Rotweiller saves the life of a badly injured wolf by donating blood after its wild cousin had been run over by a car.
The maned wolf was delivered close to death to the UniFil Veterinary Hospital in Londrina, Brazil, after it was rescued from the side of a highway at the end of June.
According to UniFil, the wolf was found to have a ruptured bladder, multiple fractures in the pelvis, a broken leg, and all its toes crushed.
Medics needed to perform urgent surgery on the 27-kilo (59-lb) adult male wolf but despite the surgery being a success they diagnosed anaemia and needed a doggy donor.
Although maned wolves and domestic dogs are not closely related they are near enough for the wolf to tolerate a transfusion, reported local media.
Wildlife specialist and hospital coordinator Daniela Martina said: “He was practically dead.
“The anaesthetist couldn’t get his blood pressure, so the team tried to perform the surgery quickly.”
Video footage shows the maned wolf recovering after the op and transfusion as a medic’s hand feeds it in its recovery enclosure.
For traditional transfusions between dogs, the hospital has 40 large dogs registered as donors.
All need to be between two and eight years old, weigh at least 26 kilos (57 lbs), and have their vaccinations up to date.
Each animal can donate blood a maximum of four times a year, which means once every three months, similar to humans.
To ensure there is no contamination of the blood, the laboratory team uses the same bags used in human blood collection.
Martina said: “Ideally, it should be species to species, but here we don’t have maned wolves, nor do we have them in nearby regions.”
She added: “Although the dog and the maned wolf are from the same family, they belong to different genera.
“Fortunately, there was enough compatibility.”
After undergoing a second op, the maned wolf received half a litre of blood from the dog and it now is said to be slowly recovering.
Martina continued: “There are studies and some procedures involving blood transfusions between different genera.
“In the urgent situation we faced, we decided to use the dog’s blood for the maned wolf, and it worked.
“This case provides another opportunity for scientific analysis in the pursuit of advancements, especially since we saved the animal.”
In three months, the maned wolf may be able to return to the wild.
Martina added: “The donor dog is a true hero. He cooperated and was docile during the transfusion.
“We joke that they have a special connection, one received blood from the other, especially since everything was done in an emergency.
“They are special.”
Known for its fox-like appearance, the maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) is a large canine that is neither wolf nor fox, but has characteristics of both.
It is found across the South American savanna and is classified as near-threatened due to habitat loss and fragmentation.
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Story By: Simona Kitanovska, Sub-Editor: Simona Kitanovska, Agency: Newsflash
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