Why blood donors are in demand
Meet our team.
Gayle Donner
DVM, DACVSDr. Gayle Donner specializes in surgical oncology (the surgical treatment of cancers and tumors) and general soft tissue surgery. Her particular areas of interest include head and neck cancer surgery, and plastic and reconstructive surgery. The first veterinary surgeon to specialize in surgical oncology in a private practice referral setting, she pioneered the surgical technique that combines the removal of tumors with the implantation of chemotherapy beads in dogs and cats eliminating the need for postoperative radiation in many cases.
Dr. Donner’s caseload also includes cancers of the limbs and trunk, chest, abdomen, and urogenital system, as well as other soft tissue disorders and injuries. She performs all of her surgeries using magnification and microsurgical instrumentation, for the utmost in precision to achieve the best possible outcome.
- Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons
- Residency, Small Animal Surgery, University of Florida, Gainesville
- Internship, Large Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens
If not with patients, pets or family, Dr. Donner can be found at the stable on her horse.
Alysoun Caban
RVTAlysoun Caban has an interest in high-level nursing care, including blood transfusions. Her cat was a donor, which made her interested in developing and improving BluePearl’s donor system. She loves patient care and the ever-changing nature of emergency medicine.
Alysoun enjoys taking care of her plant collection, baking bread and hiking. She and her husband enjoy going on road trips and visiting national parks. They share two cats, Waffle and Toast.
Sam Tanng
RVTSam Tanng has been a veterinary technician for over 30 years, working in general practice, neurology, oncology and emergency and critical care medicine. Pets are one of his greatest passions, and when he saw the need for more assistance in the Blood Bank, he stepped in to help however he could.
Outside the hospital, Sam’s passions include theatre and film, performing in both independent films and making regular appearances – over 35 shows – on the Long Beach Playhouse stage. He also has a wonderful seven-year-old furbaby, an orange-and-white cat named Marvin, who he considers his other half.
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!
