Journal of Animal Research

Blood transfusion has been used as an emergency and life-saving step, since many years in human as well as animals medicine. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the effectiveness of whole blood transfusion in treatment of anaemic dogs. A total of ten anaemic dogs were given whole blood transfusion as part of therapy. Four dogs were suffering from hemolytic anaemia, three were suffering from severe haemorrhagic gastroenteritis and etiology was not known in three cases. Donors selected were overall healthy, negative for haemoprotozoan parasite on blood smear examination, between the ages of 1-6 years with no history of recent disease and are not currently on any medications. Major and minor cross matching tests were done between donor and recipient. Amount of blood to be transfused was calculated by formula 90 ml × kg body weight (BW) × ([desired packed cell volume (PCV) - patient PCV]/ PCV of donor blood). Rate of transfusion was 1ml/kg/hour at start for the first 30 minutes and then 3 ml/kg/hour for the rest duration of the transfusion. Transfusion was completed within 4-6 hours. There was significant improvement in mean haemoglobin and PCV values before and after treatment. Nine dogs survived after blood transfusion without any adverse reactions while one collapsed after 4 days of transfusion from severe clinical complications.