Blood transfusion in animals. How to cure hypovolemia. blood matching. blood groups in animals. formula to transfuse blood. anemia. blood typing. indications of blood transfusion . blood collection.

1. Blood Transfusion In
Animals

2. Definition:
 Transfer of homologous blood from donor to recipient of same species
Blood Typing:
 A blood typing refers to the presence, absence or variation of antigens on the
surface
of red blood cells
 Different blood groups are present in the same species of animals on the base
of presence or
Absence of specific antigens

3. Indications:
 Haemolytic diseases like Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis and Theileriosis.
 Profuse blood loss conditions due to accidental trauma or prolonged
surgical interference
 A general supportive measure in specific diseases such as haemophilia,
warfarin poisoning and auto immune haemolytic diseases
 When HCT has fallen rapidly to below 20% in dogs and 15% in cats
 In some conditions like Deficiency of blood constituents, Autoimmune hemolytic anemia.
 A general rule is that if an effective alternative is available,
transfusion should be avoided

4. Blood Grouping:
 A blood typing refers to the presence, absence or variation of chemicals/antigens
on the surface of red blood cells.
 Blood typing is done to aid in the matching of donors and recipients.
 To identify breeding pairs potentially at risk of causing haemolytic diseases in offsprings.
 Antisera(Typing Reagents) are used to identify blood groups.
 The lack of commercial availability of these reagents make complete typing difficult.
Bovines:
 Most complex blood group systems.
 Major blood groups are 12 but clinically important are B and J.

5. Cats:
 AB Blood group system
 Blood group A ( high titer of antibodies against Bgroup).
 Blood group B (high titer of antibodies against Agroup).
 Blood groupAB ( no antibody against groupA and B).
Dogs:
 Dogs are routinely typed only for the most potent antigen, DEA 1.1(+ve)
 In addition to DEA 1.1 at least 12 other blood group systems are present.
 Random blood transfusion may have 30-40% chances of sensitization of recipient.
Equines:
8 recognized blood groups ( A ,C ,D ,K ,P ,Q ,T ,U ).

6. Cross Matching:
 Crossmatch detects the presence of pre-existing antibodies that produce and immediate
hemolytic reaction.
 Pre-existing antibodies could be the natural antibodies or the antibodies produced against
the previous incompatible transfusion .
There are 2 methods of Cross Matching
1. Direct or Tripod Method:
 Take a clean glass slide.
 Put one drop of donor blood at first place; one drop of recipients blood at the second place
and one drop of both donor and recipient blood at the third place and mix thoroughly.
 Agglutination of third drop indicates incompatibility and the transfusion of such
blood should not be carried.

7. 2. Indirect or Cross reaction:
Major Cross Match Minor Cross Match
Confirms whether the recipient has
antibodies against donor R.B.C’s
Confirms whether the donor have
antibody against recipient R.B.C’s
0.1 ml Donor RBCs + Recipient Plasma
Incubate , centrifuge and evaluate
Recipient RBCs + Donor Plasma
Positive Test=Macro or Micro
agglutination present (Incompatible)
Positive Test=Macro or Micro
agglutination present (Incompatible)
Negative Test=Macro or Micro
agglutination Absent (Compatible).
Negative Test=Macro or Micro
agglutination Absent (Compatible).

9. Donor Selection:
 Donors should be healthy and completely free of diseases that may be
transmissible in the blood.
 Preference should be given to donors with high haematocrit and haemoglobin levels.
 Donors PCV should be atleast 40% for dogs and 35% for cats.
 For transfusion in neonatal animals, the dam of the recipient is usually the most
suitable donor.
 No history of blood transfusion or pregnancy.
 Genetically related or of same breed.
 Age should be between 1-8 years.
 A minimum weight is required, Dog must weigh atleast 25 Kg and cats atleast 4.55 Kg.
 These weights allow 450 ml of blood to be collected from dog and 60 ml from cat
without any harm to donor.

10. Blood Collection:
 Blood can be collected from a donor every 4-6 wks.
 Dogs and cats can donate 10 % of their total blood volume with no adverse effects.
 Collection of 20 % of the blood volume should not result in clinical significant anaemia but can
cause hypovolemia in short term.
 Domestic animals have blood volumes of 7-9 % of their body weight.
 Cats have a slightly lower volume of 6.5% of body weight.

