January is National Blood Donor Month

January is National Blood Donor Month! Blood transfusion (including transfusion of blood products, like plasma) is a critically important service that can mean the difference between life and death for veterinary patients. In our continuing efforts to offer the highest quality medicine to all of our patients, we are pleased to offer blood transfusion services supervised by our expert health care team at Hollywood Animal Hospital. 

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People often wonder how blood donations work in the world of our furry friends as compared to human blood donations. If you have personally donated blood, then you already know how important donating blood is to the human community. Almost every person you know can be a blood donor, regardless of their blood type. The same is nearly true for feline blood donors--almost every cat can be a blood donor. However, the canine blood donation situation is a little different. 

Only about 40 percent can be blood donors, because donations can only be taken from those dogs with the universal canine blood type. The Hollywood Animal Hospital is home to both a feline and canine in-house blood bank.

We use greyhounds as our canine blood donors since they have the universal canine blood type and domestic felines as our feline donors. Each week, we take blood from alternating groups of pets to stock our blood bank. The blood is then used to assist animals with different types of needs.

The donors are all adopted animals who receive a safe, caring place to live, plenty of food to eat, and lots of play time.

                     Below is Squirrel, one of our Adopted Blood Donors, who was adopted six years ago. 

This is Squirrel! 

Squirrel and Linda

Kris, Kennel Supervisor, and Joyce who adopted Squirrel

Finally, after our donors serve for 2-years, we find a permanent home for him/her to live out the rest of their life in comfort.

For further information, please contact us at (954) 920-3556

Source: http://www.hollywoodanimal.com/hah-blood-donors
http://hollywoodanimalhospital.blogspot.com/2013/11/squirrel-adopted-blood-donor.html 
http://www.hollywoodanimal.com/blood-transfusions