Hip Replacement (animal) - Overview

Overview

Hip replacement is a proven surgery in animals, notably dogs. It is usually performed, as in humans, to replace a painful or damaged hip joint, where no better alternative exists. Because animals under about 40 lb (20 kg) carry their own weight with little strain on each leg, hip modification surgeries are often sufficient to restore hip function in many cases. As a result, while hip replacement on animals can be seen in any animal of any size, from cats upwards, it is most often performed in the context of medium-large breeds of dogs.

It is especially seen in the context of a possible treatment in the case of canine hip dysplasia, a congenital deformity of the hip joint which can lead to arthritis and crippling pain, as well as in hip arthritis itself.

It is important to note that an animal suffering from hip problems may well have been in some degree of chronic pain all its life from a very young age. Such animals often show no overt sign of pain, they do not cry out or howl. Rather, they have adapted to it over an extended period, and learned to live with it. As a result in many animals, successful hip replacement is reported to return them to a level of playfulness and happiness not previously seen.

However, as with all surgeries, results vary, and there is both risk, and uncertainty involved. Each case should be measured on its own merits.