Meet Hollie, a brave almost 11 year old black Lab, who faced a life threatening situation after her medication triggered an internal bleed.
Hollie lives with arthritis, which had been managed with medication for six months. However, while this worked wonders for her joint pain, it triggered a suspected gastrointestinal bleed which landed her in the emergency vets needing a lifesaving transfusion.
Hollie had become lethargic and began vomiting blood. Extremely worried, her owner Claire took her to the out of hours vet. Initial tests showed some anaemia, but it wasn’t considered immediately dangerous, and no further bleeding was detected. Hollie stayed overnight for observation, receiving fluids and medication. The following morning, she was transferred to her regular vets for continued monitoring before being allowed home. However, back at home she began to deteriorate, becoming wobbly and breathing rapidly. Unable to stand, Claire took her straight back to the vets where they immediately recommended she was taken to Vets Now Hospital Manchester .
At the hospital, Hollie’s condition was critical, and the prognosis was uncertain. She was severely anaemic at this point and so a blood transfusion was needed to try and give her a boost and allow time for her medications to work. Following this, she began to steadily improve and was allowed home. She initially had a feeding tube but soon regained her appetite and was able to eat for herself again. ‘There's no doubt that without the blood transfusion, Hollie wouldn't be here today,’ her owner Claire shared. ‘In fact, I don't think they could have done anything for her without it.’
Claire admits that canine blood donation hadn't crossed her mind before. ‘I am so incredibly grateful to all the dogs and their owners who make time in their day to attend and donate as this completely selfless act really does have a profound impact on people like us.’ she says. ‘We have been given this precious extra time with her we simply wouldn't have had otherwise.’
Dogs can need blood at any time and for many different reasons. 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 the lives of dogs like Hollie.
