Hip Replacement or FHO - Page 1

I rescued a female GSD 2 years ago. She is only 4. She has SIBO which is under control. Last week, she came up lame on her left side. After a visit to the Vet, we found out someone broke her hip and socket. It is an old injury, but she still runs and plays on it.  I have seen a surgeon. He wants to wait and see how it reacts to meds.The surgeon says the best would be the hip replacement because she is a big dog.  My vets says a FHO. Any ideas? She is just a family pet.

FHO is recommended for dogs under 55 lbs that are in top physical condition - so say my vet..

My Aussie rescue was the same.......She wasn't a high drive dog, I kept her on pain meds and antiinflamitories and she did well for a number of years.

IMO . . .Most dogs, and GSD's in particular are very stoic, they have to be a whole lot of pain before they let it show.

You might want to join the Yahoo! group orthodogs <orthodogs-subscribe@yahoogroups.com> . They are very helpful and nice people who'll point you in the right direction with the decision you have to make.

From what I've been told (by people whose dogs needed surgery, and from vets over the years who do the surgeries) the FHO is recommended only for young dogs, 1 year old and not much older, because the continued growth of the dog helps the necessary calcification, scar tissue and the dog develps it's own "artificial hip joint" out of these plus cartilege that forms in the area.  Also I have heard this should be done only on smaller dogs - ie 60 lbs or less.

sounds like an injury to only one side - so perhaps the repair to that side, if necessary, should be decided on depending on the injury itself - the goal being to keep the dog comfortable and active on that leg.

molly