November 1, 2007

With the availability of pet insurance and high tech medical procedures, more and more pet lovers are opting to put their furry loved ones under the knife.

But cardiac vet Dr. Dan Brockman says blood needed during animal surgery is the biggest constraint.

The UK is taking on the issue by calling for a national dog blood bank – with the aim of opening non-profit centers around the country to collect, store and distribute donations.

One reason they're starting with dogs is canine blood doesn't require a match. Cats on the other hand, require a donor with the same blood type.

Private blood services already exist both in the UK and in the US, but scientists say those methods are too piecemeal.

Some oppose the donations all together because animals can't volunteer themselves.

But the collection process is similar to the human procedure – the animal is relaxed by soft music and dim lighting while the blood is drained. It takes about 15 minutes overall.

The UK movement has just begun. It is yet to be seen if it will land stateside – but tell us what you think about a national blood bank for animals by posting comments under this story.

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