The Donation Process

The first step in the donation process is bringing your pet in for a small blood draw. We use the blood to determine your pet's blood type. This is a free service for the community. If your dog is a universal blood donor, meets the other donor requirements, and has a good temperament we will send in a complete blood test to the laboratory to screen for diseases.

After the blood tests come back, we will ask to set up a drop-off for a blood donation. We usually have the donor stay with us for a couple of hours for each donation.

When your dog is checked in for his donation, the doctor first performs a complete physical examination, and runs blood work before proceeding. The donors weight and temperature are also recorded before each donation.

The total time needed for the actual donation is ten to fifteen minutes. The blood is taken from the left or right jugular veins in their neck, and processed immediately. After the donation, your dog will be offered food and water while being monitored for at least an hour before going home.

Each donor family can choose the benefits they prefer with the blood bank staff. Some receive their vaccinations for free, other people prefer having their dog bathed. Flea medicine is another option available.

The staff at NWVBB work hard to make this experience as pleasant for the animals as possible, and always strive to create a stress-free environment. We are happy to address any concerns or questions about the donation process.

 

 

NORTHWEST VETERINARY BLOOD BANK 720 Virginia St Bellingham, WA. 98225
phone: 360-752-5554 fax: 360-752-5555 email: info@northwestbloodbank.com