Bruce McGann

Six-week old chocolate labrador puppy, Bruce, was admitted to the Vets Now Gateshead clinic in October 2006 suffering from Parvo virus. His illness was causing him to have profuse bloody diarrhoea and vomiting, making him very weak.

The Vets Now clinic first treated Bruce with an immune stimulant drug and gave him fluids and antibiotics. He did not respond well to this treatment, however, and Vets Now decided to give him a plasma transfusion using donated fresh frozen plasma. This provided Bruce with the fit and healthy donor dog’s immunity, and also provided him with clotting factors and protein which he had been losing due to his bloody diarrhoea and damaged intestine.

Bruce responded well to the transfusion treatment and was allowed home. His owner, Ashley McGann, was extremely pleased that Bruce responded so well to the transfusion.

“Bruce would not be here now if it hadn’t been for the plasma transfusion he received at the Vets Now clinic,” she said.

“I’m pleased to say he is completely back to normal now and bouncing around like a normal puppy.”

Maddi Maddison, 5 year old black lab

Maddi, a five-year-old black labrador, was taken by her owners to the Vets Now Gateshead clinic last August suffering from haemorrhagic vomiting and diarrhoea.

Maddi was very sick and dehydrated when she arrived, so the vets gave her a drip and medication. She responded very slowly to this, however, so the vets decided to give her plasma to replace the protein that she had been losing due to diarrhoea, and the clotting factors she was using up due to the haemorrhage. The transfusion provided her with some of the donor dog’s immunity so she was able to start fighting her infection.

Maddi responded so rapidly to the transfusion she was allowed home the next day. Three days later her owners reported that she was almost back to her normal self.

Helen Maddison, Maddi’s owner, said, “After seeing the transformation the transfusion gave Maddi, I’m a great advocate of pet blood banks.

“Maddi was terribly ill and had gone downhill so rapidly we thought we were going to lose her. The transfusion saved her and she is back to her normal self now.”

"Homer" Warner

Homer, a four month old mastif, was brought to the Vets Now clinic in Gateshead  suffering from haemorrhagic vomiting and diarrhoea.

He had responded poorly to basic treatment and was becoming weaker by the day. On the third day of his treatment, Homer’s blood tests revealed that he had dangerously low protein in his blood, and he had a very low white blood cell count.

The vets decided to give him a plasma transfusion, and hours later Homer perked up and was hungry for food.

Homers owner, Lianne, said, “Homer wouldn’t be here today if he hadn’t had the transfusion. It has given him a new lease of life and I’m delighted he pulled through.

“Homer is a bull mastiff and has a huge appetite. When he was ill, however, he didn’t eat for about five days and became so skinny he looked like a whippet. Just hours after he received the treatment he began to eat – and he has never looked back!”

Robson

Robson came to Vets Now for post operative care and needed to have a blood transfusion. We are so pleased at the expert care he received. We know you all saved his life for without that care and the blood transfusion our wee Bichon would not have survived. We are so grateful that Vets Now were there for us at a very traumatic time. Thank you again.

Good luck with your appeal for canine blood donors.

Enid Apsey