Cat/Dog Organ transplant
Discussion
Yep, I agree about what an animal goes through, but it does seem to me that an awful lot of cats get renal failure yet if a cat with healthy kidneys dies then it makes sense to me to try and harvest them and risk it - I mean, at end stage renal failure, I would think it's worth a shot.
I don't mean take them from healthy cats though, not even one kidney, I mean say a cat is run over or gets cancer or something whereby the kidneys are left healthy, then remove them............
It seems tragic that animals could be saved by this and I can't undestand why this hasn't already been started in the UK for dogs and cats.
I don't mean take them from healthy cats though, not even one kidney, I mean say a cat is run over or gets cancer or something whereby the kidneys are left healthy, then remove them............
It seems tragic that animals could be saved by this and I can't undestand why this hasn't already been started in the UK for dogs and cats.
Unfortunately few animals die naturally, most are are given drugs to kill them, thus organs would be useless. It would be wrong to let an animal die naturally from eg cancer just to salvage a kidney, when we have the ability to prevent the suffering to that animal.
A cat that is run over and killed would only have viable organs if it died at the vets and then that vets would have to keep the cat on 'life support' until the needed organ could be removed and stored appropriately. Not a practical option in most veterinary practices.
I'm sure you can start to see the obstacles to this idea.
I should add, I'm not against the idea completely but I feel we'd have to be very careful to ensure the well being of potential donor pets is remembered, it is a complicated topic.
A cat that is run over and killed would only have viable organs if it died at the vets and then that vets would have to keep the cat on 'life support' until the needed organ could be removed and stored appropriately. Not a practical option in most veterinary practices.
I'm sure you can start to see the obstacles to this idea.
I should add, I'm not against the idea completely but I feel we'd have to be very careful to ensure the well being of potential donor pets is remembered, it is a complicated topic.
Edited by bexVN on Thursday 6th January 21:03
What I was thinking more is that before being PTS the cat could be sedated for surgery, then the organs removed, then the final injection given. Not sure how practical it is though. I was thinking mainly of animals in rescue centres which are PTS when really they are healthy. Not right nor fair but I was thinking of the waste of life which occurs.
Yes run over I was thinking more of dogs, I was of the impression that rather more of them make it to the vets.
Just really a layman trying to come up with an answer, after all, if they are proceeding in the states there must be methods to undertaking this procedure.
Yes run over I was thinking more of dogs, I was of the impression that rather more of them make it to the vets.
Just really a layman trying to come up with an answer, after all, if they are proceeding in the states there must be methods to undertaking this procedure.
Jasandjules said:
I was thinking mainly of animals in rescue centres which are PTS when really they are healthy. Not right nor fair but I was thinking of the waste of life which occurs.
As I undestand the situation in the US, the donor cats tend to be from research centres, and you have to adopt the donor after the procedure - the healthy animal isn't 'sacrificed' for the ill one if you see what I mean. Don't forget, transplantation is not a final step - life long immunosuppressants, and the increased risk of infection and malignancy that they bring, are needed. Current Royal College Of Veterinary Surgeons guidance is that renal transplantation from one living cat to another is ethically acceptable, but there are strict requirements
http://www.rcvs.org.uk/Templates/Internal.asp?Node...
Looking at that, I think any other transplants are not considered ethically acceptable. I was suprised the RCVS had given approval for transplants using living donors - it's very likely to shorten the donor cat's lifespan, and there's obviously no way for the cat to give consent, unlikely in human organ donation. To my knowledge, I don't think this procedure has been carried out in the UK.
http://www.rcvs.org.uk/Templates/Internal.asp?Node...
Looking at that, I think any other transplants are not considered ethically acceptable. I was suprised the RCVS had given approval for transplants using living donors - it's very likely to shorten the donor cat's lifespan, and there's obviously no way for the cat to give consent, unlikely in human organ donation. To my knowledge, I don't think this procedure has been carried out in the UK.
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