What would you do if your beloved pet was injured from a car accident or needed surgery, had cancer or a bleeding disorder? Animal blood banking is a relatively new concept. As pets become more and more a part of our family, and with the growth in Veterinary specialty services, the demand for transfusion therapy to treat many diseases and injuries has risen dramatically. Everyday, sick and injured animals rely on transfusion therapy. The need for blood products continually increases. Please seriously consider having your pet become a Blood Donor Hero to help us meet this growing demand.
When do veterinarians need blood products?
Common situations when blood products (blood or plasma) may be used are critically ill patients with cancer, anemia, clotting problems, internal parasites, heat stroke, or traumatic blood loss (auto accident, bite wounds). ACAF's Blood Bank allows Veterinarians to treat their patients quickly and safely with blood collected from volunteers.
We need your help. Please allow your pet to save the lives of other beloved pets and become a "blood donor hero."
It is a priority to have healthy donors; therefore, each year our donors are given a routine examination and blood tests.
Dog (Canine) Donor Eligibility
- Between 1 and 7 years of age
- Weight: 50 lbs. or more
- Healthy with a gentle temperament
- Current with vaccinations
- Never had a blood transfusion
- Tested negative for blood-borne diseases (free testing by blood bank)
- Must be on heartworm, flea and tick preventative
- Not pregnant or currently nursing
Even if your animal doesn't meet these requirements, please consider a tax deductible donation to the Animal Care & Assistance Fund. Donations can be sent to: Animal Care & Assistance Fund, 807 Camp Horne Rd, Pittsburgh, PA, 15237, or by visiting our online donation page.
Donation Procedure
Blood donation takes about 15-20 minutes. Owners will drop off their pet for a few hours. The procedure will not jeopardize your pet's health, and is not painful. Since many pets behave much better when the owner is not around, we prefer that you not be present, making the process easier and faster. Some dogs may require light sedation.
Dogs:
We lie your dog down on his or her side on comfortable blankets and clip an area of hair over the jugular vein. After preparing the area with a sterile scrub, blood is collected through a needle into a sterile collection set. Dogs should be fasted for 10-12 hours prior to giving blood. Afterwords your pet is given lots of TLC, water, and treats.
Blood samples are sent to our laboratories (ANTECH Diagnostics) for a complete blood count, chemistry panel, and blood typing at no charge.
A Rewarding Experience – Why Donate?
- Approximately $300.00 in blood tests done at no charge which includes blood typing and comprehensive blood screening (with a copy for your records)
- A physical examination
- An ACAF tag that identifies your pet as a blood donor and a Blood Donor Hero bandana
- Will be tested for blood born diseases including heartworm
- Donations are required 3-4 times a year to make testing cost effective. Animals can come in every 2-3 months. Immediately after donation, the body starts to replace the blood that was given.
Information needed from pet owners
Signed consent prior to donation. Completed health history form, including questions on medical history, vaccinations and overall health.
Please call for an appointment at 412-348-2588. Or email: animalbloodbank@pvs-ec.com - Located at the Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Center (PVSEC).
