As a veterinary student, you will likely learn about canine and feline blood types and crossmatching in extensive detail. Sometimes it can be a challenge, however, to distill this extensive knowledge down to the practical knowledge necessary to perform a blood transfusion.
In general practice, the most important transfusion topics to comprehend are blood types and crossmatching. With an understanding of these topics, you can easily read and follow published step-by-step instructions on infusion volumes, infusion rates, and the other practical details of how to administer a blood transfusion. Without an understanding of blood types and crossmatching, however, even simplified step-by-step instructions may be inadequate to ensure a successful transfusion.
