A shortage of regulations over standard prices for animal blood transfusions, as well as no established archive data for pets’ blood banks has led to outrageous prices for animal blood, the Consumers’ Foundation said.
According to the foundation, a pet owner in New Taipei City’s Sinjhuang District (新莊) who brought a puppy to a veterinarian to be treated said that the animal would need a transfusion.
The owner said the clinic quoted NT$7,000 for every 100cm3 of blood, according to the foundation.
A shortage of blood banks makes transfusions difficult, as vets have to find a healthy supply to match an animal needing blood, the foundation said, adding that as transfusions are rare, vets are not likely to have dogs available in situations where they are required to give blood.
Without knowing blood types, transfusions can cause hemolytic reactions, which can be fatal to cats and dogs, the foundation said.
There are approximately eight canine blood types and the process of ascertaining which type is needed is the predominant reason for the high costs of transfusions, National Taiwan University professor Fei Chang-yung (費昌勇) said.
However, with increasing attention being paid to pets, the National Health Insurance (NHI) might consider including animals in insurance policies, Fei said.
The foundation called on the Council of Agriculture to establish industry regulations.
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