Sep 4, 2008 10:25 am US/Pacific
Ailing Dog To Get Transplant At Pa. University
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) ―
Surgeons at the University of Pennsylvania are gearing up to perform a kidney transplant that is anything but routine as the recipient walks on four legs, reports CBS station KYW-TV in Philadelphia.
The University of Pennsylvania is the only location on the east coast, and one of the few in the country, that can perform the extremely rare procedure.
Zanzi, a boxer terrier from Tampa, Florida suffering from a diseased kidney flew in to Philadelphia in order to undergo surgery at Penn Veterinary Hospital Thursday morning.
The ailing terrier and the donor, her 14-month-old twin sister, will be in the hands of primary surgeon Dr. Heidi Phillips. It is only the second time the surgery has been performed at the facility.
"We're only able to do dogs that are related to each other. We need a related donor in order to give a kidney to the recipient in order to minimize the amount of side effects," said primary surgeon Dr. Heidi Phillips.
Owner Jennifer O'Brien is spending over $10,000 to save the life of her beloved pet.
"I find it well worth it. No matter what happens, it's important to try, especially when your dog has a potential for a good outcome," she said.
O'Brien and doctors are optimistic of the outcome. If all goes well and the transplanted kidney is not rejected, both dogs and their owner could be back in Florida next week.
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