The Animal Blood Bank Benelux is looking for donor dogs and cats

The Animal Blood Bank Benelux has just opened, thanks to the support of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Liège. It responds to an increasing demand for blood compounds and aims to help all veterinarians in Belgium to treat their patients.

With the progress of veterinary medicine, transfusions are becoming more and more frequent in cases of anaemia (blood loss, haemolysis, etc.), disseminated intravascular coagulation or surgery on an animal with a coagulopathy.

The Animal Blood Bank Benelux is a first in Belgium.

This blood bank calls on dog and cat owners to register their pet as a donor. They can contact the blood bank directly, register via the website and soon via their vet. 

What are the criteria to be registered as a donor?

The animal must be in good health and therefore cannot have any systemic disease. Dogs must weigh more than 20 kg, and cats more than 3.5 kg. The animal must be in order of vaccinations, deworming, and must never have received a transfusion.

How are the collections organised?

For the moment, they are held exclusively at the University Veterinary Clinic of Liège at Sart Tilman campus, but the aim is that the animal blood bank will soon be able to move around as the Red Cross does. The collection days could thus be organised in veterinary surgeries or municipal premises lent for the occasion.

The appointment (made in advance) lasts about 30 minutes, from the anamnesis by the veterinarian to the end of the donation.

In order to reduce the animal's stress, the procedure is carried out in a quiet room with muffled noises and background music. Donation days are specific to dogs or cats, to reduce the stress of canine or feline odours.

A blood test is carried out for each donor every year, and at each appointment, at least three months apart, a PCR test for the main blood parasites of the species is carried out, as well as a blood group determination.

There is no cost to the owner.

ABB Benelux