Dogs blood is determined by Erythrocytes antigens on the RBC. Eight groups are identified,and before transfusion,donor and recipient blood groups must be typed to prevent compatibility problems.

1. Class work, unpublished.
BLOOD COLLECTION,
TYPING AND
TRANSFUSION
PROCESS IN DOGS
Authored By:
LUANAR,2018
shareefngunguni@gmail.com
Shareef Ngunguni, BVM

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BLOOD COLLECTION, TYPING AND TRANSFUSION PROCESS IN DOGS
INTRODUCTION
Canine blood types are classified by the dog
erythrocyte antigen (DEA) system based on
RBC surface antigens and include DEA 1.1,
1.2, 1.3, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 although anti-
sera for DEA 6 and 8 are no longer available
(Aiello and Moses, 2016). The most clinically
relevant blood group is DEA 1 which has
three alleles 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3. DEA 1.1 is the
most immunogenic. The theoretic universal
donor is negative for DEA 1.1, 1.2, 3, 5 and
7 and positive for DEA 4( Kilos et al, 2010).
BLOOD COLLLECTION
In dogs blood samples can be collected from
cephalic, saphenous or jugular vein using 20
-22 Gauge needles. Before blood collection
the dog is restrained either manually or
using sling. Then the site of collection is
shaved using an electric clipper or lazor
blade and cleaned with alternating scrubs of
70% alcohol. This helps to remove some
superficial skin contaminants, causes
vasodilation, and improves visualization of
the vein (Aiello and Moses, 2016) .When
collecting blood from cephalic vein, the vein
is firstly located and blood is collected from
distal of the forelimb (near the paw) and
working proximally (away from the paw).
When using the jugular vein, the vein is
located first and it is raised by compressing
distal to thoracic inlet. Sampling sites ranges
from the base of the neck towards the head
along the jugular groove.
Generally blood collection involves insertion
of the needle into the occluded vessels as
far distally as possible. If the initial
venipuncutre attempt is unsuccessful, the
needle is reinserted more proximal to the
previous entry site. The blood is collected in
syringes or directly into anticoagulant tubes.
Once collected in a syringe, the needle is
detached from the syringe before the blood
is transferred into collection tube. This
reduces the amount of hemolysis that may
occur if blood is forcefully ejected through
the narrow lumen of a needle (Abrams-Ogg,
2000). If blood is transferred into a tube
containing an anticoagulant, such as
lavender-topped EDTA tubes, the stopper is
quickly replaced and the tube is gently
inverted a few times to mix the blood with
the anticoagulant. Vigorous shaking can
cause hemolysis. The tube containing the
anticoagulant is at least half filled with blood
to achieve the appropriate blood/
anticoagulant ratio.
BLOOD TYPING
Before going for a blood transfusion, the
donor and recipient should be blood typed
(i.e., blood group should be determined) to
avoid incompatibility problems (Aiello and
Moses, 2016). DEA 1.1 is highly antigenic
and should be determined in all donor and
recipient dogs before transfusion (Tocci &
Ewing 2009).Methods of identifying blood
groups in animals such as canine which
include immmunochromatography assay and
slide/card agglutination test. The tube
method is used and it’s a gold standard for
blood typing but used in reference
laboratories.
The tube method
This method involves the use of antisera,
which contains antibodies specific for each
blood type of a given species, in this case a
dog. It involves collection of whole blood into
tubes containing EDTA, Heparin, or acid-
citrate dextrose anticoagulants. The blood is

