The choice of many for smaller dogs, this surgery is extremely successful in dogs that weigh under fifty pounds at full growth. Under anesthetic, the head and neck of the femur are exposed, and removed, with any remaining edges filed down for smoothness. The now-empty hip socket is also filed to eliminate the worn-down edges. The end result is a "floating" joint, where the bones no longer meet, but rather float in place on a cushion of scar tissue, muscles and ligaments.
 

Most dogs that are less than 30 lbs. in body weight and are not overweight
have use of the leg after femoral head ostectomy (FHO) that is nearly
indistinguishable from normal use. Above this weight, there is usually some
reduction in function, most commonly seen as an inability to jump in and
out of the car, or activities like this. After a period of physical
therapy, usually lasting about 6 weeks,  most dogs have nearly normal use
of the limb and this improves for several months after that. When examined,
it is possible in most cases to detect a reduction in the range of motion
of the limb but this is not usually detectable in observing every day
activities

We are now less than 24 hours post surgery and Peaches is amazing. If we let her, she'd be running a marathon. We're letting her move around just a bit....... she's eating and taking care of all her "duties".