Ethical question on animal organ donations.
No
I could not live with the thought that another animal was sacrificed for mine. The kidney think is ok, with the person caring for the donor for life. It is something to think about ethical questions like these regarding animals.
In humans, part of the liver can be taken from an adult and given to a child, The person that donates, lives fine with part of the liver missing, and the part that is transplanted into the child, I believe, grows as the child grows. I'm not sure if this can be done adult-to-adult. Is something like that possible with canines or felines?
"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself." ~ Josh Billings.
As in "partial" liver? I don't think so. For one, the risk of hemmorhage is too great. Certain sections can be removed due to diseased state, but transplanting tissues or partials, would be extremely difficult in a pet.
But, for all I know, it might be under experimentation in a lab as we speak. I do like the idea of transplanting healthy cells though, this would seem much less invasive and less risky, if it were proven to work.
But, for all I know, it might be under experimentation in a lab as we speak. I do like the idea of transplanting healthy cells though, this would seem much less invasive and less risky, if it were proven to work.
..........Traci
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Amandasmom
- Posts: 643
- Joined: Fri Apr 25, 2003 5:04 am
- Location: Massachusetts
I do have a limit
I do have a limit on what I would do for my pets. I didn't think I did until I read of a women who spent $25,000.00 on chemo and other cancer treatment for her dog. I don't think I could do that. Skeptic brings up a good question, if the dog was going to be euthanized anyway, would you still take an organ? We are doing research on injecting cells into the heart to repair damage from a heart attack. If it works on humans, maybe I'll try it on my dog. 