Do animals have specific blood types and Rh factors?
Yes, animals do have blood types. Canine blood groups were first described in 1910 following Landsteiner’s discovery of the human ABO system in 1900. Cats and other animals have blood-group antigens also. The protein structures of these antigens are different from those found in humans, so you could not use the blood of a dog or cat to transfuse humans. However, veterinarians need to be aware of blood compatibility when transfusing animals just as physicians are aware when transfusing blood into humans. Rh is specifically a human blood group that is not found in other animals. 4. Are there differences in how the various blood types respond to various illnesses or diseases or differences in immune systems? Answer: Not really. Although some immune diseases are more common in patients with particular blood types, this is not a common finding. 5. Every so often my wife becomes anemic because of past chemo treatments of Taxol — she is currently on Femara. When that happens the doctor gives
