Do Cats & Dogs Have Different Blood Types Like Humans Do?

If you require a blood transfusion, doctors make sure they infuse the right type of blood into your body to avoid potentially fatal reactions. A veterinarian also must make sure his canine or feline patient receives the correct type of blood. Just as you might donate blood to help fellow people, your dog or cat might qualify to donate blood for needy members of their species.

  1. Canine Blood Types

    • Canine blood types fall into eight specific groups identified by antigens in their red blood cells. Eight primary "dog erythrocyte antigen," or DEA, blood types exist. Rather than using letters as in human or feline blood types, dog blood groups start with DEA and continue from 1.1 and 1.2, then 3 through 8. The most important type is DEA 1.1, with dogs either negative or positive for the antigen. Negative DEA 1.1 dogs can donate blood to either DEA 1.1 negative or positive canines, but those dogs who are DEA 1.1 positive can donate only to other positive animals.

    Feline Blood Types

    • Most cats -- more than 90 percent -- have Type A blood flowing in their veins. A small percentage have Type B blood, while very few have Type AB. Those rare AB types can't donate blood, but can receive either Type A or B if they're in need of a transfusion. Unlike dogs, cats receiving transfusions generally receive whole blood rather than blood components. While Type B blood is not that common, it's extremely important that veterinary practices have this type on hand for cats requiring it. Even a tiny amount of Type A blood transfused into a Type B cat can kill the patient.

    Pet Blood Banks

    • While veterinary schools often keep suitable dogs and cats for blood donation purposes, private practices might hold blood drives to ensure they have sufficient amounts to treat emergencies. Your pet doesn't need anesthesia to donate blood, although he might receive light sedation. The entire process takes about a half-hour. Approximately 60ml is collected from cats and 450ml from dogs at each donation. Certain canine breeds are known as universal donors, because they tend to be DEA 1.1 negative. These include the greyhound, American Staffordshire terrier, boxer, German shepherd, Doberman pinscher and Irish wolfhound.

    Blood Donor Requirements

    • All pets donating blood must be in good health and relatively young -- between the ages of 1 and 8 years. They should be up to date on vaccinations, but should not have had shots within the previous two weeks. Animals must be free from any infections. Because they need to sit still during the donation process, a calm disposition is a prerequisite. Generally, larger animals are preferred as donors, with a minimum 10 pound weight for cats and 55 pounds for dogs. Actual requirements depend on state law.