Plus-Hex CLINICAL
In this study , the video shown between the participants ' questionnaires was successful in increasing their awareness of the canine blood donation process . Some participants even commented on the video in the second questionnaire , stating that they found it engaging . Educational videos are often more interesting , appealing and accessible than other forms of information , and are more likely to be shared on social media , so videos could offer a way for veterinary practices to extend awareness of PBBUK and the canine blood donation process .
Reflection of donor experience
When describing their blood donation experience , many of the dog owners in this study used positive language . This is in keeping with Bagot et al .' s [ 10 ] study , which reports that positive human blood donation experiences had an instantaneous effect on the retention rates of donors . The results from this study indicate that dog owners would be happy to bring their pets back to donate and would also recommend blood donation to other owners . This could suggest that current donors may play an important role in spreading awareness of PBBUK among dog owners .
A study by Dotson and Hyatt [ 13 ] found that humans who are unable to donate blood , due to their medical history , for example , are more likely to volunteer their dog as a canine blood donor . It could be inferred that these dog owners were , in effect , volunteering their dog for a task they could not fulfil themselves . However , such an inference could be deemed ethically unsound and may raise questions about the dog ' s ability to consent to blood donation . It could instead be inferred that owners of donor dogs are keen to nurture the human – animal bond through blood donation , which can also create a sense of mutuality . This is consistent with research in the field of human blood donation [ 14 ] , which showed that human blood donors were motivated by a desire to respond to a positive action with another positive action ( known as reciprocity ).
Donation motivational factors
Studies into human blood donation have shown both emotional and motivational barriers to donation . Many people who are not donors expressed concerns about potential medical complications [ 15 ] . However , this was not reflected in this study , with only 3 % of participants citing this as a concern in relation to their dog ( Figure 1 ).
Human blood donation |
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Participants in this study may have had prior knowledge of blood transfusions from the treatment of animals or humans , which the author suggests could have affected how they answered the questions . Therefore , as previously discussed , knowledge of human blood donation may have influenced the owners ' responses when they were asked about their dogs . Hamid et al . [ 11 ] found that many human donors joined the NHS donation register to do something positive and to help others . This concurs with the results obtained from this study . When owners were asked to justify their dog ' s involvement , participants used similar word choices , such as ‘ help other dogs ’. Altruism and prosocial motives ( voluntary behaviour performed to benefit society ) have been assessed in human literature , and are psychological processes that provide a rationale for the motivations of blood donors . |
40 % |
6 %
3 %
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20 %
31 %
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An obligation to do good was a common sentiment in this study , which is to be expected given the strength of the human – animal bond , and with many companion animals now considered part of the family . Although the concept of a pet blood bank has been adapted from the human equivalent , canine blood donation differs from human blood donation . In addition to altruism , van den Hurk et al . [ 12 ] highlighted that human donors said they felt a sense of accomplishment after donating blood . Although dogs have the mental capacity to feel , they lack the ability to experience more complex emotions , so the author suggests that the dog owner is more likely to gain a sense of fulfilment from volunteering their dog as a donor , rather than the donor itself .
Lack of awareness
Did not know there was a need for canine donors
No available donor sessions near me
Dog not fitting with criteria
Fear of complications ( i . e . infection or haemorrhage )
Figure 1 . Reasons owners did not want to volunteer their dog to donate blood .
Volume 38 ( 6 ) • December 2023
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