Why blood donors are in demand
Meet our team.
Teresa Obr
DVM, DACVIM- Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
- Residency, Small Animal Internal Medicine, Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists, Houston, TX
- Internship, Small Animal Internal Medicine, Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists, Houston, TX
- Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Animal Hospital Specialty Center, Denver, CO
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames
- Bachelor of Science, Biology, University of Iowa, Iowa City
Kayla Wilcox
RVTKayla Wilcox joined the BluePearl Blood Bank team in response to the nationwide shortage of pet blood products – which had left the hospital without necessary supplies for months and put patient lives at risk. Determined to help in any way she could, Kayla began by bringing in her dog, Drake, to donate when he was just two years old. His donations to critical patients contributed to their recovery and return to their homes and loving families.
Witnessing firsthand the difference that accessible pet blood products make for critically ill pets, Kayla has assisted BluePearl Cedar Rapids in scaling their blood donor program. Thanks to the generosity of local donors, the hospital has been able to maintain a steady supply of life-saving blood products – a contribution Kayla finds deeply inspiring. Without these donations, many pets would not survive or would have to be transferred hours away for treatment. She is proud of the community of blood donors and their owners – whom she calls the true heroes.
Outside the hospital, Kayla enjoys walking, hiking, staying active and traveling with her wonderful husband and sweet baby boy. Their family includes five fur babies – Drake, Evie, Zeus, Nyx and Almond – three of whom are regular blood donors at the hospital. You can often find them all in a giant cuddle pile, enjoying a good movie together.
What can I expect?
Eligibility
- If your pet meets all eligibility criteria, complete the online registration, which inclues a medical history questionnaire.
- If all requirements are met, a member of the blood bank team will contact you to review your pet’s information, explain the blood donation process, answer questions, and schedule a pre-screening appointment.
Pre-screening appointment
- During this complimentary appointment, a member of the blood bank team will explain the process in detail and answer any questions you may have.
- An exam and behavioral assessment will be performed by a licensed veterinarian to ensure your pet is healthy and has a friendly, calm disposition.
- A blood sample will be drawn for initial pre-screening lab work to complete your pet's full health check, obtain their blood type, and to screen for any infectious diseases.
Results
- A member of the blood bank team will contact you with the lab work results. If all results are within the expected range, your pet will be officially enrolled in the program and we'll schedule their first donation appointment.
- When you arrive at the hospital, our team will meet with you to review any changes in your pet’s medical history and answer any questions. Most owners choose to drop off their pet for the day, but you're welcome to stay for the donation. The donation itself takes about 10 minutes, though the entire process lasts approximately an hour.
- A pre-donation health check will be performed, which includes a complete physical exam by a licensed veterinarian and a blood test to assess Packed Cell Volume (PCV) or hemoglobin. This will determine if your pet is clear to donate.
- With your consent, a small amount of sedative may be given to your pet to help them relax, if needed.
- While your pet is comfortably situated on a table, a small area of fur on their neck will be removed and the skin at the collection site will be cleaned.
- Blood is collected from the jugular vein, with the donation process lasting approximately 10 minutes. For canines, the standard collection volume ranges from 300ml to 450ml, depending on their weight. For felines, the standard volume is 53ml.
- Your pet is closely monitored with tenderness throughout the entire donation process by our loving team.
- After the donation, a bandage is placed over the collection site and your pet's vitals are taken.
- Your pet will receive plenty of TLC from our team as well as treats for their hard work!
- We recommended that your pet rest for the remainder of the day before returning to their normal routine the following day. For dogs, a harness should be used afterward.
- If you choose to receive notifications, you will receive an email alert when your pet’s blood is used to save or improve another pet’s life. You may receive multiple emails, as each donation can produce up to three blood products!
