Talk About a Blood Hound

Talk About a Blood Hound

By Joe Motheral

The Blue Ridge Veterinary Blood Bank in Purcellville operates under the same safety and sanitary principles as the Red Cross and similar organizations serving humans, with a far different clientele.

It focuses on the canine population by having dogs donate blood that Blood Bank manager Jocelyn Pratt said is used to treat dogs locally and nationwide needing transfusions to fight disease or help heal injuries.

Blue Ridge Blood Bank Manager Jocelyn Pratt and doggie donor Tango.

Photo by Joe Motheral

“It’s for illnesses in dogs the same way human blood is used,” she said. “Any dog can get cancer, besides other diseases. We currently have 350 donor dogs (of all breeds) in our program.”

According to its literature, the Blue Ridge Blood Bank is the largest all canine volunteer veterinary blood banks in the U.S.

“Our donor base consists only of willing canine companions,” Pratt said, adding that staff members are specially trained to handle pets. “We will be starting a new site in Leesburg in August at Leesburg Veterinary Hospital.”

Dogs who qualify as donors must meet certain requirements, and must be at least nine months old and up to seven. They have to be healthy and happy, weigh at least 40 pounds and be at an ideal body weight. They also have to be vaccinated for rabies and distemper and undergone monthly heartworm, flea and tick prevention of some kind year-round. Finally they should be willing to accept “food and love.”

Greyhounds and Pit Bulls have a universal blood type, Pratt said, meaning that their blood can be used for any dog needing a transfusion.

During one recent blood drawing session from a donor dog, a large St. Bernard came in and was escorted to a table where the staff members and a veterinarian started by feeding it peanut butter and cheese.

One staffer laid down beside the dog, who continued to lap up the goodies. A nurse brought a needle connected to a bag, then shaved an area opposite the dog’s jugular before injecting the needle to start drawing blood. All the while, the donor continued snacking. After three minutes, the process was over.

The collected blood “is put into a centrifuge and separated into plasma and red blood cells,” Pratt said. “The plasma is stored in a freezer while the red blood cells are put into a fridge.”

The Blood Bank is always on the lookout for new donors. If an owner is interested, they must call Blue Ridge and arrange to bring their dog in for testing. “During the first visit,” Pratt said, “our team will assess your dog’s personality and willingness to donate.”

During the initial testing, a small blood sample is taken for screening. If the blood passes inspection and the owner wishes to continue, Blue Ridge requires a one-year commitment involving five to seven visits.

A canine donor can reap a number of benefits, including a wellness exam, blood typing, heartworm and Lyme disease testing, as well as screening for tick borne illness and Brucella.

The dog also gets a bandana that reads, “I saved a life,” and, perhaps best of all, a bag full of treats to take home.

Blue Ridge Veterinary Associates is located at 120 E. Cornwall Lane in Purcellville. Details: www.dogsdonateblood.com.