Veterinary Blood Bank
Cats and Dogs
Each year we provide over 700 life-saving transfusions to dogs and cats. Just like people, pets rely on these transfusions during surgery, severe illness, or after traumatic injuries. Your dog or cat can make a true difference by joining our Veterinary Blood Bank program – providing whole blood, packed red blood cells, and fresh frozen plasma to animals in need.
Join the blood donor program
We are looking for healthy, well-tempered dogs and cats to join our life-saving team. While most breeds are welcome, we have specific requirements to ensure the safety of both the donor and the recipient.
Canine donor requirements
- 1-8 years of age at the start of entering the program
- Over 60 pounds in good body condition
- Healthy and ideally on no medications other than preventatives
- No prior history of heartworm disease
- Never received a blood or plasma transfusion
- Up to date on recommended core vaccinations
Feline donor requirements
- 1-8 years of age at the start of entering the program
- Over 10 pounds in good body condition
- Must live indoors only
- Healthy, and ideally on no medications other than preventatives
- No prior history of heartworm disease
- FELV/FIV negative
- Never received a blood or plasma transfusion
- Up to date on recommended core vaccinations
Free physical examination, routine blood work, blood typing, and infectious disease screening are performed to determine if a donor can be admitted into the program; cats receive an echocardiogram to ensure heart health.
As an added benefit for staying in the program and to make sure your pet is healthy enough to continue donating, we also provide these services free of charge annually (echocardiogram every three years). Dogs receive free flea, tick, and heartworm prevention. We also supply one large bag of pet food at each blood donation.
Contact Us
For questions and to find out if your pet is eligible to become a donor, email us at [email protected].
Veterinary Blood Bank team
Specialists in screening and receiving blood donations from dogs and cats.
Location
Appointments take place at the Veterinary Hospital and Education Complex.
The actual draw takes about 5-10 minutes where the donor is required to lay on their side on a table where a needle is used to draw the blood. We strive to make every visit a positive experience, showering our donors with affection and tasty treats.
- For cats: To allow for a stress-free experience and time to recover from sedation aka their “cat nap,” cats are dropped off in the morning and are usually ready to head home by the early afternoon. To ensure our kitty donors remain completely comfortable, cozy, and stress-free, we provide sedation for both blood donations and echocardiograms.
- For dogs: Appointments can be made for a drop off, or you are welcome to stay with your dog during the donation process. Most donors are very cooperative. For those who are “too friendly” and have trouble staying still, we may discuss a mild oral sedative to be given at home before the visit.
We ask our donors to participate every eight to 12 weeks, depending on the hospital’s needs and your schedule.