When your dog is diagnosed with severe hip pain, you want the best possible outcome. At Omega Veterinary Group, our board-certified orthopedic surgeons specialize in total hip replacement, the gold standard treatment for restoring mobility and eliminating pain in dogs with hip disease. As a criticalist-owned specialty hospital, we provide the Bay Area’s highest level of orthopedic care, combining surgical expertise with integrated patient management.

Our orthopedic surgery services are led by surgeons like Dr. Stephen Jones, whose special clinical interests include joint replacement and minimally invasive fracture repair, and Dr. Caleb Hudson, an ACVS Founding Fellow in Minimally Invasive Surgery. Because criticalists oversee every patient’s care, your dog receives comprehensive monitoring from surgery through recovery. This blog explores when hip replacement is recommended, what makes it superior to other options, and what to expect during your dog’s journey back to pain-free activity.

Hip Conditions That Require Advanced Surgical Intervention

Several conditions cause progressive hip pain that conservative treatments cannot adequately control:

  • Canine hip dysplasia: developmental malformation where the ball and socket don’t fit properly, causing instability and arthritis
  • Severe arthritis: advanced joint degeneration with bone-on-bone contact and chronic inflammation
  • Hip luxation: recurring dislocation from trauma or severe dysplasia
  • Fractures: hip joint fractures that cannot be repaired with traditional methods
  • Legg-Perthes disease: deterioration of the femoral head from blood supply loss

Dogs with hip disease often show subtle signs at first: difficulty rising from rest, reluctance to climb stairs or jump into the car, shortened stride on walks, or decreased interest in play. As the condition progresses, limping becomes obvious, muscle mass decreases in the affected leg, and dogs may cry out when the hip is manipulated. Some dogs become less social, avoiding interaction because movement causes discomfort.

Early diagnosis through hip dysplasia screening and advanced imaging helps us plan the most effective surgical approach. At Omega, our state-of-the-art diagnostic technology allows our surgeons to thoroughly assess joint damage and determine whether total hip replacement offers the best path forward for your dog’s specific condition.

Why Total Hip Replacement Is the Gold Standard

Total hip replacement removes the diseased hip joint and replaces it with prosthetic components: a metal or ceramic ball and polyethylene socket that restore normal joint mechanics. Unlike salvage procedures that create workarounds, THR rebuilds the hip to function as nature intended.

How the Procedure Works

During total hip replacement surgery, our orthopedic surgeons make a precise incision to access the hip joint. The diseased femoral head and neck are removed, and the acetabulum (hip socket) is prepared to receive the prosthetic socket. The femoral canal is shaped to accept the stem of the femoral component, which connects to a new ball that articulates smoothly within the prosthetic socket. The entire procedure typically takes two to three hours, performed under general anesthesia with comprehensive monitoring by our anesthesiology team.

The surgical precision required for THR demands both advanced training and sophisticated equipment. Our surgeons use templating software to select perfectly sized implants based on pre-surgical measurements, ensuring optimal fit and function. Intraoperative imaging confirms proper implant positioning before closure. This attention to detail contributes to our excellent success rates and rapid recovery times.

Superior Long-Term Outcomes

THR provides advantages no other hip surgery can match:

  • Complete pain elimination by removing all diseased bone and cartilage
  • Restoration of normal joint mechanics allowing natural movement patterns
  • Full return to vigorous activity including running, hiking, and playing
  • Success rates exceeding 90-95% with proper surgical technique and aftercare
  • Suitable for all sizes from giant breeds to dogs as small as four pounds
  • Bilateral capability allowing treatment of both hips when needed

At Omega, Dr. Stephen Jones has extensive experience with both cemented and cementless implants. Cemented implants use bone cement for immediate stability, making them ideal for older dogs or those with compromised bone quality. Cementless implants feature porous surfaces that allow bone to grow into the implant over time, creating biological fixation that can last decades. Both approaches provide excellent outcomes, and our surgeons select the best option based on your dog’s bone quality, age, and activity level.

Who Are the Best Candidates?

Total hip replacement works exceptionally well for:

  • Medium to large breed dogs with severe hip dysplasia or arthritis
  • Active dogs whose lifestyle demands full joint function
  • Dogs with bilateral hip disease requiring restoration of both hips
  • Younger dogs who need decades of pain-free mobility ahead
  • Dogs of any size when appropriately sized implants are used
  • Performance or working dogs who must return to demanding activities

Most dogs walk comfortably within days of surgery and return to normal activity within months. The exceptional level of care your pet deserves means rebuilding their hip completely, not settling for compromise solutions.

The Omega Advantage: Criticalist-Led Surgical Care

What sets Omega apart is our integrated approach to surgical care. While our board-certified surgeons perform the procedure, other specialists oversee every patient throughout their stay. This means experts trained in managing the most critical illnesses and injuries monitor anesthesia depth, pain levels, cardiovascular stability, and post-operative recovery in real time.

