Femoral head ostectomy surgery in dogs.

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Allfourfeet

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Just looking for anyone's experiences with this surgery in regards to severe hip dysplasia. Dog is only 1 and already has very severe hip dysplasia.

What's the recovery time like/is it successful? We are back at the vets on Monday to discuss options in deeper detail as his current regime isn't working.

Currently on three painkillers, special diet, limited walking and swimming multiple times a week.

Or has anyone got any other suggestions? Obviously I trust my vet hugely but just sending my self stir crazy inbetween. Breaks my heart seeing my dog in pain.

Lastly, anyone know a rough price of this operation, it'll be both hips. This isn't important, but I'd like a heads up before vet drops bombshell on me!

Many thanks!
 
Hi,

If you go back in my posts to about 2010, you'll see all my experience with Chloe and this operation.

She had both hips done but at different times.

Feel free to PM me with any questions.
 
None except for the fact my vet advised against it! Said the FHO is better suited to his size I think.. It's something I will defiantly query..
 
I would get a second opinion before I went down FHO route- it is a last ditch salvage procedure, whereas hip replacement offers a potentially greater quality of life. what size is he?
 
A_f_f,

I've no answers for you, I'm afraid to say, only questions that perhaps you could ask your vet, or perhaps speak with specialists, assuming that your vet is more of a GP. I've never even heard of an FHO op, and having googled it, I still don't understand the difference between that and Hip Replacement, which seems to work very well with humans, though I don't know of any dogs which have had the op.

20+ years ago, HD couldn't be properly diagnosed until a dog was 12 months. Now it seems, from what SusieT says, that at 12 months, your dog is so far advanced, that the final level of surgery is being recommended. For your dog to have deteriorated to such an advanced stage, and at such a young age, would be very worrying, were it my dog.

The changes in your dog must have started, and accelerated from a very young age, and one can only imagine that the muscle structure must have developed in an effort to compensate for the impending final deformity, and that such growth is in itself, incorrect. I would wonder if surgery would be able to return your dog to its theoretical structure, taking in to account its current and obvious deformities.

You've asked for the experiences of others, and I'd doubt that many would have that experience. You haven't I realise, asked for opinions, but for all that, I would give very serious thought as to whether I would continue, were I you. I'm not you, obviously, and I hope that my opinion isn't upsetting for you.

If you decide to continue and you have the op done, will you let us know the outcome, and the progress? Finally, what breed of dog do you have? Have you been in touch with the breeder, and if you have, are there other puppies from the same litter which are as affected? Many breeders will be a little reticent about releasing such information, so The Kennel Club may be able to help you track down other owners. You will, by doing this, perhaps be able to gauge the reactions of other owners and their vets.

Alec.
 
Hi Alec,

Thank you for all you said. I am too very worried how quickly its advanced at such a young age.

I will be asking the vet this week many questions. My previous one was just normal vet, however its a specialist we are seeing this week.

I think at the end of the day, I will ask the specialist to be realistic about his chances at a good quality of life afterwards. I will not put him through anything unnecessary in regards to surgery. He's the love of my life, in dog format and I will always put his best interests above and beyond my own feelings. It's heartbreaking day in day out as even though his gait is very abnormal behind he loves life and lives waiting for me to throw a ball, which of course we can't anymore.

In regards to a breeder. He wasnt bought, well given to me privately. He was very very ill when we got him at 8 weeks and previous owners were reported to RSPCA who did follow it up so pointless calling them. I don't need any lecture about buying unregistered I know, but I fell in love and I wouldn't change him for the world!

Of course I will let you know what I decide this week when had a good chat with specialist vet, and thank you for your own views. As much as I try to keep a level head on its good to hear other opinions, so thank you.
 
We certainly found that the surgeries gave our girl a good quality of life afterwards - but she was naturally quite a sedate labrador who had never particularly loved chasing or fetching etc. The op made her much more comfortable moving around and day to day, but she was never a hyper, long walks sort of dog. She was also really, really good to rehab both times which was a consideration of ours.

If I had a very active dog, or a dog that would be a nightmare to keep quiet, I wouldn't do it.
 
A_f_f,

I've done some further research into the Op in question, and have also watched youtube film of the results, and I'm staggered. It should be born in mind that they only do one leg at a time (or they seem to), but how, without femur to hip contact, the leg can be load bearing, is beyond me. It seems that it is though.

It also seems that the end of the femur grows a fibrous extension, which eventually supports the joint. Amazing!

That's the plus side. There may be a down side. Having watched the dogs on youtube, most seemed to have a relatively normal stride (accepting that they'd had an op), so how your lad would cope, if he's obviously as damaged as he is, may be the deciding factor.

It would be interesting to know how long other dogs have had, following the op. Thinking about it, whilst it can't be a cure-all, again I'd be interested to hear of your specialist's views.

Good luck!

Alec.
 
Dogs are incredible how their muscles will compensate for FHR ,one of my minis had this op at nine months,just on one hip due to loss of blood supply to it.He lived to fifteen in the end,with matching musculature on his hind end ,moving sound and taking part in endurance dog club walks and the like.I would always go for that over hip replacement,mainly on cost and actually less invasive trauma for the dog.
 
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