Far Country Canine Blood Bank

How it Works
Far Country Canine Blood Bank (FCCBB) is looking for dedicated blood donors who want to help save lives. Canine Heroes who donate blood will save lives! Often times we find a need for blood products, mostly in urgent situations. Far Country Canine Blood Bank is pooling DEA 1.1 Negative donors and drawing blood from these donors to be sold at a low cost to other animal hospitals, doctors, and even clients.  Currently, blood products are shipped to Alaska from an animal blood bank out of state, which elevates the cost for clients and essentially affects the ability to seek treatment for their pets.  Far Country Canine Blood Bank would like to be able to provide our clients with options for treatment of their pets.

We need YOU and your dog! There are a few requirements in order to participate and a few rewards as well. Overall, saving lives is the best reward! Help us help pets in need by allowing your dog to be a blood donor today!! 

Blood Donor Eligibility Requirements:
1. Your dog must be at least 50 pounds.
2. Your dog must be in good health.
3. Your dog must have a good temperament & be easy to handle at the veterinarians’ office.
4. Your dog must be current on Canine Rabies and Distemper-Parvo Vaccinations.
5. Your dog must NOT be on any prescribed medications.
6. Female dogs must not have had a history of pregnancy.

Step 1: Initial Screen

Your dogs may be brought to Far Country Animal Hospital during our blood drive, OR you may set up an appointment for a FREE exam to determine if your dog would be a candidate for a blood donor. Owners will be asked to fill out a health questionnaire and bring proof of current vaccinations. Health, ease of handling, and temperament of your dog will be determined and noted in their patient file. Your dogs’ picture will be taken for our bulletin board and they will be given a treats for being cooperative.

• Dogs with appropriate temperaments and in good health have two vials of blood drawn for blood type screening. Blood will be typed using in-hospital blood typing kit. The most important blood type in dogs is “DEA 1.1 Negative” as this is a UNIVERSAL blood type. This means that even if the dog needing the blood is a different blood type, they should not have any adverse reactions if they receive a DEA 1.1 Negative blood type.  Select dogs with DEA 1.1 Negative blood types will be moved to the next level of screening.
• If your dog is NOT the blood type we are looking for, you will be placed on the appropriate on-call list to be called in the future if we need your dogs’ blood type.
  

Step 2: Further Testing

• Dogs from families who are dedicated to fulfilling donation commitments and have dogs who are easy to handle will be advanced to this stage of the program. If your dog tested as a DEA 1.1 negative, their blood will be sent out to a laboratory to confirm this blood type.
•  All dogs determined to be appropriate donors will have further blood testing done to check for any signs of infections or organ diseases. Dogs which are NOT spayed or neutered will have will have a yearly Canine Brucellosis test done as well. As soon as we receive results on your Dogs’ blood results, you will be notified if your dog can be a canine blood donor and move on to the next step in the program.
  

Step 3: Blood Donations

Dogs selected for the program will be asked to make a donation every 2-3 months on a regular schedule. If there is an emergency and blood supplies for the blood bank are critically low, you may be asked to come in early provided it is safe to do so. This may include coming in on nights, weekends, and holidays.

Rewards for Being a Canine Blood Donor at FCCBB:

• OVER $300 worth of blood testing done at NO CHARGE: Blood typing, Physical Exams, and blood chemistry profiles to include complete blood counts and thyroid tests done yearly.
• Your dog will receive a Blood Donor bandana identifying them as a “Canine Hero” A donor is eligible to receive one unit of blood or plasma for every unit of blood donated FREE OF CHARGE should illness or injury ever warrant its use. 
• After the first year of donations, the donor will receive a “Canine Hero” ID tag which will identify them as a donor, complete with the dogs’ name and blood type.
• Knowing your dog is saving lives with each donation.

Call or stop by soon to get more information on how your dog can become a blood donor!