Total Hip Replacement (THR) surgery replaces a painful ball-and-socket hip with high-quality implants, returning your pet to normal comfort and function. At MediPaws, our experienced joint replacement team leads procedures for dogs and cats from planning through recovery.
THR is a surgical procedure where a painful ball-and-socket hip joint is replaced with precision-engineered implants. Removing the worn, grinding joint takes away the source of pain and restores a smooth, functioning hip.
It’s regularly performed in both dogs and cats, and is one of the most effective ways to give a pet with severe hip disease their mobility back.
THR can help pets by:
From complex orthopaedic and soft tissue procedures to minimally invasive techniques, our team delivers advanced, collaborative care for pets across Sydney and beyond.
An experienced joint replacement team
THR is a highly specialised procedure offered in only a limited number of hospitals worldwide. Your pet is cared for by a team that performs it regularly.
Specialist anaesthesia and pain management
A dedicated anaesthesia team cares for your pet throughout their stay, using advanced techniques such as ultrasound-guided nerve blocks.
Precise implant placement
We use intraoperative fluoroscopy to guide implant positioning, and proven Biomedtrix implants chosen for long-term function and compatibility.
24/7 hospital care
Your pet is monitored around the clock by our surgeons and nurses, with regular pain scoring, analgesia, and cryotherapy to control inflammation.
Our THR package is designed to relieve pain and restore full hip function, using high-quality implants and specialist techniques tailored to your pet’s condition.
What’s Included:
Like any surgical procedure, THR has potential complications, though most can be managed effectively. In a small percentage of patients (under 5%), complications due to infection can result in removal of the implant – although it can be replaced at a later date.
When conservative management of hip pain isn’t enough, the main surgical alternative is a femoral head and neck ostectomy (FHO). This removes the ‘ball’ of the ball-and-socket joint to take away the bone-on-bone grinding pain.
After an FHO there’s no joint, so the surrounding muscles have to hold the bone. This usually shortens the limb and alters its range of motion. FHO can improve pain, but the expected level of function is lower than a normal limb or one with a THR.
THR is the best choice when other pain management strategies haven’t given your pet an adequate quality of life. It’s also the right option for young dogs whose pain is controlled by strong medication, but where a permanent solution is preferred over a lifetime of tablets.
There are almost no limits on patient size or shape. With a wide range of implants available, we can tailor the procedure to the individual, from cats through to large-breed dogs.
Our joint replacement team is highly trained and experienced, allowing us to offer a procedure available in only a limited number of hospitals worldwide. The surgical team is supported by specialist anaesthesia and pain management clinicians to ensure the safest, most comfortable stay for your pet.
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