Any surgical correction of hip dysplasia is a serious procedure young or mature. Some dogs who show radiographic changes never develop significant lameness, so I prefer not to subject them to a surgery they may never need. TPOs are suggested for immature patients who have not developed irreversible cartilage or bone changes in the hip joint. This surgery could achieve pain-free activity, stabilization of the hip with natural tissues, and reduction of progression of radiographic signs of degenerative joint disease. In the mature patient, Dr. Smith re-emphasizes that it is important to treat the individual dog s signs and not the radiograph.
Conservative therapy is the same for younger and older dogs.
While your pet is undergoing conservative therapy, closely monitor your pet s pain level. Dogs that respond to therapy initially and then deteriorate are surgical candidates. Surgical treatments, such as femoral head and neck ostectomies and total hip replacements for older dogs, are salvage procedures that eliminate the diseased joint and attempt to replace it with a non-painful substitute. Femoral head and neck ostectomies are most effective for dogs that weigh less than 60 pounds. In this procedure, your veterinarian removes the ball part of the hip joint.