THE OWNER of a rescue dog who needed two life-saving blood transfusions is appealing to others to register their pets for a donor day.

Teddy, a four-year-old crossbreed, nearly died due to a condition that stopped his blood from clotting.

Owner Helen Edwards, who lives in Heddon-on-the-Wall, rushed Teddy to Westway Veterinary Group’s main hospital in West Road, Newcastle, after he started passing bloody diarrhoea.

He also started bleeding from a wound that suddenly appeared on his back and from his mouth.

Vets found Teddy’s blood was not clotting due to Immune Mediated Thrombocytopenia (IMTP), a condition where the body’s immune system, which normally fights infection and disease, starts to damage and destroy its own platelets.

They gave Teddy his first blood transfusion, as well as steroids and chemotherapy, until his body began to fight back, but he then required another transfusion two days later after he began bleeding again.

In total, he received a pint-and-a-half of blood from two dogs called into the practice to act as donors.

The blood transfusions saved Teddy’s life, and now 18 months later, Helen has appealed to other owners to bring their pets along to a blood donor day being hosted at Westway Vets in Corbridge.

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The Pet Blood Bank – the only charity that provides a blood bank service to veterinary practices across the UK - is holding a donor session at the surgery on St Helen’s Street on Sunday, May 8.

Helen said: “Teddy is very special to us and it’s heartbreaking to think that without a donor he would have died. We actually went into the veterinary hospital to say goodbye to him because everyone thought he wouldn’t survive. We were so lucky that on both occasions he needed a blood transfusion, Westway Vets were able to find people willing to let their dogs donate blood, otherwise he would not be here.

“What happened to him was very scary but he is no longer on medication and is now back to where he was before this happened, so we have been very fortunate. The vets at Westway Vets in Corbridge keep a close eye on him in case he relapses.

“Because of the amazing treatment Teddy received, I would encourage other dog owners to come forward and register their pet as a donor. They could end up saving another dog’s life.”

Westway Vets hosts regular donor days for the Pet Blood Bank and is inviting owners to register their dogs to give blood. The blood taken by the Pet Blood Bank is taken to its centre in Loughborough for processing and testing, before it is sent to practices all over the UK to be used in blood transfusions.

Vet Carey Taberner said: “It is safe for dogs to donate blood, although they have to be the right temperament and meet certain criteria. There is always a need for blood for emergency cases, such as Teddy. Having a transfusion undoubtedly saved his life.”

To become a blood donor, dogs need to meet the following criteria:

  • Fit and healthy
  • Between one and eight years old
  • Weight more than 25 kilos
  • Be fully vaccinated
  • Have a good temperament
  • Not travelled abroad
  • Not on any medication

People interested in registering their dog can call Westway Vets in Corbridge on 01434 632033.