Just like humans, animals also need blood transfusions during serious illness, accidents or surgery, and their blood groups vary from species to species. To make sure animals get the right blood on time, Bihar Animal Sciences University is now preparing to set up a hi-tech blood bank for animals inside the clinical complex at Bihar Veterinary College in Patna, where animals will be able to get blood matched to their blood group whenever needed.
Only a handful of universities in India offer this facility
Dr. Pallav Shekhar, Dean of Bihar Veterinary College, told Local 18 that only a few universities across the country currently have a blood bank facility for animals. Bihar Animal Sciences University is set to join that short list soon, and work on the project is already underway.
When do animals need a blood transfusion
According to Dr. Shekhar, animals need a blood transfusion when their hemoglobin level in a blood test drops to 5 or below, or when their PCV, or packed cell volume, falls below 12. There can be several reasons behind this drop in blood levels. Some diseases start breaking down red blood cells, which gradually reduces the amount of blood in the body and pushes the animal into anemia. A shortage of essential minerals like iron and copper in the animal's diet is another major reason for low blood levels. Several kinds of internal parasites living in an animal's stomach suck blood and can also cause bleeding through the intestines, while certain external parasites feed on the animal's blood as well, further weakening it.
India's biggest animal clinical complex is coming up in Patna
Dr. Pallav Shekhar said Bihar Veterinary College is building not just Bihar's but the country's biggest animal clinical complex. The Bihar government is expected to hand over this clinical complex to the institution in the coming months, and the blood bank for animals is being planned inside the same complex. He added that in the few places across India where an animal blood bank facility already exists, blood is available only for a limited range of animal species. The blood bank coming up at Bihar Veterinary College, however, will cater to almost all kinds of animals. It will be rolled out in phases, starting with pet animals such as dogs and cats in the first phase, before gradually expanding to cover other animals as well.
Animals have different blood groups too, just like humans
Just as humans have different blood groups, every animal species has its own blood group system. Dogs have the DEA blood type, while cats mainly have A, B and AB blood types. Cows have as many as 11 blood group systems, including A, B, C, F, J, L, M, R, S, T and Z. Horses have 8 blood group systems, including A, C, D, K, P, Q, U and T. Sheep and goats also have their own distinct blood group systems, and the same kind of variation exists across other animal species too. This is exactly why matching an animal's blood group before a transfusion is just as essential as it is for humans.
Why this initiative matters
Once this blood bank becomes operational, it will mark a major boost to veterinary care facilities in Bihar. Until now, animals have often lost their lives during serious illness, accidents or surgery simply because blood was not available in time. This facility is expected to bring real relief to pet owners and farmers, while making it easier for veterinarians to arrange the blood needed for treatment without delay.
