Home / Gaia Toast / HOW YOU AND YOUR DOG CAN SAVE A LIFE
Besides adoption, there is also another way you can help to save lives as a pet owner. You can sign your dog up to be a blood donor.
This act of kindness helps injured or sick dogs in need of blood transfusions. Transfusion may be necessary due to…
Blood loss from accidents or during surgery
Red blood cell destruction from immune-mediated diseases or blood parasites
What is the donation procedure like?
The actual process itself may take a couple of hours up to half a day. That includes administrative time, health checks, the actual procedure and resting period.
Your dog will...
Get a full physical examination and have some blood drawn first for testing*
Undergo mild sedation^ to draw blood from the jugular vein (a large vein found in the neck)
Be closely monitored, given time to rest and given intravenous fluids, i.e. be put on drip
Be offered treats, food and (lots of cuddles) before discharge
*Blood tests are necessary to assess the blood cell counts, state of organ functions and screening for any heartworm/tick fever, etc.
^We have met dogs with calm temperaments and are able to donate blood without sedation. So sedation is not necessary required in such cases.
What are the risks of donating blood?
There are some risks if your dog has pre-existing/underlying conditions, e.g. kidney disease. That is why your vet will do blood tests and physical examination before your dog is cleared to donate blood.
Most of the time, drawing blood only requires mild sedation and poses a low risk to your dog if he is deemed fit to be a donor. You may observe some lethargy in your dog for the next couple of days until his body produces more red blood cells to make up for the donation. Otherwise, most donor dogs continue to be their happy and healthy selves after the procedure.
Does donating blood hurt my dog?
No. Your dog probably doesn’t realise that he/she is donating blood during the process so you do not need to worry!
How do I know if my dog is eligible to be a donor?
The ideal doggy donor should meet the criteria below:
Fully vaccinated and on regular parasite prevention medication
Not currently on any medications
Has never received a blood transfusion
“Dogs have different blood types too like us. Regardless of blood type, dogs can receive DEA1.1 or DEA 1.2 negative blood. This is like our human equivalent which is blood type O, or what we call the universal blood donor.” - Dr Anise Hee, Veterinary Surgeon, Gaia Vets
If your dog has received a transfusion before, he/she may have developed antibodies in their blood. These antibodies pose no risk or harm to your dog, but if he/she donates blood to another dog, a serious reaction can be triggered in the recipient dog.
How many times can my dog be a donor?
Generally as long as your dog is healthy and continues to meet the criteria mentioned above, he/she can donate blood more than once. Your family vet will be able to better assess your dog’s health condition etc. to confirm if he/she is fit to be a donor. According to the UK Pet Blood Bank, a dog can donate blood up to 6 times per year.
My dog does not meet the criteria, how else can I help?
Many of us in Singapore have small dogs that do not meet the weight criteria. But by educating yourself and spreading the word, you can do your part to save doggy lives too.
Share this with friends who have large dogs and encourage them to help. You can also donate your time to help ferry donor dogs to and from the clinic for the procedure.
You can also follow us to receive blood donation appeals on your Facebook newsfeed. As always, our team at Gaia Vets are here for you if you have any questions about blood donation.
