CISA Pet Ambassador Program
Rescued to the rescue!
Miki is a beautiful 11-year-old Korean Jindo rescued by her mom from the Humane Society.
She is a loyal girl who loves her cat siblings, going for long walks, playing with stuffed toys and doing endless tricks for Dentatsticks.
When Miki isn’t playing with her stuffed pumpkin or peep toys or running through the snow, she turns into a real-life superhero. Miki donates life-saving blood to fellow canines to give them a second chance at life.
Miki’s rescue not only gave her a new lease on life but, through her blood donations, saved countless other dogs.
You’re a good girl, Miki!
Blood and glory
Commentary by veterinarian Dr. Sarah Churgin, Clinical Assistant Professor of Animal Health, College of Integrative Sciences and Arts, ASU Polytechnic campus.
Miki’s story is made all the more inspiring because she is a hero to other dogs by being a blood donor. Just like humans, dogs and other animals sometimes require blood transfusions. And just like people, dogs, cats, and other species each have their own species-specific blood types, which means transfusions must be done carefully to prevent any adverse reactions. Veterinary professionals are trained to perform certain tests before a transfusion to ensure a bad reaction is unlikely. Dogs are lucky in that major transfusion reactions are relatively rare, but cats have more finicky blood types and transfusions must be done delicately. Pets who are blood donors must be very healthy and free of particular problems or conditions. Donating blood isn’t harmful to a pet and it can save lives.
You might wonder what types of conditions could lead a dog or cat to need a blood transfusion. Pets can require blood for a variety of reasons. The first one that might come to mind is a traumatic accident, such as a run-in with a motor vehicle, that causes blood loss. This is undoubtedly a major category of conditions that require a blood transfusion. However, some other common diseases or syndromes in pets might need a transfusion that might not be as well-known. For instance, dogs can develop a cancer called hemangiosarcoma that commonly causes internal bleeding, necessitating a transfusion. Cats may require a transfusion if they develop severe chronic kidney disease, because the kidneys typically produce a hormone that drives red blood cell production. When the kidneys fail, this hormone is reduced and the cat can become very anemic (low red blood cell count). Dogs and cats can develop immune-mediated conditions that target the body’s red blood cells, which can lead to severe anemia requiring a transfusion. Diseases that affect the bone marrow can also cause similar problems because the bone marrow stops producing red blood cells. These are just a few reasons a pet may need a transfusion.
As you can see, it’s not uncommon to see blood transfusions in a veterinary setting and having dogs like Miki who are already set up as blood donors is a great help in these situations. If you’re interested in seeing whether your pet is eligible to be a blood donor, this is a great conversation to have with your veterinarian.
