On 25-8-2025, the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (‘DAHD’) announced the release of the Guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (‘SOPs’) for Blood Transfusion and Blood Banks for Animals in India. In a landmark move for veterinary healthcare, this initiative aims to revolutionize emergency animal care nationwide by establishing a structured, ethical, and scientifically sound framework for animal blood transfusion.
Background:
India’s livestock and companion animal sectors are among the largest and most diverse in the world, comprising over 537 million livestock and more than 125 million companion animals. Together, the sector contributes 5.5% to the national GDP and over 30% to agricultural GDP, serving as a cornerstone for food security, rural livelihoods and public health.
Blood transfusion, recognized as a life-saving intervention, is increasingly in demand for treating animals across species only in emergencies. However, India previously lacked a comprehensive national framework for veterinary transfusion medicine. Most transfusions were conducted without standardized protocols for donor screening, blood typing, or storage.
Recognizing this gap, the Veterinary Council of India (‘VCI’) formally requested DAHD on 26-6-2025, to formulate uniform procedures for donor selection, blood collection, storage, and transfusion. A draft was prepared based on SOPs issued by TANUVAS University, and subsequently reviewed by key stakeholders including:
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Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (‘CDSCO’)
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Veterinary universities and colleges
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Indian Council of Agricultural Research (‘ICAR’)
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State Animal Husbandry Departments
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Animal Welfare Board of India (‘AWBI’)
The newly released guidelines lay down comprehensive procedures for:
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Donor selection and eligibility
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Blood collection and component processing
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Storage, transfusion, and monitoring
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Safety safeguards and adverse reaction reporting
Key Highlights of the Guidelines/SOPs for Animal Blood Transfusion:
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The Guidelines for Animal Blood Transfusion is framed in accordance with:
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This Guideline/SOPs are applicable to veterinary blood transfusion of the following:
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companion animals (dogs, cats)
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farm animals (cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats and horses)
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This robust and evidence-based national guideline aims to achieve the following:
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Establish national guidelines for donor selection, blood collection, processing, storage, and transfusion.
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Ensure donor animal welfare and adherence to ethical standards.
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Standardize transfusion protocols to optimize clinical outcomes.
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Ensure traceability and safety across the transfusion chain.
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Integrate One Health principles to manage zoonotic disease risks.
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Lay the foundation for a national blood bank network for animals.
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Promote awareness and impart training among veterinary professionals.
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The DAHD advises that transfusions will be conducted under the supervision of a veterinary with species-appropriate protocols to ensure safety, efficacy, and traceability.
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The animals will also be under Close Monitoring during/after the transfusion to assess effectiveness and identify any early adverse reactions.
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Veterinary Blook Bank will be state-registered, with national oversight, and constructed with appropriate infrastructure, personnel, and regulatory oversight to ensure biosafety, traceability, and clinical effectiveness.
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Institutions operating veterinary blood banks will maintain the following records:
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Donor registration and informed consent forms
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Donor health screening and testing records
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Blood collection and labelling forms
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Component processing logs
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Inventory, storage, and expiry tracking
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Transfusion monitoring and reaction management forms Guidelines/SOP for Blood Transfusion & Blood Bank for Animals in India 18
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Post-transfusion outcome assessments
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Waste disposal and biosafety logs
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These Guidelines mark a transformative step for veterinary care offering:
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life-saving transfusion support for animals,
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structured protocols for clinicians,
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healthier livestock for farmers,
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stronger food security for society.
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The Guidelines also encourage forward-looking innovations such as:
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Mobile blood collection units
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Cryopreservation for rare blood types
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Mobile apps for donor-recipient matching
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Advanced transfusion research and technology adoption
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This framework is advisory and non-statutory, designed to evolve with emerging scientific evidence, field experiences, and stakeholder feedback while upholding the highest standards of animal welfare, biosafety, and public trust.
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