Arrowhead Veterinary Centre is hosting Cochrane's first ever blood donation drive for dogs.

It has been two years in the working for Janine Simpson with Arrowhead Vet and Dave Lovell of Gone Wild Kennels to orchestrate all the components to bring this to Cochrane; thanks to a cancellation the pair were able to quickly arrange August 13 as donation day. 

While it took only a couple days for the first clinic to be booked up it is something the pair hope to bring back to town and possibly include cats in a separate clinic. The blood collected will be tested, processed and sent to centralized blood bank in Winnipeg, shares Simpson.

"It is for the Canadian Animal Blood Bank very similar to the Canadian blood bank for humans. It is a generalized blood bank in Canada for all veterinary hospitals within Canada, so whatever clinic needs some blood they would contact them and get that blood product to that clinic."

Lovell, says although many pet owners have never heard of animal blood donation he says many are interested. "Everybody I've talked to at my kennel were like I never knew and never thought of it and right away they were right on it, like let's do it."

Just like people it is crucial to have animal blood on hand, shares Simpson, and it is not just emergency situations that could require blood products. There is a real need for animals to donate, especially during certain times of the year. "When you're coming through the summer there's lots of traumas, dogs and cats are out and about more they're getting into things like mice poisons, injuries and of course through all the holiday seasons. They also do it for cancer treatments, so if they are really sick and have tumors or cancers sometimes they need plasma transfusions as well."

Every unit of blood can help up to four dogs across Canada, and once broken down it can be used in multiple ways depending on need.

Lovell, says in fact just a few days ago a Calgary police dog needed multiple transfusions after being stabbed during an arrest. "It probably would have cost them thousands and thousands of dollars, and then the blood is there."

For the most part blood is stored in Winnipeg with a smaller sister clinic in Edmonton storing blood products as well. While emergency clinics in larger centres generally have some blood products on hand, smaller centres will either order the blood products in or send the animal to the city. The best part about the blood drive is Arrowhead will now have a data base of animals at their disposal if an emergency situation ever came up. "If we have a surgery here, we can contact one of our donors we could get a sample here and do the blood transfusion here."

 In order to donate dogs need to be:

  • Under 8 years of age
  • Over 23 kilograms
  • Up to date vaccines
  • Even temperament
  • Tic and heart worm prevention is recommended but not required 

As a first time donor they will have some basic testing done on their blood work, learn their blood type, and receive a bandanna. On their second donation they will receive a complimentary microchip, and as donor if at any time they require a blood transfusion, there would be no cost for their transfusion.

While Arrowhead has not pinned down a second clinic date yet, they look forward to offering it again in the future. If you would like more information or to put your animal on the list as a possible donor, call Arrowhead at 403-932-2370.

Lovell and Simpson anticipate this will only grow with publicity. "Cochrane is such an amazing pet family community that we are so fortunate."