There’s no end to the selflessness of doggies: they’re the greatest of all four-legged gifts to mankind (quiet, cat people, this isn’t about you).
Now our chance to give back to our canine companions has arriveth in the form of a DOGGY BLOOD BANK – because pups need blood too, guys.
The University of Sydney’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital has opened its own canine blood bank after the closure of its previous Melbourne-based blood supplier left tons of doggies in need with a slim chance of survival.
The blood collected is used in everything from providing direct transfusions for emergency trauma patients to treating pancreatitis, anaemia and other common canine conditions i.e. it’s ~liquid gold~
Blood stocks could save the lives of hundreds of doggies who run into trouble, like Bear, a bull mastiff brought back from the brink of death by a blood transfusion after a poisonous plant really fucked with his liver.
“He required I think 15-plus blood transfusions and also two full blood transfusions,” says Syd uni animal internal medicine specialist, Dr Christine Griebsch. “So this dog needed a huge amount of blood and yeah, without having this blood in stock we couldn’t have helped this dog. That’s why we call the dogs who donate K9 lifesavers, because they really can save lives.”
But it’s not always easy to find pooches – and owners – willing to help, for a couple of reasons.
1) Not a lot of people know this blood bank exists, so ~PSA PSA PSA PSA PSA~
2) Some dog owners are worried about the possible side effects of blood donation on their pets.
Well, Dr Griebsch says there’s no need to worry about the later, because they’d “never take blood from a dog that we weren’t sure is completely healthy and right for the program”.
‘Right’ = a healthy canine aged 1-8 and weighing more than 20kg.
Only about 10 ml of blood per kg of dog is extracted at any one time, so very little, and the 10 min process is rewarded with “lots of cuddles and treats and a K9 lifesaver collar or lead so they can show their friends they’re a hero,” she says.
Donors’ humans get the benefit of a free general health check for their pooch every time, plus a $100 pet food voucher.
Sick puppies of the future say thank you, generous human.
*paw-fives*
Interested in giving blood? Call the Veterinary Teaching Hospital on (02) 9351 3437 to participate.
