Sally’s Second Chance: Walking Towards a Pain‑Free Life
Sally arrived with a quiet bravery that hid just how much she’d been coping with. An old ankle fracture had fused in the wrong position, and she was born with a painful hip defect. After careful assessment with our veterinary team, Sally recently had a femoral head excision (FHO) — a surgery that stops the painful bone‑on‑bone contact in the hip so she can move more comfortably.
Quick facts
• Injury history: fused ankle (old break)
• Congenital issue: malformed hip
• Procedure: FHO (femoral head excision)
• Goal: pain relief and functional, happy movement
What Was Going On
Fused ankle: Because the joint can’t bend properly, Sally had to walk awkwardly for a long time.
Painful hip: The congenital defect meant the ball and socket didn’t sit right, causing inflammation and pain.
The Surgery — In Plain English
An FHO removes the ball of the hip joint. Without that painful bone‑on‑bone contact, the surrounding muscles develop a comfortable “false joint.” For dogs like Sally, it’s a reliable way to reduce pain and give them back everyday movement.
How Sally Is Doing Now
She’s rested well and no longer needs pain relief
Her rehabilitation period is over & she is racing around as any normal young dog of her age would
Thank You
Sally was lucky to come under our care. Too many pups like her never receive the support they need and go on to live very painful lives, lacking normal mobility. Your support makes the difference—thank you for standing with Sally and with every dog we can reach.