Blood Transfusion in

Animals

Submitted to
Dr. B.N. Nagaraj
Professor
Dept of VSR
Veterinary college
Bangalore

Submitted By
Nandeesh Kumar. B
MVHK 1012
Blood transfusion
Is the process of transferring blood or blood-based products from one individual into the
circulatory system of another.

History
Animal to animal --- Richard Lower ,1665
Animal to human --- Dr. Jean-Baptiste Denys,1667. He transfused the blood of a sheep into a
15-year old boy,
1901, Austrian Karl Landsteiner discovered human blood groups

Indications for Blood transfusion

Acute Hemorrhage 
Deficiency of blood constituents
Decreased Hb
-Auto immune disorders
-Auto immune Thrombocytopenia
-Auto immune Hemolytic anemia
Disseminated intravascular clotting
Diseases like
Thieleriasis
Anaplasmosis
Babesiosis
Heavy parasitic infestation

Blood Groups

Canine

Twelve canine blood types have been identified. These types are designated by the acronym
DEA (dog erythrocyte antigen) and a number (DEA 1, DEA 2, DEA 3, etc). DEA 1 has two
important alleles: 1.1 and 1.2. DEA 1.1-positive is the most common dog blood type. Dogs
with this type are considered universal recipients. Dogs with blood that is negative for both
1.1 and 1.2 are considered universal donors.
Feline
In cats, the AB blood type system has been recognized. These include types A,B, and the
very rare AB. Type A is most prevalent in domestic mixed breed cats. Many pure breed cats
(British Shorthair, Abyssinian) have been identified with type B blood. Cats differ from other
species because they have naturally occurring alloantibodies to the other blood groups, so no
universal donor exists in cats. For example, type B cats have high anti-A alloantibodies,
while type A cats have weak anti-B alloantobodies.
Equine
There are 8 recognized blood groups in the horse : A, C, D , K , P, Q , T & U Expressed as
EAA, EAC , EAD ……
 Bovines
In cattle , major blood groups are 12 , Variation in each blood groups lead to 60 blood groups
A, B,C , D , E , F , G , H , I , J , M & L
B& J are antigenic

Dose Calculation
A)Degree of blood loss
B)Lab Test  1) Level Of Hb
2) Level of PCV
C) Amount of Blood lost
D) Vol to be Transfused

Donor Selection

General Characteristics
Genetically related or same breed
Animal with good body condition
With no history of getting blood transfused
Male or spayed nulliparous female is preferred
Free from transmisible diseases like anaplasmosis , equine infectious anemia

Dogs
Ideal dogs should be above 25kgs as it can donate 450ml at 3 weeks interval
PCV 40% and above Free from Brucellosis , Ehrlichiosis , Microfilaremia , Trypanomiasis
, Rabies , Von Willebrand factor deficiency ,
Preferably DEA 1.1 , 1.2 Negative .
Grey hounds or Dobermans are prefered

Cats
-No universal recipient so Type A is preferred
-Should be more than 5 kgs with PVC of 35%
-Free from FlV , FIP, Toxoplasmosis , Hemobartonellosis

Horses
Aa and Qa negative horses are preferred as they are highly antigenic
Belgium draft horses
Should be vaccinated for rhinopneumonoitis , Tetanus , rabies , eastern & western
encephalitis ,
Blood Typing
Objectives
To avoid transfusion reaction
To avoid fetal isoerythrolysis

Cross Matching

Major cross match  Donor RBC + Recipient serum

Minor cross match  Recipient RBC + Donors serum

Blood Collection
Vaccum Bottles
Plastic Bags
Syringes

Blood Collection

A minimum of 405 ml of blood is to be collected otherwise will cause citrate toxicity in

recipient , due to high anticoagulant level in the blood
Transfusion should be completed within 4 hours

Dogs
Blood is collected from jugular or cephalic vein
16- 18 gauze needle is used
10-20ml/kg of blood can be withdrawn
Can be repeated every 21-28 days

Cats
Cephalic or jugular vein can be used for collection
For cats its convenient to collect blood using a large syringe with anticoagulant
19-20 g IV catheter can be used
Up to 10ml/ kg can be withdrawn every 21 days
Use of Blood components
To maximize the use of limited resources
To optimally preserve the component of blood
To minimize the bacterial contamination
Blood Products

Fresh Whole Blood (FWB) – anticoagulated whole blood used within 8 hours of collection.
Uses include: active bleeding, anemia with thrombocytopenias, thrombocytopathia,
coagulopathies, DIC, severe hemorrhage.
Dose  10-20ml/kg

Stored Whole Blood (SWB) – anticoagulated refrigerated whole blood stored >8 hours after
collection.
Uses include: anemic animals who also require plasma proteins, patients needing
intravascular volume expansion with oxygen carrying support.
Dose  10-20ml/kg

Packed Red Blood Cells (pRBC) – anticoagulated whole blood that has been separated
from its plasma via centrifugation.
Uses include: patients needing oxygen carrying
support (i.e. surgical or trauma induced bleeding,
hemolytic anemia, decreased bone marrow production).
Dose  6-10ml/kg

Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP) – anticoagulated whole blood separated from its cellular
component via centrifugation and frozen within 8 hours of collection. Viable for 12 months.
Provides albumin, globulins, coagulation factors, and other proteins.
Uses include: coagulation disorders (i.e. rodenticides,
DIC, liver disease.) Can also be used as a colloid to treat hypoproteinemia
Dose  6-10 ml/kg

Frozen Plasma (FP) – FFP that has been stored for >12 months or separated from whole
blood > 8 hours after collection (must be no more than 5 days after whole blood has expired).
Viable for 4 additional years or 5 years total after collection.
Uses include stable clotting factor deficiencies and acute hypo-proteinemia such as parvo
virus.
Dose  6-10 ml /kg

Cryoprecipitate - contains factors viii, xiii, vWF, Fribrinogen

Used in deficiency condition
Dose  1 unit/10 kg

Cryo poor precipitate – Contains factors like ii, iv, ix, x

Used in Rodenticide Intoxication
Dose  1 Unit / 10kg

Platelet Rich Plasma –

Used in platelet deficiency
Dose  1unit / 10 kg
Transfusion reactions

Acute immunologic reactions

Delayed immunologic reactions - can occur 2-21 days post–transfusion
Non–immunologic reactions

Acute immunologic reactions

Anaphylaxis
Tachycardia
collapse/ Shock
Hemolysis – hemoglobinemia/ hemoglobinuria
Hives, urticaria, pruritus
Pulmonary edema (cats)

Delayed immunologic reactions

Haemolysis  Seen after 72 hours
Non–immunologic reactions
Volume overload (pulmonary edema)
Sepsis/infection
Hemolysis – due to trauma to the RBC (overheating, freezing, administration or collection
with a small gauge needle or catheter).
Citrate intoxication – occurs when citrate/blood volume ratio is disproportionate or in
massively transfused patients
Thromboembolism

Oxygen carrying solutions

Two major components
Per fluoro carbon based emulsion
Hemoglobin Based oxygen carriers
Per fluoro carbon based emulsion
They are composed of liquid perfluorocarbon emulsified in water and salt. PFCE's dissolve
oxygen (unlike hemoglobin, which binds the molecule), which allow them to load/unload
oxygen 2 times faster than hemoglobin,
Oxyglobin/HBOC 21
A blood substitute providing hemoglobin/oxygen carrying capabilities of a 39%
hematocrit.
Potential uses include IMHA, GDV, and saddle thrombus patients. Difficult to
measure/interpret blood values after transfusion. Considered a colloid.