system. Laboratory tests for blood typing must be run for all new donors. A comprehensive battery of tests is completed on every new donor and there is also periodic testing for various blood-borne diseases and parasites as long as the donor remains active in our program. Our donors are also maintained on heartworm preventative medication.
Our canine donors are selected for their sweet nature and are not generally sedated to donate blood. They are giving a life saving gift each time they donate. How do we know the donors are volunteering? Dogs and cats are intuitive. It has been our experience that they seem to sense they are part of something special and are usually very cooperative. An animal that is not willing to sit still, or who seems fearful or apprehensive is merely telling us "hey, I think you're doing a good thing, but I'd rather not donate today". We respect the animal's choice and encourage their owner to do so, as well. Those who would rather not, are thanked for their efforts, and not forced to do so.
Donor Program-Dogs ONLY
 The Orchard Park Veterinary Medical Center's canine blood bank was implemented several years ago in order to offer our patients the best medical care available, including blood product transfusion, when needed. Transfusions of blood and blood products can help to improve a patient's chances of surviving a serious trauma, surgery, or illness.
We are always seeking canine blood donors of sound health and gentle nature for our program to replace our retiring donors. Prospective donors must be between one to six years of age, and 50 pounds or greater in body weight. The volunteer donor must also be current on vaccinations and on heartworm preventative but cannot be on any other long-term medications.
The donation process can be completed in less than 30 minutes and is typically performed without sedation. All blood collection supplies are sterile so there is no risk of acquiring infectious diseases by donating blood. Blood donations may be safely given once a month.
In addition to the benefit that your dog's gift of blood provides to fellow canines, our donors receive a complimentary annual physical examination, complete blood count and blood typing, heartworm test, chemistry profile, and screening for several infectious diseases.
For each donation, you will receive a 20-pound bag of dog food.
Additionally, if a donor dog is ever in need of a blood transfusion, the donor dog will be eligible to receive one blood product unit at no cost for each donation that pet has made.
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We hope that you see the importance of this program and will schedule a screening appointment at your convenience and be a part of giving the gift of life.
If you would like to be contacted about this program click here to e-mail.
Please provide us with the following information:
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