 |
| Penn’s Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital has been performing feline kidney transplants since 1998 and recently completed its 100th procedure. |
University of Pennsylvania’s Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital recently performed its 100th feline kidney transplant as part of its Penn Vet Feline Renal Transplant Program that began in 1998. Gordy, an 8-year-old black cat owned by Marion Dubbs of Baltimore, was the recipient.
The donor cat, a 1-year-old named Jack, is originally from a shelter in York County. As a requirement of the program, Jack will go home with Gordy. Thus, in addition to saving Gordy’s life, the program paired a homeless cat with a new family. Donor cats are able to function normally with just one kidney, similar to human kidney donors.
The six-hour surgery was performed by Lillian Aronson, VMD, an associate professor of small animal surgery at the hospital, and her surgical team. The facility is the only teaching veterinary hospital on the East Coast that performs these transplants.
“There is no cure for kidney failure in humans or cats,” Dr. Aronson explained. “It can be managed, but when therapies are ineffective, transplantation is an option for cats here at the Ryan Veterinary Hospital.”
Survival rates for recipient cats are close to four years, and some cats live up to eight years or longer following surgery. Gordy will be monitored closely and will continue to receive checkups for rest of his life; Jack will only need minimal follow-up care.