Emilie Hechtner is OBI's director of strategic engagement. In 2017, her 10-month-old Goldendoodle was diagnosed with von Willebrand Disease, a rare blood clotting disorder. Seven years later, Emilie is here to share everything she has learned about dog blood transfusions and the need for dog donors.
In celebration of International Dog Day, Our Blood Institute is highlighting the significant impact dogs have had on modern blood transfusion processes. Thanks to our furry friends and a physician from the 17th century, we now have safe, reliable blood transfusion practices for both humans and animals. It’s a little-known fact that dogs played a vital role in the development of blood transfusion, so let’s dive into some reasons for dog blood transfusions and the pawprint they've placed on today's modern blood transfusion practices.
Our Dog and von Willebrand Disease
Back in 2017, I took my dog, Finley, for a simple neuter. Upon picking him up, I was alarmed to find his incision still bleeding. After checking him in for emergency care and observation at Blue Pearl Veterinary Hospital, Finley received platelets to help his incision clot and went through a variety of tests.
One of those tests was sent to Cornell University’s Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center, and led us to the cause of the bleeding: von Willebrand Disease. Von Willebrand Disease, also known as vWD — or if you're a part of our household, "von Whiskerbrand Disease" — is a blood clotting disorder that, while rare, is the most commonly inherited bleeding disorder among canines. The disease disrupts the factors of the blood clotting process, making it difficult for blood to clot and injuries to heal.
Due to the interruption of the clotting process, it took Finley several weeks to recover from his neuter, which included diapers (he prefers not to talk about this), lots of ice and round-the-clock snuggles. Thankfully, Finley’s von Willebrand Disease is lower on the severity scale, resulting in fewer complications and a normal lifestyle. Prior to any operation, large or small, Finley has labs done to check his platelet count and receives a cautionary plasma transfusion. It can also take his body longer to heal from simple cuts, scrapes and the like, but overall, Finley is one of many dogs with von Willebrand Disease who lives a normal lifestyle and lifespan.
Schedule Your (Human!) Platelet Donation Today
Blood transfusions were never on our radar when we got Finley, so we found a local vet who was familiar with the disease. They assured us that the vet staff’s dogs tend to be blood donor dogs for patients like Finley and are very informed about the risks and treatments associated with von Willebrand Disease.
History of Blood Transfusions in Dogs
As my family learned firsthand, blood transfusions are a vital tool in veterinary medicine, healing canines suffering from a range of conditions. You may be surprised to learn, though, that they're also an extremely old one.
The concept of blood transfusion has ancient origins, but significant progress began in the 17th century with English physician Richard Lower. In the 1660s, Lower's groundbreaking experiments with blood transfusions in animals demonstrated that blood could be successfully transferred from one animal to another. Lower’s experiments were pioneering for his time, providing early insights into the principles of blood transfusion and the stage for advancements in the field.
