Are there any risks to my pet?
The careful screening process is an important safety measure. We would disqualify any donor who we think would have an adverse reaction to the process. Because cats require injections of drugs to make them very relaxed (a semi-anesthetic state), we are especially vigilant before, during and after the procedure. We give oxygen by mask to our feline donors and monitor their blood pressure throughout the process.

Can I be with my pet during the donation?
Some owners choose to stay with their dog during the donation process.  After seeing one or two donations, many families are happy to drop off their dog with us and come back once the donation is complete.  It is not uncommon to find that a well behaved family dog is even calmer with just the VABS team during the donation. Cats are best handled by our experienced crew during the donation, without any family members. Also, because kitties are so small, there is little room for maneuvering as it is!  After the blood drawing is completed, we welcome you to come back and sit with your pet while he/she recovers from the sedation and receives fluids. Most pets are ready to go home as soon as one hour after the donation, although you should allow four hours in total for a donation.

How often can my pet donate?
Although some animal blood banks safely take donations more frequently, our donors give blood no more than once every 3 months.

Will I be expected to be on call 24 hours a day?
Our scheduled blood donations are during the day. However, the donor family should be should be moderately flexible and should have easy access to transportation, as our call to you could come at any time in an emergency. We try to make the late night calls to our staff members whose pets are donors; however, sometimes we have to make an emergency call to our donor families when our staff pets are not available. Please let us know which hours during the day that you will accept emergency calls.

Will my pet have to be shaved?
Yes. We need to shave some hair for the blood drawing (on the neck) and for the catheter (on a leg). The shaved areas will usually re-grow within 6 weeks; meanwhile your pet can boast that the bald areas are "badges of valour"!

Does he/she have to be sedated for the procedure?
When the blood drawing procedure is being done all cats and most dogs are given sedation ("happy drugs") ahead of time to make the experience a non-stressful one.

Why not raw?
There is always a chance that uncooked food (especially meat) could contain bacteria. In a healthy animal with a strong immune system the raw food diet may be safe. Nonetheless, it is not uncommon for bacteria to enter the blood of healthy donors from food or other sources (such as after routine dentistry) without causing outward signs of illness. However, because all injured or ill pets may have a compromised immune system, we want to protect those patients who need to receive blood products from even the slightest chance of developing serious consequences if bacteria are present in the blood product.
(For more information: Why Not Raw?)