Blood Donor Program
The Cornell University Hospital for Animals maintains its own blood bank for dogs and cats. Having blood in the fridge at all times is crucial, as there is a lengthy backorder on animal blood that's only worsened in recent years. Our in-house blood bank is a high-quality resource for clinicians and is sustained by dedicated veterinary professionals who screen and process each donation.
Your pet can help save lives!
We rely on a robust donor pool to keep the blood bank running. If you're local and your pet meets the below requirements, consider enrolling your dog or cat today.
Dog eligibility
Ideal candidates are between 1-5 years old. The dog is calm, travels well and is willing to sit down for 10-15 minutes at their appointment.
At minimum the donor is 62 lbs, has no history of transfusions and is on no medications.
Could your dog be a universal donor?
Some breeds are predisposed for the universal donor blood type! Thus, we'd particularly love to enroll:
- Boxers
- Dobermans
- Greyhounds
- Irish Wolfhounds
- German Shepherds
- Large Pitbulls
One donation from your dog can save the lives of up to four others!
Cat eligibility
Our ideal feline donors have a friendly, relaxed temperament and weigh at minimum 4 kg or 9 lbs.
They must be between 1-5 years old and be indoor-only cats.
Feline donors should have no history of transfusions and no ongoing medications.
Responsibilities
- The initial commitment is a blood typing appointment.
- After enrollment, owners must be willing to visit Cornell every 2-3 months for a donation.
- Most donation appointments happen on Mondays and Fridays.
Donor perks
For dogs
- Free yearly physical exam
- Free core vaccines
- Comprehensive bloodwork yearly
- A bag of treats and food once a month, courtesy of Hills and Purina
- One year's worth of heart worm, flea and tick prevention
- A can of chicken fed to your dog after every donation (peanut butter or squeeze cheese for allergic dogs)
- A special donor vest to highlight your dog's role as a hero donor!
For cats
- Free yearly physical exam
- Free core vaccines
- Comprehensive bloodwork yearly
- A bag of treats and food once a month, courtesy of Hills and Purina
- One year's worth of heart worm, flea and tick prevention
Testimonials
We have had many wonderful donors over the years and we're grateful for their participation in this important program.
Read about our history and explore the testimonials from owners below.