Your dog or even your cat can be a blood donor for other dogs and cats. I don’t want you to think they are pumping dog blood into humans; oh the uproar that would ensue. But your dog’s (or cat’s) blood, is very much in need. To help meet the demand, MSPCA-Angell Animal Medical Center has a blood donor program which has some very nice benefits for Boston dog owners.

If you have a healthy dog over 50 pounds and between 1-6 years of age, MCPCA-Angell has a blood donor program your dog can receive free heart worm medication, rabies and distemper vaccinations, blood tests, microchips and more. For active dogs, the regular blood testing can be an incredible benefit to help the long term good heath of your dog while the other fantastic benefits help defray the costs of owning a dog in Boston. Learn more about your dog becoming a blood donor….

Requirements To Become a Canine Blood Donor

There are a few requirements your dog needs to meet in order to qualify for the program. Your next step will be to contact the Angell Medical Center Blood Donor Program to get your paperwork started before you show up for your dog’s first donation.

• Over 50 pounds
• 1-6 years old
• healthy, not on medication other than heartworm
• up to date on vaccines
• no history of pregnancy
• willing to donate three times per year

The Benefits For a Canine Blood Donor

Besides, saving the life of another dog, you can save money on your yearly veterinary costs. The help you catch tick born diseases before they become chronic. Dog’s must be of at least 40 pounds to qualify for the program. Many dogs who happen to be over 40 pounds are also very active outdoors, where ticks and there diseases are a serious problem

• Free Physical Exam (at the time of donation)
• Free Yearly Bloodwork
• Heartworm Test
• FastPanel Tick Screen
• Heartworm Medication
• Rabies Vaccination
• Distemper Vaccination
• Blood Typing (Once, to find out blood type)
• Micro Chip implant (Once)
• Free Blood Transfusion (if ever needed)
• Science Diet Dog Food (20 pounds per visit)

When you receive your paperwork from the Blood Donor program, you will also receive an updated and more detailed list of benefits. I will tell you now, the benefits add up. The tick disease screening would normally cost just over $100 alone.

The Hidden Benefits of the Canine Blood Donor Program

As I see it, one of the hidden benefits of the Blood Donor Program is aimed at dogs who are active outside. Ticks in New England are horrible and the disease they carry can be debilitating for both dogs and humans. Lyme Disease, is just one of these diseases which if detected early are treatable, but if left unnoticed can become chronic and very debilitating. Lyme Disease is diagnosed through blood testing; the same blood testing your dog receives for free when the are a regular blood donor. If you and your dog are active outdoors this is something well worth considering.

Save another pet’s life

I don’t want to belittle the need for dogs and cats to be blood donors for the sake of contributing to the greater good. One of the interesting aspects of this program is that a donor is notified when their dog’s or cat’s blood has been used to save another. In a world where the dollar does matter, it is sometimes nice to know when an act of kindness helps another.