• Question: Can an animal have organ transplants ???

    Asked by joyburgess to Charlotte, Jo, Kevin, Louise, Valeria on 15 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: Kevin Mahon

      Kevin Mahon answered on 15 Jun 2012:

      They sure can, vets do it all the time!

    • Photo: Joanna Cruden

      Joanna Cruden answered on 17 Jun 2012:

      The first transplants in the early 1900’s were carried out on animals before they moved to humans.

      Organ transplants for pets (mainly cats and dogs) have happened since the early 1980’s however remember that humans have to carry donor cards to say we are happy for our organs to be donated after we die (I have one) whereas the donor animal will not have a choice so there is an ethical discussion for animal transplants as a donor still has to be found.

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