Animal ER realizes the entire veterinary community suffers from a shortage of high quality, easily accessible blood products. We established Vancouver Animal Blood Services (VABS) with the hope of helping veterinarians and pet owners alike when the need for blood products arises.  This is a very special program and is a wonderful way for you and your companion to help others in their time of need.

Who needs blood?
Animal patients who need blood most urgently are those who have suffered trauma such as being hit by a car or those who suffer from a serious medical problem such as a blood disorder (see "reasons to transfuse"). Just like their human counterparts, pets depend upon volunteer blood donors to fill the need in an emergency.

Dog and cats need blood.
VABS only banks canine blood.  However, at Animal ER, we also need feline donors to help out other cats on an emergency basis. Feline donors will be asked to donate when the need arises; canine blood donations are scheduled for approximately every 3rd month. 

How do pets donate?
The donation procedure for cats and dogs consists of taking blood from the jugular vein (a vein in the neck). Donors are given sedation ("happy drugs") ahead of time to make the experience a non-stressful one.  A small amount of hair is shaved over the jugular vein and the area is cleansed and sterilized. Blood is collected over 10-15 minutes. A dog typically donates 400 - 450ml of blood, and a cat about 50ml.  A catheter is placed in a vein in the donor’s leg to give intravenous (in the vein) water/electrolyte solution during and after the donation. This is optional in our dog donors, depending on their need - the extra fluid represents the pet donor equivalent to a human donor "drinking a glass of two of orange juice" after a donation. 

A single donation by your dog can be used to help 4 other dogs.
How does that happen?  The donated blood is spun with a special centrifuge. The spinning of the blood separates the blood into 2 different components: plasma and red blood cells. The plasma is then removed from the red blood cell bag into one or two plasma storage units. The red blood cells remaining are also divided into two units. "Magically", one blood donation has become three or four units of blood products, and has the potential of saving four different dogs' lives. 

We are very thankful for the gift you and your pet are giving!
We are very thankful for the gift you and your pet are giving and would like to offer you a gift in return:  if ever a pet in your immediate family needs emergency care at Animal ER, the emergency fee will be waived. (Of course we truly hope that your pets never need any emergency care!)

There are other perqs for blood donors and their families, such as:

• initial health check up and blood work
• annual blood work to assess donor health
• "Pat me I'm a blood donor" bandana
• VABS Blood Donor tag for your pet's collar
• cookie visit privileges (drop in for a treat when you're in the neighbourhood!)
• The Right Type VABS newsletter (includes coupons to use at local businesses)
• Securican Pet Insurance offers a spsecial discount for VABS donors
• annual subscription to Pets Magazine

Find out more and contact VABS.
To find out if your pet is a suitable candidate for the blood donor program, see donor screening for more information.  If you are interested in volunteering for this very special program, please contact the VABS team by email.

What does the screening process involve?
We would like to set up an appointment to meet you and your very special friend.  When you come in, a veterinarian will perform a complete physical exam and a mini blood-type test.  We are currently in need of dogs with the Universal blood type.  Pets that meet the preliminary requirements will have a blood sample taken and sent to the laboratory for a full blood typing and screening panel.  The results of all these tests will be forwarded to your family veterinarian. Finally, if all the blood test results indicate your pet is suited to donating, we set a date for the first actual blood donation.