As veterinary care has advanced, blood transfusions for pets have become more routine. So it’s no surprise that the supply of veterinary blood products has been waning. The pandemic has exacerbated the problem as fewer pet parents have brought their animals in to donate blood.

A few commercial blood banks at the national level still supply up to 40% of blood products. These companies maintain closed colonies of dogs and cats to donate blood. But the trend has been shifting to volunteer — or community-based — blood banks where owners bring their pets in to give blood, usually in exchange for a practice-based incentive.

There is no national blood donation program for animals as there is for people, but some veterinarians think the time has come for change. That may be what it takes to solve the supply problem.