Southern Cross Vet, a Bellevue Hill veterinary clinic, has been set up as a donation hub and dog blood bank for pets in need in the Eastern Suburbs.
Sam Kovac, the owner of the Southern Cross which also has an outlet in Surry Hills, realised the need for the blood bank due to the increased frequency of the number of dogs requiring transfusion at his clinic.
Mr Kovac also plans to extend the service to cats and rabbits in the near future but the focus, for now, is to establish the dog blood bank.
“We have a growing database of generous, healthy, strong dogs who donate their blood every 6 months. After the careful collection, we type it, test it, label it and store it until it is needed,” Southern Cross Vet stated.
“The supply of fresh, typed, clean blood is ready to be delivered via our Concierge service to local veterinary clinics who need units of blood for transfusions, traumas, to prepare for risky surgeries or even to boost animals suffering with chronic diseases like cancer and chronic kidney disease who are experiencing a type of lethargy that worsens their quality of life.”
With this initiative, veterinary clinics around Southern Cross Vet in Bellevue Hill, particularly Wentworth, Grayndler and Kingsford-Smith LGAs, may phone in for free delivery of emergency blood.
However, Mr Kovac is also looking for donors to supply the dog blood bank. The animal doctor is hoping that more pet owners of greyhounds would consider donating. Greyhounds apparently have the richest in iron and is the breed only known universal blood type for dogs. A universal blood type means any breed may receive a blood transfusion from a greyhound.
Dog blood donation donors are ideal for pets who do not need to be sedated due to their calm demeanor. Larger dogs could also be able to donate to more patients in need.