Equine Blood banks...

Queenbee

Queenbee

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Just reading another thread in which a couple of people suggested op sent her horse to an equine blood bank, silly really but it's not something I've ever contemplated existed until today. Now of course it is obvious to me that such places exist, but the existence of them shocked me a little... It's wierd, I'm ok with many other areas of the equine industry, slaughter, sales, dealers, racing and trotting from a young age... Some I don't agree with or don't sit quite right with me but I've got my head around the concept and I'm sure that at these blood banks horses are cared for... But it just seems wierd to me.
 
Oh cuffey, I know, I totally get it, it just wasn't something i had ever even thought about, it just amazes me what we all take for granted... I mean, we expect our horses to receive all the very best care and never really think about the logistics of it all.
 
Don't have a issue with it so long as the horses are well cared for :)
Obviously I wouldn't send a horse that was terrified of needles to one :p
 
It is one if those things you don't think about until you need it.
As long as the horses are well cared for they much have a nice easy life.

Just a though how often and how much blood do they take?
Us humans can give a pint every 3 months maximum ( some give platelets more often)
 
i think i get what you mean :)

i was the same a few years ago when someone suggested i sent my boy there. i looked into it and was quite well for want of a better word 'amazed' that these existed.
(there is one not far from me!)
they appear to have happy lives. but i think if i remember correctly you get them back at the age of 16 or pts, its your choice. i might be wrong but this is all i remember, in the end my boy was pts at home on vets advice x

we are fortunate to have blood availble for emergencies as many of us wouldnt even have ever thought about it and without many horses would sadly not make it
 
My vets keep their own blood donor horses. And their own blood donor grey hounds. You see them when you go the horsepital. Or rather you hear the dogs, never actually seen them but I've asked after them :)

I'm a regular blood donor myself and I'd love to think if my two couldn't be ridden anymore they could do something as useful as being donors.

I work in a lab and we also use horseblood agar. If there were no equine blood banks we'd be stuck :eek:
 
Funny I was thinking about this the other day.Didn't think it was a "send away" thing though I thought it would be like humans and anything my animals could do to save another woukld be alright by me just didn't know how to set the ball rolling.
 
The Penrith company in the link above are a bit different they would not take your 'resting' horse. They like to acquire them young and unvaccinated. Then they are vaccinated for various diseases before any blood is taken to make plasma.

As everyone says as long as they are cared for we should all be thankful for the service they provide
 
It's not something I've thought about and yes, thank goodness they exist as we never know when we might need them.

I wouldn't (couldn't) send anything of mine due to my phobia of needles, though - how stupid is that :eek:
 
I looked into this for my boss a while ago as her lovely little mare had ligament problems.

The one I looked into is the Scottish one just abit away from us, they live out during the summer in their 'herds' and in big open barns together in the winter - so as natural as it can get to be honest.

They come in in their 'herds' to donate blood every 2 - 3 weeks I believe. They stand in a stable and are given hay and water and I think they are in for around an hour.

VERY well cared for but minimally which is why I don't think they take animals who need 'maintainence' as such as regards to medical reasons - aka laminits prone, need buted etc.

The only reason my boss didn't so much like the idea of this one is because when you give them the horse, they take on ownership, and I don't think they are keen at all on visitors or handing the horse back- I think when the horse has filled it's purpose they are PTS.

The upper age limit for the horses being donated to them was 15 I think, but they stay there untill they are unsuitable if you like, many horses I believe there are well into their 20's.
 
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