Blood Bank - Mount Laurel Animal Hospital

First-time donors receive a bandana and $25 Amazon Gift Card

Just like humans, some dogs have serious illnesses or injuries that may require a blood transfusion. To perform blood transfusions, we at Mount Laurel Animal Hospital need access to donor blood. This donor blood comes from other dogs whose owners have signed them up for blood donor programs, like this one!

For any pet owner with a dog in need, canine blood donations are very important, as they give the receiving dog a second chance at life. There is always a need for blood donations...just ask Mo!

Faramir & Sammy

Sammy came into our hospital overnight with a bleeding splenic mass - specifically a hemangiosarcoma. This type of cancer is particularly aggressive, and one of its most dangerous complications is internal bleeding into the abdomen. Sammy needed emergency surgery. Unfortunately, his mass had bled significantly into his belly, and he required a transfusion of packed red blood cells to help replace what he had lost to help stabilize him for surgery. He initially stabilized well, but on recheck lab work a new problem emerged.

Unfortunately, Sammy’s platelet counts also dropped dangerously low to the point he could not have surgery without a whole blood transfusion. Platelets are imperative to help control bleeding. Unlike red blood cells or plasma, platelets can’t be stored long-term in our blood bank. The best way for us to get them is through fresh whole blood, and even then, they’re only viable for about 12 hours after donation. Everything we had in the hospital had already been processed into components, meaning there were no usable platelets available.

It was a Sunday. We needed a donor - and fast.

We started calling around, hoping to find someone who could bring in a donor dog on short notice. One of our donors, a dog named Faramir, came to mind. His owner answered, and although she was at a trampoline park with her kids at the time, she didn’t hesitate. Within about two hours, she arrived at the hospital with Faramir.

Faramir donated fresh whole blood, and we were able to transfuse it directly to Sammy - giving him the platelets he desperately needed.

Sammy recovered beautifully. He’s now continuing his care with our oncology team, moving forward with more time and a better quality of life.

We recently spoke with Sammy’s owners and asked what it meant to them that someone came in on such short notice to help their dog. Their answer was simple: it saved his life, and they are very grateful to both Faramir and his owner for being willing to help.

We pulled up our blood donor gallery and showed them Faramir’s photo. Beneath it was a short write-up explaining why his owner chose to make him a donor. One reason stood out above the rest - she had previously lost her own dog, a Newfoundland, to hemangiosarcoma.

The very disease Sammy was fighting.

In that moment, everything came full circle. Out of a heartbreaking loss came a decision to help others - and that decision directly saved a dog facing the same diagnosis.

Stories like this are why blood donor programs matter. Behind every unit of blood is a patient in critical need - and a person willing to show up when it counts most.

We will always need more people like Faramir’s owner. Because sometimes, saving a life comes down to being willing to answer the call.

OSO'S STORY

Did you know that each unit of donated blood can help save the lives of as many as three dogs undergoing surgery, being treated for trauma, exposed to toxic substances, or that have blood disorders such as anemia or hemophilia?

Just ask dogs like Oso, who came into the ER after being hit by a car.

While he did not have any life-threatening fractures, the trauma led him to bleed into his lungs as well as his abdomen. This blood loss was to such a degree that emergency surgery was necessary to identify if any major vessel had been damaged. Oso, however, was not stable enough to just go into the operating room, because of his massive hemorrhage. A blood transfusion was administered so he could undergo the necessary surgery. In addition, the bleeding had led to a very low platelet count, making surgery further dangerous. To correct this, plasma also was administered to help control bleeding during the surgery, in which the bleeding was found to be from torn muscle that was not readily repairable. Hemostatic agent was applied to help control it.

Oso recovered well, due to the combination of the blood and the hemostatic products he received. He was in the hospital for several days, but continued to improve as he began to heal in the face of the initial stabilization provided. In several days he was well enough to continue care at home, and was completely back to his normal self by the time of recheck. Since the event, Oso has had no issues of note, and is fully recovered with no long-term effects. Without the blood transfusions, Oso would likely not have made it through the surgery, and without surgery, he likely would have bled too much to keep up with. As in human medicine, administration of blood products is often key to treating emergent patients and truly saving lives.

Yes, if your dog...

Has a good temperament, and is a willing volunteer
Weighs between 40 and 150 pounds
Is between 2 and 6 years old (donors are retired when 8 years old)
Is in excellent health
Has blood that is type DEA 1.1 + or -

No, if your dog...

Has a serious health condition
Has been sick recently (e.g. coughing, sneezing vomiting, diarrhea)
Has been diagnosed with a heart murmur
Has had a seizure
Has been vaccinated within 4 weeks
Has received medications other than flea tick or heartworm preventative in the past two weeks.
Is in season, pregnant, or will be bred soon
Is on a raw diet

Maple is proud to be part of our pet blood donor family, helping make lifesaving transfusions possible for pets who need them most. At home, Maple loves playing with the remnants of a stuffed pickle, snuggling, and spending time playing in the snow. Their best friend is Her brother Douglas, who is always close by for fun and adventures.

