SacPaws.com

At UC Davis’ veterinary teaching hospital, local dogs are lining up to become blood donors.

They are participating in the hospital’s new blood banking program, which launched last Tuesday.

It is not only the only community-based canine blood bank program in the Sacramento region, but the largest of its type, west of the Mississippi.

The hospital has had a small-scale blood banking program for over 15 years, but their donor blood used to come from rescue dogs that were housed at the facility. The hospital worked with canine rescue organizations that would bring dogs with behavioral problems to the hospital. Hospital staff members would also train the dogs, socialize them and put them back up for adoption.

The new program depends on the local dog community to make blood donations. It’s already proving popular. The center’s medical director, Dr. Sean Owens, said they are already booked up through June.

“[The community support] has been fabulous. It’s exceeded our wildest expectations,” Owens said. “It’s a good feeling that the community heard what we needed and were more than willing to extend themselves and their family member, their dog, to help us out.”  

To participate, owners can call to make an appointment. Blood donations are taken Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Appointments typically take anywhere from a half hour to two hours. Dogs are screened for their blood type, for infectious diseases and for temperament. Every appointment includes a complete physical, free of charge.

“It’s worth about $400 to a dog owner,” Owens said.

Owens notes that not every dog can be a donor. Dogs need to be 1 to 8 years of age, weigh at least 55 pounds and have never had puppies or been pregnant. They also need to have the right blood type (DEA 1.1 negative) and the right temperament to participate. If an abnormality is found during the physical exam, the dog will not be used as a donor.

For those dogs that are qualified to donate blood, the procedure can take anywhere from five to fifteen minutes. They take the blood from the jugular vein and offer the dogs a biscuit when it’s all over.  

The blood is then banked and used in a variety of instances including to help dogs who have bleeding problems, dogs who are in car accidents and are anemic or those that have unexpected complications during surgery.  

In addition, the hospital banks blood for horses, cows, goats, sheep and llamas. They also have a blood donation program for cats, although they face more challenges with cat donors because cats tend to get stressed and often require sedation.

If you would like to make an appointment for your dog to donate blood, call (530) 752-1393.