Transfusion therapy

Blood transfusions are used to treat a variety of emergency conditions.  We stock a number of units of packed red blood cells for both dogs and cats as well as both frozen plasma and fresh frozen plasma units for these species.  This ensures that whenever a patient comes into the clinic that needs one of these blood products we have it available for their use.  Pets may need transfusions if they suffered a trauma with significant blood loss, such as being hit by a car, or if they have an auto-immune disease where the body destroys its own red blood cells, as with Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA) patients. Pets may need plasma if they have an illness or condition that affects their ability to clot or causes them to lose significant amounts of protein from their blood. Examples of conditions that may necessitate a plasma transfusion are parvovirus, heat stroke, or rodenticide ingestion.  Pets receiving blood product transfusions receive the highest level of monitoring and care.  They are blood-typed prior to their transfusions and are closely observed for any possible reactions.