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How Much Does a Total Hip Replacement Cost for a Dog?

Typical US range: $4,000 to $10,000 per hip for a total hip replacement in a dog, in the cost guide published by CareCredit. It is the most expensive of the hip dysplasia surgeries, whose published range overall runs from $800 to $10,000 depending on the operation chosen. The main alternative, femoral head ostectomy, averages $2,791, and the gap between those two numbers is the central decision on this page.

A total hip replacement does for a dog exactly what it does for a person: it removes a painful, worn-out ball-and-socket joint and replaces it with metal and plastic implants, giving the dog a new, pain-free hip that works almost like the original. It is considered the most effective surgical treatment for severe hip dysplasia and advanced hip arthritis, and it is priced like the major orthopedic surgery it is.

Most owners reach this page through a hip dysplasia diagnosis, and the surgeon's real question is not whether the hip can be replaced, but whether replacement is the right buy for this dog, at this age and size, against the cheaper operations and against medical management. This guide keeps to the money: the published ranges, what they include, and how the alternatives compare.

What the price includes

The orthopedic consultation and imaging. A specialist exam and hip X-rays, often under sedation for correct positioning, to confirm the dog is a candidate and to template the implant size.
Pre-anesthetic workup. Bloodwork and a general health check before a long orthopedic anesthetic, especially in an older dog.
The surgery and the implants. Removal of the diseased femoral head and socket, and fitting of the artificial ball, cup and stem. The implant itself is a significant part of this operation's price and a reason it cannot be done cheaply.
Hospital stay. Usually one to a few nights of monitoring, pain control and first physiotherapy assessments.
Structured recovery. Weeks of strictly controlled exercise, follow-up X-rays to confirm the implant position and bone response, and often formal rehabilitation. Rechecks stretch across the first months and are part of the real cost.

What pushes the price up or down

One hip or two. The price is per hip, $4,000 to $10,000. Many dogs with dysplasia have two bad hips, though often one is worse and is replaced first; some dogs never need the second done once the worst side is pain-free. Staging the hips spreads the cost across time.
The dog's size. Total hip replacement suits medium and large dogs best, and implant sizes, anesthesia and aftercare all scale with weight. Very large dogs sit at the top of the range.
Implant system and surgeon. This surgery is performed by specially trained orthopedic surgeons, often board-certified, at referral centers. The implant system used and the center's pricing explain much of the $4,000 to $10,000 spread.
Age and candidacy. The dog must be skeletally mature and free of infection and certain nerve problems. A health workup that finds a problem can delay or rule out surgery, which is money spent to avoid a far larger wasted spend.
Complications. Luxation of the new joint, fracture, infection or implant loosening are uncommon but real, and revision surgery, when needed, is another major bill. Ask the surgeon for their complication rate and what revision would cost.
Recovery effort is a cost too. Two to three months of controlled exercise, confinement and rechecks are required. Owners price this in time rather than dollars, but a recovery that cannot be delivered is a reason to choose a different operation.

Ways to pay less without cutting care

Compare it honestly with femoral head ostectomy. FHO, which removes the femoral head and lets a false joint form, averages $2,791 (range $2,210 to $5,078) in the same publisher's figures. It suits smaller, lighter dogs best. For a large, heavy, active dog the replacement usually earns its premium in function; for a small dog it may not.
Ask about medical management first. Weight control, pain medication, joint supplements and physiotherapy manage many dysplastic dogs for years at monthly costs far below surgery. CareCredit's hip guide puts the overall dysplasia surgery range as low as $800 at the simplest end, and management below that. Surgery is for the dog that management can no longer keep comfortable.
Teaching hospitals. University orthopedic services perform hip replacements with faculty surgeons at below private referral rates. Waiting lists exist, but hip dysplasia is rarely a tonight emergency, so this is one of the most plannable savings in this section.
Insure the next dog early, or the other hip. Hip dysplasia is hereditary and often bilateral. A policy taken out before symptoms and before any vet record of dysplasia is the difference between a deductible and a $4,000 to $10,000 decision.

Is a total hip replacement optional?

Yes, in the sense that no dog has to have one: the alternatives are the cheaper operations, principally FHO, and medical management with weight control and pain relief. What is not optional, once a hip is severely arthritic, is doing something about the pain. The choice is among ways of paying: a large sum once for the best mechanical result, a moderate sum for a lesser operation, or smaller sums every month for management that works until it does not. Your surgeon's job is to tell you which tier your dog's size, age and joint damage honestly belong in.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a total hip replacement cost for a dog?

CareCredit's hip dysplasia surgery guide puts total hip replacement at $4,000 to $10,000 per hip. The workup, hospital stay and follow-up imaging may be inside or outside a given center's quote, so ask for the all-in figure.

What is the cheaper alternative to a hip replacement?

Femoral head ostectomy (FHO), which removes the ball of the joint so a pain-free false joint forms. The same publisher's study averages it at $2,791, ranging from $2,210 to $5,078. It generally works best in smaller, lighter dogs; a total replacement restores nearer-normal mechanics for large dogs.

How long does a dog hip replacement last?

The implants are designed to last the dog's life, and most do. The early months carry the main risks, including the new joint slipping out of place, which is why exercise restriction after surgery is strict and non-negotiable.

How long is recovery from a total hip replacement?

Expect roughly two to three months of controlled recovery: confinement, short leash walks that lengthen gradually, and recheck X-rays. Many dogs are visibly more comfortable within weeks, which is exactly when owners are tempted to relax restrictions too early.

Does pet insurance cover hip replacement for dogs?

Policies that cover hereditary conditions can cover hip dysplasia surgery, but dysplasia is a named exclusion or waiting-period condition in many policies, often with a long orthopedic waiting period. A policy bought after any vet record of hip problems will treat the condition as pre-existing.

Can both hips be replaced at once?

Usually the hips are staged, one at a time, with recovery in between, because the dog needs a sound leg to stand on after surgery. Doing the worse hip first sometimes improves the dog enough that the second operation can be delayed or reconsidered.

Please read this first

The prices on this page are published US averages and ranges from the sources listed below. They are planning figures, not quotes, and your own clinic's written estimate is the number that counts for your dog. This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it does not replace your own veterinarian, who knows your dog. In an emergency, contact your veterinarian, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435, or the Pet Poison Helpline on (855) 764-7661 straight away. A consultation fee may apply on the helplines.

Sources

Last updated: November 2026. Every figure on this page was checked against the sources listed above. How we work: our methodology.

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