Getting to Know You with Pamela Longworth, a Registered Veterinary Technician at OVC

When cat and dog patients at Ontario Veterinary College (OVC)’s Health Science Centre (HSC) receive lifesaving blood transfusions, it’s thanks to a renewable stock of blood products through OVC’s blood donor program. The program has a roster of approximately 30 cats and 70 dogs, all coordinated to make regular donations. With their donations, OVC clinicians perform medical procedures, including upwards of 500 blood transfusions each year. One unit of cat blood can help up to two different cats, and one unit of dog blood can help up to four different dogs. Best Friends caught up with Pamela Longworth, a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) who has worked with the blood donor program for more than 15 years. For the past two years, she has coordinated the canine side of the blood donor program. She took some time to speak with us about the program, how she got here and the important role RVTs can play in veterinary medicine.

What do you do in your role as OVC’s blood donor coordinator?

I am responsible for stocking fresh, high quality blood products for our patients at the HSC, by collecting blood donations from screened donors and processing blood products in house. I make sure that we always have enough blood products available to our patients in need and routinely assess our hospital’s needs for canine and feline blood products and replenishing stock as required. 

As part of my role, I coordinate the appointments for our program, both for routine blood donations and screening appointments. After the dog or cat has donated blood, I process the blood to make products for our hospital. A few other responsibilities I have are to make sure patient records are up to date, used blood products are documented and equipment is maintained. Every day is different, and I’m lucky to work with so many great colleagues to help me with the donor program, including RVTs and Animal Care Attendants.  

What happens at a donation appointment?

We have appointments for our dog donors almost every day. Sometimes dogs get dropped off for their appointment, and sometimes their parents stay with them. We have a lot of happy, friendly dogs that will work for treats, which is important because we always want their experience of going to the vet to be a positive one.

Each appointment starts with a physical examination and blood test to make sure the dog is hydrated and healthy and to confirm it’s safe for them to donate blood. We use a freezing cream that takes time to set. Along with the help of mom or dad or another RVT or animal care attendant, the dogs are gently held on their side, to keep them still and comfortable with someone petting their head. The donation itself takes up to seven minutes.

Many families have been in our program for several years, and the dogs stay with us until they’re about seven. It’s always great to get to know them and to form a connection and a bond with their family. 

Why did you pursue a career as an RVT?

I grew up loving animals and I always wanted to work with them. In high school, I wanted to be an equine massage therapist. I wasn’t aware of RVTs until a good friend who was a year ahead of me in school decided to do it. It was the first time I heard of the veterinary technician program, and the next year I decided to enroll too. I work with that friend at OVC today!

I’m so glad I found it, because RVTs are resilient, hard-working people who have an opportunity to play a significant role in animal health care. OVC is wonderful at recognizing the value we provide.

RVTs wear so many hats, from nursing care to anesthesia, to dispensing and delivering medications. They can take radiographs, get lab samples, educate clients, and help with animal behaviour. Often, we are the link between clients and veterinarians. It’s a challenging and rewarding career that promotes personal and professional growth.

What do you love about your work? 

I get to spend the day with happy, friendly pets and people who donate their time to save the lives of other animals. The human-animal bond between owners and their pets is amazing. It’s rewarding to come into the waiting room to get the dogs, because to them, I am ‘the treat lady’ and they are really excited to see me.

I love my job because each day is different. I love figuring out what works for each dog and cat as an individual. A single approach doesn’t work for everyone. For a dog to trust me and cooperate with me while I take a unit of blood is truly special. 

Do you share your home with animals? 

I have a dog named Roxie, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever who is also a blood donor. We like to hike and spend time with family and friends.

How can pet owners get involved in the donor program? 

We are very lucky to have a waitlist for canine donors. Most people come to us by word of mouth because families in the community and OVC staff and students spread the word. Having said this, we are currently working through our waitlist to seek out more universal donors. We are especially looking for Doberman’s as they possess a rare and needed blood type.  

For canine donors, we look for large, friendly, healthy dogs between one and five years old, weighing more than 25 kilograms (55 pounds). Just like humans, dogs have different blood types. A negative is the universal blood type in canines. Some dogs that are typically A Negative are Cane Corso, Dogue de Bordeaux, Flat Coat Retrievers, Greyhounds, Irish Wolf Hounds, German Shepherds, Boxers and Mastiffs. Donor dogs have to be on a cooked or kibble diet, and we typically ask that they give blood every two to three months. 

As part of their participation in the program, OVC provides some complimentary services like yearly bloodwork, nail trims, heartworm testing and prevention, and they leave each donation appointment with a bag of food and treats.