Few things are harder to watch as a pet owner than seeing an active dog or cat struggle with mobility and pain. Hip pain in particular in dogs and cats can be sad to witness.
However, a procedure known as a femoral head ostectomy may offer much-needed relief, especially for smaller dogs that are struggling with hip pain and reduced mobility. While not every dog is a good candidate for the procedure, it could be a game-changer for others.
Femoral Head Ostectomy (FHO)
Dogs and cats that experience hip pain and reduced mobility may benefit from a femoral head ostectomy, which is a surgical procedure that essentially removes the ball from the hip’s ball-and-socket joint.
Disease, age, and injury can cause that ball-and-socket joint to deteriorate and make it difficult for it to fit together as it should. When it doesn’t fit together flush, pain and reduced mobility result.
Hip dysplasia is one condition that many dog owners are familiar with, and it occurs when the femoral head — the ball of the joint — is misshapen or deformed. Chronic arthritis, hip injuries like fractures, and Legg-Calve-Perthes disease — when the femur begins to break down inside the joint — are also conditions that may prompt a need for femoral ostectomy when other treatments aren’t effective.
FHO Surgery For Pets
The ideal candidates for femoral ostectomy surgery are smaller breed dogs that weigh less than 45 pounds. Because the surgery removes the head of the femur, taking the ball out of the ball-and-socket joint, the femur needs to be able to support the weight of the dog until a proper amount of scar tissue forms.
Active dogs also often experience better outcomes from FHO surgery than less active pups. It is the muscle mass that an animal has that will help support it as it recovers from the surgery, which is why a more active dog often responds better to an FHO procedure.
If surgery is determined as the best treatment plan to manage your dog’s hip pain, it helps to know what to expect. At Dr. Kelly’s Surgical Unit, we specialize exclusively in surgical procedures which helps us keep costs down. In fact, the cost of surgical procedures at our practice is often several hundred dollars less — and sometimes more than that — than what a traditional veterinary clinic charges.
We understand that finding affordable pet surgery in Arizona can be a challenge, and we realize that for pet owners, it’s a priority. Affordability makes the treatment a little easier, too.
The specialists at Dr. Kelly’s Surgical Unit will advise pet owners to withhold food the morning of the surgery, as the animal will be subjected to general anesthesia for the procedure. Once the procedure is complete, the dog will need some time to recover with Dr. Kelly’s staff before heading home. Once home, pet owners should know that their dogs will not be able to bear weight on the affected leg at first. In addition, to avoid licking the sutures, Dr. Kelly’s staff will likely suggest that your dog wear a cone to protect the affected area as it heals.
Dr. Kelly’s Surgical Unit is a trusted veterinary team serving the Phoenix, Peoria, East Mesa, Queen Creek and Tucson metro areas, with accessible locations in each market, offering highly specialized surgery, quality spay and neuter procedures, and accessible dental care for pets. Contact us to learn more about our specialized services or to schedule an appointment.
