Blood groups

1. Blood Groups & Blood Transfusion in
Animals
pREpARED by:
mUhAmmAD RIzwAn IftIkhAR (DVm)
EmAIl ID: mrizwan043@gmail.com
UCV&AS

2. Blood Groups & Blood Transfusion in
Animals
Blood groups typing
Blood groups are named according to the species-specific antigens present on the surface of erythrocytes
1.Dogs
The blood group system recognized in dogs is the dog erythrocyte antigen
(DEA) system;
The blood group system in dogs includes DEA 1.1, DEA 1.2, DEA 3, DEA 4, DEA
5 and DEA 7
DEA 1.1 is the most antigenic and is used for typing purposes. A first-time RBC
transfusion can be performed using DEA 1.1–negative blood without bloodtyping
because DEA 1.1–negative dogs are considered universal donors.
15 ml of blood per kg BW can be collected from dog in every 6 weeks
2.Cats
In cats, AB is the recognized blood group system. Most cats are type A,
some are type B, and type AB is rarely seen; the frequency of each type
varies geographically and among breeds.
Blood typing is imperative in cats because they have preformed
alloantibodies to the opposite type with no universal donors.
10 and 12 mL of blood/kg body weight can be collected for transfusion from donor.
3.Horse & Donkey
The seven blood groups in horses viz. A, C, D, K, P, Q and U are internationally
recognized with more than 30 erythrocyte antigens .
Thoroughbreds and Arabian breeds have high prevalence of antigens Aa or Qa
whereas, Standard breds lack the Qa antigen .
Adult horses can safely donate approximately 6-8 L of blood

3. 4.Cattle
The internationally recognized blood groups in cattle are A, B, C, F, J, L, M, R, S,
T and Z. out of these 11 groups, group B and J being the most clinically
relevant. The B group itself has more than 60 antigens, thereby making closely
matched blood transfusions difficult.
Cattle can donate 8-14 mL of blood per kg of body weight.
5.Sheep
A, B, C, D, M, R, X are the seven blood groups identified in sheep. The B group has over 52
factors present over erythrocytes.The R system in sheep is similar to the J system in cattle
(i.e., antigens are soluble and passively adsorbed to erythrocytes)
6.Goat
The blood groups of the goat (A, B, C, M, J) are very similar to those of sheep with the B
system equally complex.
Indication for blood transfusion
 Fresh whole blood is indicated for transfusion in case of acute
hemorrhage, anemia, coagulation disorders and thrombocytopenia.
 Stored whole blood is indicated for transfusion in anemia
 Fresh-frozen or stored-frozen plasma is used in cases of congenital or
acquired deficiencies of coagulation factors and hypoproteinemia.
 Platelet-richplasma is indicated for severe thrombocytopenia or
thrombocytopathia.
 Hyperimmune serum products are also available for use in cattle with
infectious disease
 Fresh-frozen plasma is indicated for use in failure of passive
transfer (hypogammaglobulinemia) in calves, foals, puppies and kittens
YOU WILL NEED
● Blood unit
● Transfusion administration set*

4. ● Transfusion monitoring table for patient’s record
● Thermometer
● Blood pressure monitoring device and supplies
Cross matching
Crossmatching detects antibodies in the serum of one patient against the RBC antigen of
another.
Cross match is not required for the first lifetime transfusion in either
dogs or cats. Because antibody formation to the first transfusion
may occur after 3 to 5 days
Technique for cross matching
 Collect the blood from the donor as well as recipient in purple top and
red top tubes i.e EDTA tube and nonEDTA tubes respectively [41].
 Centrifuge the blood and allow separating plasma and serum from the
RBCs.
 Remove the serum and save it in a separate sterile tube.
 Discard the plasma from the EDTA tube.
 Wash the RBCs collected from EDTA tube.
 Place the RBCs in a spate tube filled with normal saline and centrifuge
for 1
minute.
 Repeat the process 5 times removing the supernatant every time.
 Resuspend the cells to make a 2% to 4% solution (0.2 mL of blood in 4.8
mL of saline gives a 4% solution).
 Label the tubes to make the following mixtures as Major crossmatch (2
drops patient serum with 1 drop donor RBC suspension), Minor
crossmatch (1 drop patient RBC suspension with 2 drops donor serum)
and Control (1 drop patient RBC suspension with 1 drop patient serum).
 Incubate the mixtures for 15 to 30 minutes at 37°C and then centrifuge
for 15 seconds.
 If either hemolysis or hemagglutination is seen macroscopically, or if
agglutination is seen microscopically, the donor is not a good match

5. STEP-BY-STEP BLOOD TRANSFUSION BASICS
Step 1
Verify the blood product unit size, number, and expiration date as well as the donor
species and blood type
Step 2
Parts are connected . Attach the blood transfusion administration set (A) to the blood unit, and
prime it with blood (B) to eliminate all air. Then connect it to the patient’s catheter (C). Both IV

6. and intraosseous (IO) catheters can be used. Smaller catheter sizes do not cause more hemolysis
than larger ones.
Step 3
Using a Transfusion Monitoring Chart similar to the sample shown, carefully monitor
physiologic parameters and adverse reactions, including fever, hypotension, urticaria, pruritus,
pigmenturia, vomiting, and shivering.
The volume of whole blood to be administered is calculated from the following equation
10 drops = 1 milliliter (mL)
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.
Blood should be given intravenously at a rate not exceeding 10 mL/kg per hour (always
begin the transfusion slowly then gradually increase flow rate);
Hypovolemic patients may require an infusion rate of 20 mL/kg per hour,
patients with cardiac, renal, or hepatic disease or recumbent calves may require an
infusion rate of only 1 mL/kg per hour
In hemorrhagic shock a general volume rule is 7L of whole blood/600 kg cow
Infusion Rate
recommended infusion rate is 22 mL/kg per day.
The entire volume should be administered within 4 hours to prevent functional loss
or bacterial growth.

7. Total Blood Volume to be Infused 1) Total mL donor dog blood in anticoagulant = 2.2 x
receiving dog’s weight (kg) x 40 x packed cell volume (PCV) desired in receiving dog - PCV of receiving
dog / PCV of donor dog blood in anticoagulant
Note: 2.2 mL/kg of whole blood will raise PCV by 1% when PCV of transfused blood is 40%
PCV of the recipient and of the donor and the purpose of therapy. A simple guideline for
small animals is that 10-15 mL/kg of packed erythrocytes or 20 mL/kg of whole blood
increases the PCV by 10% if the donor has a PCV of approximately 40%
Transfusion reactions (manifested as respiratory distress, oedematous swellings,
tachycardia, hiccupping, thrashing or sweating), the recipient should be continuously
monitored. In case of reactions, give adrenalin (epinephrine) at a dose of 1-5ml
intravenously or 4-8ml intramuscularly/subcutaneously of a 1mg/ml solution.
Step 4
When the transfusion is complete, flush the infusion site with 0.9% saline before
initiating other infusions or drugs

8. Step 5
Check packed cell volume (PCV) and total solids 1 to 6 hours after transfusion. If there is
no ongoing loss or hemolysis, 70% of the transfused RBCs are expected to remain in
circulation. if fresh whole blood was used, the RBCs should have a normal lifespan
(approximately 110 days in dogs, 70 days in cats)