Ever seen an old dog get the zoomies like a puppy? It’s always heartwarming—until something goes wrong.
Recently, a 15-year-old dog came in after a sudden yelp during a backyard zoomie session. The owners rushed him to the clinic, and on examination, he was extremely painful. Given how sore he was, we admitted him for sedation and X-rays, which confirmed the cause of his distress: a caudoventral hip dislocation (meaning the hip popped out of place and moved downward and backward).
What is a Hip Dislocation?
A hip dislocation, or coxofemoral luxation, occurs when the head of the femur (thigh bone) is forced out of the hip socket. It’s almost always due to trauma, like a fall, slipping, or a sudden twist—exactly what happened to this old pup.
Symptoms of a Hip Dislocation
A dog with a hip dislocation may show:
✔ Sudden yelp of pain after an injury
✔ Difficulty standing or walking
✔ Holding up the affected leg or limping severely
✔ An abnormal angle to the leg or hip
✔ Reluctance to move
Which Dogs Are More Prone to Hip Dislocation?
Hip dislocations can happen to any dog, but some are more at risk:
✅ Dogs with hip dysplasia – Pre-existing joint issues make it easier for the hip to pop out.
✅ Small dogs with shallow hip sockets – Breeds like Poodles, Chihuahuas, and Pomeranians may have looser joints.
✅ Dogs who have had previous trauma or surgery – If the joint has been weakened before, it’s more likely to dislocate again.
How Do We Treat Hip Dislocations?
In this case, under general anaesthesia, I was able to carefully manipulate the femur back into place. Sometimes, this is really, really tricky—you’re lucky if it goes in easily! Since this was a caudoventral dislocation (where the femur moves downward and backward), we used a hobble bandage after reduction. This helps keep the leg positioned correctly while healing occurs.
1️⃣ Putting the Hip Back in Place (Closed Reduction)
If caught early, we can manually pop the hip back into place, but this can only be done under anaesthesia—it’s far too painful otherwise.
- Once the hip is in, we check if it stays in place.
- Depending on the direction of the dislocation, a sling or hobble bandage may be needed to prevent it from popping out again.
- Caudoventral dislocation (down & back) → Hobble bandage to keep the legs positioned correctly.
- Craniodorsal dislocation (up & forward, most common) → Ehmer sling to hold the hip in place.
- Strict rest, pain relief, and monitoring are needed while it heals.
This works best if done within 48 hours of the injury. If the hip won’t stay in or there’s too much damage, surgery is needed.
2️⃣ Surgery (Open Reduction)
If the hip is unstable or has been dislocated for too long, surgery is required. Options include:
✔ Tightening torn ligaments – Stitching up damaged tissue to hold the joint in place.
✔ Surgical implants (toggle pin/sutures) – Using strong materials to reinforce the hip.
✔ Femoral Head Ostectomy (FHO) – Removing the top of the femur to form a false joint (often done in small dogs).
✔ Total Hip Replacement – Full joint replacement (only in severe cases).
Final Thoughts
This lucky senior dog had his hip successfully repositioned and went home with strict rest, pain relief, and a recovery plan. The owners are now on high alert for any more zoomie mishaps!
Hip dislocations are painful emergencies, but with the right treatment, dogs can recover well. If you ever notice sudden pain, limping, or difficulty walking in your dog, get them checked as soon as possible—early intervention can mean the difference between a quick fix and a complicated surgery!