DMS laboratories, Inc. introduces the first commercially available in-office test for blood typing dogs. Now, it's possible to determine if a dog is blood type DEA 1.1 positive or negative with a simple quick test that can be used in the veterinarian's office or even under field conditions.

The most important canine blood type is DEA 1.1. Dogs that are DEA 1.1 positive (33 to 45% of the population) can be considered to be universal recipients - that is, they can receive blood of any type without expectation of a life-threatening Hemolytic Transfusion Reaction ("HTR"). Dogs that are DEA 1.1 negative can be considered to be universal donors. Blood from DEA 1.1 positive dogs should never be transfused into DEA 1.1 negative dogs. If it is the dog's first transfusion the red cells transfused will have a shortened life due to the formation of alloantibodies to the cells themselves and the animal will forever be sensitized to DEA 1.1 blood. If it is a second such transfusion, life-threatening conditions will follow within hours. In addition, these alloantibodies will be present in a bitch's milk (colostrum) and adversely affect the health of DEA 1.1 negative puppies.

Why should dogs be blood typed?

• Logic dictates that all dogs should be determined to be DEA 1.1 positive or negative at their first physical examination. It's good medical practice and with the existence of animal blood banks, this is something to be known in advance of need.

• All dogs who are for the first time a transfusion donor or recipient should be typed for DEA 1.1 so as not to sensitize the recipient animal for the future nor decrease the life of the transfused red cells nor, if a bitch, result in alloantibodies in the milk (colostrum). Again, it's good medical practice. [A cross match will not yield any of this information.]

• All recipient dogs that have been previously transfused must be typed for DEA 1.1 as should the donor dog so as not to cause a life-threatening reaction in the recipient dog. [A cross match will not yield all of this information.]

• All pregnant dogs should be blood typed and evaluated hematologically for alloantibodies and their puppies should be blood typed at birth.

• It's logical -- just as the owner's blood type is known and documented, so should the dog's blood type be known and documented. If a dog is valuable enough to register, it should certainly have a complete medical "passport", including its blood type.