The animal must be hospitalized on the day before the operation, in any case. Generally the dogs are kept for one to two days after the operation to permit recovery from anesthesia and to provide the surgical team the opportunity to assess the wound and the dog's ability to ambulate. This general policy applies to all of the surgical options that are described in this information sheet. It is highly successful in cats and small dogs, and has been successful in larger dogs as well, but the result is not as predictable in larger dogs. In some cases, however, the arthritis is too advanced or the costs associated with TPO are too great and FHO is performed in larger dogs.
Physical therapy is crucial to the success of the operation.
Swimming, running, playing with other dogs, retrieving, etc are all encouraged starting 7-10 days after the operation. The overall prognosis is not as good in large dogs as it is in smaller dogs and in cats. Some dogs may never regain full use of the leg and normal muscle mass in the operated limb. Dogs having had the TPO will recover sooner and have a more consistently satisfactory prognosis. In older dogs with hip dysplasia, conservative management is generally recommended initially, and many dogs will do well and only require periodic administration of pain-relieving medication.