Exercises for Dogs After a Femoral Head Ostectomy

Post-surgical care for a femoral head ostectomy, which removes the head of the femur, calls for restricted movement for up to 12 weeks while your dog recovers from the orthopedic procedure. During this time, it is essential for the healing process that you engage him in a number of different exercises to slowly restore hip muscle and mobility.

  1. Week 1

    • Very little movement happens this first week as the surgical site mends; doing anything the least bit taxing can tear stitches and misalign bone placement. According to Adamson Veterinary Services, the first physical maneuver is passive range of motion: gentle leg flexing and hip extension. Perform these slow repetitions thrice daily for 20 to 30 times each interval. Three leisurely, 10-minute leash walks every day are also a standard procedure despite the fact your dog will likely hobble along on only three legs.

    Weeks 2 and 3

    • Passive range of motion exercises are no longer necessary at this point if your dog's leg and hip are moving in sync with his other limbs; otherwise continue with the same repetition and frequency until he has reached that level of mobility. Nashville-based mobile vet Paul Newman writes that slow leash walks can be upped to as much as 20 minutes for each of the three daily walks. You may see your dog start to touch his toe to the ground as he moves.

    Weeks 4 and 5

    • In addition to 30-minute slow leash walks, your dog can now begin to exercise his knee joint. Place your dog in a sit/stand position with his impaired leg flush with the wall; have him repeat this exercise twice a day for up to five minutes, recommends Adamson Veterinary Services in Salem, Ohio. Add to that a series of figure-eight walks that circle both left and right, repeating 10 to 15 times on each side for a daily set of three. This is also a good time to begin hydrotherapy (swimming) for as many as three minutes twice daily to encourage a fuller range of motion in a buoyant environment.

    Weeks 6-8

    • Increase the speed of each walk just to the point where your dog is still putting weight on the healing leg as he moves; add another 10 minutes for a total of 40, three times daily. This is also the point, according to Adamson Veterinary Services, where your walks should incorporate approximately 20 minutes of incline and decline on hilly or similar terrain. Steps also become an important part of your dog's post-operative therapy; have him slowly climb a flight of stairs between five and 10 times daily. Maintain the same swimming schedule as in weeks 4 and 5.

    Weeks 9-12

    • The frequency of walks decreases while the duration increases in these three final weeks, with one or two brisk daily treks of up to 40 minutes each. Newman suggests adding a twice-daily short run of 10 to 15 minutes -- without making any turns -- that will build muscle and mobility without putting any twisting strain on the hip area.