Blood Types in Dogs, Can My Dog Donate Blood?

Just like humans, dogs are different. blood groups and should be given a unit of the same blood group when they need a blood transfusion. It is known as Canine Erythrocyte Antigen or DEA. Dogs’ blood types are different from humans. Dogs’ blood types consist of 8 different groups called DEA 1.1, DEA 1.2, DEA 3, DEA 4, DEA 5, DEA 6, DEA 7 and DEA 8.

Each of these blood groups is determined based on the presence or absence of different antigens found on the dog’s red blood cells. These antigens can trigger the immune system by binding to the red blood cells in the dog’s body and require the use of appropriate blood in inter-dog blood transfusions.

For this reason, the blood groups of the dogs to be transfused must be determined and appropriate blood must be used. Veterinarians use special tests to determine the blood types of dogs.

The most common canine blood type is DEA 1.1. When we scan your dog’s blood, we will be able to tell you which blood group they belong to based on the antigens in their blood. However, the most important information when performing a blood screening is whether the blood is positive or negative.

hounds, boxer, German Shepherd Dogs, Dobermans And Pit Bulls It is more likely to be negative. On the other hand, Golden Retriever And labradors It is more likely to be positive.

Whether your dog’s blood type is positive or negative, every donation makes a big difference in the other dog’s life.

Why do dogs need blood transfusions?

Similar to humans, sometimes our pets need life-saving blood transfusions. There are several reasons why a pet might need a blood transfusion, for example:

• Severe trauma that causes acute blood loss, such as being hit by a car
• Blood coagulation and bleeding disorders
• Toxins that cause bleeding, such as rat bait and some snake bites
• Anemia (low red blood cell count) – most commonly immune-mediated destruction of red blood cells (RBCs) or platelets (without these dogs are at risk for severe bruising and blood loss)
• Cancer
• blood loss during surgery

Our hospitals always have blood available to provide our patients with this life-saving treatment because sometimes the difference between life and death is just minutes.

Donor Dog Criteria

Dogs must meet certain criteria to be a blood donor. These criteria are:

1. Being healthy: Dogs must be healthy in order to be a blood donor. Donating blood can put stress on the dog’s body, and a healthy dog ​​may be better able to tolerate the stress caused by donating blood.
2. Be of a certain age: Dogs must reach a certain age to be a blood donor. It is generally recommended that they be at least 1-8 years old.
3. Being a certain weight: Dogs must have a certain weight in order to be a blood donor. It is generally recommended that they weigh at least 25 kg.
4. To be vaccinated regularly: Dogs must be vaccinated regularly in order to be a blood donor. Vaccines strengthen the immune system by forming antibodies in the blood of dogs and reduce the risk of infection.
5. Not having donated blood recently: To be a blood donor, dogs must not have donated blood before. Frequent blood donations can inhibit the regeneration of red blood cells in the dog’s body.
6. No previous blood transfusion: Animals with previous blood transfusions are not selected as donors.
7. Having a calm, trusting temperament: When donating, dogs that can lie quietly with their owner for 5-10 minutes should be preferred.

Dogs that meet these criteria can be considered blood donors by the veterinarian. However, not every dog ​​can be a blood donor and veterinarians make this decision taking into account the dogs’ blood types and health conditions.

Blood Donation Process

in dogs blood donation processit happens like this:

Evaluation of the dog: The dog is evaluated for blood donation. The veterinarian examines the dog’s health status, vaccination schedule, blood type and whether it has donated blood before.

Blood group detection: The dog’s blood group is determined. This is important so that blood donation can be made in accordance with the blood type of the recipient dog.

Preparation: The dog is prepared. Preparation is important to keep the dog calm and avoid potential complications during blood donation. dog, tranquilizer or painkiller may be given and may need to be deposited or tied during the procedure.

Blood donation process: The blood donation process begins. Your dog will be taken to the donation bed. They can sit or lie on their side. A small area of ​​hair on the neck is clipped and cleared where to get the collection. Local anesthetic cream is applied to the area. The blood is then collected via the great jugular vein. It will take 5-10 minutes for the blood to be drawn. We use the same blood collection bags as the Red Cross. After the collection, a bandage is placed on the collection site and the process is completed. Blood is mixed with a substance called an anticoagulant, preventing it from clotting.

Improvement: The dog is kept under observation for a while after the procedure and the recovery process is followed. After the effects of the drugs given during the procedure wear off, the dog can return to normal activities.

Dogs can donate blood, usually every 2-3 months. However, this period may vary depending on the dog’s health condition and the veterinarian’s recommendations. Donating blood is important to save the lives of dogs with critical illness or injury. For this reason, dogs donating blood is a practice supported by veterinarians.

When can dogs donate blood?

Most veterinarians have specific requirements to ensure that blood donors are of a certain size and healthy enough to handle a blood donation. 25 kg is usually the minimum weight required for a dog to become a blood donor. It is also important that they have a calm disposition. heartworm And Lyme disease It should be negative in terms of infectious, blood-borne diseases and parasites and should be up-to-date on vaccines. It is important that they do not use any medication other than typical anti-parasitic agents.

Dogs can only give blood every 2-3 months, so if your dog is asked to give blood more often, he should not do so for his own safety. Veterinarians will check to make sure donors have an adequate concentration of red blood cells before donating. Frequent blood donors may need iron supplements to prevent long-term problems.