Meet the Swindon dogs giving blood to keep others alive

Many of us will have had a dog that needed emergency veterinary treatment and some of those pets will have been saved thanks to receiving blood. But how many of us really knew where that blood came from? 

Well, it has to be donated by fit and healthy dogs, and every few months at Eastcott Vets, Dorcan, UK charity Pet Blood Bank UK holds a session where owners can bring their pooches to take part.

The most recent session was on Sunday, January 29, and the Adver went to learn more about how it works and meet some of the heroic canines doing their bit (and their owners). 

Participants are greeted by volunteer Lizzie Morris who checks dogs in, weighs them, and gives them lots of treats and fuss. 

Chocolate labrador Maisie had been brought to donate blood by owner Anita Lawless (Image: Newsquest)

They are then taken by a qualified veterinary nurse who collects the blood in 5-10 minutes before they come back out to Lizzie for more treats and fuss, a photo, and a bag of treats and a toy to take home with them. 

Dogs who have hit milestones for a number of donations are even given a special gift or a badge. 

"I love doing it," Lizzie said, "I'm really passionate about it because it's so important. A lot of people don't know about it, or how it works, but it's really simple and the dogs enjoy it, they're the stars of the whole thing really."

She has been helping at dog blood donation sessions in the area for six years after her first dog Daisy got ill and died despite being given blood.

"I know that with Daisy it didn't make a difference in the end, but that's not the case for everyone, for many dogs it will save their lives. So I thought 'wow, I had better see about donating'."

Clair Wilkinson, brought in three-legged greyhound Marley, 4, for his fifth donation.

“He loves it, he gets loads of fuss so is excited when he arrives. But when he’s in the room giving blood, he just lays down on the bed no bother at all.”

She added: “Somebody’s pet might otherwise die when they didn’t need to if they didn’t have the blood."

Anita Lawless was there with chocolate Labrador Maisie, 4, she said: “I saw something on Facebook and realised that dogs needed to give blood for vets to have blood to use.

“I give blood myself, so if it was something Maisie could do then why not? It feels good to know it’s doing some good.”

Duke Caboom proudly posing after his donation session (Image: Newsquest)

Excitable spaniel Duke Caboom, 3, was there for his fourth donation.

“Many years ago, I was a veterinary nurse, so I’ve seen first-hand how valuable and needed something like this is and the benefit for other dogs,” his owner Caroline Lovelace said.

“I make sure I mention it whenever I’m out walking the dogs.”

Dogs taking part must be confident, over 25kg, between 1 and 8 years old, not on long-term medication, and should not have received blood before.

They also need to pass a pre-donation assessment taken place to make sure they're healthy. 

Sian Anderson, a vet nurse of two years, explained: "The welfare of the dogs is our concern especially as they're doing something that doesn't really benefit them.

"We do everything we can to make them happy, comfortable, and relaxed."

Sian explained that there are two dog blood types – positive and negative – but the rarer one, negative, is highly sought after because it can be given to any dog that needs it regardless of their own blood type.

If you’d like to know more about dog blood donations and are thinking about getting involved please visit the Pet Blood Bank UK website for more information - https://www.petbloodbankuk.org/