Ask the veterinary surgeon: When should I consider total hip replacement for my companion with hip dysplasia and advanced osteoarthritis?
Animals with hip dysplasia – a condition characterized by abnormal joint laxity in which the head of the femur does not fit tightly within the acetabulum – often present with hind limb lameness and pain. These and other common symptoms can restrict your pet’s ability to move and, therefore, reduce their quality of life.
While the timing of surgical intervention is subjective, as a rule of thumb, total hip replacement (THR) should be considered whenever medications are required to control pain for a prolonged length of time; usually one month or more.
Total hip replacement is the optimum way to restore your pet’s quality of life, especially if they present to a veterinary surgeon with moderate to severe hip dysplasia. After recovery, your dog or cat can resume a healthy, happy, and normal life. Recovery time depends on the severity of the condition and your pet’s age.
Description of a Total Hip Replacement
In a total hip replacement procedure, a veterinary orthopedic surgeon replaces the damaged hip joint with prosthetic components; the femoral stem, femoral head, and the acetabulum. Each part is made up of either titanium or cobalt-chrome stainless steel and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene.
The veterinary surgeon will determine the appropriate method, cemented or cementless, for your companion during the examination. A cemented implant uses bone cement and on-growth of bone, whereas, cementless technology utilizes precise initial implantation and in-growth of bone.
The procedure has been highly successful for both dogs and cats between 3.5 and 180 pounds and any age once skeletal maturity is reached. The latter typically occurs between nine and ten months of age. It is an excellent way to re-establish normal function for dogs and cats with hip dysplasia and other forms of advanced osteoarthritis.
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Global Veterinary Specialists recognizes that dogs and cats encounter orthopedic injuries, disabling difficulties, and diseases that can affect their life. Each GVS surgeon has more than twenty years of experience handling the most complex problems that may arise in your felines and canines. We are teachers, mentors, inventors, clinical researchers, and surgeons driven to achieve excellence for every animal. Contact us today to learn how we help restore your four-legged family member’s quality of life.