11. Animal Site For collection
Cats Jugular vein
Sheep/ Goat Jugular vein
Dogs Jugular vein
Horse Jugular/ Transverse Facial vein
Cow Jugular vein
Camelidae Right jugular vein/ Cephalic
Site of blood collection:

12. Blood Storage:
 The anticoagulant of choice is citrate phosphate dextrose adenine(CPDA-1)
 Commercial blood bags containing CPDA-1 are available.
 Another anticoagulant Acid citrate dextrose(ACD) is also used.
 Heparin should not be used because it has longer half-life in the recipient and causes
Platelet activation, also heparinized blood can not be stored.
 Blood collected in CPDA-1 with added nutrient solution can be stored at 4C for 4wks.
 Plasma can be removed and stored frozen for later use.
 Plasma must be frozen at -20C to -30C within 6 hrs of collection for upto 1 year.

13. Cont…
 Blood products should be warmed slowly to body temperature before administering
to prevent hypothermia and reduce vasoconstriction.
 Do not thaw plasma in boiling water or microwave and this will coagulate
plasma protein.

15. Blood Administration:
Administration rate depends upon:
 Anemic status of animal.
 Age of animal.
 Health status of animal.
 In normovolemic patients at the rate of 5-10ml/kg/hr.
 In severely hypovolemic patients upto 20ml/kg/hr.
 In compromised patients (cardiac or renal compromised) can be decreased
upto 2ml/kg/hr.
 Blood is administered slowly over first 30min (0.25ml/kg) and remainder within 1-4hr.
 Blood should never be infused over a period longer than 4hr.

16. Dosage:
 Based on % Hb. It is calculated as
40x body weight in pounds/100=ml of blood required to raise the Hb by 1%
 General dosage is 5-10 ml/kg B.W
 For example, For Dog of 25 kg the total blood volume of that dog is
Almost 2000ml that is 7-9% of B.W.
 If PCV of this dog is 15% then the RBC volume is 300ml.
 If the PCV is to be increased to 20%(400ml RBC),we have to inject 100 ml of RBCs
Or 200ml of whole blood(with PCV 50%)

17. Steps for Blood Transfusions:
STEP1:
 Verify the blood expiration date , donor species and blood type
 Inspect visually to detect any macroscopic abnormalities in color and consistency
 Bacterial contaminated blood often appears brown or purple
STEP2:
 Eliminate air from IV set and connect it to catheter
 Use a catheter with the largest available diameter
 Carefully monitor physiologic parameters and adverse reactions
 The initial infusion rate should be approximately 0.25 mL/kg for the first
30 minutes, after which the rate can be increased if no reactions are seen.

19. Conti…
STEP3:
 After infusion, flush the infusion site with 0.9% saline
 Saline (0.9%) is the most compatible fluid with RBC products
 Check packed cell volume (PCV) 1 to 6 hours after transfusion.

21. Complications:
Immediate transfusion reactions
Immune mediated:
 Hemolytic transfusion reaction
 Febrile reaction
 Urticarial reaction
 Noncardiogenic pulmonary edema
Non-immune mediated:
 Sepsis
 Circulatory overload, Fever, vomiting.
 Citrate toxicity>Hypocalcemia
 Hemolysis
 Hyperammonemia

22. Complications:
 Animals having repeated transfusions are at high risk.
 Acute reactions may occur i.e fever, vomiting, shock, collapse, weakness.
 Signs like dyspnoea, weak pulse, shivering, sweating, increased salivation, frequent
micturition and defecation
 Transfusion of large volume of blood may cause citrate toxicity resulting
in hypocalcemia
 Transfusion at a too faster rate may cause acute heart failure.
 Diseases like Mycoplasma(cats),Babesia(dogs),retrovirus,rickettsia can be
transmitted.

23. Cont…
These reactions respond well with an early attempt and large doses of :
 Adrenaline (1:1000) @ 5-8ml/IM
 Corticosteroids @3-5ml I/V
 Chlorphenaramine maleate @5-10 ml I/M

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