Miley, a 3-year-old Shih-poo has struggled with her hips since being a little pup. She began to limp occasionally at home and so was brought to Aldgate Vets for some x-rays.
At 9 months old, Miley went through a procedure called a Femoral Head and Neck Excision arthroplasty (FHNE). A dog’s hip joint is a ball and socket, this is where the head of the femur (thigh bone) sits into a socket at the base of the pelvis. An FHNE is where the head of the femur is removed, removing the ‘ball’ from the ball and socket joint of the hip. This leaves the muscles surrounding the joint in charge of stabilising the hips.
In most cases, especially in younger dogs, FHNE surgery is a great way to solve hip issues and is often very successful in eliminating the need for a hip replacement. However, in Miley’s case, she still suffers from daily pain and discomfort in her hips.
In an effort to manage the pain, Miley has been seeing Rayana for Pain management clinics; having monthly Librela injections, Laser therapy, and hydrotherapy. Miley has also been back to see our orthopaedic specialist, Patrick, who has recommended that a total hip replacement may be our next option. The great thing about our new Bridlington hospital is that we are able to provide a multi-disciplinary approach to our patient’s care, meaning that all their needs can be taken care of in one place.
Miley is a cheeky monkey at home and is always full of life, playing with her brother Billy all day. We hope that planning these next steps to continue treating Miley’s condition will ensure that she is happy, cheeky, and pain-free while maintaining a good quality of life as she gets older.
Be sure to keep an eye out for updates on Miley and her progress here at Aldgate.
