[Excision arthroplasty of the hip joint in dogs and cats. Long-term results of the veterinary surgery clinic at the Justus Liebig University of Giessen].

Since the introduction of excision arthoplasty in veterinary medicine the question of indication is often asked. The maximum of the patient's body weight up to which surgery should be performed is another discussed problem. A long-term study from January 1985 to July 1995 at the Veterinary Surgery Department at the Justus-Liebig-University was carried out to answer these questions (222 patients, 155 dogs and 67 cats). Trauma and Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease came first in the list of indications. In case of postoperative problems trouble with lameness after high activity, long rest or at the time of change in weather could be seen. No owner of an animal thought that the life quality of his animal was restricted by this occasional problems. At a body weight over 30 kg the occasional problems were more often seen but every patient had less clinical problems after surgery than before. In this group no deterioration was seen.