THE life of a 10-year-old dog has been saved after receiving blood from a dog at an Ellesmere Port pet blood bank.

Bridget, a shorkie from Cefn Mawr, Wrexham, was saved after receiving blood from labradoodle Cora.

Cora had just donated her blood at a Pet Blood Bank donation session in Ellesmere Port when it was immediately taken for Bridget who was suffering from severe anaemia. Now, Bridget’s owners are urging those with suitable dogs to come forward as lifesaving blood donors.

Cora.

Cora.

Bridget became unwell following an unexpected complication with her diabetes and was taken to Animal Trust Vets Ellesmere Port. She had begun passing abnormal faeces that indicated the presence of a bleeding ulcer. The continued blood loss was difficult to control which resulted in her becoming anaemic.

Bridget became weak, lost her appetite, and was showing signs that she was struggling to cope with the anaemia. The red blood cell content of blood is measured as a percentage of the overall volume, and it is normally around 45 per cent in dogs. Bridget’s vets had been monitoring her red cell levels closely whilst managing the ulcer and this had dropped to just 13 per cent.

Bridget.

Bridget.

Bridget was seriously ill and needed an immediate blood transfusion.

At the same time as Bridget was in one room at the vets, Pet Blood Bank was holding one of their donation sessions in some of the other rooms.

Having identified that Bridget needed blood, a compatible donor for her was immediately identified from the list of dogs Pet Blood Bank had giving blood that day.

The pet blood bank team.

The pet blood bank team.

Cora was the lifesaving donor who had just donated a unit of blood, which the practice took to use for Bridget’s transfusion.

Cora’s owner, Julie Willey, said: "Helping other animals in need fills us with pride. Cora will retire from donating this year, so we were emotionally touched she helped by being a blood match on the day for Bridget."

Within hours, Bridget was brighter and was able to go back home. Three days later, she returned for a check-up and thankfully was back to her normal self.

Bridget’s owner, Martyn Rodgers, said: "It is very hard to express how grateful I am to Cora and her owners for facilitating her blood donation. It is immeasurable. I will always be in gratitude to Cora and her family."

Dogs like Bridget rely on blood being available in these life-threatening situations and Pet Blood Bank aims to ensure this is always the case. However, more dogs like Cora are needed to come forward and give blood to meet this aim.

If your dog is fit and healthy, between one and eight years old, weighs over 25kg, and is confident and enjoys meeting new people, they could become a blood donor.

Animal Trust Vets Ellesmere Port, as well as other venues across the North West, runs regular donation sessions with Pet Blood Bank.

To help dogs like Bridget, visit www.petbloodbankuk.org to find out more about your dog becoming a donor or the other ways you can get involved.