Blood Donor Program
Orchard Park

Helping One Pet Save Another

A blood transfusion can make a lifesaving difference for a pet facing serious illness, injury, surgery, or trauma. At Orchard Park Veterinary Medical Center, we maintain our own veterinary blood bank so that blood products are available when our patients need them most.

Our blood donor program is made possible by healthy, gentle dogs and cats who give the incredible gift of helping another pet. We are proud of our donors and the families who make this program possible.

Our Veterinary Blood Bank

Our blood bank is managed by our veterinarians and Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT) team with patient safety at the forefront. Donors are carefully screened for overall health and infectious diseases before joining the program, with ongoing testing while they remain active donors.

We separate donated blood into individual components, allowing a single donation to potentially help multiple patients. Depending on availability, our canine blood bank may include:

• Whole blood
• Packed red blood cells
• Fresh frozen plasma
• Frozen plasma
• Frozen platelet concentrate

Our feline blood bank includes whole blood, packed red blood cells, and fresh frozen plasma.

What Makes a Blood Donor

Our canine donors are primarily beloved pets of OPVMC team members, along with a select number of community client donors. Our feline donors are exclusively pets belonging to members of our veterinary team.

Donors are selected not only for their health, but also for their gentle, comfortable temperaments. No dog or cat is ever forced to donate. If a pet is fearful, uncomfortable, or simply doesn’t want to participate, we respect their choice.

Canine Donor Requirements

We are always looking for healthy, good-natured dogs who may be a good fit for our donor program. Prospective canine donors must:

• Be 1–6 years old
• Weigh at least 55 pounds
• Be current on vaccinations
• Be current on heartworm, flea, and tick prevention
• Not require long-term medications
• Be in overall good health
• Safe, Careful Blood Collection

Every donation is collected using a sterile blood collection system similar to those used in human blood banks. New donors receive blood typing and comprehensive screening for infectious diseases, while active donors receive annual testing for blood-borne diseases and parasites.

Donor families also receive valuable health screenings. Benefits include a complimentary annual physical examination, complete blood count, blood typing, heartworm testing, chemistry profile, and screening for several infectious diseases.

Could Your Dog Be a Donor?

Being a blood donor is a special way for a healthy dog to help save another pet’s life. If you think your dog may be a good candidate for the OPVMC Blood Donor Program, we’d love to hear from you.
To learn more, email bloodbank@opvmc.net.

If you need to cancel or reschedule a donor appointment within 24 hours, please call our office at 716-662-6660.