blood donors

While waiting to see the vet in 2005, I picked up a leaflet and read about the blood donor program at

the Royal Veterinary College at North Mimms, Hertfordshire. Blood is needed for trauma patients, post
operative care and other problems, e.g. servere infections. Dogs can donate 1pint every 2 mnths! Before each
donation, a thorough health check is done by the veterinary surgeon and once a year, a full blood panel is done
free of charge. And for every donation, a bag of dog food is given in return and the nurses are very generous
with the treats! Blood type is either positive or negative in canines, the negative is rarer and universal.

Donors must be aged 1-8 years and weigh over 25kgs...

AMARULA was registered first and before ever giving a full pint, she was found to have a mamary lump, which
was removed and a biopsy showed that she had cancer. Another lump was removed approx 8 months later. As
with a lot in her life, we walked a new path together and found a way through. On the lighter side, our vet
Libby commented on her veins being the worst to find!

ZINFANDEL donated his first pint on 20/9/06; the bare patch on his neck only visible to me as he stood

in the ring at the RRC of GB Championship show, where my pride in him was overwhelming even before

he won his 3rd CC! He's my first "hero".

CHABLIS had to wait until her season had finished

and her first donation was 3/10/2006.

She too was calm and collected as her jugular patch

was clipped and her tail didn't stop wagging

while she lay on the table and filled her pint bag.

DRAMBUIE was with me in October, to register and do

pre-bloods, but he was so cool that he went deeper into

my affections that day as he nearly fell asleep on the table

while he donated his first pint. He is owned by John Parrott.

JAKE, my friend's Labrador, was also volunteered by me (I'm so brave for them!). We met up with the boys
and after they had a good run together, I drove them to RVC for their "day out" - they were both great, JAKE
donating for the first time on 7/2/2007. DRAMBUIE and JAKE then had their meals side by side...

GRENACHE had just turned 1yr old when she registered as a blood donor and is also a negative type. Her first
donation was 11/7/07, during which she lay very still and was not distracted by her brother, THEMBA, who
had gone with us to register also.

GLORY was with us when we were called for negative blood donations in December 2007, so the nurses took a
pint from her on 19/12/07 and we were all pleased with her willingness to do whatever the rest of the pack
were doing. Even better news was that she is another negative blood type!

THEMBA went back to the RVC with ZINFANDEL on 13/2/08 and altho' he is not the bravest of dogs, after
some complaining and lots of noise! he donated his first pint so well when he lay still on the table.

NOMUSA is jointly owned and lives with Sue & THEMBA, so when Themba was needed, Nomusa came with us
on 24/11/08 and donated her first pint of positive blood at 18 months of age. Another willing/winning donor
and we are proud of her too.

SEMILLON came with us when Themba & Nomusa were needed on 29/10/09, and after he had explored
everything in the room, he donated his first pint of blood with his usual enthusiam...

If you think your dog may be a suitable donor, please contact the QMH on 01707 666511 or email
blooddonor@rvc.ac.uk . Or, your own vet may have details of a blood donation scheme nearer you.