Not all su-paw heroes wear capes. We get the legalities on pet blood donation.

Dr. Trudie Prinsloo is a qualified veterinarian and attorney. In 2015, she started Legalvet Services to provide legal advice to the animal health and veterinary industries in South Africa – and now she’s teamed up with us to tell us more about the South African laws relating to pet blood donation. dotsure.co.za is not responsible or liable for any advice, opinions, or any other information provided herein.

 

The emergency veterinary clinic receptionist burst through the clinic door and alters the vet on duty that a critically ill dog is arriving.  The next moment a panicked client rushes in with a semi-comatose dog in her arms.  The dog, named Jack is gasping for air.  Jack has a racing pulse, and his gums are as white as milk.   But he is fighting for his life and holding on. The vet already senses what the problem may be and knowing that there is no time to spare, asks the nurse to get donor blood prepared for a blood transfusion.  After a quick but thorough clinical examination and blood smear evaluation, the vet’s suspicion is confirmed.  Jack has biliary fever, and he desperately needs red blood cells to carry oxygen to his organs.  Fast forward an hour or two and Jack is lying upright in the hospital ward, still connected to a blood transfusion but breathing normally and looking content.  A far cry from the dying dog that arrived a few hours ago.   That is the miracle of a blood transfusion.  Nothing else would have saved this patient.

Where does this lifesaving miracle blood come from?  Just as with human blood, there are pet blood donors too.  Nowadays there are even pet blood banks.  When I started as a young vet, we often saw patients just like Jack.  But in those days, there were no blood banks and we first had to collect blood from a donor to do a transfusion.  This meant that valuable time was wasted, and we lost some patients who did not receive blood in time.  That lead me to start the first blood bank at the Veterinary Faculty, Onderstepoort many years ago.  Strangely enough, it also played a role in my decision to pursue a legal career.  Needless to say, this is a topic that is very close to my heart.

In South Africa, we do not have any laws that deal directly with pet blood transfusion or donation.  But that does not mean there are no legal implications for these processes.   To understand the legal implications, we must look at it from the point of the various role players.  These are the often-unsung hero donors, as well as their owners; the patients that receive the treatment and their owners; and lastly the veterinary professionals involved in the collection and administration of the blood products.

 

The well-being of pet blood donors

As pet owners, we must ensure the well-being of our pets.  As the guardians of our pets, we must therefore consent before they can become blood donors.  This is often done in the format of written consent that must be signed by the owner and which explains the potential risks and consequences of blood donation.   There is minimal risk involved with blood donation for a healthy donor, but nervous, excitable, and aggressive pets should not donate blood.  It is not just difficult for the person collecting the blood, it also places strain on the pet donating blood.  There are certain criteria that a donor pet needs to meet, such as specific weight, good body condition, and good health.  These criteria are there to protect both the donor animals as well as the recipients.  A pet's own well-being should never be risked saving another animal.

There is also a darker side to blood donation.  That is the practice of keeping animals in confined spaces solely to be used as blood donors.  This is not something that I have seen in South Africa, but it is a problem in other countries and could potentially happen here too.  That does not mean it is unacceptable to keep donor animals if they are kept in good conditions and treated well.   Anything that could be regarded as cruelty in terms of the Animals Protection Act, No. 71 of 1962 would be illegal.  However, I would argue that all donor pets should always be treated as heroes and received the best possible care and love available.

The well-being of the recipient animals

As with any other treatment, the pros and cons of treatment should be explained to the owner of the pet patient and the owner must consent to receiving the treatment.  Blood transfusion reactions can happen, and they could potentially cause the death of the patient.  However, if donor pets are screened and appropriate donors are used, this is unlikely to happen.

Veterinary professionals collecting and administering blood products

Whenever veterinary professionals collect blood or use any blood products in their patients, they must adhere to the Veterinary and Para-Veterinary Professions Act, No. 19 of 1982, and its Rules.  This means that they must act professionally towards all the animals and clients involved.

When collecting blood they must have regard for the well-being of the donor, as well as that of the potential recipients.  Consent from donor pet owners should be obtained before blood is collected.  The best practice would be to keep the written and signed consent on record.  General consent for a regular donor is sufficient.

When administering blood products to patients veterinarians should provide the treatment with the most benefit but least risk to the patient.  Before blood or blood products are administered to a patient, the owner should be informed of the potential risks and benefits and provide consent for treatment.  This does not have to be a formal written consent, although that would be good.  A note on the patient’s records stating that the owner was informed and consented, should be sufficient.   In a case of an emergency where the owner is not immediately available, lifesaving treatment can be given without consent.

“Pet Blood Donor Law”

If I could make a law for our su-paw blood donor pet heroes, it would be:

  • Only allow pets to donate blood if they are comfortable with the process.
  • Give all pet donors unlimited love, healthy food and exercise, and comfortable places to live and sleep.