Reduction of dislocated hips

Abstract

Most veterinarians in dairy practice will have been presented with a cow with a coxofemoral luxation (commonly known as dislocated hip) usually either over the calving period, related to calving paralysis, milk fever etc., or more commonly, during the mating period when cows riding each other on the cow yard slip, spread their legs abnormally and dislocate their hip joints.

During my time in dairy practice, I have developed methods of diagnosis, prognosis and reduction of the dislocated hip. I have had as many reduction failures as I have had successes, but all cases help my understanding and knowledge of hip dislocation and the successes make me keep trying.