Veterinary Blood Transfusion Guidelines
The Government of India is advancing veterinary healthcare by proposing standardised guidelines for blood transfusion and blood banking in animals. This move aims to improve emergency and critical care for livestock and companion animals. The draft Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) seeks to establish a regulated framework for veterinary transfusion medicine across India.
Context
India’s vast livestock population exceeds 530 million, including cattle, buffalo, goats, sheep, and other species. Companion animals number approximately 125 million. The animal husbandry and dairying sector contributes 30% of agricultural GVA and 5.5% to the national economy. Despite this, veterinary blood transfusion practices remain unregulated and inconsistent. The draft SOP aims to formalise these procedures to save lives during trauma, anaemia, surgery, infections, and coagulation disorders in animals.
Current Challenges
Most blood transfusions in animals rely on hospital-available or client-owned donors without standardised screening or blood typing. There is no national regulatory framework or uniform protocols. This leads to risks in donor selection, blood collection, storage, and transfusion safety. The SOP proposes ethical and scientific guidelines to address these gaps.
Animal Blood Volume and Blood Group Systems
Blood volume in animals ranges from 7% to 9% of body weight. For instance, cattle carry about 55 ml of blood per kg. A 300 kg cow has roughly 16.5 litres of blood. Dogs, horses, goats, sheep, pigs, and cats have varying blood volumes, generally between 55 ml and 86 ml per kg. Animal blood groups are species-specific – cattle have 11 groups, dogs 9, horses 8, and cats 4. Blood typing is crucial to avoid transfusion reactions.
Criteria for Donor Animals
Donor animals must be clinically healthy and free from diseases like tick-borne infections. Dogs should be 1-8 years old and weigh at least 25 kg. Cats must be 1-5 years old and weigh at least 4 kg, avoiding obesity. Livestock donors should meet species-specific health norms. Vaccination, especially against rabies, and regular deworming are mandatory. Female donors must not be pregnant or recently lactating. Donation frequency is regulated – dogs every 4-6 weeks, cats every 8-12 weeks, with a minimum 30-day gap between donations.
Establishment and Operation of Veterinary Blood Banks
Blood banks will be set up in veterinary colleges, referral hospitals, diagnostic centres, and multi-speciality animal hospitals. They will operate 24/7. Detailed records on donor registration, health screening, blood collection, processing, storage, transfusion monitoring, and biosafety will be maintained for at least five years.
National Veterinary Blood Bank Network and Digital Integration
A National Veterinary Blood Bank Network (N-VBBN) will coordinate blood banks nationwide. It will maintain a digital donor registry with species, breed, location, and blood type data. Real-time inventory management will track blood availability. A helpline and online portal will connect clinics, hospitals, and donors during emergencies. Standardised reporting and adverse reaction logs will ensure safety. Future plans include a mobile app for donor-recipient matching and logistics.
Ethics in Blood Donation
The SOP strictly prohibits monetary incentives for animal blood donations. Voluntary and non-remunerated donations form the foundation of the system. Owner consent is mandatory for each donation. This ethical stance aligns with global best practices in transfusion medicine.
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