Cotswolds News
Vets appeal for ‘bloodhounds’
12:00pm Thursday 9th February 2012
FOUR-legged blood donors are needed in the Cotswolds to help ill or injured pets in their hour of need.
Loughborough-based Pet Blood Bank (PBB), which was set up in 2007, has teamed up with the Chipping Norton Veterinary Hospital to provide a blood transfusion service in the area.
They are appealing for about 40 dogs to come forward and donate blood which will be taken back to the PBB’s headquarters and processed, typed and stored.
Veterinary practices can then order blood of the type they need for guaranteed next day delivery.
In previous years, the hospital has depended on local pet owners who have volunteered their pet to be a donor in times of emergency.
Lynne Tyler, head nurse at the veterinary hospital, said: “There aren’t any blood banks in this area. We had a couple of patients who used the blood bank last year and it saved the animals’ lives. We just thought we could give something back.”
Dog donors have to be healthy, fully vaccinated, not on any medication and be between one and eight years old. For details or to volunteer your pet, call the Chipping Norton Veterinary Hospital on 01608 642547 or visit petbloodbankuk.org.