Canadian Animal Blood Bank - Chestermere Veterinary Clinic

We are proud to be a host clinic for the Canadian Animal Blood Bank (CABB). The next donor date at our clinic is Saturday September 3, 2022. Every donation can make a difference in the lives of 3 dogs and their families across Canada. If you are interested in your dog becoming a blood donor, please reach out to us for more information at chestvet@telus.net or 403-272-3573, or visit the CABB website at: https://www.canadiananimalbloodbank.ca/

Why Dogs Donate:
Blood products allow veterinarians to treat dogs with conditions such as:

Cancer Therapy Support
Rat Poison Toxicity
Anemia, Parvovirus Infections, and Von Willebrand’s Disease
Surgery and Times of Trauma
Immune Mediated Diseases

Donor Criteria:

Veterinarian endorsed healthy, even-tempered and calm enough to be restrained
Minimum 55 lbs (25 kg) lean body weight
1 – 8 years of age at the time of first donation (18 mos. for giant breeds). Donors can continue donating until their 10th year of age (health permitting).
Up to date on core vaccines as determined by the CABB (titre testing is accepted).
Note: donors are ineligible to donate for 4 weeks after vaccination.
Not afflicted with a condition or taking medication that would influence donor eligibility
Eligible to donate every 3 months for a minimum of two years

Donor Benefits:

At the time of the first donation, the donor is gifted a bandana and donor dog tag.
Subsequent milestone donations are celebrated with specialized dog tags for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 donations.
Complimentary Polymerized Chain Reaction (PCR) testing for blood borne diseases is completed each time the pet donates. Any positive PCR results are forwarded to the primary veterinary clinic who will contact the owner to advise of any further testing/treatment that may be necessary. Costs incurred for further testing/treatment is the responsibility of the owner.
4Dx SNAP blood test is run once per year in the Spring
Identification Microchip implantation is available after the second donation (rescue dogs are eligible upon their first visit)
Every donor is eligible to receive one blood product for every donation, should ever the need arise. Please note: product cost only is covered. Special considerations for breeders and rescue groups: donated units are not allocated to one specific dog but to the kennel or rescue group.

Donation Day:

Owner and donor are greeted at reception; donor weight is obtained
0.5 ml cephalic blood sample is taken to obtain PCV and total protein levels; blood typing is performed on new donors.
Donor picture is taken to be posted by CABB on social media
Pre-donation questionnaire is completed by the owner using CABB online form
Results of pre-donation tests are entered into the CABB database
Donor is placed in lateral recumbency on table and restrained
Owner is instructed on how to restrain their pet’s head
A small area over the jugular vein is shaved and surgically prepared
Needle is inserted into the jugular vein and the first aliquot of blood is collected into sampling pouch of collection system
Vacuum pump is turned on and 450g of whole blood is collected from the donor
(collection time is approximately 2-3 minutes)
Vacuum is turned off, line is clamped, and the needle is removed
Jugular is held off for 3 minutes to allow clotting
Donor is lifted off the table and the owner is provided with post donation instructions
Entire process takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes