Why do we need blood donors?

Patients come into the ER needing blood products because of car accidents, toxicities (rat bait), snakebites, immune disorders and other causes. Having pets available to donate day and night can literally save these animals lives. Being an ER, we never know how many pets will need blood products at any given moment so having a list of pets available to call in is essential. We maintain a blood bank for our patients and are always looking for donors!

How does it work?

Once registered into our program, your pet will be “on-call”. If called in, they will be given a sedative, and intravenous fluids. We will collect blood from them while they are relaxed and comforted by one of our trained team members. Once the procedure is completed, they will be able to be discharged into your care.

How do I get my pet registered?

If your pet meets the requirements below, contact us at 805-250-5600. We will set up a time for your pet to be examined and have some screening bloodwork done. All of this will be at no charge to you.

Blood Donor Requirements:

  • AGE: 1-8yrs
  • MUST BE NEUTERED/SPAYED
  • WEIGHT REQUIREMENTS: DOG must be > 50lb( 23kg) CAT must be > 9lbs (4kg)
  • (Must be a HEALTHY weight)
  • CATS MUST BE INDOORS ONLY
  • GOOD TEMPERAMENT
  • CURRENT ON VACCINES
  • MUST BE ON CONTINUAL HEARTWORM AND FLEA/TICK MEDICATIONS
  • PATIENT MUST HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY PREVIOUS BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS

How often can they donate?

  • Every 2-3 months
  • No more than 4x per year