Blood Bank

Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University relies upon our generous dog and cat blood donors to provide life-saving blood transfusions to our patients. So far in 2023, we have provided over 250 transfusions to both dogs and cats.

Is my cat or dog eligible to become a blood donor?

Dogs must be:

• Friendly with a good temperament and willingness to be restrained
• Between 1 and 8yrs old
• Weigh more than 50lb (22.7kg)
• Spayed/ neutered
• Healthy
• Current on core vaccines
• Taking no medications except flea, tick, heartworm or thyroid medications
• Have never received a blood transfusion

Cats must be:

• Friendly with a good temperament
• 1 to 7 years of age 
• Weigh ≥10 pounds (4.6kgs)
• Indoors only
• Spayed or neutered
• In good physical condition 
• Current on core vaccines 
• Have never received a blood transfusion
• Taking no medication except heartworm or flea and tick preventative

Benefits for donors

• Free annual bloodwork including infectious disease testing
• $50 hospital credit
• Free bag of food
• Annual swag (bandanas etc)

FAQs

How often does my pet have to give blood? 

• A minimum of three times a year. It is safe for pets to donate as often as every 8 weeks.

Can I be present for the blood donation? 

• For safety purposes, we have a team of trained veterinary professionals that will perform the donation.

What are the risks to my pet when giving blood? 

• The risks, although rare, include clipper irritation, bruising, venipuncture wounds, infection, and low blood pressure. 

Will being a blood donor affect my dog’s lifestyle?

• No, your dog can lead a normal life. There are no exercise or socializing restrictions. 

Can I withdraw my pet from the blood donor program at any time?

• We ask that blood donors sign up for a year at a time. You retain the right to withdraw your pet at any time but may be responsible for the annual blood work costs depending on circumstances.