Blood Donor Program
An Ethical Canine Blood Bank Serving St. Louis
If your dog is critically injured or rushed into emergency surgery, a blood donation from a fellow canine can be the ultimate lifesaver. Every second counts in the operating room – and the faster their care team can access blood products, the higher the chance of your pet’s survival.
Thanks to the help of some four-legged heroes and their caring families, Hawthorne Animal Hospital’s blood donor program ensures we have whole blood, packed red blood cells, and plasma right at hand in the case of a life-threatening emergency. Because of these dogs’ generosity, a single donation can be the gift of more tail wags, more walks, and more time with family.
What Makes Hawthorne’s Donor Blood Program Different
All canine volunteers involved with Hawthorne’s blood donor program are beloved pets of our veterinarians and staff. Four times a year, these dogs take a quick 20-30 minute break from running, playing, and sleeping to donate blood right here at the hospital.
Donating blood to a dog blood bank is similar to a traditional donor drive, but even easier for our volunteers. Dogs receive a mild sedation via an IV injection that allows them to fully relax for the draw. Once complete, the volunteer is administered electrolyte-rich SQ fluids to prevent dehydration and a Vitamin B complex to assist with recovery and let them return home quickly.
There’s no stress, no pain, and no side effects involved in giving another dog a second chance at life.
Meet Our Heroes!
Diamond
MAck
Ruger
Stanley
Xena
Dottie
Merle
Common Needs for Veterinary Blood Banks
- Trauma and emergency care
- Acute and chronic anemia
- Hemophilia and other clotting disorders
- Surgical support
- Toxicities, such as poison ingestion that can cause internal bleeding
What are the Requirements to be a Blood Donor?
For the safety of both our blood donors and blood recipients, Hawthrone follows strict guidelines when enrolling employees’ pets into our program:
- Pet must be older than one and younger than seven years old
- At least 50 pounds in weight
- No history of heart murmurs, seizures, or heartworms
- Current on core vaccinations
- Undergo an initial health screening and receive yearly wellness appointments
Once retired, every donor receives free vaccines, wellness lab testing, heartworm prevention, and flea/tick prevention for life as long as their pet parent works for Hawthorne.
Together, Hawthorne, our employees, and their amazing dogs are working together to help give canines in crisis the lifesaving care they need!
Hawthorne Animal Hospital, a small animal hospital and veterinary clinic, serves St. Louis Metro East area, including the communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Troy, Alton, Granite City, Collinsville, Highland, Wood River, Roxana, Bethalto, Godfrey, Worden, and Hamel.