Pet blood donation is needed to save patient lives

Photos courtesy of BluePearl Pet Hospital

The demand for donated blood continues to grow, and veterinary professionals are working to meet the needs of patients.^1,2 National Blood Donor Month, which is annually recognized in January, is an opportunity for veterinary professionals to elevate awareness and educate clients about blood banks, the donation process, and how patients and pets can help.

BluePearl Pet Hospital, a division of Mars Veterinary Health, estimates that the amount of donations needed will increase in 2025 to meet the growing demand for specialty and emergency care. It aims to have 50% of its needed blood products sourced from its network of hospitals by the end of 2026.¹

Despite the need, pet blood donation is not well understood by the general public, nor are many owns aware that it’s an option. According to a study conducted in the UK, 70% of the 158 pet owners surveyed were not aware their animals could donate blood, but 89% of respondents indicated they would be willing to volunteer if their pet was an eligible donor.²

"We rely on pet blood donations to be able to provide lifesaving and lifegiving care in our hospitals when pets need us most," Richard Stone, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), chief medical officer at BluePearl, said in a news release.¹ "I encourage all pet owners to learn more about our blood banking program and sign up to help other pets in need."

According to BluePearl Pet Hospital, a single pet blood donation has the potential to save the lives of up to 3 other animals. The company operates a voluntary, community-based blood banking program in 15 locations throughout the US. It recently issued a call to action for US pet owners to help alleviate the shortage of veterinary blood by signing up their canines and felines up to become blood donors.

Pet blood donation is most common with dogs and cats. These donations are used for transfusion to patients, as needed, in cases that can include surgery, traumatic injury, anemia, and exposure to certain toxins.³ Rabbits, ferrets and other exotic species are less common but can also benefit from blood donation and transfusion, according to experts Meghan Respess, DVM, DACVECC, director of blood banking at BluePearl Pet Hospital; and Karen Roach, RVT, VTS (ECC), a team trainer at Mount Laurel Animal Hospital (MLAH) in New Jersey.

At MLAH—a large, independent practice—the internal blood bank relies on donations from volunteer canine patients and staff-owned felines. “We usually have a fair amount of dog blood on hand. Cat blood is a little bit harder to get, and we do order it from blood banks, which can take a while to get. We do sometimes have to buy it from another hospital,” Roach said in a dvm360 interview.

The MLAH team regularly banks whole blood, packed red blood cells, and fresh frozen plasma. “We have the facilities here to also spin down the blood and separate it. The packed cells can be refrigerated for a little over a month, and then the plasma is frozen, and that's good for up to 5 years,” Roach said.

Eligibility for blood donation can vary by blood bank. BluePearl requires blood donors to be aged between 1 and 8 years, while patients at MLAH are eligible between 2 and 8 years. A patient’s overall health, weight, blood type, vaccination history, and temperament are other factors for which eligibility is determined.^1,4 Roach and Respess both emphasized that the donors must have a willing temperament and the ability to remain calm throughout the process of collecting blood.

When a patient donates blood with BluePearl, the inventory is tracked with a bar coded system, according to Respess. Not only does the system help staff keep track of expiration dates as well as a patient’s medical record, but it also allows for continued engagement with pet owners. “No matter if it's used in Tampa, for example, where they gave the donation, or in Seattle, when that is scanned and dispensed to a patient, an owner gets a notification to say that the contribution of [their] pet went to save a critical patient,” Respess said in a dvm360 interview.

Hospitals can also offer rewards to further incentivize pet owners to consider blood donation. For example, BluePearl offers a free physical exam before each donation as well as annual lab work,¹ and MLAH provides first-time donors with a bandana and an Amazon gift card.³

Veterinary professionals interested in learning more about blood donation and banking can attend a demonstration hosted by BluePearl at the North American Veterinary Community’s Veterinary Meeting and Expo (VMX) hosted by the North American Veterinary Community in Orlando, Florida, January 25-29, 2025. Open to VMX attendees, the event aims to highlight the ease of the process and will feature a live canine donor giving blood.

“It's only through outlets like this and demonstrations like that, that we continue to bring the awareness [to blood donation],” Respess added.

References

1. This National Blood Donor Month your pet could be a hero. News release. BluePearl Management LLC. January 7, 2024. Accessed January 21, 2024. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/this-national-blood-donor-month-your-pet-could-be-a-hero-302343193.html?tc=eml_cleartime
2. Wilder A, Humm K. Pet owners’ awareness of animal blood banks and their motivations towards animal blood donation. Vet Rec. 2019;185(16):509. doi:10.1136/vr.105139.
3. Mount Laurel Animal Blood Bank. Mount Laurel Animal Hospital. Accessed January 23, 2025. https://mlahvet.com/blood-bank/
4. Roach K, Crossley KC. Collecting patient blood donations. dvm360. January 17, 2025. Accessed January 23, 2025. https://www.dvm360.com/view/collecting-patient-blood-donations