Blood Bank

When needed for surgical, cancer or critical patients, blood is provided by the Veterinary Teaching Hospital Blood Bank. The blood bank is a source of whole blood, pack red blood cells and frozen plasma for both large and small animal patients needing transfusions.

Greyhounds are the most popular caninne blood donors because of their universal blood type and their dense red blood cell count. The Veterinary Teaching Hospital has no in-house blood donors, but relies on the generosity of Greyhound pets that are owned by people in the community. Student, faculty and staff owned dogs donate blood as well, but the cornerstone of the blood bank is the community based Greyhound blood donor program.

A few cat blood donors live at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital and are cared for by volunteers and staff. They are adopted out to private homes after limited service.

In-house equine, bovine, and llama blood donors live in a pasture setting on hospital grounds.