BOP Blood Bank?

[Osiris]

Due to very recent events conserning a friends female Lanner Falcon, i have been asked to start a thread regarding a topic relating to blood. The Lanner Falcon suffered a major prolapse (from her back end) and is currently in the vets fighting for her life. Heartbreaking for my friend and for myself as i fly her on many occasions.

Does anyone know if it is at all possible for birds of prey to "so call - give blood" to another bird of prey?? like us humans and many other animals can?

Does anyone know of any research done on such topic??

I ask, as if this is at all possible, wouldn't a "blood bank" for birds of prey be a good thing? Especially if a major prolapse like the Lanner is currently experiencing occurs? or many other injuries etc that require for the bird to be given blood?

[ I ask the mods to please keep this thread open as i feel its something not only I would be interested in. ]

Regards,

Jamie

[As The Falcon Her Bells]

Very very good question!! I never heard of it before? But thinking of it, it would probably be quite risky and very stressfull for the donator, not all of them, but certain speices? I dont know, just a tought...

[Pitbull]

That seems like a really senseable idea. I wonder if the bloods can be cross given ie, one species to another as in maybe a birds a bird. I suppose it would take some setting up as the blood would have to be tested as in humans for dieases. Maybe there is?? Maybe someone like sprout would know more about this and vets that specialise in bops.

[Hells99]

I know totally nothing about this sort of thing but it's a fascinating thread already. Hope some more people post and with ideas and knowledge.
Thank you

[Saker-Clive]

This is definately one for Sprout or one of the other vets.

IF it could be done, how much could feasably be able to be drawn before it becomes dangerous for the 'donor'?
Would the amount be of any real significance.............?

Un like humans, the birds can't have a lie down with a cup of tea and a biscuit, so how does the body replenish itself with new blood? :rolleyes:

[Graham Stuart]

Very interesting but dirds dont have a lot of blood to start with so surelly taking blood would be risky and very stressfull and where would it be kept so it would be available for the whole uk, cost would be huge to set up.
Only my thoughts...Graham

[Pitbull]

thats what I was wondering, if it would be a birds a birds theory when giving blood cos you wouldn't want to try and take blood from a kestrel as theory being the bigger the subject the more blood.

But then if not compatable with species to species it probably couldn't be done to benefit everyone as there are lots of cross breeds and imagine how many diferent kinds of blood would have to be stored.

Very interesting idea and would love to know if all birds are compatable with each other as in some humans with same types and dogs. Jakki

[Osiris]

I dont think, if its is indeed possible, that, for example, a Peregrine Falcon can "donate" blood to a Lanner Falcon. Genetic make up is completely different. So wouldnt that make the blood make up different too? Not sure, i aint a vet! lol

Will wait for a few vets aka Sprout to appear and to give his thoughts and knowledge on this topic.

Plus, i was thinking that it didnt have to be a UK thing. I was thinking more on the lines of a World Wide thing... If it can be done of course.

Barney, good point regarding the amount of blood... Could be risky, but i have never come across this before. This is a new topic to me and many others... Cheers!

As The Falcon Her Bells - can this thread remain open please?? I noticed that threads in this section are deleted after a while???....

Cheers, jamie

[Shannor]

Not sure about how it would work, but if it could, it sounds like a very good idea! I have to say what worries me most are the hybrids. Maybe this has been tried with other animals (cats, dogs, etc) too? That might give us some additional information on this idea.

Come on vets, bring us some useful insight on this idea! :)

[Osiris]

Not sure about how it would work, but if it could, it sounds like a very good idea! I have to say what worries me most are the hybrids. Maybe this has been tried with other animals (cats, dogs, etc) too? That might give us some additional information on this idea.

Come on vets, bring us some useful insight on this idea! :)

there are alot of factors that have to be considered in this topic, so hence, vets should be hobbling along soon to give more info... :D i hope.

Will update on the Lanners situation when i get in touch with my friend this afternoon, but it aint looking good :cry:

[Sprout]

Unfortunately it is not a practical option. As in humans cross matching needs to be done and there is a risk of anaphylactic reaction but in theory any avian blood can be transfused to a raptor in an emergency inc pigeon blood (probably once once though). The problems with it are that birds presented in shock and requiring blood are a VERY poor prognosis anyway and the added stress of dripping etc to transfuse blood probably would not be beneficial - normal saline or even crop tubing will save far more birds than transfusion will. Blood transfusion would ponly be required if a lot of blood has been lost - if the bird is just shocked then saline solution is as good as anything. The difficulty comes with collecting the blood in the first place - for dogs the donor must be healthy, fully vaccinated, young and over 25kg - it is often done under sedation too! For birds, the amount that could be taken safely would be tiny plus the added risk of an anesthetic for the donor. Unfortunately, so little would be required so infrerquently that "blood banks" would not be an option - even if there was a ntional central blood bank - by the time you had got your blood from the bank and back to the practice the bird will either be better or dead.

[Shannor]

Thankyou for educating us on this, sprout.

[Osiris]

Thanks for your appreciated input Sprout. Thats educated me in so many ways.

As for the Lanner, it is just out of another operation and now only time will tell. Very stressed etc as you can imagine. Vet will be phoning my friend again in a few hours so i will post on here when i get some more news if anyone is wanting to be kept updated.

Cheers guys.
Jamie

[Hells99]

Thanks Sprout, I think we were all waiting for an informed opinion on this and I've learned something new! Thanks!

[Osiris]

Latest update on Lanner situation...

The intense problem that Lanner Falcon was experiences was that of an infection in the ovary-duct which caused a heavy amount of blood loss. Last night she was standing upright which was a good sign, although she did pull out one of her tubes! which aint all too good. The vets have given her a 40% chance of survival. Months and months of recovery in a quiet place, and then left again to moult out this season.

Will be hearing more from the vets today. Hopefully the Lanner was Ok during the night. Fingures crossed.

[Pitbull]

hope everything goes well with the Lanner. Thanks sprout very interesting.