Prognosis for Equine Hip Dislocation

According to the "Horse Owner's Veterinary Handbook," the prognosis for equine hip dislocation, also known as coxofemoral luxation, is bad. A horse may survive getting the hip put back in place, but it will not be strong enough to carry a rider again.

  1. Cause

    • Horse hips do not dislocate easily. It takes severe trauma, such as getting hit by a car, to dislocate a hip, according to "Adams' Lameness in Horses," by Ted S. Stashack and Ora Robert Adams.

    Significance

    • If a horse has undergone such trauma to pop the femur bone out of the hip socket, then the horse will most likely also be suffering from many other complications and injuries.

    Consideration

    • The prognosis for a horse with a hip dislocation depends on whether any bones in the leg or hip have been broken. If not, then the horse may recover enough to live or be bred but not to work.

    Diagnosis

    • Horses with suspected hip dislocation must undergo X-rays to see whether the bones are broken. If they are, then surgery is required to try and repair the damage. This lowers the horse's chances of survival.

    Time Frame

    • In the "Practical Guide to Lameness in Horses," Ted S. Stashank states that if a horse's femur bone stays in the socket for 3 months after being replaced, the horse should survive, although the chance of this happening is rare.