Calling all negative donors!

Just like humans, dogs have different blood types. The type we focus on most is Dog Erythrocyte Antigen (DEA) 1. Dogs are either DEA 1 Positive or DEA 1 Negative - and that matters a lot when it comes to safe transfusions.

Dogs with DEA 1 Negative blood are sometimes referred to as "universal donors" since their blood can be used in emergencies where the patient's blood type isn't known. For this reason, DEA 1 Negative blood is always in high demand.

Certain dog breeds are more likely to be DEA 1 Negative (you can find a breed list on our website), but only a small percentage of the overall dog population has this blood type. This means meeting the demand for DEA 1 Negative blood is an ongoing challenge - particularly during certain times of year.

We typically see a drop in available canine donors in late fall/winter, when the weather gets cold and families get busy with holidays. While every blood donation helps save lives, we are always looking for new negative donors to join the pack.

Accidents and illnesses don't take a break. If your dog is DEA 1 Negative and can donate this fall/winter, please reach out to register for a clinic near you. Dogs who meet our donor criteria can donate every three months.