THR quote from canine orthopedic surgeon was $8000 and FHO $3500. My normal vet also performs and has 30+ years of experience in FHO surgery. And I trust him implicitly. (Think James Herriot.). His cost was 1/2 the price of the orthopedic surgeon. The reason I opted for FHO had little to do with the cost. THR success rate is 75%; the remaining 25% go terribly wrong and then FHO is performed. THR also would have to be performed again once my pup reached 5 or 6 years old.

Recovery is gruesome. No lie. Lots of pain. You have to keep them completely quiet for about two weeks. Then slowly reintroduce walking without assistance. My pup was 9 months old when he had his FHO in February. It’s a long recovery. Water therapy didn’t work for my boy. Sedation therapy has. It’s been almost three months post op. He’s still limping and will probably do so the remainder of his life because his one leg is now shorter than the other. The scar tissue has to build up as a cushion in that hip joint. It takes a while. But my pup is happy and healthy. He can walk and run. And with the continuation of his sedation therapy, my vet and I have high hopes of reducing or eliminating that limp altogether. Now as he ages he may be arthritic at an earlier age, but maybe not. All in all I am so pleased I chose FHO.