Dogs from throughout Edmonton contributed blood Saturday as part of an effort from NAIT and the Canadian Animal Blood Bank.
Students in NAIT’s animal health innovation and veterinary medical assistant programs gathered blood from dogs today for the animal blood bank, with the hope of providing any animals that enter emergency clinic a combating opportunity.
“We can do some really amazing things with the animals, however, there’s really no life support for them,” said signed up veterinarian technologist Dustin Portelance. “This is a crucial product that is given to animals to help extend that window of opportunity that we have to figure out their illness, to treat their illness and save their life.”
He said they take a complete system of blood from the animals — the equivalent of what a human would contribute — which can save as much as 3 canine lives.
The blood bank likewise supports the trainees who come out to acquire experience beyond a school setting.
Second year trainee Boyana Kircheva said the blood bank is a terrific method for trainees to get hands-on experience with clients, communicate with customers and get a feel for a real-life center setting.
“This gets you to work more with other students … and you get to teach each other, which is a great opportunity,” she said. “I find that if I can teach someone else, I can deepen my own understanding.”
Dogs require to be in good health, in between the ages of one and 8 and a minimum of 25 kgs to be qualified to contribute.
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