Like in human medicine,
transfusion can save many lives.
We ask for your understanding
and cooperation as blood donors.
For animals that donate blood, we provide one free vaccination and one free health check.
transfusion can save many lives.
We ask for your understanding
and cooperation as blood donors.
For animals that donate blood, we provide one free vaccination and one free health check.
Dogs & Cats
Weight 8 kg or more
※No weight limit for cats
Ages 1–7
Heartworm prevention
and annual vaccinations up to date
Inquiries about tests and procedures
About the canine and
feline blood-donation program
feline blood-donation program
At our hospital we provide diagnosis, surgery, and inpatient treatment for animals every day.
Some patients develop severe anemia due to bleeding or disease and require transfusion.
However, veterinary medicine lacks a well-established public blood-donation and blood-storage/distribution system like human medicine.
Therefore, when a transfusion is needed we must ask healthy young dogs or cats to donate blood on a case-by-case basis.
Island Animal Medical Center (Island Vet) is recruiting dog and cat donors to help save as many lives as possible.
Some patients develop severe anemia due to bleeding or disease and require transfusion.
However, veterinary medicine lacks a well-established public blood-donation and blood-storage/distribution system like human medicine.
Therefore, when a transfusion is needed we must ask healthy young dogs or cats to donate blood on a case-by-case basis.
Island Animal Medical Center (Island Vet) is recruiting dog and cat donors to help save as many lives as possible.
How to register
and the donation process
and the donation process
1. Donor registration
We explain donor requirements and procedures, and determine and record the blood type at registration. Please feel free to contact us to start the process.
2. Donation request
In emergency situations we may contact registered owners to request donation. Please be aware you may be contacted on short notice. After you arrive and complete reception, the donation will be performed while the donor remains in our care. The total time from check-in to return is approximately two hours.
3. Health check
Before donation we perform an interview and health check to confirm the donor is eligible. The tests include a physical examination and blood tests.
4. Blood collection
Blood is collected from the jugular vein. After shaving and disinfecting the site, a veterinarian performs the procedure. The collection volume is up to 20 ml per 1 kg of body weight and is adjusted so as not to burden the donor.
5. IV fluids
After collection we confirm hemostasis and administer IV fluids equal to or greater than the drawn volume. Please rest at home as a precaution; normal activities can generally be resumed the next day.
Donor registration requirements
Only healthy dogs and cats meeting the following conditions are eligible to register. Ideally, donors should have a history of visits to our clinic and have a calm temperament during blood collection.
| Dogs | Cats | |
|---|---|---|
| Age & sex | Ages 1–7 Males not intended for breeding; females with no prior pregnancies |
|
| Weight | 10 kg or more | 3.5 kg or more |
| Prevention & tests | Core vaccine, rabies vaccine, flea/tick and heartworm prevention |
Feline leukemia / FIV testing, core vaccine, flea/tick prevention |
| Housing | Indoor or outdoor housing OK | Indoor-only housing |
About sedation
Because blood is taken from the jugular vein, sudden movement or struggling by the animal could injure nearby nerves or arteries. For safety, we may perform sedation. Sedation is carried out with close monitoring and utmost care, but veterinary medicine cannot completely eliminate unforeseen events. If any abnormality occurs, we will stop the collection immediately and provide appropriate treatment.
About blood types in dogs and cats
When performing transfusions, compatibility between donor and recipient blood types must be confirmed. Blood type is therefore crucial. Humans have A, B, AB, and O blood types, but dogs and cats have different classification systems.
◼︎ Dogs — compatibility for transfusion
| Donor dog | Recipient dog | |
|---|---|---|
| DEA 1.1 (+) | DEA 1.1 (−) | |
| DEA 1.1 (+) | ◯ | ✕ |
| DEA 1.1 (−) | ◯ | ◯ |
Dogs have two main blood types regarding DEA 1.1: DEA 1.1+ and DEA 1.1−. Only DEA 1.1− dogs can safely receive blood from DEA 1.1− donors. Most dogs are DEA 1.1+ (approximately 60–80%), while DEA 1.1− dogs are less common (about 20–40%).
◼︎ Cats — compatibility for transfusion
| Donor cat | Recipient cat | |
|---|---|---|
| A | B | |
| A | ◯ | ✕ |
| B | ✕ | ◯ |
Cats have three main blood types: A, B, and AB. Transfusions are generally performed between the same blood types. Type A is most common (about 70–90%), type B is less common (10–30%), and AB is rare (around 1–5%).