Blood typing and cross matching

List the different types of transfusion products available in veterinary medicine​

• Packed red blood cells

• whole blood, stored

• fresh or fresh-frozen plasma

• platelet rich plasma

• cryoprecipitate

reasons for transfusing whole blood

rapid loss of blood (hypovolemia)

• Trauma

• Surgery

• Rodenticide intoxication (may cause bleeding/hemorrhage)

• Ruptured tumour

• If PCV is <25% in dogs and <20% in cats

reasons for transfusing plasma

in puppies with protein loss due to parvovirus

• Hypoalbuminemia (<15% g/L)

• Hypovolemia (TS= <40 g/L, hypotensive)

• Rodenticide

reasons for trasnfusing fresh frozen plasma

coagulopathies (Factor VIII)

• Von Willebrand's disease

• Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)

reasons for transfusing packed RBC

destruction of RBC due to IMHA

• Hemobartonellosis (Mycoplasma hemofelis)

• Whole blood loss

reasons for transfusing PLT-rich plasma

inflammatory conditions affecting muscles, ligaments and tendons

• Osteoarthritis

• Bone regeneration after bone fracture

reasons for transfusing cryoprecipitate

von wilebrands disease

• Hypofibrinogenemia

• DIC

criteria for canine blood donors

• Large breed >30kg

• 8 years old

• spayed/neutered with no previous litters

• UTD on Vx

• Lean weight

• No bacterium potential

• No therapy (meds), no blood borne pathogens, and no previous transfusions

criteria for feline blood donors

• >4.5 kg

• Between 1-8 years old

• Spayed or neutered with no previous litters

• UTD on Vx

• No blood borne pathogens

• Healthy enough for sedation or anesthesia

• Friendly and indoor preferred

maintenance care for canine blood donors

• annual Vx, CBC, chemistry and UA done

• heartworm and parasite free

• Blood type must be known

• maximum amount for blood donation is 20ml/kg every 21 days

maintenance care for feline blood donors

• UTD on Vx and annual CBC, chemistry and UA done

• heartworm and parasite free

• Negative for FIV, FeLV, FIP and pathogens

• maximum amount of blood to donate is <15ml/kg every 28 days

what are antigens

structures on the surface of RBC that interact with antibodies in the plasma of other animals' blood.

• They are genetically determined markers.

what are alloantibodies

naturally occurring antibodies to antigens that the animal does not possess.

• Only seen in cats, horses, pigs, sheep, and cattle

clinically significant blood groups for canines

DEA 1 (1.1 or 1.2) positive or negative

DEA 7

clinically significant blood groups for felines

A, B, AB

canine universal donor and recipient

donor = DEA 1-

recipient = DEA 1+

feline universal recipient

Type AB

why is blood typing and cross matching done before trasnfusions

to determine the animal's blood type and if the donor and recipient types will be compatible

what do you evaluate in a blood typing sample

requires a whole blood sample and the evaluation of hemolysis or agglutination when mixed with antisera of antigens for the blood type they are transfusing to the donor

why is crossmatching in cats especially important

• have naturally occurring antibodies to the RBC antigens that they lack,

• Type B cats have strong anti-A antibodies so a severe reaction will occur

• Type A cats have weak anti-B antibodies so a weak or no reaction will occur

• Type AB cats don’t have either antibodies therefore no reactions will occur with either blood type

what is neonatal isoerythrolysis

hemolytic anemia of the newborn because the mother has antibodies against the newborns blood type

• commonly seen in Type A and Type AB kittens from Type B queens, the reaction can be fatal

• Type B kittens from Type A queens will survive because of the weaker reaction of Type A with B-antibodie

what is Failure of Passive Transfer in Foals

occurs because of inadequate uptake of maternal antibodies through colostrum

Common reactions from blood transfusions

1. FEVER

2. Pain at site

3. Restlessness/anxious

4. Facial edema

5. Purities

6. Least common: icterus, seizures, death