"Our former dog Aspen died 2 years ago after a battle with cancer. While she never needed a blood transfusion, we are always looking for ways to honor her memory. We are so thankful Maple, who we rescued a few months after we lost Aspen, is able to donate to dogs who need help."

Meet Dottie! Outside of their lifesaving role as a blood donor, Dottie enjoys playing with Chuck it balls, snacking on fishies, and spending time working on agility with mom. Their best friend is Mama!

"Dottie is a very easy going and happy girl therefore we thought she would be perfect to help other pups in need. It’s really cool to know that she thinks she is just enjoying treats, but is in fact saving lives. We also love that she was a street rescued pup and turned into an incredible girl."

Meet Ember, one of our amazing pet blood donors helping save the lives of other pets in need. When they’re not being a lifesaving hero, Ember enjoys playing with any of the super chewer Bark Box toys, snacking on any and all, and spending time running and chewing. Their best friend is Kora (her doggy big sister that used to donate blood too), and together they make quite the pair.

"As someone who works in the veterinary field, I’ve seen firsthand the life saving power of a blood transfusion. It’s a great way to help other animals!"

Say hello to Boone, one of the wonderful pets helping make a difference through our blood donor program. When Boone isn’t helping save lives, he can usually be found playing with his stuffed turtle, enjoying cheese sticks as a favorite treat, and spending time pointing at falling leaves and birds. His best buddy is his Auntie Alex!

"Working as a technician we see a lot of patients in need of emergency transfusions. I wanted to help give them a fighting chance. Boones happy to come to work with me for the snacks and attention."

Meet Bailey! Outside of their lifesaving role as a blood donor, Bailey enjoys playing with any ball, snacking on anything, and spending time cuddling! Their best friend is Sambuca (her black lab little sister).

"When Bailey was 5 1/2 months old she was injured while at a well known pet hotel and Mt Laurel Animal Hospital saved her life! Fortunately she didn’t need to receive blood, but there was a possibility for surgery during her care. This is ours and Bailey’s way to “give back” and pay it forward and possibly help and fur family member."

Say hello to Lilly, one of the wonderful pets helping make a difference through our blood donor program. When Lilly isn’t helping save lives, they can usually be found tossing her pink rubber star in the air and jumping around, trying to find where it landed! Lilly enjoys frozen fruits that pets are allowed as a favorite treat, and spending time searching in our son’s boots for his socks and barking at animals on television commercials. Lilly has 3 best friends: Maya, our little dog, Roque, and MooMoo, our son and daughter-in-law’s 2 kitties.

"We decided to have Lily become a blood donor, because my two sisters had their dogs as blood donors, and we wanted to continue the tradition in our family. We couldn’t think of any better way to continue helping others and their beautiful pets."

Say hello to Maisel, one of the wonderful pets helping make a difference through our blood donor program. When Maisel isn’t helping save lives, they can usually be found playing with the Fish Benebone, enjoying watermelon as a favorite treat, and spending time working on their agility. Their best buddy is Dublin!

"Knowing there was a need for donors, I wondered if she would be a good fit. After seeing how well she did the first time it was an easy decision to enroll. The MLAH staff makes it stress free, plus Maisel loves the endless treats."

Willow is proud to be part of our pet blood donor family, helping make lifesaving transfusions possible for pets who need them most. At home, Willow loves playing with a squeaky ball, enjoying a Pup Cup as a favorite snack, and spending time hiking. Their best friend is Clutch the Cat, who is always close by for fun and adventures.

"Willow is such a loving and giving dog that there is no doubt in my mind that if she could volunteer herself, she'd be first in line to help another dog. So I truly feel it's what she would want if she could say so."

Meet Faramir, one of our amazing pet blood donors helping save the lives of other pets in need. When they’re not being a lifesaving hero, Faramir enjoys playing with their favorite toy, a tennis ball, snacking on toddler food, and spending time eating. Their best friend is Adora (his human sister who's the same age as him).

"I lost my heart dog Pilot, a Landseer Newfoundland, to hemangiosarcoma in February 2021. I got Faramir, my sweet Rough Collie, a few weeks after Pilot passed. True to his name, Faramir is such a good boy. It's a full-circle moment for me knowing that Faramir is saving lives of other dogs who need blood."

Meet Jeszee, one of our amazing pet blood donors helping save the lives of other pets in need. When they’re not being a lifesaving hero, Jeszee enjoys playing with their favorite rope toy, snacking on dog cookies, and spending time playing with siblings. Their best friend is Riley (sister), and together they make quite the pair.

"Jeszee’s younger brother Yogi (2 years old) got sick and needed a blood transfusion Mt. Laurel was so helpful with him and worked with us to help him get better unfortunately sadly he got worse and passed away shortly after the transfusion. Jeszee and Yogi were always playing with Jeszee’s rope toy and when he passed she wouldn't play with it. I decided to have her donate in his honor since we were given a few more days with him. I will say that, on the first visit, I felt she knew what she was doing and why, because she is now playing with her rope toy again and being her happy, crazy self."

