Wanted: canine blood donors with calm temperaments and a penchant for treats.
U-Vet Werribee Animal Hospital needs donations to the hospital’s dog blood bank.
Co-ordinator June Allison said the dog blood bank had been running since March last year and operating much like a human blood bank, with one donation able to help three dogs.
Donor dogs must weigh more than 25 kilograms, be between one and seven years old, fully vaccinated and have a clean bill of health.
Dr Allison said donors could be expected to give blood up to four times a year.
“It’s the same amount as you would take from a human – one pint of blood – and that’s why we use dogs that are over 25 kilograms,” she said.
“The dogs love it because all they do is come in, lie on the table, get treats and get a big bag of dog food at the end.
“If we had a really healthy patient that was very happy to be here but a bit excitable, then we would maybe give it a little bit of sedation to calm him down.
“But if the dog was anxious, we wouldn’t bother taking any blood from him because it’s not fair and that’s not what the blood donor program is about.
“In Australia, animal blood banks are quite rare, whereas in the UK and America they’re everywhere.”
Dr Allison said the blood bank also had an on-call database for cat blood donations, and it hoped to eventually expand its bank to have a constant supply of feline blood.
Details: 9731 2328 or email uom-blood-donor-program@unimelb.edu.au
