Your pet has had the femoral head (the ball & socket of the hip joint) removed, creating a false joint. This procedure is designed to eliminate hip pain associated with chronic hip issues.
A long-lasting antibiotic and a pain injection have been given today.
Physical therapy is essential for achieving a good result with return to full range of motion
Activity restriction
Please keep your pet in a comfortable, safe indoor location with no free access to stairs for the initial 24 hours following the procedure. Avoid any rigorous activity for 2 weeks. Short, leashed walks are fine. Your pet may be groggy for the first few days from the injectable pain medication. Your pet should start touching his/her toe down within the first 2 weeks.
Incision care
The incision should be dry, slightly red along the margins, and slightly swollen/thick on the edges. Over several days, it should lose redness and swelling. Do not allow your pet to lick or chew the incision! Pets tend to want to lick early in the healing period and this can compromise the incision and predispose to infection. If necessary, please use an E-collar if you must leave your pet unattended.
Swelling–it is not uncommon for a seroma to develop under the incision; this is a pocket of normal tissue fluids that develops in a high-motion area such as the hip region. Warm compresses applied to the area will encourage the fluid to reabsorb more quickly (3- 7 days). If the pocket progressively enlarges, please have your veterinarian assess the site.
Suture removal
Return to your veterinarian in 10-14 days for suture removal and evaluation of healing.
Your pet should start using the operated leg more strongly each week. By 6 weeks, he/she should be 90% recovered. If he/she suddenly deteriorates or does not appear to be progressing well enough, please return to your veterinarian for re-evaluation.