By Ann Marie
WHEN blood stocks are down for humans, the Red Cross often gets a rush of donors wanting to make a life-or-death difference.
But dogs also require blood donations, and Australia’s only supplier of blood for pets is in urgent need of donors.
Werribee’s Canine Blood Bank at the University of Melbourne vet school takes blood from volunteer donor dogs for use by other dogs in emergencies and transfusions.
Dr Bruce Parry, blood bank supervisor at the Department of Veterinary Science, said about 200 donor dogs were urgently needed to meet demand Australia-wide.
“We have no blood in our fridge – it is bone dry,” he said.
Every time a dog donates, the packed red blood cells and fresh frozen blood could save the lives of two seriously ill pets.
Some of the blood bank’s frequent donor dogs, which can donate every 12 weeks, have helped more than 80 of their canine colleagues.
More than 1200 dogs a year benefit from the bank’s precious blood products.
Blood is not breed-specific, so a boxer’s life may end up saving the life of a poodle.
The program started in the early 1990s with six greyhounds, but there has been increasing demand at the hospital and in private clinics.
The fist high-profile dog to receive blood was Butch, a Victoria Police dog squad rottweiler that required an emergency transfusion after being seriously slashed by a knife-brandishing criminal more than a decade ago.
Any healthy dog over 26 kilograms, and aged between one and six years, can become a donor.
Dogs should be up to date with vaccinations, worming and heartworm prevention.
Dr Parry said owners were often surprised how well their dogs cooperated while donating, even though no sedation was used.
And while these caring canines don’t receive a Red Cross certificate afterwards, the dogs enjoy the same biscuit, drink and thank you after a 45-minute collection as humans.
Several Melbourne animal hospitals are allowing their clinics to be used to make it easier for dogs to donate.
Besides the main Princes Fwy site in Werribee, blood can also be donated at veterinary hospitals in Sunbury, Greensborough, Rowville and Moonee Valley.
Call the Canine Blood Bank on 9731 2328 or visit k9-bloodbank@unimelb.edu.au for information.
