NAIT’s Animal Health program collecting blood from dogs
By Steven Leong on October 19, 2023
NAIT’s Animal Health Technology program is looking for dogs to donate blood. The Canadian Animal Blood Bank (CABB) and NAIT in the coming few months are holding many donor clinics to support dogs in need of a transfusion due to injury or sickness.
“Essentially what CABB is, we take blood from dogs, just the same way humans would donate blood in the human side of things,” said Dustin Portelance, registered veterinarian technologist, at NAIT.
In order for dogs to donate, they must meet the following requirements:
- Weigh around 55 pounds
- Relatively good health
- Between 1-8 years old
- Fully vaccinated
- On heartworm and tick preventative medication (recommended)
“Honestly, I love when the dogs come through here. Seeing their smiling faces, seeing how great they’re doing and part of me thinks that they actually know they’re saving a life,” said Portelance.
The next donor clinic will take place on October 26 from 5 to 8:30 p.m.