Blood Donation For Operations

[wild whippies]

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After reading Strike Whippets post about Miya's speying (get well soon Miya :huggles: ) I thought it would be an interesting topic to highlight to everyone as it wasn't something I had considered if one of my dogs required an operation. Plus she's having problems starting threads at the mo.

So Hannah if you'd be so kind as to post about Miya's op and the planning involved and anyone else who has had experiences, I'm sure it would be appreciated.

Jac

 

[dessie]

I think these days most Vets have a list of (clients') dogs they can call upon for blood donations. They generally have to be of a certain size/weight, I believe Greyhounds are quite popular as blood donor dogs.

I have offered my lot in the past and my Vet told me that they were not big enough.

 

[~whitecross whippets~]

we used to refer to HOLLY BLOOD DONOR APPEAL which is a register of dogs that are suitable for donation...the dogs are from all over the country and it is very successful...my dog was used several times...she was a lurcher :thumbsup:

 

[lalena]

its certainly food for thought :thumbsup: and now i'll be aware that if either of my babies has need of surgery, to bring along the other. stupidly, i'd never even considered blood donations for dogs :b

 

[Strike Whippets]

Thank's ..........Right Miya has a rare blood disorder called Polycythemia Vera, this is where her body make's to many red cell's, resulting in a thickening of her blood ..........Miya's on a low dose of steriods for life to help thin her blood .......She also has heavy season that were starting to need AB's afterward's to help her with her fluid filled womb ......So we thought it best to spey her .......Sound's easy dosn't it ?? .........We kept Miya as fit as possible, and even ran her through a phantom as we knew it would be best for her in the long run ..........We got her back up to "race" fitness, but didn't fine her right off knowing she needed a GA ........Our vet's advised us that with her thinned blood it was probable she'd need a blood donor as it would be highly unlikly she'd be able to clot very well ............soooo enter Yasmine .......

Having heard of dog blood donor's befor, and being asked if we may know of a larger sized dog that could act as a donor for Miya, I asked how common is it for a blood donor to be needed ? .............My vet replied very often due to RTA's, complicated op's etc .........Our vet's 2 Ridgeback's have given blood 3 time's each .........resulting in 5 dog's live's being saved .............Sooooo .....I thought for the sake of a quiet dog for a few day's, it was well worth it if another dog's life was saved, so I've signed Yasmine and Ellie up as donor's ........bear in mind vet's prefer a bigger dog as a donor, in this case the bigger the better :thumbsup: .................So it was easy ........ALL dogs have the same blood type, so as long as they are larger breed's and are fit, they CAN/WILL make a difference ..........Yasmine's no worse for her blood letting and she really did save Miya's life ......... :thumbsup:

 

[jok]

This is not really something i'd thought about before. Are most vets in need of donors?? I'll ask at mine next time im there as Chloe would probably be suitable. I've never seen any adverts etc

 

[julieleigh]

greyhounds make good donors, haven't done it with mine but i must admit i've thought about it. I am petrified of needles myself so that keeps putting me off but should do it really i know...

one of my boys is just a big baby so he'll be no good but the other three migt be ok... worth thinking about.

 

[posh totty]

just a suggestion but several of you on here know eachother well so could possibly draw up a list of possible donor dogs in your immediate area with people you know and trust? also the vets would then have immediate access to a donor shouldthe need arise? our vets here has a donor list and is often appealling for larger dogs to join.

 

[wild whippies]

Just another thought, where do they put the IV line in? also how long does the procedure take? Off the top of my head I'd of thought they'd use a leg vein and possibly crate the dog for a period of time? Is it possible the dog could remove it or is it bandaged securely and a vet collar fitted?

Thanks

Jac

 

[Strike Whippets]

The dog is mildy sedated (in most cases).......Yasmine had her's taken from her jugular as they had problem's getting a foreleg vein up, an they needed the blood asap for Miya (none of my lot do anything normally :blink: ) ...........A nurse stayed with her for the 15 min's it took :thumbsup: .........I've put Ellie and Yasmine (Collie and Dob x) forward as donor's to my vet's .........but Whippet's are too small really to be used .......

 

[ILoveKettleChips]

We use our own dogs. The criteria are that the dog is big enough (too small and you can't get enough blood from them) and quiet!

Maisie has donated twice (Austin's small and wriggly :- " ) ... we take it from her jugular, it only takes a few minutes really and she gets fed half a packet of Cheddars afterwards, so she's not fussed. One jab and a few minutes of sitting still and it's over.

We tend to use our own dogs in preference to a client's dog because I know how they will react and I trust them to sit still without having to sedate them. But if a client's dog was needed (in the unlikely event that all of our dogs had had to donate recently, for example) I'm sure we could rustle one up with a few phonecalls!

It should be noted that unless a dog's blood is crossmatched, you can only give them one transfusion. If a second one is given the dog's immune system will recognise unfamiliar cells and attack them. In cases where a transfusion is needed, you usually haven't got time to fart about though!