East Neuk Veterinary Clinic is proud to offer Scotland’s most comprehensive canine total hip replacement service. We have invested in the most up to date equipment and have a team that is experience in guiding your pet safely through the hip replacement process. We can offer hip replacement in giant, large, medium, and small breed dogs.
What is a total hip replacement for dogs?
A total hip replacement (THR) is a surgery where your dog's painful hip joint is replaced with an artificial one, like the procedure done in humans suffering from hip arthritis. The goal of hip replacement surgery is to improve your pet’s quality of life, offering them pain relief and allowing them to maintain an active lifestyle.
When should you consider total hip replacement surgery for your dog?
If your dog is in pain, limping, or has trouble moving, and pain relief medications don’t help much or are needed all the time, surgery might be the best option. When you visit us, we will take a detailed history and then use x-rays to check your dog’s hips, knees, and lower back. We will then discuss whether surgery is the right decision for your pet ensuring all your questions are answered.
If you decide to go ahead with surgery for your pet, we will use the x-rays to precisely template the size and shape of your dog’s bones and order implants that match your pets unique bone structure. There is usually a short delay between templating and implant delivery.
On the day of surgery, a team of two vets and two nurses will be involved in performing the joint replacement. The operation is performed through a relatively small incision directly over the hip. Careful preparation of the hip socket (acetabulum) and top of the femur is necessary prior to placement of the relevant cemented or cementless prostheses. The two artificial components are then brought together (reduced) and the stability of the hip checked. The thick capsule that surrounds the joint is carefully sutured prior to closure of the rest of the muscle and skin. X-rays are obtained at the end of the operation to check the position of the prostheses.
Is your dog a good candidate for this surgery?
If your dog suffers from hip dysplasia and is older than 6 months, they might be a candidate for THR. Before considering surgery, we will need to thoroughly check your dog to make sure other health issues aren’t present.
What's the recovery like after the surgery?
Recovery requires careful management. For the first two weeks, it’s crucial to protect the new hip. Gradually, your dog will move towards normal activities and usually can play freely about 12 weeks after surgery. During their hospital stay, our dedicated nursing team will look after your dog day and night. This is an important factor when choosing which clinic to carry out your total hip replacement. Our day and night nursing teams are onsite to give your pet round the clock nursing care and most importantly – cuddles on demand!
Can both hips be replaced?
If needed, yes, but only one at a time. The more painful hip is replaced first. Interestingly many dogs don’t need the second hip replaced, even if both are arthritic.
What happens during the surgery?
The surgery takes about three to four hours under general anaesthesia. The operation is performed under strict sterile conditions to avoid infection, and your dog will receive pain medication before and after surgery. They typically start to put some weight on the leg soon after waking up and usually go home a 2-3 days later.
What are the types of total hip replacement?
Total hip replacement surgery replaces a dysfunctional, painful hip joint with an artificial prosthesis, to provide a fully functional, pain-free joint. The prosthesis replaces both the ball and socket of the joint and there are a variety of options of implants available. The surgery is performed through a small incision directly over the hip and involves removing the degenerated femoral head (ball) and acetabulum (socket), replacing them with artificial components. The implants can be attached to the bone using cement or through a cementless system, depending on which best suits your pet. The cementless system relies on bone ingrowth into the implant for permanent fixation: the prostheses are secured by a “press-fit”, meaning that the bone in contact with the prostheses can grow into the small pores in their surface.
What care will my dog need after coming home?
For the first six weeks, your dog will need to rest a lot, with just short walks for bathroom breaks. We will provide you with an exercise and rehabilitation plan that is tailored exactly to the needs of your dog. At six weeks we will carry out a recheck examination at East Neuk Vet Clinic, if all is going to plan, exercise can gradually increase over the next six weeks.
Are there any risks?
Most dogs return to normal activities and have a great quality of life after recovering from a total hip replacement. While complications are rare, they can happen. These include infection, hip dislocation, implant issues, fractures, nerve damage, or ongoing pain. Our team takes every precaution to minimize risks. We will discuss the potential complications with you during the consultation and explain how we minimise the risks of surgical and post-surgical complications.