Large dog's hip pain worsening, meds not working. Is surgery an option?

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Sorry to hear that Nina has this issue. Hip replacement is always the best option if they are determined to be a good anesthetic candidate. The surgery is very commonly done and while all surgery is painful, in the long run it is the best option. If you ask human patients how they feel after hip replacement surgery, the vast majority will say they wish they had done it sooner as they feel so much better. That being said, typically dogs will still need some type of pain medication/anti-inflammatories after surgery, definitely short term but maybe even long term. There is no way to know this ahead of time. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Hello, sorry to hear about Shiro. He does indeed have hip dysplasia as is evident in his x-rays. This diseases does indeed require surgical correction, but only if Shiro seems to be in discomfort. Hip Dysplasia results in secondary osteoarthritis which in the long term can impact your pets ability to walk and overall comfort. There are two different procedures with regards to surgery, an FHNO were we remove the femoral head and neck or a total hip replacement were we replace the ball and joint with metal implants as they do in humans. Ultimately, the best contributor to decreasing osteoarthritis in dogs is by maintaining an overall low weight and lean body condition score. Obese pets with hip dysplasia tend to do worse. Now, with regards to surgery, it does not need to occur now, typically with either surgery, we want pets to be fully developed so that their bones are fully grown and they have developed all of the musculature. I would recommend asking your veterinarian to refer you to an orthopedic surgeon who may be able to better assist you with Shiro's hips dysplasia. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Hello, thank you using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I am so sorry for your concerns about Madiidda. Her x-rays show very severe subluxation of the one hip, & a very shallow acetabulum of the other. This will never get better on its own, & as she ages, she will experience more & more pain possibly to the point where she may no longer be able to walk. A lot has to do with how you manage her growth, weight, exercise/conditioning, and use of joint supplements & pain medications. You may not be able to afford the surgery now, but perhaps in a couple of years, you might be able to. The important thing is to keep her a tad underweight, regular gentle exercise, & start her on a good glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate supplement. Omega fatty acids can be of some benefit in helping the inflammation in her hips. Work closely with your veterinarian about weight control, medications, & possibly even a veterinarian who practices some alternative modalities such as acupuncture & massage therapy. Here in the US, we even have specialists in canine rehabilitation medicine, where underwater treadmills, water therapy, & special balance exercises can all help to strengthen the muscles around the hips to make life better for Madidda. I wish you all the best that she does well. She is a beautiful girl.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. So sorry that Baxter has this issue. The right hip has severe dysplasia (the x-ray is not marked so I am assuming it is the right one). The other hip looks OK. The only way to fix this is with surgery - either a FHO procedure or a total hip replacement. You need to speak to your vet about options. There is no medication to reverse, cure or stop the progression of this disease. Surgery will definitely be needed.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Hip dysplasia is an orthopedic condition that sometimes require surgery though some cases can be managed with medical therapy and physical therapy. In most cases though, surgery is needed at some point. With the knee issue, you may be referring to patellar luxation which also most of the time requires surgery when it is severe enough though comfort can be improved with pain control and anti-inflammatory medications. I recommend that you have Coco evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a great day!

There are a variety of treatments for hip dysplasia depending on clinical signs. I would first perform radiographs to assess for comformation. There are surgical procedures that are performed in puppies prior to the development of osteoarthritis for severe cases, but they typically need to be performed before 9 months of age. I think the most important thing is to interpret physical exam and radiographs in the context of clinical signs. I have some puppies with a radiographic diagnosis of hip dysplasia who are asymptomic for years and other puppies with negative ortolani sign, minimal dysplasia on radiographs and severe clinical signs. So, don't jump into surgery if Gary is not showing clinical signs. For my puppies with radiographically confirmed hip dysplasia and clinical signs, I typically manage them medically as needed and start physical rehabilitation. I hope that helps! Good luck!

Poor Rocco! There are many treatment options for managing hip dysplasia in dogs. I'm not sure what kind of medication he's currently taking, but many dogs with this problem benefit from a combination of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) like Rimadyl or Previcox along with a pain medication like tramadol and/or gabapentin. Glucosamine/chondroitin and omega-3 fatty acid supplements have also been shown to be helpful in many cases, and can safely be given with all of the above medications. Finally, adjunct treatment options like laser therapy and acupuncture can also be very helpful for some dogs with hip dysplasia. I would recommend talking with your vet about these options to see what they would suggest as the next step for Rocco.