It is no secret that our industry is facing a critical shortage of blood products, an issue that can negatively impact the lives of pets requiring veterinary care. The rise in pet ownership and advancements in emergency and specialty veterinary medicine mean more pets now require blood products regularly. Our responsibility is not only to develop a system that provides blood products when needed most but to do so in a way that is responsible and sustainable and prioritizes donor well-being.
Currently, blood products may be acquired in only a few ways. The most common two are through voluntary donor programs, like the one I lead at BluePearl Pet Hospital, and through commercial blood banks.
With no published consensus statements for veterinary blood banking to date (although we will see this unfold in the coming years through the Association of Veterinary Hematology and Transfusion Medicine), voluntary donation programs provide a transparent and collaborative process with the pet owner to ensure the donor’s well-being is prioritized.
BluePearl’s blood banking team developed a strict framework based on the opinions and experience of subject matter experts to guide the donation process, which includes factors such as the donor’s age and weight and a timeline for how often one can donate. Each donor and owner meets with a member of our team before a donation to check their temperament and ensure they are comfortable with the process. That way, the owner knows we prioritize the pet’s safety before, during and after the donation.
Educating Pet Owners
BluePearl often faces the issue of incentivizing pet owners to enroll in voluntary blood banks, as many of their pets have donated with us for many years. The first way to do it is through awareness and ensuring that pet owners understand the need, that blood donations are an option and that their pets could do much good by donating.
One impactful statistic I always share with potential donors is that one standard donation can positively impact the lives of up to three other pets. For many owners, knowing their pets could help save the life of another is incredibly rewarding. Another way to raise awareness is simply through word of mouth or by sharing this article.
The responsibility to increase veterinary blood products is on all of us because if we do not, the pets we care for will be directly impacted. I often tell people this: “I’m not asking you to go to only a BluePearl blood bank. I’m simply encouraging you to find the closest voluntary pet blood bank and see if your pet might be eligible to be a donor. Even if you don’t have a blood bank near you, contact your nearest emergency and/or specialty hospital to see if they have a voluntary pet blood donation program, and ask if your pet can be a donor.”
Additional Benefits
Other ways to engage pet owners are through benefits that save them money, such as complimentary prescreenings, annual lab work and physical exams to ensure a clean bill of health at every donation.
Pet blood donors are considered heroes, especially at BluePearl. They receive treats and all the attention they could want from the veterinary nurses who work with them during the donation. That relationship is incredibly impactful for the donor and the veterinary team. Another element we launched is an email alert for owners each time their pet’s blood helps another animal. Owners have relayed that the updates were incredibly rewarding.
Increasing voluntary blood donation programs and knowing when and how to use such a vital commodity will have an enormous impact on fighting the shortage. The guidelines we have developed, which other voluntary programs are welcome to use — many already do — ensure that donors are the priority. Without them, others cannot get the care they need.
I am hopeful that as the conversation continues to be top of mind in and outside of clinic walls, we will begin to see a more standardized approach to blood banking in the veterinary industry. Until that happens, we must solve the shortage of blood products in a sustainable and responsible way. We must also ensure we’re reaching as many pet owners as possible.
If you’re reading this, tell a friend that pet blood donations are an option, and please encourage them to see whether their pet might be a suitable donor.