One of our local emergency vet clinics has a couple of cats who are always greeting visitors and being petted by receptionists. They seem content and happy. It suddenenly occurred to me to ask if they were blood donor cats and was told that they were.
Bonnie in WI www.elephants.com ----- Original Message ----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Sunday, June 26, 2005 1:50 pm Subject: Re: question re clinics' ability to meet emergency needs > Kerry, > Apparently there is a shortage of cat blood across the > country. I found > this out when Simon needed 3 transfusions. Most large clinics and > emergency > clinics that are good do keep a small amount on hand for > emergencies, but if > they get a few who need transfusions in a short period of time > they run out. I > don't think that most small clinics keep it onhand. There are > blood banks, > and vet school hospitals tend to have it more than others. I > think you > should ask your emergency hospital where it gets its blood from > normally-- from > donor cats that go in there, or from a blood bank? If from a > blood bank, > contact the bank directly and find out 1) how much of a supply > they keep; 2) how > long it would take to get the blood to your emergency vet in an > emergency; and > 3) if they know which clinics in your area or state tend to keep > more blood > on hand. You could also call around to other emergency vet > places and see > which ones keep blood onhand. A while ago, someone posted some > blood banks to > this list as well, but if they are not in your immediate area and > the blood > needs to be shipped, then that is not very helpful in an emergency. > > Michelle >
