Insights into the Canine Blood Donor Experience: A Multicenter Study on Physiological and Behavioral Changes

Blood donor welfare is extensively studied in humans, while limited data exist for blood donor dogs. This multicentric prospective study aimed to evaluate physiological and behavioral responses in 89 canine blood donors. Clinical parameters (heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, rectal temperature) and serum cortisol levels were measured before and after blood donation (BD), along with owner-reported behavioral assessments. Results showed no significant changes in cortisol concentrations pre-BD/post-BD or in most of the clinical parameters, except for rectal temperature that was significantly increased after BD [38.5 °C (38.2-39.4 °C) vs. 38.6 °C (37.6-41.7 °C), p < 0.001] suggesting a transient response likely due to physical restraint. No significant differences were found between first-time and repeat donors. Owners reported higher signs of arousal during the pre-donation phase, indicating anticipation as key to the stress response. However, more than 80% of the owners reported that their dogs behaved normally after the procedure and throughout the BD day. These findings suggest that canine whole BD is generally well tolerated and unlikely associated with systemic physiological stress. However, increased attention to the anticipatory phase, along with careful temperature monitoring, individualized restraint techniques, and optimized environmental management, may further improve canine blood donor welfare.