Veterinary Blood Transfusion Volume Calculator

How much donor blood to raise PCV. Not a drip-rate tool and not a canine shock-index clone.

Formula

Volume (mL) = BW × blood volume × (PCV_target − PCV_patient) / PCV_donor

Default blood volume: 90 mL/kg dog, 60 mL/kg cat.

Rule of thumb (dogs, pRBC): about 2 mL/kg raises PCV by 1%.
Shown as a check, not a replacement for the mass-balance formula.

References

1. DiBartola SP, ed. Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Disorders in Small Animal Practice. Blood volume and transfusion volume formula.
2. Wellman ML, DiBartola SP, Kohn CW. Applied physiology of body fluids in dogs and cats. In: DiBartola. Circulating blood volume ~90 mL/kg dog, ~60 mL/kg cat.
3. Davidow EB, et al. Association of Veterinary Hematology and Transfusion Medicine transfusion consensus. pRBC 2 mL/kg ≈ 1% PCV in dogs as a teaching rule of thumb.

Veterinary education only. Not a prescription. Confirm doses and volumes with the attending clinician and current formularies before use.