Frequently Asked Questions
Email: BloodBank@rbvh.net – this is the best way to get in touch with us!
Phone: (732) 747-3636 – ask for Lauryn in the Blood Bank
An initial exam with extensive blood screening is performed on each candidate. This bloodwork screening is complimentary for our superhero candidates.
Cats: We prefer cats that are somewhat comfortable with the process of coming to the hospital, which can be a challenge! Cats must be between the ages of 1-7 years old and must weigh more than 10 pounds. They must also be healthy, up-to-date on vaccines, and have no history of major disease.
Cats have two major blood types (A and B) and a rare blood type (AB). Up to 90-95% of all cats in the United States are Type A. Cats can only receive blood transfusions of their own blood type, so we carefully screen the blood of the donor and the recipient to avoid any complications.
Dogs have at least 6 different blood types known as Dog Erythrocyte Antigens (DEA). At Red Bank Veterinary Hospital, we blood type all of our blood donor and blood recipients to ensure the best match. More advanced blood testing, called cross matching, can be utilized for dogs and cats that have had transfusions in the past.
These reasons can be categorized into 3 general causes of anemia (low red blood cell count).
- Major blood loss or bleeding may necessitate a blood transfusion. This may be caused by trauma (a fall, getting hit by a car), surgery, or other major illness such as cancer.
- Destruction of red blood cells at the microscopic level may be caused by diseases such as infections, toxins (penny ingestion), immune system malfunctions (i.e. immune mediated hemolytic anemia, or IMHA), or cancers.
- Decreased production of red blood cells can be caused by bone marrow disease. This may include infections, cancers, toxins (certain medications), or cancers.