Large Breed Dog Owners - Dog Blood Donation.?

I was wondering how many of you large dog owners put your dog forward to donate blood or be a donor for a transfusion? What are your opinions on it? Why do you or why don't you?

I have had a dog that has previously donated for an emergancy transfusion and have just registered my to mals to give blood and on the emergancy register. So I was just wondering who has done this and who would and wouldn't.
Cheers in advance for your answers.

UK rules:-
The dogs must fit certain criteria:

1. Be aged between 1 and 8 years (With very large breeds 2 and 7 years)

2. Weigh over 25kgs

3. Be in good general health

4. Have never travelled abroad

5. Be up to date with vaccinations

6. Have never received a blood transfusion

7. Have a good temperament and be able to sit or lie for approximately 6/8mins while the blood is taken

8. Not be taking certain medications

i have 2 large breed dogs.
one has a VERY important blood type, DEA 1.1 negative, which is considered the unniversal blood type and is highly sought because most dogs can accept this type even if it's not their own type. (much like O neg is used in hospitals when they dont have time to type an emergency case).

my other dog has a less common blood type but can donate none-the-less.


Healthy dogs between the ages of one and ten years that are a minimum of fifty pounds can be potential donors in my area.

i choose to take my dogs in to donate for one reason. to help save lives!!

Great Idea. I never thought about it. My dogs are to small shi's and a peke, But i'm calling our vet to find out more info.... my friends all have large breed dogs and I'm gonna pass the word and be a pain until they donate lol.Same way I did with hubby for red cross. Don't tell me your afraid of needles when someone might die!

i registered my dog the minute i read about it in a magazine
he hasn't been called on to donate but i would not think twice if he was needed to save another dogs life and i'm sure he would lap up the tlc he would get after!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is something that has never crossed my mind! Not something I have done or been asked to do, but I think this is a really interesting question! I'll star for you.

my husband used to have a dog that did that. it's a wonderful idea! i'm going to check into it!

EDIT: why is Tony Suspended?

never heard of such a thing..
I am signing up now..

usually only from greyhounds is what my vets said..Its thier blood type that is best for all dogs. I still signed up my Cody boy to help..what a grand idea!

great post!!!! have no answer unfortunately.
is there a way to "bank" your own dog blood in UK?

I would totally allow my dog to donate blood. One of my dogs had to have an emergency transfusion to save her life and if one of the vet techs at the vet hadn't offered up her dog that was already there, mine may have died because we didn't have time to go home and get our other dog.
It's a great thing to do, it doesn't hurt the donor and it could very well save another dog's life. As long as care is taken to keep the donor comfortable, then why not? I wouldn't do it excessively, but here and there to help out, absolutely.

Edit: To Sunny, you mentioned that it could bother your dog. I watched them take the blood from the donor before putting it in my dog and he was fine. They gave him a mild sedative and he just laid there calmly. They all stroked him and comforted him and afterward he just sat up like nothing had happened. He wasn't traumatized at all.
If it were distressing for the individual dog, then that dog obviously isn't a candidate, but I think most dogs would do just fine.

You know.....I've been pondering this issue a lot lately. The only thing stopping me is the distress it might cause my dog, who is more like a child to me than a pet. I hate doing anything that upsets him because, unlike a human child, you simply cannot explain why this is being done to him, no matter how beneficial it might be to other dogs. So, I guess I'm really torn between my dog's discomfort and saving the life of another (probably very much loved) dog belonging to someone else......

No, none of my Dobermanns have ever been registered to give blood ~ not sure if there is a canine blood bank in England.

Personally I wouldn't put my Dobes on the register.

I would agree to a transfusion if Tori needed to help JJ or JJ to help Tori, or possibly if one of their litter/kennel mates needed it.