Marlborough puppy Sammy is alive and well today thanks to a crucial blood transfusion made possible by Pet Blood Bank UK (PBB).
To mark World Blood Donor Day on June 14 PBB is inviting Swindon’s owners of select breeds to a free blood typing event at Vets Now Hospital in Swindon. The charity is working with Vets Now to deliver this event in honour of 10 years working together.
Owners will discover their dog’s blood type at this unique event – a valuable piece of information should they ever be faced with an emergency situation where their dog needs blood.
Not only this, their dogs will also be invited to give blood at a later date to help save the lives of other much loved canine companions.
Just three days after arriving at his new home, Sammy started vomiting and had diarrhoea. Holly and husband Adam took the new puppy to Vets4Pets in Marlborough where he was given an anti-sickness injection and other medication to aid recovery.
However, he quickly deteriorated and was rushed to Vets Now’s Hospital in Swindon. The veterinary team on duty suspected parvovirus and a positive test confirmed this.
Things were not looking good for Sammy, who spent nine days at Vets Now, but thanks to intensive care including a plasma transfusion supplied by PBB, there was hope.
“It was a long and difficult wait to see if Sammy would recover,” recalled Holly. “He had an awful time but the vets did everything they could to give him a chance. Without their support, and Pet Blood Bank UK’s donor who provided the blood, we wouldn’t have Sammy today. A huge thank you to everyone.”
Despite his ordeal, Sammy is now living life to the full.
Holly added: “Sammy is now four months old and a typical puppy – mischievous and spends all of his time running around.”
Just like the human blood service, PBB collects blood from donors at organised donation sessions nationwide.
“Similar to us, dogs are either of a negative or positive blood type. Knowing your dog’s blood type can save time in an emergency,” said PBB founder Wendy Barnett.
“Here at PBB we support the veterinary profession with 24/7 access to blood. However, maintaining supplies of negative blood remains a constant challenge for us.”
“We hope that by offering a free blood typing event, we can help owners find out their dog’s blood type and encourage those who are Negative to register as donors and help save lives. Just one unit of blood can help save up to four other lives, potentially their own one day.”
At the session on June 14, PBB will type for either DEA 1 Positive or Negative blood.
Wendy explained: “From research, we do know that the DEA 1 negative blood type is more common in certain breeds such as Dobermanns, Greyhounds, Boxers, German Shepherds, Flat Coated Retrievers, Airedale Terriers, Weimaraners, Lurchers, American Bulldogs, Pointer (English), English Bull Terriers, Old English Sheepdogs, Border Collies and Dogue de Bordeaux.”
“Therefore, we’re inviting fit and healthy dogs of these select breeds to come along on June 14th to discover their blood type, and those who we confirm to be Negative will be invited to a PBB donation session at Vets Now Hospital Swindon.”
To register your attendance at the free blood typing event in celebration of World Blood Donor Day, please visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/free-blood-typing-event-in-celebration-of-world-blood-donor-day-tickets-34503894076 or the World Blood Donor Day section of Pet Blood Bank UK’s website www.petbloodbankuk.org
