YOUR PATIENTS CAN HELP SAVE LIVES
Our Blood Donor Program
|
|
Our commitment to providing the best care possible to your patients includes giving our staff immediate access to critical blood resources and products when needed. That’s why we created our in-house Blood Donor Program. Our highly experienced team, led by Bryan Harnett, DVM, DACVIM, and Katie Henderson CVT, are committed to ensuring the availability of blood products to provide the critical care our patients need due to illness or serious injury. With your help and your patients’ contributions, we can help make sure that we always have enough on-hand when pets need it most.
|
|
Eligible Donor Requirements |
|
|
At this time, we are only accepting canine donors with DEA 1.1 negative type blood. We screen all potential donors by asking their pet parents to fill out a questionnaire about their dog’s health history, current medications, and behavior.
Requirements:
- Calm and friendly temperament
- Healthy adults weighing at least 55 pounds
- Between the ages of 1 and 6 years old
- Current on all vaccinations
- Not on medications other than preventative flea/tick and heartworm
- Dogs on raw diets are not eligible to donate
- Negative for all screening infectious disease pathogens (performed at the time of first donor exam)
- Owner is willing to commit to 1 year in the donor program (4 donations, +/- ER donation)
If the dog fits the requirements, we bring them in for a preliminary examination to confirm that they are healthy and fit for donation. We also do a full blood screening and blood typing.
|
|
When your patient arrives for their donation appointment, our certified veterinary technicians first shave and sterilize a small square on the dog’s neck. With the dog lying calmly on its side, one unit of blood is drawn. We replace the amount of blood drawn with subcutaneous administration of electrolyte-balanced fluids. Throughout the donation process, our staff remains by the dog’s side to calmly comfort them. The donation itself takes about 10-15 minutes.
After the donation is complete, each dog receives a complimentary nail trim and a small meal before going home to rest. Including preparation and post-donation observation, each donation appointment lasts about one hour. Additional details can be found in our Blood Donor Program FAQ for pet owners.
|
|
|
|
When your patients become approved donors, we make sure to reward them for their lifesaving services. We always give them treats, toys, and a Hero bandana in their “goodie bag,” but more importantly we also provide:
- A complimentary and thorough physical examination at each donation
- A comprehensive blood screening, including a copy of all lab work for your records
- Free blood transfusions should they ever need one, receiving one unit of blood for every unit donated
|
|
|
In addition to the donor rewards, each of our canine blood donors receives a yearly $150 stipend to assist in maintaining the wellness criteria that they must uphold. This stipend is made payable directly to you, their primary care veterinarian, as payment towards required wellness services, such as annual physical examination, blood work, vaccines, heartworm preventative, and flea and tick preventative. |
|
|
A Truly Collaborative Approach
The best relationships successfully serve the interests of both partners. Our goal is to support you, your practice, and your patients in a manner that works well for all parties.
Each month, we will be sending you information about our services and other items we hope you find helpful. If you have any questions about our blood donation program or would like to discuss a patient, please call us at 802.863.BEVS (2387). To help expedite the referral process, you can fill out our Patient Referral Form online, or visit our Referring Veterinary Portal. We’re here to help in whatever way we can.
|
|
|
|
COVID-19 Safety Protocols: Curbside Service
For the health and safety of our clients and staff, we are providing exclusively curbside care until further notice. Please visit our COVID-19 web page for updates, including details on all of our safety protocols related to specialty appointments, visitation, discharge, medication refills, end-of-life options, and more. We are still experiencing a high demand for emergency veterinary services and continue to triage emergency cases to care for the most critically injured or ill pets first.
|
|
|
Burlington Emergency and Veterinary Specialists
1417 Marshall Avenue, Williston, VT 05495 | 802.863.2387 | bevsvt.com
--------------------
24/7 Emergency | Acupuncture | Dentistry | Internal Medicine | Neurology
Radioiodine Therapy (I-131) | Rehabilitation | Surgery
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
