Meet Charlie. A lifesaving blood donor whose own life has potentially been saved by helping others.

On a recent visit to a blood donation session, the screening of his blood sample revealed low levels of red blood cells and protein. We recommended Charlie’s owner Charmaine took him to her own vets for further investigation. After a series of blood tests and urinalysis, he was eventually diagnosed with Atypical Addison’s disease.

Charmaine said it is likely that this was only picked up because he attends regular blood donation sessions.

I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that going to give blood has potentially saved his life. With no symptoms, and being such a calm, stoic dog anyway, we wouldn’t have realised something was wrong until he had gone into Addisonian crisis and that could well have been fatal’, Charmaine said.

Charlie is now on daily tablets and monthly blood tests for his electrolyte levels. The prognosis is thankfully good, although he will possibly go on to develop the more common form of Addison's, which can be life threatening. ‘Whatever the outcome, at least we know what is wrong and we can treat it, improving his quality of life’.

Charlie is unphased by all of this, showing excitement for all the fuss he is receiving at his visits to the vets. He is running around the gorgeous New Forest more than ever before and playing with all his dog friends. Due to the steroids, his appetite has increased to the point where he is now affectionately known as ‘Charlie Two Teas’.

Charmaine said, ‘We are extremely grateful to the Pet Blood Bank team for taking the time to explain Charlie’s sample results to me and for their recommendation that we went straight to our vet for further investigations. Our vets at Bishop, Hendry and Edwards in Newport has also been fantastic, ensuring Charlie still loves visiting, thinking he is going just for treats’.

While being a blood donor helps to save the lives of other dogs, it can also help to pick up any changes in your own dog’s health. Every dog receives a full health check at every donation session and a full blood screen annually. These things can help to identify any possible health concerns early meaning you can seek treatment and care for your dog before other symptoms might have told you something was wrong. Charlie’s lifesaving donations did just that.

If your dog is fit and healthy, between 1 and 8 years old, weighs over 25kg, and is confident, they could become a blood donor and help to save lives.

Find out more and register your dog as a lifesaver.