GSD owner seeks new kidney for dog

I don't want to get into ethic's really, because generally each persons values and life style choices are completely different from the next. BUT to say "Just keep healthy Donor dog instead" to some people would me like me saying well...I know your grandfather is sick...Let him die and I will give you mine. Because the Donor dog is Not the dog they love. imo

OH-ok you were right Sara, I did mis-read that. The second link explains much better on exactly what they need....First thing that popped my my head is 2K I got five dogs lets test em!!!! j/k lol

Well, aside from the ridiculous money involved with this procedure (as noted in the link), what are the chances of success realistically? Dogs have over 13 different blood groups with 8 DEA types, which is way more complex matching than a cat or human. A sibling would be the best chance, but I see it as slim and desperate. If all the planets and stars were aligned so to speak, I really don't see a problem with performing the procedure, though.

It is tricky thing...not like cat kidney transplant(that is generally a win for the shelter rescue donor that loses a kidney but gains a home rather than be euthananized with fairly minimal risk with the loss of it's kidney & good percent of recipent cats do well for prolonged period of time). Dogs do not have same donor pool & success rate is lower. So must be, for best chance of acceptance a closely related dog who in most cases is owned & loved dog. So do you put your pet at risk to save another's??? with only ~ 40% chance for success for the other person's pet? It is personal choice. Personally, I would, if the the needy dog had such dedicated owners as these folks are. My reasoning is would I want same help if my dog was one needing transplant...yep, I would. Does my dog get a choice, no. They didn't get one when I altered them, when they serve as blood donors, when I make other choices for them from diet to vacinations. Would this choice be best for them, no, somewhere down the road that missing kidney might shorten their life. But if I was asked for donation of marrow or a kidney to help another person, I'm there. My dogs have me as an owner they get my choice, & I'd like to consider (however stupid) they are of like mind. Help our fellow beings. Could I regret it ,sure, but would I know why/how I made the choice...and would be good with it. No clear answer just personal one. Mine, would I want someone to step up if it was my beloved pet, I would, so in all fairness must do what I would hope for.

I think the only bad thing about owning a dogs, is letting them go. The longer I'm involved with dogs the more I understand it's not about lenght of life, it's about the quality. Hitting 50 and losing several friends, I understand that this goes for us humans to. I can't put my value on this on anyone else. I certianly understand the emotional stresss of it all having put down 4 dogs in 5 years due to age or health reasons. I would never go to such extreme lenghts to cheat death for a few years for any of my dogs.

The problem is you don't know how much time you gain or do not gain any...a few years to a dog is a long time or you can defy odds & gain alot, rare but happens. It is hard personal choice...to each thier own. I'd give it a shot for 3 yr old dog. You can always euthanize if things go wrong, but once you euthanize, no more choices,just a ton of $. It is such personal thing..no right or wrong. You do what you can live with.

I think it all gets down to who one is going to extreme measures for. Is it REALLY for the dog? Or, is it for the owner's selfish needs? Refusal to accept death as the natural conclussion of life is a very common in western culture.

[quote1263396353=Platz] I think it all gets down to who one is going to extreme measures for. Is it REALLY for the dog? Or, is it for the owner's selfish needs? Refusal to accept death as the natural conclusion of life is a very common in western culture. [/quote1263396353] I feel this needs reiteration, well put Frank.