Blood Collection from the External Jugular Vein in Dogs

Abstract

The blood samples from the cephalic vein and the external jugular vein were compared hematologically and serum biochemically in 22 beagle dogs. No significant differences (p<0.05) between these two venous blood were observed in most of the items determined except MCV (mean corpuscular volume) and serum glucose level. The time required to collect 12 ml of blood was less than 30 seconds from the external jugular vein while two to eight minutes from the cephalic vein. From the result of this study the external jugular vein is shown more suitable region for collecting much volume of blood samples than the cephalic vein in dogs.