Without getting into too much detail about the procedure itself, it does involve fusing two bones of the pelvis together,which causes the formation of a different angle of the socket that corresponds to the hip's ball and socket joint. Researchers hope that this will result in a better hip formation.
To evaluate your puppy for the potential need for this surgery, there is a procedure called a PennHIP which is an x-ray of your puppy's hip. If the film shows an abnormality, your puppy could be a candidate. But surgery must be performed when the puppy is generally between 16 and 20 weeks of age.
Puppies with such a disorder should not be used for breeding so they can be spayed or neutered at the same time as the pelvic procedure.
Puppies who have undergone this procedure are being evaluated on a long term basis to determine the actual effectiveness of the surgery. To date, the longest follow-up has been three years.
For more information contact the University of Wisconsin Veterinary School at 608-263-7600 or the North Carolina State University Orthopaedic Service at 919-513-6588.
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