When a dog in Mumbai needs blood, the hospital treating them is your first call. Blood has to be typed or cross-matched and the donor has to be screened, so a bag or a dog offered by a kind stranger is only useful once a veterinary team says it is safe for this patient.

Three places in the Mumbai region offer a transfusion service or sign up donor dogs. None of them says it keeps blood in stock, so a transfusion here usually starts with finding a donor dog that day. That is why a large, healthy, calm dog on a donor list matters so much to other owners.

If your dog needs blood now

Ask the hospital four questions, then look for a donor that fits what the vet asked for.

Call the hospital treating your dog and ask:

  1. Does my dog need whole blood, packed red cells or plasma?
  2. Have you typed or cross-matched my dog, and what kind of donor are you looking for?
  3. Do you have blood or registered donors available now?
  4. If not, which Mumbai hospital should I call next?

Once the vet gives you the criteria, ask your building group, your dog-walking friends and local dog groups for a donor that fits them.

Keep the hospital as the meeting point. Don't arrange a private collection, don't move blood between homes, and don't post your home address or your dog's medical records in public groups.

Who to call in Mumbai

Two hospitals open round the clock, in Mahalakshmi and Khar, and a donor register in Vasai.

  • Tata Trusts Small Animal Hospital in Mahalakshmi runs a blood transfusion service with blood typing and compatibility testing, for emergencies and surgery. It is open 24 hours.
  • SUPERPETS in Khar West takes donor sign-ups through a pet blood donation form on its website. It lists round-the-clock hours.
  • The Progressive Pet Clinic in Vasai West registers donor dogs and keeps an emergency donor call list. It is open 10 am to 8 pm, so it is not a night option.

Being on this list doesn't mean blood is in stock today. Other hospitals may transfuse too, so ask the one treating your dog. Addresses are on our Mumbai blood services page.

Why dogs need blood

India's national blood-bank guidelines list the main reasons: severe anaemia, very low platelets, clotting disorders, serious injury with heavy bleeding, and anaemic dogs who need surgery. Tick fever is one way a dog gets there, because the Babesia parasite destroys red blood cells. Our tick fever guide explains the signs.

Could your dog donate?

A healthy, calm, vaccinated dog between one and eight years old. Mumbai's one published donor register asks for 30 kg or more.

India's Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying published an advisory blood-bank SOP in August 2025. It says a canine donor should be:

The SOP sets minimum weights by breed size: 5 to 7 kg for small breeds, 15 to 20 kg for medium breeds and 25 kg for large breeds. A clinic can ask for more. The Progressive Pet Clinic wants a dog of 30 kg or more, under eight years old, with no recent tick fever or long-term illness. The hospital's transfusion vet decides, so don't rule your dog in or out from a forwarded message.

To sign up, fill in the donor form on SUPERPETS' website or the Progressive Pet Clinic's. Have your dog's age, weight and vaccination record to hand.

What happens at the hospital

A health check and blood tests first, then a collection from the neck, then one to two hours of rest.

  1. The hospital examines your dog, reviews their medical history and takes screening samples. The SOP requires a negative test for blood parasites such as Babesia and Ehrlichia.
  2. You give written consent.
  3. If your dog is eligible and compatible, staff collect blood from the jugular vein in the neck into a measured bag. The SOP's guide is 15 to 20 ml per kg, and the veterinary team chooses the amount for your dog.
  4. Your dog is watched for one to two hours, then given fluids, light food and rest.

Your dog gets something back. The Progressive Pet Clinic gives every donor a free health check before each donation. Ask any other hospital what it offers, what to watch for at home, and when your dog can exercise again.

Common questions

Quick answers to what people ask most.

Is there a dog blood bank in Mumbai?

Not a walk-in one. Tata Trusts Small Animal Hospital in Mahalakshmi transfuses blood, and SUPERPETS in Khar West and the Progressive Pet Clinic in Vasai West sign up donor dogs. All three need a call first.

Can an Indie donate blood?

Yes. Breed isn't the deciding factor. Health, size, age, temperament, screening and compatibility are.

How often can a dog donate?

The SOP allows a dog to donate every four to six weeks, and never less than 30 days apart. That is a ceiling, not a schedule, and many programmes call a donor far less often.

Is there a universal dog donor?

Not in the way people mean it. A dog that tests DEA 1.1 negative is particularly useful, but the SOP still requires typing and cross-matching before a transfusion.

Should a donor be paid?

No. The SOP says donation must be voluntary and unpaid. A programme may offer a health check instead.