Blood banks offer free canine health tests in exchange for your dog's blood

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. – Craig Prindel calls his dog a hero and a lifesaver: Ginger, an eight-and-a-half-year-old lab mix, has been giving blood at Banner's Blood Bank for more than five years.

"She just seemed like she had more of a purpose in life, just like a human being," Prindel said.

This Springfield dog has helped give 28 other dogs a new lease, or should we say leash, on life. On Saturday, the loving lab retired.

That's because Ginger will soon be too old to donate. On Saturday she gave her 14th and final pint at this Banner's Springfield clinic, which takes dog blood donations once a month and serves dogs as far away as Klamath.

"It's very sad because she loves coming here," Prindel said. However, he hopes other pooches carry on her legacy.

Indeed, Veterinarian Donna Dimski said the need for canine blood donations is greater than ever. After all, she said, "people are a lot more willing to do more for their pets," Dimski said. "They are members of the family."

One pint of donated canine blood can save the lives of two other dogs.

Donating at Banner's is completely free for dog owners. In return, the veterinarian tests the blood – for free – for things like anemia, and kidney and liver disease. As a donor, if Ginger ever gets sick or hurt she'll get the blood she needs for free.

Plus, unlike humans, dogs don't get dizzy or tired after they donate. Just 10 minutes into the visit, Ginger is good to go.

Her owner Prindel, however, plans to be back soon. He has a new dog on the way.

"It's something that I'm really going to miss until I can start the new puppy doing it," Prindel said.

Banner's Blood Bank is one of at least three clinics between Eugene and Portland where dogs can give blood. There also are blood banks in Clackamas and Portland.

The Critical Care Blood Bank at VCA Northwest Veterinary Specialists, 16756 S.E. 82nd Drive in Clackamas, provides free yearly physical exams and blood work, free yearly testing for infectious disease, blood typing and yearly heart worm prevention to its dog donors. Dogs are considered good candidates for blood donations if they have a friendly temperament, are 55 pounds or more and are from 1 to 8 years old, according to the VCA's website. Dogs must be up-to-date on their vaccinations, in good physical condition and have no prior history of receiving transfusions or being pregnant.

In Portland, the DoveLewis emergency pet clinic at 1945 N.W. Pettygrove St. also maintains a blood bank. Donors must be on a regular heart worm preventative, which its website reports is provided free of charge. The donation process reportedly takes about 30 minutes.

"DoveLewis provides blood products to veterinarians across the Portland Metro area, as well as throughout the state," its website reports. "Our blood bank supplies enough for 600 blood transfusions each year, but even that’s not enough. Without the participation of canine blood donors, animals in need might not be able to receive critical transfusions in time."