A YOUNG golden retriever helped save the life of another dog suffering from severe anaemia after donating blood.

Six-year-old Dougie has been signed up as a dog blood donor for three years, with his two-year-old brother Teddy.

He was called upon to assist an ailing dog at the Lynwood veterinary practice in Wimborne earlier this month (JAN) with his first life-saving donation.

Dougie’s owner said: “The vet who knows Dougie called us and asked if he was available to give blood to help this other dog and he was.

“Then it was a case of taking them into the vets when they have a dog that requires a donation to be assessed again to see if they are able to donate.

“It was a pretty straightforward procedure. He doesn’t get scared when he goes into the vets as he just loves seeing people and being fussed over.”

When asked about why she put her dogs forward to be blood donors, Dougie’s owner said it was a “no brainer”, and that more people should be putting their pets forward.

She added: “So many people do not think about it or aren’t aware of it. If they have got a very gentle and easy-going nature and they don’t mind being taken to the vets, then it is something that owners can consider.

“It is one of those things, you are going to find people who are going to disagree and are protective over their pets.

“But if you have the right sort of dog who is fit and healthy and the owner feels it is a good idea, I do not feel there is a moral argument.”

Lynwood Vets are looking for owners to put their pets forward to be blood donors, as long as they meet the set criteria.

Ideal candidates will need to be aged one to eight, fully vaccinates and over 25kg in weight. They must also be up to date with flea and worm control and must not be taking any medication other than parasite control or have travelled outside the UK.

Senior clinical director at Lynwood vets, Duncan Reavell, said: “We are really keen to support the shortages both locally and nationally in dog blood donors. Like humans, dogs suffer blood diseases such as anaemia, haemophilia, blood clots and myeloma.

“Dougie’s owner was able to respond very quickly and luckily the recipient dog is doing well so this intervention was very successful.

“It is something that we would love to have more supplies of because it is one of those things you don’t think of until it is an emergency.”

If you would like your dog to be added to our donor list, please contact us vets@lynwoodvets.co.uk.