Veterinary Technician Practice Exam

The Femoral Head Osteotomy (FHO) is a well-established surgical procedure used to alleviate hip dysplasia in dogs. This condition involves a malformation of the hip joint that can lead to pain and mobility issues. During an FHO procedure, the head of the femur, the bone that fits into the hip socket, is removed. By doing this, the painful joint surface is eliminated, allowing for the formation of a new pseudojoint made from surrounding soft tissues. This can significantly reduce pain and improve the dog's quality of life, particularly in cases where other interventions have failed or are not appropriate.

While osteotomy is a term that refers to cutting a bone and can be related to various surgical procedures, it is not specifically designed as a standard surgical treatment for hip dysplasia itself. Spaying and neutering are procedures that involve the removal of reproductive organs and do not address hip dysplasia, which is a skeletal issue. Therefore, the FHO is the most relevant and effective surgical intervention for dogs suffering from this condition.