Avian & Exotics

If your pet meets the donor requirements, please contact us for an appointment. At that first appointment, we will perform a physical exam and screening bloodwork to review your pet’s health and see if your pet is ready to be a lifesaver.

Email: BloodBank@rbvh.net – this is the best way to get in touch with us!
Phone: (732) 747-3636 – ask for Lauryn in the Blood Bank

An initial exam with extensive blood screening is performed on each candidate. This bloodwork screening is complimentary for our superhero candidates.

To thank you and your pet for being part of our Pet Lifesaver program, your pet will be showered with love and treats. You will also receive one free bag of prescription pet food for your pet and a $50 credit on your Red Bank Veterinary Hospital account. We hope you will also feel proud and bask in the knowledge that your pet helped save multiple pet lives in one year!

After the blood is collected into blood collection bags, we use special equipment to separate the blood into different components. The first component is Packed Red Blood Cells which we store in a refrigerator for future use. The second component is called Plasma which we can freeze for up to a year. Each component is useful in treating different medical conditions. That means your pet can potentially save two other pets with one donation!

When pets arrive on donation day, we weigh them and perform a brief physical exam. Cats are ready to donate after receiving light sedation; dogs are positioned and held comfortably by our blood bank team. Blood is taken from a vein in your pet’s neck. The blood collection process takes between 5-8 minutes. After the collection, we wrap the neck with a bandage. Dogs are fed some yummy food, given lots of hugs and kisses, and monitored for a few minutes before going home. Cat donation is similar except our feline donors are monitored for longer as they recover from sedation.

Due to the high cost of screening prospective donors, we ask that you commit to at least two years of donations; every 8 weeks for dogs and every 3-4 months for cats. Donations are by appointment only and scheduled at your convenience. You are welcome to wait at the hospital during the donation process (about 30 minutes for dogs, 2 hours for cats), or you can drop off your pet and come back later.

We try to select dogs that are able to sit quietly during most of the donation. We know this can be a challenge for active dogs so we also have trained assistants to help comfortably and gently hug and hold our donors during the donation process. Keeping your dog occupied and focused on treats during the donation also works for some pets. Let us know what your dog’s favorite treat is, or bring it along for us to try during their donation appointment. We are happy to spoil our donors! Cats, however, do need to be lightly sedated for blood donations for their own safety. This sedation protocol is formulated by our anesthesiologists and overseen by a specialist on staff during donations.

Just like in people, the size of “a unit” of blood is based on well-established standards for safe donation amounts based on your pet’s individual weight.

All blood donors are screened and examined to ensure, to the best of our ability, that blood donation is safe! The amount of blood drawn during a donation is not enough to negatively affect your pet’s health. The donation process is very quick and we keep the experience as stress-free and positive as possible. The most common side effect is bruising at the site of the blood draw that resolves within a few days.

Nothing! Since you and you your pet are ‘volunteering’ to donate, we cover all costs.

Dogs: We look for dogs with good temperaments that are happy and comfortable in new environments (especially hospitals). Dogs must be between the ages of 1-7 years old and weigh more than 50 pounds. They must also be healthy, up-to-date on vaccines, and have no history of major disease.

Cats: We prefer cats that are somewhat comfortable with the process of coming to the hospital, which can be a challenge! Cats must be between the ages of 1-7 years old and must weigh more than 10 pounds. They must also be healthy, up-to-date on vaccines, and have no history of major disease.

Yes, but their typing systems are different from human blood typing!

Cats have two major blood types (A and B) and a rare blood type (AB). Up to 90-95% of all cats in the United States are Type A. Cats can only receive blood transfusions of their own blood type, so we carefully screen the blood of the donor and the recipient to avoid any complications.

Dogs have at least 6 different blood types known as Dog Erythrocyte Antigens (DEA). At Red Bank Veterinary Hospital, we blood type all of our blood donor and blood recipients to ensure the best match. More advanced blood testing, called cross matching, can be utilized for dogs and cats that have had transfusions in the past.

There are many different reasons why a pet may need a lifesaving blood transfusion and you and your pet can seek treatment at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital for all of them.

These reasons can be categorized into 3 general causes of anemia (low red blood cell count).

1. Major blood loss or bleeding may necessitate a blood transfusion. This may be caused by trauma (a fall, getting hit by a car), surgery, or other major illness such as cancer.
2. Destruction of red blood cells at the microscopic level may be caused by diseases such as infections, toxins (penny ingestion), immune system malfunctions (i.e. immune mediated hemolytic anemia, or IMHA), or cancers.
3. Decreased production of red blood cells can be caused by bone marrow disease. This may include infections, cancers, toxins (certain medications), or cancers.

Just like in people, the size of “a unit” of blood is based on well-established standards for safe donation amounts based on your pet’s individual weight.

As the situation around COVID-19 continues to evolve, we have taken measures to reduce potential exposure to our clients, patients, and team members. The below outlines what you can expect when visiting our hospital:

• Please give us a call at (908) 359-3161 when you arrive and a member of our team will come out and greet you at your car
• Once your pet is inside, the doctor will call you to discuss their exam and answer any questions you may have
• After your pet’s exam, a member of our team will return your pet to you at your vehicle, answer any last-minute questions, and finalize all paperwork and payment

When interacting with our staff, we ask that you please wear a mask at all times and maintain a social distance of 6 feet.

If you are feeling ill or have recently traveled and your pet needs medical attention, if possible, please try to arrange for another person to bring your pet to the hospital.

We thank you in advance for your patience and understanding as we continue to navigate these challenging times and keep everyone safe and healthy!

