hip replacements for dogs

[mopinko]

so, found out recently that my boxer, who is approx 6 has terrible arthritis of the hips, and likely has had since we got her at the age of 2. guess that might explain how she got to be a throw away.
we have been giving her some meds, but i saw those xrays, and i gotta say that no pill is a match for those joints. she is clearly suffering here. she wants to be a young dog, and it wears her out and leaves her aching. i hate this. i hate, hate, hate this. she is not that old. she could be around for 5 or 6 more years of the same awful pain. i have such a damn hard time doing this to an animal that can't speak up for herself.

so, just out of the wildest curiosity, i wonder what the state of joint replacement for dogs is. seems like it might be the only humane option.

[MiniMe]

1. It is a tough thing

Yes, they have hip replacement for dogs. They do it sometimes for hip dysplasia. I'm not sure what the process is, or the cost, and you would most likely have to do both sides. Have you tried glocosime/chondroitin sulphate yet? It really does help them. It is a natural remedy and it provides some lubrication to the joints.

[Holly_Hobby]

2. My dog had a total hip replacement in 1993

At Ohio State Univ. Cost was $1,500. He was a year old, his right hip was completely deformed. It was either replace the hip or put him down.

It was the best thing we ever did for him. He was pain free for another 13 years.

Recovery time was about 90 days. Outside on leash only for first 45 days. Worked up to off leash for another 6 weeks. No running, jumping or playing during the entire 90 days. Worth it.