Blood Donors

Blood transfusions are an emergency life-saving procedure for pets with bleeding disorders or pets that have haemorrhaged after major road traffic accidents or other trauma. We are able to give them blood transfusions using blood which has been donated by young healthy dogs.

One such case is Ebony Messenger, a lovely Cocker Spaniel who had a problem called Auto-Immune Haemolytic Anaemia. This a serious disorder where the body's own immune system started attacking her red blood cells and she became very anaemic and poorly. We gave her a blood transfusion using blood donated by a client's dog and started her on remedial treatment immediately. This blood transfusion was necessary to save her life and enable the treatment for the disease to take effect. Luckily Ebony responded well to treatment and is doing well now, but would have died without the blood transfusion.

We are appealing for volunteer dog blood donors. However, donor dogs need to be over 25kg in weight, healthy, adult and between 1 and 8 years old. Blood is a living tissue and doesn't store for long so what we actually need is your name and telephone number(s) if you would like your dog to help so that we can telephone you if such an emergency arises. Please contact Victoria Morris who is a student Veterinary Nurse at The Veterinary Hospital on 01752 702646 if you feel you and your dog could help.