In a 2021 study published in Animals, Brigita Zakarevičiūtė and colleagues surveyed 207 dog owners across Lithuania to assess their awareness, motivation, and fears about canine blood donation. Despite its vital role in veterinary medicine, canine blood donation remains underutilized, with supply failing to meet demand.
The survey revealed that 65.7% of respondents did not know that canine blood donation was available in Lithuania. Motivation to participate was not strongly influenced by demographics or previous experiences. However, fear emerged as a significant barrier, closely linked to the health status of the owner’s dog (p = 0.008) and whether the pet had previously needed urgent care (p = 0.031).
Owners who were already human blood donors were 19.76% less fearful about canine blood donation (p = 0.001). Similarly, awareness of the practice reduced fear levels (p = 0.004). Interestingly, being a human blood donor did not directly increase motivation to have one’s dog donate, but it significantly improved comfort with the idea.
The authors conclude that effective recruitment strategies must prioritize fear management and public education while ensuring animal welfare remains central. Dispelling myths about potential complications and fostering stronger communication between veterinarians and dog owners could substantially improve donor recruitment rates.
Source: Zakarevičiūtė, B., Juodžentė, D., Karvelienė, B., & Riškevičienė, V. (2021). Awareness, Motivation, and Fear towards Canine Blood Donation—A Survey of Dog Owners in Lithuania. Animals, 11.
