I've had 2 dogs that had to have blood before and wondered what you meant by FIRST, so I just need to remember if they have as need for more to remind the vets they will need a universal donor? Thanks!!

Laura
Thunderstruck Bulldogs
http://sitekreator.com/thunderstruckbulldog/index.html

To those who understand no explanation is needed. To those who don't no explanation is possible.

had no idea about all this
very cool info
thanks for explaining

great response.
learn something new everyday..

type matching does not go by breed....the cat only has two.....horses have to be typematched before being regeristered....just a few intresting notes....

The reason I said "once" is because dogs seem to tolerate some difference in subtypes Ive been told, with one transfusion but if an animal needed more than one, and/or if there was stored blood available, the best choice would be to use the 'universal donor' subtype. Logically then if this particular dog needed another transfusion later in life the 'once only' principle would apply as well...use only universal type donor blood thereafter.

There are different sub-types of blood in canines (I've forgotten the number) but basically their blood is enough alike that any dog can give a FIRST transfusion to any other dog, and animal ER's do keep a blood supply on hand and many have on-call dogs that have been previously tested for blood diseases/kept up on vaccinations/are within size& weight guidelines/easy to transfuse that can be called upon when needed (often dogs of staff members).

About 15-20 years ago, before I was even a vet tech, I had a bulldog, IGOR, who was a canine blood donor! They are unusual since they are difficult to draw from, with their thick neck and deep vein, but altho I can say he didn't 'enjoy the job' he was none-the-less a donor who completed his required amount to complete the program (8 half-pints, I seem to recall?). The type needed to qualify, in addition to above notations, was similar to an "O negative" for humans=universal donor type. I fullfilled the requirements for human lifetime donor, being an O- and because I spent so much time at the human blood bank I came to learn of the animal blood bank and thought it was a cool thing to do, so I marched Igor off to be tested. He was very strong and sometimes it took another tech and me both to hold his head firmly up while the blood was filling the bag (keep the large needle 'straight') and he got to go to an annual celebration party for the donors at the ER...even got his photo in the newspaper once for it.