Joint replacements/new joints

The vet mentioned in passing yesterday(when I wasn't there, it was OH), that Tango could perhaps have a couple of joints replaced, at 7 (next month) she is young enough. He was referring to her elbows though and not her shoulder, where the terrible arthritis is.
I wondered what experience others had of this? It was only mentioned in passing, I think he was thinking out loud. My vets are specialists and known throughout the country for their orthopaedic work so I would discuss in great detail with them before considering it...
My gut reaction is it is a huge op to go through twice and still be left with a very troublesome shoulder...

Will watch this post with interest, my beagle is 7 soon and has bad hip dysplaysia so have been told he may need a hip replacement he has a heart murmer too so think if they think he needs one it will be sooner rather than later. I suppose you will have to weigh things up once you have the full facts,i'm sure someone on here will have some info,

Teagan has severe HD, and the orthopedic(sp) specialist always said she would be a candidate for both hips replaced at some point (not at same time obviously!).....
My opinion is that I couldn't put her through it - as much as I love her and she is my life, it upsets me even thinking about it, but I would be scared to put her through major surgery, and all that cage rest - not letting her get excited at seeing me incase the new joint moved whilst it was healing etc.

I'd rather she enjoyed her life now, and i'll keep her as pain free as possible (as she has arthritis too). I've got her on Cartrophen and it's worked really well, so we're both happy atm

Are you insured? Orthopaedic survery is very expensive both for human and animal alike. It is also quite invasive.

Joint replacement was mentioned as a possibility when one of my dogs was first diagnosed with HD. The vet thought it was about £2,000 to £4,000 per hip. Even if you've got insurance, it would have to be a pretty good policy to pay out that much!

Having said that, I know several people that have hip replacements & the surgery's not as drastic or invasive as you'd think. When I had surgery on my knee, the man in the next bed was in for a hip replacement before me. The surgeon said it would only take him about 45 mins to do the op & that this man would be up on his feet the next day!

It would be worth chatting it through with your vet first before you discard the option of joint replacement ~ provided that finances allow this to be a possibility!

Personally if she was still going to be in pain from her shoulder then I wouldn't have it done. But I think with such long recoveries and how invasive it is it depends on the dog.
I can only go by my Shady and her cruciate op, many many dogs have it done and after the long rest period go on to live long pain free normal lives. My Shady was not the right candidate for that treatment mentally and I knew that deep down, but still I went ahead with it. Now with the outcome, although it gave me a few more very precious months with her it also gave her a couple of months of mental torture and I really do wish I had never put my girl through it as for her there was much more pain than gain.
My greyhound is totally different mentally and I would not hesitate to have it done for him.
But as I say it would depend on the quality of life afterwards and I think thats what you need to weigh up.

It depends on what the patient us getting done. Ive worked over 30 years in Orthopaedics & 12 of those with a hip specialist. They do get hip & knees up the next day - a lot of course depends on the health of the patient. Some need to spend 24-48 hours a high dependency unit before going back to the ward. The patient in your ward would have been a very fit indivual with no other health issues & probably on no medication other than painkillers to alleviate the discomfort in the hip prior surgery.

A friend of mine had hers done end Sept, had it done same day as admission & walked out 2 1/2 days later on crutches!

I would be guided by my vet & see what he feels is best & what Madmare says about the recovery rate of each individual dog is very true. You know your own dog best.