Patient Stories
Every dog who comes through our doors has their own story. Here, we share some of our patients’ rehabilitation journeys, the challenges they have faced and the progress they have made through individually tailored care, patience and support.
Willow's Femoral Head and Neck Excision Journey
Willow’s rehabilitation journey began after she suddenly injured her right hind leg while chasing a ball, resulting in a craniodorsal hip luxation—where the head of the femur is displaced from the hip socket. Imaging also showed dysplasia in her left hip. Initial surgery was performed to stabilise the joint; however, the repair later failed and the hip became unstable again. Willow subsequently underwent a femoral head and neck excision (FHNE)
An FHNE involves surgically removing the head and neck of the femur so that the damaged surfaces of the hip joint no longer make painful contact. Over time, the surrounding muscles and fibrous tissue create a functional “false joint”. Successful recovery relies heavily on restoring comfortable movement and developing sufficient muscle strength to support the limb.
When Willow first came to hydrotherapy, she had considerable muscle loss around her right hind leg and was reluctant to use the limb. She had compensatory discomfort due to overloading her other limbs. She was also understandably nervous during her first session and needed plenty of reassurance.
Her sessions were carefully adapted to help her feel safe and encourage movement without overloading the healing limb. Treatment included supported swimming with two therapists, gentle range-of-motion work, weight-shifting exercises and supported standing in the water.
Over the course of her rehabilitation, Willow began using her right hind limb more consistently during treatment and at home. Her muscle mass significantly improved, along with improved range of movement of her hip and she became more comfortable placing weight through the limb. Her family reported a noticeable improvement in how she managed everyday activities.
Willow is now back to enjoying her off lead walks and beach adventures!
She continues to attend regular maintenance sessions to preserve her strength and mobility, while also receiving ongoing support to help manage the hip dysplasia affecting her left hip.
