Companion Animal Welfare

Dog Hip Dysplasia Surgical Management

Surgical management of hip dysplasia in dogs has advanced significantly, offering improved welfare outcomes for affected animals compared to medical management alone.

Key Facts

Triple pelvic osteotomy in young dogs prevents severe hip dysplasia progression
Total hip replacement provides excellent long-term pain relief for end-stage dysplasia
Femoral head and neck excision is a salvage procedure providing pain relief in smaller dogs
Post-operative physiotherapy improves recovery outcomes and muscle function
Success rates for total hip replacement exceed 90% for pain relief and function

Welfare Considerations

Surgical management of hip dysplasia provides welfare outcomes that medical management cannot achieve in severe cases. Early surgical intervention in young affected dogs can prevent the progressive joint destruction that leads to severe chronic pain in untreated adult animals.

What You Can Do

Seek specialist orthopaedic assessment for young dogs with confirmed hip dysplasia
Consider surgical options in discussion with a veterinary orthopaedic specialist
Invest in post-operative physiotherapy to maximise surgical outcome and welfare