Dogs Can Save Lives

Dogs Can Save Lives
By Robert Forto, PhD

We all know that dogs can be trained to do many jobs. They can be police K-9’s, search and rescue dogs, tracking dogs, service dogs, mobility dogs, hearing dogs, sled dogs and of course our favorite companions. But did you know that dogs can also be blood donors to help save lives of their fellow fiends?

There is an organization in Colorado, Rocky Mountain Blood Services (RMBS) that hosts a blood donation program for dogs (and cats).You may ask why in the world would I want my dog to donate blood? Just like in humans there is a shortage of blood and blood components. Animals like humans experience trauma, disease and other life threatening situations that require blood transfusions.

One donation from your dog can save four lives and your dog can donate blood up to six times in a year. The process is simple and of no cost to the owner. You schedule an appointment for either the Parker or Colorado Sprigs, Colorado clinic and they will do a full blood screen on your dog to make sure he is healthy and free of disease and then place an I.V. to draw the blood which takes about thirty minutes. There is little to no pain experienced by our dog, no more than a routine vaccination and the patient is not sedated.

Who Qualifies as a Blood Donor?

1. The pet must be well behaved and friendly,
2. Must be a minimum f 50 pounds,
3. Must be between 1 and 8 years,
4. Must be current on all vaccinations and free from infectious diseases,
5. The donor must take heartworm, flea and tick prevention between the months of April and October,
6. No history of serious illness,
7. Females can never have been pregnant.

As a donor you will asked to commit to six donations over a period of 12 months with donations occurring about every 6 weeks. In rare emergencies you may be called upon to donate before your scheduled appointment and you will be compensated for your donations after the sixth one up to $150.00 dollars depending on the donor.

There are eleven types of blood in dogs and just like humans it is important to know the type of the donor and the type of the recipient before a transfusion is performed. Before a donation can occur the possible donor is initially screened for any metabolic abnormalities. Once the prescreen is reviewed a blood type is determined and the donor is then screen for exposure to blood borne parasites and diseases. Of course all of this is at no cost to the owner.

If you would like to find out more about Rocky Mountain Blood Services please listen to The Dog Doctor Radio Show this Saturday at or download it anytime from iTunes. You can RMBS’s website at http://www.rockymountainbloodservices.com for more information.

As always, if you have a question, comment, concern or a topic for a future show of The Dog Doctor Radio show please send us an email at live@dogdoctorradio.com or give Michele a call at 303-752-2818.

Citation: RMBS website
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Dr. Robert Forto is the training director of Denver Dog Works and the host of The Dog Doctor Radio Show. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com