You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet.

Organ transplantation is a routine, life-saving procedure in human medicine, and it is being performed on a regular basis in veterinary patients in North America and Australia - and yet the Council of the British Veterinary Association has so far been unable to agree guidelines for it's members in the UK.

The importance of organ transplantation in the treatment of many diseases is undeniable, particularly life-threatening disorders in which major organ function fails totally such as kidney failure, heart failure or liver failure. 

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) Ethics Committee is reported not to be against the technical procedure of organ transplantation itself - but the ethics of removing an organ from a donor animal is the point that is causing so much concern and debate within the BVA Council. 

At their latest meeting held on July 5th the BVA Council rejected a paper from their Ethics Committee on the subject, and the matter has been referred back to the Officers and Ethics Committee for further discussion..

Provet would be interested in hearing your views on this subject. Send your comments by email to feedback@provet.co.uk 

Thank YOU .

Updated October 2013