Minnesotan To Meet: Porter The Canine Blood Donor
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Just like their human counterparts, dogs need blood transfusions every now and then.
Pups can suffer from things like anemia, cancer or undergo emergency surgery just like humans, and the blood supply at any local vet isn't nearly as large as places like Hennepin County Medical Center.
So, vets need donors like Porter.
At first glance Porter is your typical black lab, playful, loving and fun.
The staff at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center has certainly taken a liking to him.
"He came in as a stray, so we estimate him at least a year and half," vet tech Beth Olmsted said.
He's not just a frequent visitor because his owner works at the medical center he's also a donor - a canine blood donor.
"Our blood product is used for chronic disease, trauma patients, for anemias," Olmsted said.
And that's what Porter helps out with. He's one of 40 dogs that regularly donate blood at the hospital.
"Sometimes they're client owned dogs, sometimes they're staff owned dogs. A lot of times they are volunteers," Dr. Kelly Tart, Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Minnesota said.
Nine to 15 units of canine blood are kept in a small fridge ready to go to the next pup that needs it.
After watching the procedure, Porter looks like a pro. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes to draw the blood and then another 45 minutes to replenish Porter with IV fluids. Then he's ready to go outside and throw a Frisbee around.
Olmsted said like human blood, there are different types of canine blood.
"For type specific, we generally here in the hospital right now we are typing for 1.1 positive or negative dog antigen which is our most reactive antigen in the dogs," Olmsted said.
A simple procedure which can save the life of other four-legged friends.
"It's extremely imperative because there are some patients that will not survive without it," Tart said.
To learn more about pet donors, visit the University of Minnesota donor program online.
