Is Total Hip Replacement Safe for Dogs?

Yes. Total hip replacement is one of the most successful surgeries we can do for dogs with painful hips. We take out the worn-out, sore hip. Then we put in a new one made of metal and strong plastic. It is a lot like the hip replacements people get. In one study of 195 hip replacements, about 97 out of every 100 dogs went back to normal use of their leg. In another study, more than 9 out of 10 owners said their dog had full use of the leg after surgery. For most dogs, that means walking, running, and playing again without hip pain.

Like any surgery, hip replacement has some risks, and we want you to know them. The two most common problems are the new hip slipping out of place (called a luxation) and a crack in the thigh bone near the new hip. In that 195-hip study, each of these happened in about 4 out of 100 hips. Infection is rare. A study of more than 2,000 hip replacements found it in about 1 out of 100 hips. The new hip coming loose is even less common. It happened in about 1 out of 200 hips in the 195-hip study. When you count every problem, big and small, studies find them in about 10 to 15 out of every 100 hips. The good news is that most of these problems can be fixed, and most of those dogs still end up with a strong, pain-free hip.

The best way to keep risks low is careful planning, a skilled surgeon, and a calm rest time at home. Our team plans each surgery around your dog’s size, bones, and health. After surgery, we give you simple steps to follow, like short leash walks and no jumping for a few weeks. This helps the new hip heal. If your dog is slowing down, limping, or hurting because of a bad hip, a new hip could give them back the active life they love. Call Veterinary Specialty Center of Sarasota at 941-893-1500 to schedule a consultation with our hip replacement surgeon. Together, we can decide if a new hip is right for your best friend.

Sources

• Kwok JY, Wendelburg KL. Clinical outcomes of canine total hip replacement utilizing a BFX lateral bolt femoral stem: 195 consecutive cases (2013–2019). Vet Surg. 2023;52(1):51–61. doi:10.1111/vsu.13871
• Israel SK, Jaramillo E, Liska WD. Preclosure povidone-iodine lavage in total hip replacement surgery: infection outcomes and cost-benefit analysis. Vet Surg. 2023;52(1):33–41. doi:10.1111/vsu.13910
• Low D, Treharne R, Rutherford S. Subsidence of the BFX standard stem after canine total hip replacement: a case series of 177 consecutive procedures. Vet Surg. 2026;55(4):763–770. doi:10.1111/vsu.70084
• Brandstetter V, et al. A retrospective multicenter study of outcomes and complications in dogs undergoing total hip replacement with a BFX collared stem. Vet Surg. 2026. doi:10.1111/vsu.70156
• Horwood C, et al. Complications and outcomes of total hip arthroplasty in dogs with luxoid hip dysplasia: 18 cases (2010–2022). Vet Surg. 2024;53(4):620–629. doi:10.1111/vsu.14087