WHAT IS THE CRITERIA FOR A DOG/CAT TO BE A DONOR?
The following are the requirements for blood donors at our location:
Must be between 1 and 8 years old*
Dogs must be greater than 50 pounds
Must be healthy and friendly**
Must be on a monthly flea/tick/heartworm preventative
Must not have had previous blood or plasma transfusions
*New donors are admitted into the program through 5 years of age, existing donors can donate until their 8th birthday.
**All of our donors will have to pass a temperament screening which includes a mock blood donation. This screening will help us evaluate the ease of restraint and their comfort in our facility. This will be performed on the day of the initial health screening.
HOW OFTEN DOES MY DOG/CAT DONATE?
Once accepted into the donation program, donations will occur every 8 weeks if the pet remains in good health. Due to the investment in bloodwork, we ask that your pet commit to at least 1 year of donations.
CAN I BE THERE DURING THE DONATION?
During the process of donation, the owners are not able to be present.
DOES THE DONATION PROCESS HURT?
Donating is not painful to your pet. We minimize discomfort by using a local anesthetic cream on the venipuncture site. We will try our best to make this an enjoyable experience for your pet with treats and praise. We will practice positive reinforcement so your pet will look forward to donations!
CAN THEY EAT THE DAY OF DONATION?
Sedation is not required for blood donations so please feed your pet their normal diet the day of donation. They will also be getting a good snack after!
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS TO MY DOG/CAT BEING A BLOOD DONOR?
Annual blood work and examinations on donation days will be performed at no cost to you. Our donors will go home with goodie bags filled with treats and toys. They may also be posted to the ‘Hero Board’ in our lobby and social media sites with your permission. Most importantly, their donation can save other pets’ lives in our community!
WHAT HAPPENS IF MY DOG/CAT IS DIAGNOSED WITH AN ILLNESS OR NEEDS MEDICATIONS AND IS A DONOR?
This can be discussed case by case with our blood bank veterinarian to determine what is best for your dog and potential recipients of the donation.
