PetA total hip replacement is the gold-standard fix for a dog with a painful, arthritic, or dysplastic hip — it swaps the damaged joint for an artificial one and can restore near-normal, pain-free movement. It's also one of the most expensive orthopedic surgeries in veterinary medicine, because it uses custom implants, a board-certified surgeon, and a referral hospital. Here's what it costs in Canada, the cheaper alternative, and how insurance treats it.
What it costs in Canada
| Scenario | Typical cost (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Total hip replacement (THR), per hip | ~$6,000–$12,000+ |
| Both hips (staged, over time) | ~$15,000–$24,000 |
| Femoral head ostectomy (FHO) — cheaper alternative | ~$1,500–$4,000 |
| Specialist consult + imaging (X-rays/CT) — often billed first | ~$300–$1,000 |
| Post-op rehab / physiotherapy | ~$60–$150 per session |
| Revision surgery (if a complication occurs) | Can equal or exceed the original |
These figures are estimates for general guidance only, not quotes, compiled from publicly available Canadian veterinary pricing. A THR is a board-certified specialist procedure: the cost bundles the implants, pre-surgical imaging, the surgical team, general anesthesia, and several days of hospitalized recovery, so it sits far above a routine surgery. FHO is a cheaper salvage option that removes the ball of the joint rather than replacing it. Referral hospitals in major metros (Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa, Montreal) sit at the top of every range. See How we estimated these costs.
With insurance vs paying out of pocket
| Scenario | You pay | Insurer pays |
|---|---|---|
| No insurance | Full $6,000–$12,000+ per hip | $0 |
| Comprehensive policy (not pre-existing) | Deductible + co-insurance share, up to annual limit | Generally covered as illness/injury surgery |
| Hip dysplasia noted before enrolment | Likely the full cost | $0 — pre-existing / often a breed exclusion |
| Accident-only policy | Full cost for developmental hip disease | Covers only accident-caused hip injury |
Why a hip replacement costs what it does
A THR isn't a bigger version of a routine surgery — it's a different tier. The dog needs a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, custom-sized implants (a metal stem, ball, and socket), pre-surgical X-rays or a CT scan to size them, a full surgical team, general anesthesia, and several days of hospitalized, carefully-managed recovery. All of that lives at a referral hospital, and the implants alone are a major line item. That's why one hip runs $6,000–$12,000+, and why a big dog that needs both — done as two separate surgeries months apart — can approach the price of a car.
THR vs FHO — the cheaper alternative
There are two surgical fixes for a bad hip, and the gap between them is large. A total hip replacement rebuilds the joint with implants and gives the best functional result — the goal is a near-normal, athletic dog. A femoral head ostectomy (FHO) instead removes the ball of the joint, letting the body form a fibrous 'false joint'; it's a salvage procedure at $1,500–$4,000 that manages pain well, especially in smaller or lighter dogs, but doesn't restore the same range of motion. Surgeons often reserve THR for larger or more active dogs where function matters most, and FHO for smaller dogs or tighter budgets. Related developmental hip disease is covered in our hip dysplasia cost guide.
What drives your total
The big levers are which surgery (THR vs FHO), one hip or two, the dog's size (larger dogs need larger, costlier implants and more anesthesia), and where you go — referral hospitals in big cities sit at the top. Add the specialist consult and imaging up front, and post-op rehab to rebuild muscle, and the all-in number climbs. Because most hip-replacement candidates have hip dysplasia, a developmental disease common in large breeds, the cost often arrives in a dog that was diagnosed young — which makes the insurance timing below critical.
The insurance angle — and the pre-existing trap
Comprehensive (accident-and-illness) plans generally cover hip surgery — THR or FHO — as treatment for a medical problem, at your reimbursement rate after the deductible and up to your annual limit, provided the hip condition wasn't pre-existing. Here's the trap: hip dysplasia is often noted on a young dog's records years before surgery is needed, and once it's documented, an insurer will exclude it. For at-risk large breeds, that means insuring early — as a puppy, before any hip is flagged — is the only way to have a future $10,000 replacement covered. A high enough annual payout limit matters too, since a single hip can consume most of a low-limit policy. See best pet insurance in Canada.
How we estimated these costs
The dollar figures here are estimates for general guidance, not quotes, compiled from publicly available Canadian veterinary pricing. Real costs vary by clinic, province, the dog's size, which procedure is done, and whether one or both hips are treated — confirm with a referral surgeon. Sources we drew on:
- Canadian orthopedic surgery, implant, and referral cost ranges: our Canadian Vet Cost Index, compiled from publicly available Canadian clinic pricing.
- Related costs from our hip dysplasia and ACL (cruciate) surgery cost guides.
Considering insurance?
A single hip replacement is $6,000–$12,000+, and at-risk large breeds are often flagged with hip dysplasia as puppies — which excludes it later. Comprehensive insurance covers hip surgery only if the condition wasn't pre-existing, so insuring early, with a high annual limit, is everything. Compare Canadian plans before the diagnosis.