Total Hip Replacement (THR) is considered by most surgeons to be the gold standard for treatment of severe hip arthritis in larger dogs.  Generally, dogs greater than 40lbs will be sufficiently large enough to allow implantation of the hip replacement systems currently available.  A hip replacement provides an anatomically and functionally normal hip and will relieve the discomfort associated with arthritis of the hip joint.  The expectation with hip replacement is to return to 100% normal function with no restrictions on exercise.  Although the possibility of complications exists as with any surgery, overall success with hip replacement is estimated between 92 and 95%.