Apply Today! Your beloved pet could save another beloved pet’s life!

Each year, thousands of animals’ lives are saved with the use of blood products.

We have developed an animal blood donation program for our in-house animal emergency needs and to meet the growing demand of veterinarians in the Chicago, Grayslake, Orland Park, IL area. Through our animal blood donation program at Premier Veterinary Group locations in Chicago, Grayslake, and Orland Park we have the ability to collect, process, and store enough blood products to ensure you and your veterinarian have access to blood products in any animal emergency.

Due to the nature of cases we see, the demand for blood products is always high. We rely on the help of willing canine and feline volunteers to keep our supply steady and help those animals in need.

A single blood donation can save more than one life because both the red blood cells and the blood plasma are used.

Initial Screening

If your pet meets the following requirements and you are interested in participating in this lifesaving program, please complete the Blood Donor form and our team will contact you to set up a screening appointment for your pet.

During the screening, your pet will be given a physical exam by one of our veterinarians and a small sample of blood will be drawn for laboratory screening and blood typing. We will also assess your pet’s reaction to our hospital environment – your pet’s disposition is a top priority. Most importantly, we will use this appointment to answer all your questions about the animal blood donation program.

We want you to know how safe this program is and how appreciative we are of your generosity and efforts. If at any time the process becomes too stressful for you or your pet, we may recommend that your pet not be used for the animal blood donation program.

Requirements

Our canine and feline heroes must have certain physical characteristics and meet certain requirements to be considered for the blood donor program. In order to qualify, he or she must:

• Have a good disposition and able to tolerate venipuncture and restraint.

• Not have had any previous blood transfusions.

• Not be on any medications that could pose a problem for a recipient.

• Receive a normal physical exam on initial evaluation by one of Premier’s veterinarians.

• No previous breeding history.

• Be permitted to be featured in various marketing and social media promotions around our Blood Donor program.

Benefits for our Blood Donor Heroes

• $25 credit per donation toward all vet services at our hospitals.

• Free ID tag and bandana letting everyone know your pet is a blood donor.

• Free yearly lab testing while in the blood donor program (valued at $700).

• Free yearly physical exam.

• Free blood or plasma transfusion if ever needed.

Common Reasons for a Blood Transfusion

• Trauma

• Internal Hemorrhage

• Toxicological Illnesses

• Canine Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA)

• Anemia

• Coagulation Abnormalities

DOGS:

• Must weigh at least 50 pounds.

• Be between the ages of 1 and 7 years old.

• Must be on year-round heart worm preventative.

• Must be up to date on the following vaccinations: Adenovirus, Distemper, Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus, and Rabies.

CATS:

• Must weigh at least 10 pounds.

• Be between the ages of 1 and 8 years old.

• Must be an indoor-only cat.

• Must be up to date on the following vaccinations: Calicivirus, Panleukopenia, Rabies, and Rhinotracheitis.

• Must be FeLV/FIV negative.

If your dog or cat meets the above criteria, various lab tests will be performed to ensure his/her health status and the safety of the blood donor pool. These tests are carried out at no cost to owners and will be repeated annually while a member of the blood donor program.