Humans often have access to blood donors in cases of emergency, and now animals have the same luxury because of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Veterinary Teaching Animal Blood Bank.
The blood bank provides blood and plasma transfusions for cats, dogs, horses and cows.
The blood bank has 12 dogs, 11 cats and two cows that are regular donors for the Teaching Hospital. The hospital previously had a horse donor, but it retired the horse after seven years of donating plasma and blood.
To donate blood or plasma, an animal must be screened for blood-borne parasites and diseases that affect the quality of its blood. It must also be healthy and have a very calm manner, so as to not distress any of the surrounding donors.
Most of the animals are pets of employees in the UW-Madison Veterinary School, but the bank has a waiting list of animals to be new donors, according to a statement released by the university.
The donation process only takes 7-10 minutes and helps replenish a consistently low supply.
