Small Dog With a Dislocated Hip After Being Hit by a Car: Is FHO the Right Choice?
by Orusia
(Toronto, ON)
For a 17-pound dog, what your vet recommends is a common and sensible choice. Putting a dislocated hip back without surgery fails in many dogs, especially when the supporting ligament is torn, because the hip tends to pop out again. Femoral head ostectomy (FHO) removes the ball of the thigh bone, and scar tissue then forms a false joint. FHO usually works best in smaller, lighter dogs like yours.
Other options include surgically stabilizing the hip, for example with a toggle rod, or a total hip replacement at a specialist center. After FHO, early gentle exercise and physical therapy are important to rebuild muscle, and improvement can take 6 weeks or more. Because he was hit by a car, make sure he has also been checked for chest and internal injuries. A board-certified surgeon can give a second opinion if you'd like one.
See dog hip surgery.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.
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