h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

what happens when dogs need blood transfusions?
do dogs have different blood groups?
do dogs have their blood stolen when they have routine operations, to enable other dogs to undergo life-saving surgery?
is there a national dog-blood bank?

Someone must know about dog blood transfusions.....
help me...
please.

I think so....I vaguely remember seeing something like a transfusion on Animal Hospital once...

Maybe blood transfusions for dogs (or any pets, for that matter) arn't really an option.

Perhaps that's why most cases of severe injury and trauma to household pets (from an RTA, for example) result in the animal being put to sleep.

I think it is an option, but animal surgery costs too much in general. That's why the vets usually bring out the needles. So it probably wouldn't make sense to have a blood bank for those few dogs. Except for in California and such places, where they even have dog hotels.

I suggested blood transfusions might not be an option because of the point fleali first raised - where does the blood come from? If there was any blood available, I'm sure transfusions could be performed.

Even *in California* - where does the blood come from? I suppose there might a scheme whereby you arrange to bank some of your animal's own blood, in case it was ever needed in the future.