Say hello to Blaze, one of the wonderful pets helping make a difference through our blood donor program. When Blaze isn’t helping save lives, they can usually be found playing with a Chuckit! ball, enjoying Greenies as a favorite treat, and spending time playing fetch with a ball or stick. He also loves running around in the backyard. Their best buddy is his humans (mom, dad, and family), and life is always better with them around.

"Being a veterinary nurse in the ICU I always want to help the patients I work with any way I can. My dog Bella was one of the first dogs in the blood donor program and she had the chance to help so many lives. Bella is a retired blood donor now. So, I wanted Blaze to be a part of the blood donor program too. It’s a great feeling and honor for my dogs to help other dogs in need."

Theodore Francois (Teddy) is proud to be part of our pet blood donor family, helping make lifesaving transfusions possible for pets who need them most. At home, Theodore Francois (Teddy) loves playing with his beat-up pink mouse wand toy, enjoying Squeeze-ups and Purr Pops as a favorite snack, and spending time jumping out from hiding spots at his feline housemates. He wants to be everyone's friend, who is always close by for fun and adventures.

"Having worked in the field of veterinary medicine for over 30 years, I know the importance of having blood products on hand for critical patients. Also, as I currently am the MLAH Blood Bank coordinator, I need to set a good example!"

Say hello to Cisco! Cisco is one of our incredible pet blood donors! When not saving lives, Cisco enjoys playing with his favorite toy, his three mini lambchops! He also loves playing with and stealing his brother Vincenzo's favorite basketball. His favorite treat is peanut butter biscuits, and he loves spending time with his best friend, his 14 year old brother, Vincenzo. His favorite activity is going to the beach in Townsend Inlet, NJ, and taking long walks, catching balls, and swimming in the water.

"Cisco's brother, Vincenzo got sick and my mom and dad brought me with Vincenzo to the Mt. Laurel Animal Hospital. I found out that I could help other dogs, since I met the criteria, and am a chill dog, which is how we signed up to be a blood donor. I love to visit all the staff when I come in and enjoy saying hi to all the other dogs there, who are seeing the awesome Veterinaries at the hospital. Everyone is so fun and I get to eat treats and play with new toys before giving blood. Cisco is a perfect young man when donating blood to help those in need at Mt. Laurel Animal Hospital!"

Fenrir's favorite toy is anything soft and squeaky! He is one of our super pet blood donors! His favorite activity, outside of donating, is playing tug of war and eating cheese as a treat! His best friends are his human siblings, but to Fenrir, everyone is his buddy!=

"I have been in the veterinary field for over 15 years and have seen blood donations benefit so many pets. When we discovered how tolerant and well-behaved Fenrir was, and how he loved all the attention at the vet's - it's his favorite place, believe it or not - I knew he was the perfect candidate to donate. He loves his team, his treats, and the recognition he gets from passerby's who see his bandana and magnet (Which sits on "his" seat's door so everyone knows just how special he is!)"

Just like humans, the need for canine blood donations is crucial for the survival of other dogs. To know my Finnegan is part of Mount Laurel Animal Hospitals’ blood program is rewarding in so many ways. For Finnegan, it’s a visit to the farm and loving his Aunt Debbie with lots of hugs and kisses, but for me, it’s knowing he can help save someone’s family dog and giving them every chance possible to overcome an illness or emergency.

Kin

When I first heard about this program I was blown away. A program where my dog is able to save other dogs….incredible! When I took Cooper for his first donation I was so nervous for him. I’d hoped he be able to go thru the process and when I saw him come out with his bandana that said “I’m a hero” it brought me to tears. He really has no idea of the sacrifice he just makes every time he donates. He has been a donor since 2020. The staff at Mount Laurel Animal Hospital is incredible! They treat every one of their donors like a Prince & Princesses. All I have to say to Cooper on donation days is “Let’s go see Deb” and he hops in the car and off we go. Every time he donates I am so incredibly proud of him. He truly is my HERO!!

Lisa

From the first time I met Deb and her staff it was such a rewarding experience! They are so welcoming to you and your donor dog (my Teddy gives Deb kisses from start to finish)! It’s a safe process that does not take a lot of time but makes such a difference to dogs and families in need!

Sue O.

Mount Laurel Animal Blood Bank

Making A Difference

Our Superheroes

Faramir & Sammy

OSO'S STORY

Some instances when our companion animals might require a blood transfusion include:

Our blood bank provides numerous canine blood products such as:

Can your dog donate blood today?

Yes, if your dog...

No, if your dog...

BLOOD DONOR GALLERY

Bear Huhn

Jake

Lorelei

Maple

Dottie

Ember

Boone

Penny

Bailey

Lilly

Maisel

Kingston

Dragon Andrews

Shadow

Shrimpy

Mars

Willow

Faramir Laws

Vivian

Charlie

Jeszee

Blaze

Colt

Theodore Francois (Teddy) Roach

Perciphone

Cisco

Fenrir

Reagan

RETIRED BLOOD DONOR GALLERY

Sandy