🩺 Vet Guide 2025: Kidney Transplants in Cats and Dogs – Costs, Candidacy & Care 🐱🐶🧬

By Dr Duncan Houston, BVSc

🧠 What Is a Kidney Transplant for Pets?

Kidney transplantation is a major surgical procedure that replaces a failing kidney with a healthy one from a donor animal. It is most commonly performed in cats and is still considered experimental in dogs. The goal is to restore kidney function when other treatments have failed. 💉

🐱 Where Do Donor Kidneys Come From?

• 💊 Donors are often from research facilities and are free of infectious diseases
• 👩‍⚕️ Some centers allow client-provided donors who are young, healthy, and disease-free
• 🏠 After the procedure, the donor becomes your second adopted pet

👩‍⚕️ Is My Cat a Candidate?

The ideal feline transplant candidate:

• 🐾 Has no other major diseases
• 🧪 Has creatinine > 4.0 mg/dL and does not respond to conventional therapy
• 😺 Has a good appetite and stable energy pre-surgery

Typical screening includes:

• 🩺 Blood panel and urinalysis
• 💉 Blood pressure measurement
• 🧫 Urine culture and UPC ratio
• 🔬 Toxoplasmosis testing
• 🧠 Heart ultrasound
• 🦷 Dental exam and cleaning

Each transplant center may require additional testing such as biopsies or medication trials.

🐶 What About Dogs?

Dog transplants are less successful and less commonly performed. Candidates must be:

• 🩸 Free of heart, liver, and adrenal disease
• 🧪 Negative for cancer, IBD, amyloidosis, and systemic infection
• 💉 Heartworm negative and have blood clotting tests completed

Donors are usually the same breed and size and must be supplied by the owner.

💊 What Is Post-Surgery Care Like?

Recipient pets need lifelong immunosuppressive medication to prevent organ rejection. For cats, this typically includes:

• 💊 Cyclosporine (given 2x daily)
• 💊 Prednisolone (initially, tapered down)

Additional Notes:

• 🧪 Blood tests every few weeks to monitor medication levels
• ⚠️ High risk for infection, cancer (esp. lymphoma), and medication side effects
• 💰 Medication costs can range from $150–$2000/month depending on pet size

🧬 Complications to Watch For

• 🦠 Infection due to immunosuppression
• 🧠 Toxoplasmosis reactivation
• 💉 Diabetes risk increases by 5x in cats
• 🚫 Stricture (ureter narrowing) – ~21% of feline patients affected

In dogs, surgical complications like intestinal intussusception may require a preventative procedure called enteroplication.

💵 What Are the Costs?

• 🐱 Cat transplant: ~$11,000+
• 🐶 Dog transplant: ~$13,000+ (if available)

Includes pre-op tests, surgery, donor care, medications, and hospital stay. Additional ongoing costs include:

• 💊 Cyclosporine, lab monitoring
• 💉 Potential hospitalization for complications

📈 What Is the Success Rate?

Cats:

• ✅ 70% survival at 6 months
• 🐾 41–50% survival at 3 years
• 🏥 96% survival to 6 months if discharged from hospital

Dogs:

• ⚠️ Lower success rate (~40%)

🩺 Summary from Dr Duncan Houston

Kidney transplants can prolong life and improve quality of life—especially for cats—but come with major responsibilities and risks. They are most successful in cats with end-stage kidney failure who are otherwise healthy. For dogs, results are less predictable.

Always discuss eligibility, risks, and expectations thoroughly with your veterinarian and the transplant center. 🐾🧬

📲 Want to Explore Kidney Transplantation? Ask A Vet

Thinking about a kidney transplant for your pet? Connect with Dr Duncan Houston and licensed vets through the Ask A Vet app to explore your options, understand requirements, and prepare for what's ahead. 🩺🐶🐱