Not everyone can say their dog has saved lives, but for the owners of our local blood donor dogs, they can rightly shout it from the rooftop.

Chocolate Pudding, known as ‘Pud’, has saved at least 13 sick local dogs, but the time has come to retire from his blood donor days. 

Pud is owned by Raymond Peace, but it was his late wife, Karyn, who brought Pud to the family home as a puppy. When his canine housemate Mistro retired from giving blood, Pud took over the role. 

Karyn was always proud of Pud’s service, said Border Vet Clinic’s Kylie Thornton, who is also Karyn’s sister. “Karyn used to love the fact that her dog was a hero, that her dog saves lives. She was always rapt to say, ‘my Pudding, he’s saved countless lives’. She was always tickled pink.”

“Blood transfusions in animals is becoming more common,” said Kylie, “because they’re considered more of a member of the family, not just a pet or a labour unit on the farm.”

Pud has donated blood more than 15 times. Most of the dogs he saved had eaten rat bait, but others had injuries that resulted in blood loss and required a transfusion.

“Unfortunately, it’s not every time that he’s saved a life because the injuries were very severe. There would be at least 13 lives that he’s saved,” Kylie said.

Vet Lachie Fehring says that 95 per cent of transfusions are for dogs that have eaten rat bait, which causes internal bleeding. Often, a vitamin K supplement to clot the blood will suffice, but sometimes, a blood transfusion is required to combat the loss of blood.

Dogs have many different blood types and to receive their first transfusion, can receive blood from any breed or type of dog. However, if they were to receive a second donation, their blood would have to be cross matched because the antibodies would have been activated. 

Donor dogs must also meet several criteria and wait three months before donating again. It’s for this reason that the vet clinic has several dogs that can be called on at a moment’s notice.

Donors are brought in when required and given a sedation that’s quick and allows them to wake easily, only needing to be out for the time needed to draw blood. 

“It’s the same as a human donation,” explains Kylie. “As the blood comes out, we keep it moving so it doesn’t clot; and it’s in the same sort of bags as a human donation. We tie them off, then hook it up to another stand and into the other dog then.”

Once the donation is complete, the donor is woken up, given a drink and feed, and a few other bonuses and freebies. 

“Because Pud wakes up well and happy and walks out with tail wagging, he thinks he’s done a great thing, because he’s been for a ride in the car and had something to eat and everybody’s falling all over him, he’s a happy, happy dog.”

Last week, when 9-year-old Pud was brought in, it was harder to pull blood and it became apparent that it was time for Pud to retire from his blood donor life.

Dixie, a staghound cross belonging to Toby Lambert came to the rescue and has now taken over Pud’s role as a donor.

Pud will no doubt continue to be spoilt by the Peace family on their farm, especially when they know he has been Puddin’ his blood to good use. 

This article appeared in The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper, 1 June 2023.