Palm Beach Pet Blood Banks
Do Cats and Dogs Have the Same Blood?
Palm Beach pet blood banks play a major role in providing our veterinarians and emergency pet clinics with the highest quality transfusion products and blood administration sets. This is due in part to the growing number of West Palm, Boynton Beach and Boca Raton pet owners who allow their cats and dogs to participate in blood donor collection programs throughout Palm Beach County. Similar to their human owners, dogs and cats have different blood types and identifying the donor/recipient status is important for pet transfusions used during animal surgery, treatment for trauma, or disease management. If you would like to learn more about saving another pet's life, ask your regular veterinarian to assess your pet's "donor disposition" or contact PetPB Animal Emergency & Referral Center to schedule a donor physical for your dog or cat.
Cat Blood Types
Domestic cats belong to one basic "AB" blood group with three specific blood types to include: Type A, B or AB (rare). Similar to humans, the blood group antigens for cats are determined by carbohydrates on erythrocycte membranes. Since cat blood has naturally occurring antibodies, it is very important to know the donor and recipient blood types to avoid an incompatible transfusion with serious or even fatal consequences. Type A is the most common blood type for cats in the United States (90 to 95%) but the frequency does vary based on the breed and geographic location. Type AB cats cannot be blood donors but can receive either type of blood transfusion safely.
Dog Blood Types
Dog blood groups are determined by the different antigens that are present (or absent) from the surface of the red blood cells. Although more than a dozen groups have been described, most dogs fall into one of eight Dog Erythrocyte Antigen (DEA) blood types as recognized by international standards to include: DEA 1.1, DEA 1.2, DEA 3, DEA 4, DEA 5, DEA 6, DEA 7 or DEA 8. Since dog blood does not have naturally occurring antibodies, a dog can receive an initial transfusion of a different blood type in an emergency situation. Breeds such as Greyhounds, Boxers, Irish Wolfhounds, German Shepherds, Dobermans and Pit Bulls are common universal blood donors and most breeds can receive universal transfusions regardless of their own blood type or groups.
