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230 S. Main Street
Longmont, CO  80501

Phone: 303-772-9810
Fax:    303-678-8855

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BLOOD DONOR RECRUITMENT


Have you ever donated blood?  Have you ever thought about your dog or cat needing blood?  Have you ever wondered where that blood comes from?  Just as you may have donated blood for people that needed a transfusion, your pet can also donate blood for other pets with the same need.  Your pet could save a life. 

Although we can purchase some blood products for dogs through commercial blood banks, fresh whole blood can sometimes be the best thing to give.  This means that we need donor dogs to come in and donate blood, sometimes on an emergency basis.  And cats are a different story.  Commercial blood banks rarely have cat blood available and often there isn’t enough time to order it and wait for it to be shipped.  When cats need a blood transfusion, they usually need it quickly.

What are the requirements for a pet blood donor?

CATS –

  • Healthy – We do perform a physical exam as well as annual blood testing to assure they are healthy and free of diseases known to be transmitted in the blood.

  • Indoor cats – If they go outside, they could contract infectious diseases transmissible via blood transfusion.

  • Age- They must be between 2 – 8 years of age.

  • Weight – A donor must weigh at least 10 pounds.

DOGS –

  • Healthy – As with cats, we perform annual blood testing, including heartworm testing to assure they are healthy and free of diseases known to be transmitted by blood transfusion.

  • Age – They must be between 2 – 8 years of age.

  • Weight – Dog blood donors must weigh at least 60 pounds

The initial step is to determine your dog’s or cat’s blood type.  If your pet would make a suitable blood donor, further screening is done at our expense.

What you receive –

  • Annual blood work appropriate for the species.

    • Cats – Complete blood count, serum chemistry panel, FeLV/FIV test, screening for blood-borne parasites

    • Dogs – Complete blood count, serum chemistry panel, heartworm tests, screening for blood-borne parasites

  • Physical exams by a veterinarian board certified in internal medicine on each visit to the clinic for donation

  • A good feeling, because your pet has helped save another pet’s life ☺

 
 
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