My heroine!

[LBTC]

Well, today started as a good Sunday, and only got better. We slept in, did laundry, worked out, and my dog Diva saved another dog.

Well, okay, the vet saved her, but with Diva's help. They called looking for a blood donor, as we told them when we moved to town that our dogs are donors. We tried 'Cuda first, along with two other dogs that the vet and his friend had. 'Cuda is definitely our bigger boy, so he's usually the first requested to give blood.

None of the first three dogs was great when they mixed the red blood cells of ours with the serum from the little doggie in crisis. I guess she has hemalytic (or something like that) anemia. Her blood was killing off her red blood cells. So, of the first three, 'Cuda was the best match, but there was still some clotting which isn't great. So then we brought Diva down there. Not only was she the best match of the 4, with virtually no clotting, but she's had incomplete typing done and in 2 of the 3 tests she appears to be a universal donor.

Our vet is no dummy. Once he had her sedated and they were taking her blood, he said that she really needed to have her teeth cleaned (which we knew) and then offered to do it for free. This is a real godsend for us! We don't have lots of available cash for the care of our fur-kids right now (we will when DH starts making plumber money in a few years) and I was already worrying about how we could afford the $400 bill to clean her teeth! Yes, the vet now thinks of Diva as a precious and important doggie and he wants to keep her in fabulous health, etc. Yay!

So she had a drug that sedated her, then a vitamin b/iron injection (great idea!), then another drug that woke her up. She's a bit out of sorts now, but seems to be doing just fine. I think she'll get a little of the turkey soup I'm making, cuz she's just such a special little girl. Mind you, since she's only a 44 pound border collie, he does wish she was as big as a saint bernard!

They said they'd let us know how the recipient does. She looked like a papillon to me - very small and cute. They had to get some blood into her first, then they can try to control the condition with drugs, and they have to check her organs to see how they are. Hopefully they caught it in time, and she'll be alright. Oh, yes, and this poor little recipient's owner drove her three + hours to get here for this treatment.

Life is good

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[makbike]

Way to go Diva!

Years ago my beloved Hondo did the same thing. He was an akita/shepherd mix and tipped the scales at about 80 lbs. His blood was given to a tiny minpin who was in crisis. I don't know what happened to that little dog but if Hondo's donation even gave him one more day with his owners it was well worth it.

Give your buddy a big hug from me and my crew (affection known as the Thundering Herd).

[kelownagirl]

Wow, that is so cool! I didn't know dogs could be blood donors! I will ask my vet about it next time we're in. Yay Diva!

[chickwhorips]

wow i didn't even think about dogs being donors. i'll have to look into that. i know peanut has enough to go around and she's a tough girl.

so happy your could lend an extra paw.

[emily_in_nc]

That is really cool! I didn't know about dogs being donors either. I've always had small dogs, so maybe that's why -- they probably don't have enough extra to give.

So glad your Diva could be of help, and that's great about the free teeth cleaning too! Their dental hygiene is so important.

Emily

[LBTC]

Well, today, two days after the blood transfusion, there's a message on our answering machine. The owner of the recipient phoned our home to thank us, tears overwhelming her voice, and asking us to thank Diva too! She brought tears to my eyes instantly just listening to her. Awwwwwwwww. I had to phone the clinic and found out that the patient is doing quite well so far, and that she's had two transfusions of Diva's blood which has bought her some time. They invited me to stop in and see how she's doing, and said that the owner left something at the clinic to thank us. *sniff* I can understand how she feels, and I'm really hoping her little girl recovers.

Diva is doing great and getting lots of extra hugs. She's a great girl.

And, yes, part of the reason I go on and on about the doggie (and kitty) blood donations is that I want lots of people to know that their pet can be a donor too!!

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[Wahine]

That is so special that your Diva could help that poor dog!! Hugs and behind the ear scratches to Diva. DH and I are in a holding pattern right now but after IM I'm getting a dog!! I miss my Tyson so much and I know he can't be replaced but I need a dog in my life. I am also very partially to the big palookas out there. I'll definitely check out the blood donor situation when I have my buddy.

Thanks LBTC for spreading the word.

[Bad JuJu]

I'm a little late on the uptake here, but what a great story! As a longtime dog companion, I heartily agree--if Diva's donation gives the little guy a little more time on earth with a loving family, it was worth it. Brava to you and Diva for doing the right thing!

And I'm another person who never heard of dog blood donors. Cocoa's a pretty big healthy boy, so I need to talk to his vet about whether he's a potential donor. Thanks for spreading the word!

[LBTC]

Diva's first call was on Sunday, then they called us again. The darling little doggie recipient, Ivory, did well for a few days, but was starting to decline again. Although it's not usually done so soon, they called Diva in again on Friday.

They tested Diva's blood again, this time to be sure that she had replenished enough red blood cells that it wouldn't hurt her to give more. She's a little blood factory, I guess, and she was at the high side of normal. Yay, Diva!

I held Diva throughout the process this time, last time I had been keeping 'Cuda under control, and DH was at Diva's side....it was amazing to watch her just melt and relax when they gave her the sedative, then get up and act (kind of) normal after they gave her the wake up drug.... The first time they took 300 ml, this time it was somewhere between 100 and 200 ml. Then they gave her IV fluids so that she would recover faster, and she sure did! We even went for a nice walk in the sunshine that afternoon, less than an hour after we brought her home. She's totally herself again already.

The vet phoned today to make sure Diva is feeling alright, and to report that Ivory is holding her own. I sure hope she pulls through all the way. Her mom got us a beautiful card and some chocolates. She's very grateful, which I understand, since our Yogi was given another chance with a blood transfusion once. What goes around comes around, right?

If you've got a big healthy dog - yes Juju, the bigger the better - talk to your vet and see if you can have your dog on the donor list. You just might save a fur friend to someone.

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[Pax]

Wow, don't know how I missed this but big hugs to Diva The Wonder Pup!!! What a good girl!

[Wahine]

Yeeeeeaaaaahhhh Diva the blood factory. Way to go girl. Hugs and scratches.