Provision of blood supplies

NCCAW Position Statement

This position statement seeks to ensure that a reliable supply of fresh blood and blood products is available for emergency veterinary treatments in Australia. In many circumstances the use of drug or fluid therapy is insufficient and blood transfusion may be critical.

Traditionally, blood and blood products have been collected from pound and shelter animals but the community has ethical and welfare concerns about this, particularly where an animal owner has not consented.

NCCAW supports the ethical and humane collection of animal blood and blood products for treating sick or injured animals but has welfare concerns for animals reared solely for this purpose as they may not have an opportunity for socialisation and other care.

Collecting blood from animals, including cats or dogs, may adversely affect them, and steps need to be taken to ensure minimal impact. Blood transfusion is to benefit the welfare of the recipient animal.

Blood may be collected if:

• a stray animal in a pound has been euthanised and blood collected, after it has been held long enough to ensure that no owner can be identified – 14 days is recommended

• the surrendered animal has been euthanised and blood collected - with the owners' consent

• a privately owned animal is used as a 'one-off' - with the owners' permission (survival)

• where animal(s) are kept for blood collection and used on a regular basis (survival)

• where animals are kept for other reasons (e.g. clinic pet) and used on a regular basis (survival)

General Principles

• the person in charge, or owner of an animal must give their consent before blood collection
  
  
• a registered veterinary surgeon or a trained nurse should collect blood under the veterinary surgeon’s direct supervision
  
  
• blood may be collected from a trained animal kept for the purpose
  
  
• blood may be collected on an opportunistic basis from an untrained animal - in this case it is preferable for the animal to be sedated or anaesthetised only by a registered veterinary surgeon, for ease of collection.

If the person in charge or owner of an animal instructs that it is to be euthanised, the animal should be anaesthetised before blood collection, and should not be revived.

Blood should be routinely collected and available for clinical treatments at short notice.

The collection and administration of blood for clinical treatment may be governed by legislation requiring, for example, animal ethics committee approval. This should be checked for the particular jurisdiction and circumstance.

Specific Considerations

When blood is to be collected from stray or surrendered animals destined for euthanasia, the collection should be a terminal procedure, and the institution's manager should be accountable for the animal's welfare.

Frequency and volumes of blood collections from animals which are intended to survive should be estimated so as to avoid untoward physiological changes in the animal. The animal should be monitored during blood collection, and until it has fully recovered.

Animals held for multiple donations should be monitored to enable adverse effects from repeated donations to be detected and responded to (for example, regular haematology) as well as for its general health and welfare.

Appropriate clinical records should be maintained in accordance with the 'Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes', the principles in the 'NH&MRC Policy on the Care of Dogs in Medical Research' and any relevant state guidelines.

NCCAW encourages the maintenance of donor animals to provide a reliable source of blood for treatment of clinical cases - provided the animals' social, behavioural and physical needs are fully met.

Reference

Removal of blood from laboratory mammals and birds - First Report of the BVA/FRAME/RSPCA/UFAW Joint Working Group on Refinement.

NCCAW reviewed this Position Statement on 20 February 2008 and made a decision to retain it without amendment.