Blood Groups - Dog

See also:

Transfusion Medicine - Introduction Blood Collection for Transfusion Blood Groups - Cat

Introduction

The most widely used blood grouping system is the Dog Erythrocyte Antigen system (DEA) and within this system eight blood groups exist. DEA 1 (DEA 1.1 DEA 1.2), DEA2 - DEA 7. Often Rottweilers, Labradors and Golden retrivers have DEA 1.1 or DEA 1.2 positive blood types and Greyhounds and German Shepherd Dogs are frequently DEA 1.1 and DEA 1.2 negative. For this reason greyhounds are commonly used as donors.

Alloantibodies

Unlike cats dogs do not have natural alloantibodies against other blood groups unless a transfusion has been performed. There is no major risk for the first transfusion and unlike the cat compatibility tests are not required for the dogs first blood transfusion. Alloantibodies form within 5-7 days of the first transfusion and consequently if a second tranfusion is required 5 days later than the original transfusion compatibility tests are required.

Blood typing can be carried out using in house kits or can be sent away to a reference laboratory.

DEA 1.1 and DEA 1.2 are the most antigenic and hence ideally a donor would be DEA 1.1 and DEA 1.2 negative. Dogs can be positve for one of DEA 1.1 or DEA 1.2 or negative for both DEA 1.1 and 1.2.

Transfusion reactions can occur when DEA 1.1 and 1.2 negative dogs recieve DEA 1.1 or 1.2 positive blood.

Neonatal isoerythrolysis can also occur in dogs. This happens when a DEA 1.1 negative female which has previosuly been sensitised to DEA 1.1 positive blood is mated to a DEA 1.1 positive male.