Why blood donors are in demand
Meet our team.
Kathryn Taylor
DVM, MS, DACVIM (Oncology)Board Certified in Veterinary Oncology
Oncology
On The Job
Dr. Kathryn Taylor was the first veterinary oncologist in the Charleston area in 2006. Over the last 15 years, she has worked to form a strong relationship with primary care veterinarians to build their confidence in referring to her for their oncology cases.
The most common disorder Dr. Taylor treats is lymphoma, but she understands that no two cases are alike as no two animals are identical. She approaches each pet with a strong knowledge of their disease but with the flexibility to provide care that fits with each family’s wishes and abilities for their pet.
Education
- Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Oncology)
- Residency, Medical Oncology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL
- Master of Science, Biomedical Science, Auburn University, Auburn, AL
- Internship, Small Animal Medicine, & Surgery, Angell Memorial Animal Hospital, Boston, MA
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL
- Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry, Rhodes College, Memphis, TN
Off Duty
Dr. Taylor has been happily married for 21 years and has two children and three dogs. She enjoys spending time with her children, hiking and just being outdoors.
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!
