Bullmastiff Wiki Commons
Not every dog is suitable to be put on the blood donor list at your local veterinarian but most dogs can give a donation or two during their lifetime. But it is generally Labradors and bigger that are put on the list for emergencies after they are typed. For dogs there are 13 blood types with one being a universal type unfortunately very few dogs are found with this type whose owner is willing to keep them on the list. Vet practices need lists because the blood they take from the dogs only lasts a week so keeping it in stock for those times when it is an emergency is rather difficult.
Meet Nuke, the four-year-old, 138-pound bull mastiff he is a giant dog with a very relaxed, even disposition and happens to be a walking barking blood bank for his local veterinarian when emergencies happen in other dogs. Earlier this year, when the veterinary clinic his owners use found its blood supply short, a call went out to large and x-large dog owners within their practice to be blood typed. The simple testing showed Nuke’s blood is the universal kind that can be transfused into any other dog. This was incredible news for the clinic to find such a large dog whose owners were willing to become part of the donor list. The reason why this was so amazing is that not only can Nuke be called on to help any dog but he is large enough that in real emergencies he can be called on pretty often without any health consequences.
When an emergency happens and the veterinarian determines the only way to save a dog is with a blood transfusion Nuke’s owners get a call and they rush him over to the clinic where they take his blood the same way blood is taken in people. As a reward and payment for his donation Nuke gets dog food and his owners know that with Nuke’s help they probably just saved the life of a very sick dog that another family loves.
People need blood if they are in a trauma situation where they have lost a lot of blood. The same is true with dogs though in that case from what I have seen it is used as a last resort. The after affects that appear about a week later when the dog will be suffering from anemia because their body was tricked into thinking it didn’t need to produce new blood cells therefore most veterinarians will be very very conservative in doing blood transfusions. The big reason a dog would need a transfusion is hemolytic crisis, caused when a dog’s blood cells are being destroyed by its own body.
Dog blood types are much more complicated then the (human) A, B, O system, there are at least seven different antigens that a vet tests for. Only a very small portion of dogs tested have the universal blood type. Dog owners can help by contacting their vet and having their pet’s blood tested. Only larger dogs are suitable for becoming regular donors. They must be in good health and younger than seven years of age, since giving blood can stress older dogs.
Next time you are visiting your veterinarian ask them about their blood bank policy and if they don’t get their blood from a blood bank or sometimes run out ask if your dog would be a good candidate to go on their donor list. If you live near a veterinary college your vet most likely will not need a supply because many schools keep blood donor dogs at their facility. If you do live near a veterinary college and would like to adopt an older dog you might check with their donor bank as the dogs they keep do age out of the program at between 5 and 7. They are not sick in fact they have to be kept in perfect health and good physical condition their whole lives in order to be donors. They will just need a little help adjusting to home life.
I’ve had 4 dogs that have donated blood. It is a very rewarding experience. Thanks for posting this. I wish more people would consider doing this if their dog qualifies.