Life Saving Donations: How can your Practice support the Pet Blood Bank?

In this episode, Helen Rooney, RVN, joins host Liz Cox to discuss the critical role of the Pet Blood Bank, particularly in response to the growing need for canine blood products. They explore the importance of pet blood donors and how their contributions are vital for the health and well-being of dogs in need of medical care.

Helen explains the qualities that make a suitable donor dog, including temperament and health requirements, and walks listeners through the stringent processes involved in both the donation and the care of the collected blood products. She also emphasizes the unique challenges that pet blood banks face, particularly when compared to human blood donation systems, noting the specialized regulations and considerations that apply to the care and handling of canine blood donations.

This episode sheds light on an essential yet often overlooked aspect of veterinary care and the life-saving role that dog blood donors play.

Our Guest: Helen Rooney

BSc (Hons) CVN, Cert Ed, Dip AVN (Medical), Cert ECCVN, NCert Transfusion Medicine,

Helen qualified in 1996 and after a brief spell in a general, mixed practice moved into referral nursing. She then became a Senior Veterinary Nursing Lecturer at Myerscough College specialising in patient care, medical nursing and ECC. In 2016 Helen joined Vets Now as the Head Nurse at their new Manchester hospital before joining IVC where she is now the IVC Referral Nurse Training and Development Lead.Alongside this role Helen works for the Pet Blood Bank delivering transfusion training to practices. It is in this role she developed the first and only accredited course for veterinary nurses in Transfusion Medicine. 

Our Host: Liz Cox

CertSAN DipILM CertAVN (TCM) RVN

Liz is the Group Veterinary Nursing Advisor, a critical part of the delivery of a modern veterinary service and the development of our professional nursing team and complementary care providers such as our teams providing physio and hydrotherapy. Liz is a founding member of the IVC Evidensia Nurse Committee, has presented at major Veterinary Congresses and holds senior office on the RCVS Nurse Council. She has a passion for Nurse Development and training and has worked in a full range of practices from single-site to hospital practices and as a locum for Bristol Veterinary School.

Powered by IVC Evidensia

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast Clinic do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

Links:

Pet Blood Bank UK website for guidance and step-by-step advice documents: https://www.petbloodbankuk.org/vet-professionals/i-need-advice/

NCert in Transfusion Medicine: https://improveinternational.com/uk/coursedate/ncert-vppcert-transfusion-medicine-online/