This may seem a little off topic. I attended the annual Open House for the Vet School at A&M (with my son's Boy Scout Troop). It was an amazing event.  I learned much about the new hip joint replacement surgery. They have an entire physical therapy plan for the recovery that includes a water treadmill. The water takes the dog's weight off the new joint till the dog recovers.  The surgery is very pricey but if I were to have a dog that needed it I would only take them to A&M-this is extremely high praise since my blood is burnt orange.