This collaborative model catches potential complications early and ensures seamless transitions between surgical, anesthesia, and recovery phases. Our team drives all levels of care and always sees the big picture of your pet’s case, coordinating with surgeons, anesthesiologists, and rehabilitation specialists to optimize every aspect of healing. Because we’re open 24/7, continuous expert monitoring never stops, even overnight or on weekends when most specialty hospitals have limited staff.

Alternative Surgical Options: When They Fit

While total hip replacement offers superior outcomes, other procedures may be appropriate in specific situations.

Femoral Head Ostectomy (FHO) removes the ball portion of the hip joint, allowing scar tissue to form a fibrous “false joint.” This femoral head ostectomy procedure works best for smaller dogs and cats under 50-60 pounds, or when financial constraints make THR unfeasible. While FHO reliably eliminates pain, it creates some limb shortening and gait changes that don’t occur with hip replacement. FHO remains an excellent option for the right candidates, and our surgical team can perform this procedure when it best serves your dog’s needs.

Preventive surgeries for young dogs can sometimes avoid the need for major surgery later. Juvenile pubic symphysiodesis and pelvic osteotomy procedures reposition the hip socket in growing puppies to improve joint stability. PennHIP and OFA evaluation identifies candidates as young as 16 weeks. However, many dogs still develop arthritis requiring THR despite early intervention.

Understanding hip dysplasia treatments means recognizing that while alternatives exist, total hip replacement delivers the most complete restoration of function and quality of life for dogs with advanced hip disease.

Medical Management: Temporary Relief, Not a Long-Term Solution

Conservative care can postpone surgery but cannot cure hip disease. Medical management includes:

These approaches work for mild cases or as a bridge to surgery, but when pain control fails or quality of life declines, total hip replacement provides the definitive solution. Many families try medical management for months or years, gradually increasing medications and restricting activity, before recognizing that their dog deserves better. THR offers a permanent solution rather than lifelong symptom management. Proper nutrition during growth and understanding developmental orthopedic conditions in large-breed puppies can slow but not prevent hip disease progression in genetically predisposed dogs.

What to Expect: Recovery and Return to Full Function

THR recovery requires commitment but delivers remarkable results. During the first 8-12 weeks post-surgery, strict activity restriction allows the implant to integrate with bone and surrounding tissues to heal:

  • Short, controlled leash walks only (no jumping, running, or stairs)
  • Comprehensive pain management ensuring comfort throughout healing
  • Regular recheck examinations with imaging to monitor progress
  • Physical therapy to maximize strength and range of motion

After the restriction period ends, gradual return to full activity begins. By four to six months, most dogs return to vigorous exercise and the active lives they enjoyed before hip disease limited them. Our criticalist-led approach means your dog receives integrated care throughout recovery, with specialists collaborating to address every aspect of healing.

Many owners express amazement at how quickly their dogs improve. Dogs who struggled to walk often move comfortably within a week. By eight weeks, the affected leg bears full weight without limping. By six months, most dogs show no sign they ever had hip problems, running and playing with the enthusiasm of a much younger dog. Some dogs even seem to forget which leg was operated on, using both hips symmetrically and confidently.

Because we’re open 24/7, you have peace of mind knowing expert care is always available. If you have questions during evening or weekend recovery, our team provides guidance and support without waiting for business hours.

German Shepherd standing on a grassy field on a leash, tongue out, with spectators seated in the background

The Consultation Process: Planning Your Dog’s Surgery

Your journey toward total hip replacement begins with a comprehensive orthopedic evaluation. Our surgeons review your dog’s history, perform a thorough physical examination, and assess range of motion, pain levels, and gait abnormalities. Advanced imaging including radiographs and sometimes CT scans provides detailed information about joint damage, bone quality, and implant sizing.

During the consultation, we discuss:

  • Whether your dog is a candidate for THR based on health status and anatomy
  • Expected outcomes and realistic timelines for recovery
  • Implant options and which approach best suits your dog
  • Post-operative care requirements and rehabilitation protocols
  • Financial considerations and what the procedure includes

We believe in transparent communication so you feel confident and informed. Our team takes time to answer every question, explain surgical techniques, and ensure you understand both the commitment required and the exceptional results THR delivers.

Experience the Omega Difference

At Omega Veterinary Group, we have brought together the region’s top specialists, advanced technology, and a belief that when your pet is a member of your family, they deserve the same level of care you would want for any other member of your family. Our orthopedic surgeons specialize in complex procedures like total hip replacement because we’re passionate about advancing the frontier of veterinary medicine and delivering exceptional outcomes.

We understand how it feels to love a pet so deeply. Watching them struggle with pain and limited mobility is heartbreaking. That’s why we created Omega: to provide the highest standard of critical care in the Bay Area and to ensure the best possible outcomes for every patient. When it comes to the pet you love, only the best will do.

If your dog is struggling with hip pain, contact us at 650-781-4239 or info@omegavetgroup.com to schedule an orthopedic evaluation. Let us help your dog return to the pain-free, active life they deserve through the gold standard in hip surgery: total hip replacement.