FHO surgery

**lvpets2002** · 03-06-2009, 12:24 PM

Yes I agree with the others.. Best to get the Vet to instruct you.. Welcome Havoc your such a Cutie Sweetie Pie.. Hope you get better real soon..

**aTailOf2Kitties** · 03-06-2009, 12:54 PM

Evidentally it is somewhat easy for young cats to take a jump or fall and the leg bone breaks through the hip socket because the bones are not fully calcified. FHO surgery is one in which they take the head off of the femur bone and make a false joint with what is left. There is no direct contact between the femur bone and the hip socket, everything is held loosely in place by muscles, tendons, etc. Since cats are relatively lightweight they do pretty well with it from what I understand. I think my vet said that Havoc's femur was broken, not the hip so I assume the head may have broken off of the leg. She did say it was ground down to pretty much nothing so I imagine it was just kinda rolling around in there as he walked. I'll ask to see Xrays if they're not too busy when I get his sutures out.

I can't seem to find the info on the actual surgery but I did find this "ask-a-vet" type site where someone inquired about their cat. 2nd question down.
http://www.vetinfo4cats.com/catortho.html

**Grace** · 03-06-2009, 01:17 PM

Did you speak with your Vet today? Internet sources are fine, but your Vet is the one who did the surgery and should answer your questions.

**aTailOf2Kitties** · 03-07-2009, 07:16 AM

I admit it, I didn't call the vet. But you should see this cat! 5 days after surgery and he's running as well now as he did before they patched him up. I am truly amazed. Yesterday Toby pushed a door into Havoc's "magic" hip and he didn't even holler. I still keep one of them in a cage when I can't supervise though. Got the FuzzButt 500 going on right now- they're running laps up and down the hall.

**Grace** · 03-07-2009, 07:35 AM

Originally Posted by aTailOf2Kitties

I admit it, I didn't call the vet. But you should see this cat! 5 days after surgery and he's running as well now as he did before they patched him up. I am truly amazed. Yesterday Toby pushed a door into Havoc's "magic" hip and he didn't even holler. I still keep one of them in a cage when I can't supervise though. Got the FuzzButt 500 going on right now- they're running laps up and down the hall.

I know I'm becoming redundant here, but WHY didn't you call your Vet? You come here, asking what you should do about your cat who has just had surgery. Instead you should have been tallking to the Vet who did the surgery.

**aTailOf2Kitties** · 03-07-2009, 07:44 AM

actually I was really looking for anyone else who'd had the surgery and was wondering how pleased they were with the long-term results

**pomtzu** · 03-07-2009, 11:07 AM

Originally Posted by aTailOf2Kitties

actually I was really looking for anyone else who'd had the surgery and was wondering how pleased they were with the long-term results

What difference would anyone else's results make, since every cat is different???

And your vet is too "busy" to go over the x-rays and then not give any post-op instructions??? I think I would have to find another vet!
You really need to call and check to see what you should be allowing this cat to do, since if he is as active as you say, he could possibly be doing harm to himself since it's so soon after surgery! He may appear to be just fine, but could be causing more damage by not resting the area for a longer period of time.

Your vet "should" be able to tell you what's okay and what's not.