Thank-you for your interest in our Blood Donor Program!

By having your pet participate in this program, you are helping save the lives of cats and dogs who are brought into the Animal Emergency Clinic of the Fraser Valley (AECFV) in Langley. Pets brought there receive blood transfusions for a variety of reasons:

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Internal/external bleeding – caused by trauma such as bite wounds and lacerations or even as a result of a car accident

¨      Cancer – can result in bone marrow suppression and sometimes tumors can burst and bleed out

¨        Bleeding disorders – like Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA) or Von Willebrands disease or hemophilia can often result in blood transfusions

¨      Toxicity – from rat bait or plant alkaloids can affect the blood cells and may require a transfusion to correct the damage

How the program works………

When you bring your pet in the first time, we will take 2 tubes of blood which are then sent to the Animal Emergency Clinic of the Fraser Valley in Langley. They will test the blood for common diseases and type the blood. Dogs that have a blood type of A- (the universal blood type in dogs) will be considered eligible blood donors in the future. The AECFV will call you to let you know if your dog is an eligible donor or not. All cats that have normal bloodwork (negative for Feline Leukemia, FIV, etc.) will be considered eligible donors in the future.

Once your pet is on the list……

The AECFV will call us when they need more blood for their supply. We will then start calling people on our list of eligible donors so that we can set up a time for them to bring their pet in for a blood donation. Blood donors will have their blood taken here at Mission Veterinary Hospital by our nurses.  We will also get a urine sample, and will have you bring in a fecal sample, both to be sent to the lab for testing. Blood is taken from their jugular (neck) vein. The procedure can take anywhere from 1-2 hours. You are welcome to stay with your pet to comfort them while their blood is taken.  After we have collected enough blood, they will be sent home with a bandage around their neck which should be removed in 1 hour. They will receive a can of Medi-calÒ Gastro formula for dogs and a can of Medi-calÒ Hypoallergenic/Gastro for cats, as soon as their donation is finished. These diets are very bland and gentle on their stomach. They will also get a baggie of treats to take home. We will call you the next day to make sure your pet has recovered well from their blood donation. Your pet can donate blood as often as every 2 months.  To recognize your participation in the program, if your pet ever requires a blood transfusion in future, the AECFV will provide the transfusion at no charge.