As of June 1, 2021, we will be inviting clients with scheduled appointments to escort their pets into the building.

• We ask that you follow all posted guidelines within the hospital.  We are following CDC guidelines and ask that unvaccinated individuals wear a mask inside the hospital.  Masks are optional for vaccinated individuals.
• Please give us a call at (908) 359-3161 when you arrive to check-in. Once checked-in, a member of our team will then meet you in the lobby to escort you to an exam room.
• If the exam rooms are occupied, we may ask you to wait in the waiting room until an exam room is free. However, the general waiting room capacity is limited to 6 clients and the cat waiting room capacity is limited to 1 client.
• If we reach max capacity, we will ask you to remain or return to your car and we will call you once we have an exam room available

ER will remain curbside until further notice.

• Please give us a call at (908) 359-3161 when you arrive and a member of our team will come out and greet you at your car
• Once your pet is inside, the doctor will call you to discuss their exam and answer any questions you may have
• After your pet’s exam, a member of our team will return your pet to you at your vehicle, answer any last-minute questions, and finalize all paperwork and payment

• If your pet is experiencing an emergency and you are able, please call ahead at (856) 429-4394 and select OPTION 1
• If you are entering through our emergency room, please park in the FRONT of the hospital in a numbered spot
• If you are bringing your pet to see one of our specialists, please park on the LEFT of the building in a numbered spot
• If you are bringing your pet in for euthanasia, please park on the LEFT of the building in spots 5-7. A team member will meet you at our comfort room door and escort you and your pet inside
• Please call the front desk (856) 429-4394 to let us know which spot you are located in and a technician will meet you at your car
• Please remain in your car, or at one of our shaded benches until you have spoken with a doctor regarding your pet’s status
• Use of the restrooms within the hospital is allowed, but please call (856) 429-4394 and speak with a team member prior to entering the building
• If you do enter the building, we ask that you follow all posted guidelines within the hospital. We are following CDC guidelines and ask that unvaccinated individuals wear a mask inside the hospital. Masks are optional for vaccinated individuals.
• If your pet is being admitted into the hospital, do not leave until all admission forms have been completed

Still not sure what to do? Check out this tutorial video from our Hospital Director:

• If you are a new client, we ask that you please complete this “New Patient” form prior to your pet’s appointment.
• For appointments, admits, discharges and pharmacy pick up, upon arrival please check-in to let us know you’re here using the link below:
  • Link to Check-In: https://www.redbankvet.com/rbvh-in-tinton-falls-curbside-check-in/
    • Click here to download our helpful handout to learn more about how to use our QR code/url check-in method
  • Find an Attendant: On most days, we have parking lot attendants walking around and available to help you check-in if needed.
• Once you are checked-in, a staff member will call you and gather any necessary information over the phone to prepare for your pet’s visit.
• We will then greet you at your car and bring your pet into the hospital for their visit. After we perform our exam, we will call you to discuss findings and answer your questions.
• Following the exam, you will be contacted by one of our team members regarding next steps for any outstanding paperwork and collecting payment. One of our clinical staff members will return your pet to you at your car.

Additional Information & Resources:

• Airvet Telehealth App Information (currently offered at our Hillsborough and Tinton Falls locations)
• About the hydro-peroxide misters at our Tinton Falls location
• COVID-19 and Your Pet Ferret – Download our handout here

The whole team is welcome to experience our new space and meet some of the specialists that provide care to your patients.

CONTINUE READING

Your cat’s follow-up exam should take place about 4 to 6 weeks after treatment. During this time, blood work will be performed to evaluate the thyroid level and renal values. You should see the symptoms of hyperthyroidism start to diminish before your recheck appointment.

For your protection, owner visitation is not allowed. Your cat will be hospitalized in a protected area of the hospital, specifically designed for I-I31 feline patients. We assure you that your pet will have multiple staff visits throughout the day by our certified I-131 technicians and veterinarians and will be given plenty of attention. You may also bring a disposable, small toy for your cat to play with during their hospitalization. Due to potential contamination, the toy will be properly disposed of by our hospital staff at the end of your cat’s stay with us.

Cats receiving I-131 are hospitalized in a protected area so their radioactive levels can be closely monitored. Since they are receiving a radioactive treatment, cats are unable to receive any elective procedures during their hospital stay.

The dose of I-131 used for feline hyperthyroidism is very small. People and other animals in the household are at a very low risk from radiation. Cats will not be discharged until they reach an acceptable low level of radioactivity. However, there will be a low level of radioactivity for approximately 80 days post treatment. We will give you a list of guidelines upon your cat’s discharge from the hospital to help minimize your family’s exposure. These guidelines include not sleeping with your cat, washing your hands after touching your pet, and wearing plastic gloves when changing the litter. Since radioactive iodine is excreted in the cat’s urine, waste from your cat’s litter box should be bagged separately from the normal household trash for approximately two weeks after your pet’s discharge from the hospital. After this time period, the litter can be disposed of with the regular household trash if you choose. Pregnant women and children under the age of 18 should not be in contact with the family cat during this period.

Screening for other non thyroid-related diseases (i.e., renal and heart disease) is important prior to beginning I-131 therapy. Blood work, including a complete blood count, chemistry, and thyroid levels, should be performed within a month of treatment. Radiographs (X-rays) of the chest should also be done to evaluate the heart and lungs. Cardiac evaluation with an echocardiogram is also recommended. If all screening tests are normal, then your cat is a suitable candidate for I-131 therapy. In preparation for treatment, your cat will need to stop taking tapazole for 10–14 days beforehand.

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