Canine Blood Transfusion Calculator

Works out the whole blood volume needed to raise a recipient's PCV to a target level, based on donor PCV, recipient PCV and recipient weight.

Transfusion Volume

Standard formula: (Desired PCV − Recipient PCV) ÷ Donor PCV × Blood Volume Constant × Recipient Weight.

Donor Safety Check (optional)

Enter the donor's weight to check the calculated volume against a safe donation limit for that dog.

About This Calculation

The formula

Transfusion volume (mL) = [(Desired PCV − Recipient PCV) ÷ Donor PCV] × Blood Volume Constant (mL/kg) × Recipient Weight (kg). This is the standard approach referenced across veterinary transfusion medicine sources for estimating whole blood volume from PCV values.

The blood volume constant is a working estimate, not a fixed fact

Canine total blood volume is commonly cited in the 80–90 mL/kg range depending on the source. The field above defaults to 90 (the most commonly cited single figure) but is fully editable to match whatever reference or hospital protocol is in use.

Donor safety limit

Commonly cited guidance allows up to 15% of a donor's total blood volume to be collected without replacement fluid therapy, or up to 20% if replacement fluids are given after donation. This calculator flags the 15% threshold as the conservative default reference point.

A calculation aid, not a clinical protocol. This tool performs the arithmetic only. Whether a transfusion is indicated, the appropriate target PCV for a given condition, donor suitability and screening, blood typing and cross-matching, and the transfusion rate and monitoring plan all remain clinical decisions for the attending veterinarian.