After close examination Noel recommended a total hip replacement to repair Chief’s damaged hip joint. Chief’s owners were away on holiday which made the whole situation even more difficult.
The cost of a total hip replacement can quickly reach £5000 and Chief’s owners were struggling to find the money to pay for Chief’s surgery and because of this, had to consider putting Chief to sleep.
![](https://www.fitzpatrickreferrals.co.uk/app/uploads/2015/02/DSCF4344-1140x760.jpg)
Noel was reluctant to put Chief down and it is always extremely distressing for everyone involved when surgery is an unexpected expense for a pet owner so in this situation Noel helped Chief’s owners by offering them a payment plan to pay for Chief’s surgery.
![Chief with his family Chief's story - total hip replacement](/wp-content/uploads/legacy/u196/DSCF4339.jpg)
Chief went on to have a total hip replacement and recovered fully from surgery. This case highlights the importance of preparing for the unexpected when you own a pet. We recommend all pet owners investigate insuring their animals, which can help meet the costs associated with complex and unpredictable medical and surgical conditions.