City records 90 blood donors in 4 years
The criteria for a dog to donate blood is that the dog should be healthy and have a haemoglobin count between 12 to 18, depending on their breed.
Mumbai: A few stray dogs kept at Parel’s bird-animal hospital, Bombay Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BSCPA), have become blood-donors thereby saving other dogs’ lives. 90 such dogs have donated blood over the last four years.
These canines are stray that were either injured in an accident or disowned by their owners. They were treated till they became healthy enough to become efficient donors. The recipient dogs in the case belong to breeds such as Doberman, Labrador and German shepherd.
Talking to The Asian Age, Lt. Colonel (Dr) J.C. Khanna, secretary and in-charge, BSPCA Hospital, said, “Since the past four years, we have collected almost 90 units of blood that is very useful for the dogs going in for surgery, especially the ones suffering from anaemia.”
“The shelf life of the dog’s blood is up to six months and after donating blood once, the dog can again donate blood after a period of 45 days,” added Dr Kanna.
The criteria for a dog to donate blood is that the dog should be healthy and have a haemoglobin count between 12 to 18, depending on their breed.