BluePearl Pet Blood Bank Logo

Donor eligibility.

Interested in having your pet become a blood donor hero? Learn about the benefits and requirements for donating blood.

Why blood donors are in demand

Just as humans require blood transfusions for medical conditions or emergency situations, so do our beloved pets.

Common reasons pets need transfusions include:

  • Trauma
  • Blood disorders
  • Toxins
  • Infectious diseases
  • Cancer

Unfortunately, there is a shortage of available blood for pets, while the need for life-saving transfusions grows. BluePearl relies on the invaluable contributions of dog and cat donors to help save and improve the quality of pets’ lives, expand blood donor programs, and strengthen the human-animal bond.

Veterinary technicians with a patient.
A dog is cared for while giving blood.
A veterinary technician with a small dog.
Veterinary technicians posing with a large brown dog.
A large brown dog giving blood.

Meet our team.

Shaina Mooshian

DVM, DACVECC
Board Certified in Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care
Critical Care
Servicing Locations
BluePearl Pet Hospital Pittsburgh North Pittsburgh, PA
On The Job

Dr. Shaina Mooshian particularly enjoys transfusion medicine, mechanical ventilation, and treating sepsis and traumatic brain injuries.

Education
  • Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care
  • Residency, Emergency & Critical Care, Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center, PA
  • Internship, Emergency & Critical Care, Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center, PA
  • Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center, PA
  • Clinical Rotation, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Ross University, St. Kitts & Nevis, West Indies
  • Bachelor of Science, Biology, Lebanon Valley College, Annville, PA
Off Duty

Dr. Mooshian loves to sing, and enjoys traveling, cooking and gardening. Her pets include dogs Ripley, Eros and Apollo; cats Khaos and Raja; and rats Odin, Ramses, Maui and Loki.

Publications & Articles

Dan Kavanaugh

APCA III
Blood Bank
Servicing Locations
Blood Bank
On The Job

While his professional life has primarily focused on animal care, Dan Kavanaugh’s career in veterinary medicine has been a happy accident. He started as a kennel assistant at BluePearl in 2013 and has worked his way up to an APCA III designation, spending the past 10 years managing the Blood Bank program at the hospital.

Off Duty

A proud Pittsburgh native, Dan has two cats, Cooter and Bo, whom he considers the best companions anyone could ask for. In his free time, he enjoys music, sports, comedy, coffee and lifting weights – in between recovering from injuries caused by lifting weights

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!
A vet tech cuddles a dog

Become a blood donor hero.

Every blood donor is considered a hero and their contribution can give the gift of life to animals in need.