The tail doesn’t lie, but a dog can’t precisely agree to donate blood.
Dolly, a 7-year-old Labrador dog from Camas, Washington, was unable to stop wagging her tail and wiggling her ass when she got to the DoveLewis blood bank in Portland.
Dolly showered the woman who had taken her blood with affection and kisses even after she had done so.
Dolly is one of the 48 cats and 94 dogs who regularly donate blood to the DoveLewis blood bank.
Although most people don’t consider it until their own pet has a medical emergency, dogs and cats occasionally require blood transfusions. That blood is provided by a list of community donors at DoveLewis Veterinary Hospital.
At the DoveLewis Animal Hospital in Portland, two-year-old Rocket, a golden and lab mix, gave blood.Oregonian Samantha Swindler
Cats are drugged during blood draws because they are less cooperative donors than canines. All of DoveLewis’ cat donors are veterinary experts due to the higher dangers involved with sedation.
However, anyone in the greater Portland region is welcome to bring the pets. Donor dogs must be healthy, weigh at least 55 pounds, be between the ages of 1 and 6, and have a disposition that allows them to tolerate the collection procedure without anesthesia, if not like it.
Dolly is a trained therapy dog, just like many of the canines in the blood bank program. Along with the DoveLewisPortland Area Canine Therapy team, she does house calls at Portland International Airport, nearby hospitals, and local courts.
Dolly was raised in the Boring Guide Dogs for the Blind program after being bred to be a guide dog.
According to her owner, Denise Duncan, she completed the entire program but was abruptly dropped due to her tail. Too wiggly. Too preoccupied. unable to focus. Simply too amiable. She currently works as a wonderful therapy dog after her career changed.
A veterinarian examines Dolly, a 7-year-old Labrador retriever, prior to her blood donation at DoveLewis.Oregonian Samantha Swindler
Blood is drawn from participating canines once every two to three months. The dogs receive free yearly lab work, free urgent care visits to DoveLewis, free parasite prevention medications, and—perhaps most exciting to the pets themselves—a can of baby food chicken and a free toy at the conclusion of each visit as part of the voluntary initiative.
A trade card featuring their portrait and some interesting facts is also given to each donating dog. Families of recipients receive these cards, which are used to advertise the blood bank program and let them know who provided the life-saving blood.
Blood bank manager Kelsey Reinauer stated, “We see a lot of different types of patients at DoveLewis.” They may arrive traumatized, have been struck by a car, or have been injured in a shooting, stabbing, or other crime. We have witnessed a wide range of events. Significant blood loss necessitates significant blood replacement.
Additionally, a variety of malignancies and immunological disorders can make pets anemic and necessitate frequent blood transfusions.
After 20 donations, 7-year-old Labrador retriever Dolly is aging out of the DoveLewis blood bank program.Oregonian Samantha Swindler
Additionally, donor families learn where their dog’s blood goes. Dolly’s blood and plasma have been used to save a border collie who had consumed ibuprofen and a terrier mix who experienced issues after giving birth.
Although DoveLewis uses about two-thirds of the blood collected locally, Dolly’s blood has been utilized to save the lives of other dogs as far away as Florida and Texas.
According to Reinauer, there is currently a significant gap between the supply and demand for blood in veterinary medicine. In the US, there may be just a few blood banks the size of ours. Particularly, cat blood is in high demand. at the metropolis, let alone at a single hospital, cat blood is frequently lacking.
When there is a need for blood, smaller veterinary clinics frequently provide it internally through an employee who brings in a pet to donate. However, the blood types of dogs and cats are different, and the appropriate donor may not be available.
Although there are over a dozen blood types in dogs, the most are not clinically significant. DoveLewis classifies blood into three categories: universal, positive, and negative. These categories are crucial for determining if a receiver may respond to donated blood.
Three blood kinds are found in domestic cats. Less than 1% of cats have the uncommon AB type, while approximately 95% of cats are type A and 5% are type B.
At DoveLewis, Rocket, a 2-year-old golden and lab mix, is seen with the toy football he received as a reward for his efforts and his 450 cc blood donation.Oregonian Samantha Swindler
If a suitable cat blood donor cannot be found, universal canine blood can even be used to stabilize a cat for a day or two.
Only cats and dogs are served by the DoveLewis blood bank, however Reinauer occasionally receives more unusual requests. Using cat blood, she once managed to keep a ferret stable long enough for a DoveLewis employee to come in their own ferret to donate. You’re out of luck if you own unusual pets like rats or rabbits.
Although we humans may not believe that animals require blood transfusions, Kim Laird, whose 2-year-old golden and lab mix, Rocket, is a blood donor, stated that it is crucial to provide necessary care for your pet. We can aid canines all throughout the nation in this way.
Another former guide dog who is now a therapy dog is Rocket.
On the day of their donations, Reinauer shaved a small square of fur on Dolly and Rocket’s necks and placed a needle into their jugular veins as they both complied with orders to lie motionless on a little table.
Although that sounds frightening, both dogs appeared to handle it well, and their owners held them while they did it. The dogs were kept quiet and still by having a weighted blanket placed over them.
Before donating blood, Rocket, a 2-year-old golden and lab mix, is placed under a weighted blanket at the DoveLewis Animal Hospital in Portland.Oregonian Samantha Swindler
Reinauer can draw roughly a pint of blood in less than ten minutes.
“I tell owners that we’re going to build a relationship here,” she added. We can proceed from there. I’ll let you know if I sense signs of stress or anxiety in them, and you’ll let me know how you believe they feel. And they return more frequently than not. It doesn’t bother them.
The canines were given bandages around their necks following blood draws. With tails wagging, both immediately sprung from the table in anticipation of their prizes.
Duncan remarked of Dolly, “She loves Kelsey.” Although she isn’t very thrilled about the donation itself, she is looking forward to the toy and treat of baby food that will follow.
Go to dovelewis.org to see whether your dog is eligible to donate blood and schedule a time to have their blood type identified. Universal and negative donors are welcome, but positive dogs are being placed on a waitlist by DoveLewis.
Other animal blood banks in Oregon that take pet volunteers include:
Volunteers from the community donate blood to the blood bank operated by VCA Northwest in Clackamas. Donors receive an annual physical and blood work, heart worm testing, 12 months of parasite preventative medication, and treats and toys. For more information, visitvcahospitals.com/northwest-veterinary-specialists/departments/emergency-critical-care/blood-bank.
Willamette Veterinary Hospital in Corvallishas a blood donor program for dogs 1-7 years old that weigh more than 65 pounds and are determined to be universal donors. Donors receive free annual exams and lab work, special pricing on parasite preventative medication, and credits on their clinic accounts. Learn more atwilvet.com/wilvet-blood-donor-program.
Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon in Bendaccepts both dogs and cats from the community to become blood donors. Cats must be 10 pounds or larger and indoors only. They are sedated for donations. Dogs must be 50 pounds or larger and in good health. For more information, visitvrcvet.com/donations/blood-donation.
Samantha Swindler covers features for The Oregonian/OregonLive andHere is Oregon. Reach her [email protected].
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