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BLOOD COLLECTION, TYPING AND TRANSFUSION PROCESS IN DOGS
centrifuged at 1000g for 10 minutes,
followed by removal of buffy coat and
plasma leaving only erythrocytes. Then
erythrocytes are washed 3 times in saline
solution, centrifuged and resuspended. The
suspended erythrocytes are distributed into
as many tubes as required for the number of
blood type antisera tested for. Then 0.ml of
antisera is added to each well labelled
tubes, incubated for 15minutes at room
temperature and recentrifuged for
15seconds at 1000g. Finally the tubes are
observed macroscopically and
microscopically for the evidence of
hemolysis or agglutination.
Card agglutination method
This method involves the use of test card for
blood typing. The rapid vet – canine DEA 1.1
is an example of blood-typing test card to
class dogs as positive or negative for DEA
1.1. The card contains monoclonal
antibodies specific for DEA 1.1, and has 3
well defined wells labelled as ‘’auto
agglutination patient screen (well 1)’’,’’DEA
1.1 –positive control (well 2)’’ and ‘’patient
test (well 3)’’.Samples are first screened for
auto agglutination in well 1,and samples
must be negative to have valid results. If
auto agglutination is positive, the RBC must
be washed with Phosphate Buffer Saline
until negative result is obtained. Then a drop
of EDTA anticoagulated whole blood is added
into each well and mixed. Positive DEA 1.1
blood shows agglutination/clumps on the
‘’DEA 1.1 positive control well’ ’this is due to
the monoclonal antibodies in the well forms
antiserum, which reacts with positive DEA1.1
erythrocytes. The antiserum in the patient
test well does not react with negative DEA
1.1 erythrocytes.
Immunochromatography Assay
This involves the use of paper strip
impregnated with monoclonal anti-DEA 1.1
antibody and second antibody to a universal
RBC antigen as a control. The strip is dipped
into blood sample solution. RBC solution
diffuses through the strip and if they express
DEA 1.1 they concentrate in an area of
antibody impregnation. The cells also
concentrate to an area of the control
antigen, this indicates that the solution has
successfully diffused up the length of the
strip.
BLOOD TRANSFUSION
Blood Transfusion aims to replace the
missing component of blood and, in the case
of anemia, hemorrhage, hemolysis or
ineffective erythropoiesis, to increase oxygen
carrying capacity. Blood is best administered
intravenously although intra-osseous routes
could be considered if venous access is not
achieved. In most instances a first time
transfusion in a dog of unmatched blood will
not result in any reaction (Abrams-Ogg,
2000).
DEA 1.1 positive donor is compatible with
DEA 1.1 positive recipient, DEA 1.1 negative
donor is compatible with DEA 1.1 negative
recipient, and DEA 1.1 negative donor is
compatible with DEA 1.1 positive recipient,
Universal donors are generally accepted as
being negative for DEA 1.1, 1.2, 3, 5 and 7
but positive for DEA 4; Mismatching during
transfusion can lead to incompatibility
problems such as hemolytic anemia.
The canine donor should be lean, 2-5 years
of age, weigh at least 25 kg, be in good
physical condition, have a packed cell

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BLOOD COLLECTION, TYPING AND TRANSFUSION PROCESS IN DOGS
volume (PCV) of at least 40 %, and be
adequately immunized. It should not have
received prior blood transfusions or had a
prior pregnancy(Tocci & Ewing 2009).
Females should be spayed because of
estrogen influences on platelet number and
function. Potential donors should be blood
typed and vaccinated for distemper,
hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, and
parvovirus. A complete blood count, serum
chemistry profile, urinalysis, fecal
examination, should be performed.
CONCLUSION
All in All, blood transfusion is now used in
animals. It is important to know the donor
and recipient blood types before transfusion
to prevent conditions such as hemolytic
anemia in the recipient. Blood must be
properly collected to have a successful
typing and transfusion.
REFERENCES
i. Abrams-Ogg A.( 2000). Practical
Blood Transfusion. In: DAY MJ ET AL.
(Eds), BSAVA manual of canine
andfeline haematology and
transfusion medicine, Gloucester,
U.K.: British Small Animal Veterinary
Association, p. 263–307.
ii. Aiello. E.S and Moses.A.M (2016).The
Merck Veterinary Manual. 11th
Edition.Merk and Co,Inc. Kenilworth.
iii. Kilos,M.B.,Graham,F and lee J.
(2010).Comparison of two anesthetic
protocols for feline blood
donation.Veterinary Anasthesia and
Analgesia.37,230-239.
jjj. Tocci L.J, and Ewing P.J. (2009)
Increasing patient safety in veterinary
transfusion medicine: an overview of
pre-transfusion testing. J Vet Emerg
Crit Care 19,