FAQs
Do knee braces help dogs?
A dog knee brace provides support and stabilization to the knee joint. When the ligament is torn, the knee becomes unstable and joint is subject to abnormal or excessive motion. The knee brace helps control the forward slide of the tibia on the femur, which is the main role of the cranial cruciate ligament. Supporting and stabilizing the knee joint, the brace contributes to healing by allowing scar tissue formation. Even though the CCL gets all the attention, it is one of four ligaments that help stabilize the knee, along with the posterior cruciate and lateral (outside) and medial (inside) collateral ligaments. The brace supports of all four ligaments, when the CCL is compromised.
Can a dog recover from a torn ACL without surgery?
Every dog is different so there is no concrete answer. It depends on many factors such as age, severity of the tear, and the treatment options that are used to help in the recovery process. If used consistently and as a continue here are alternatives to invasive surgery, proper rehabilitation focused on muscle strengthening, laser treatments, underwater treadmills are becoming more well known and available.
HOW TO PUT A KNEE BRACE ON A DOG?
You can put on a dog knee brace by following these simples steps:
1. Position the dog's leg in the brace by aligning the shell piece by centering the Tamarack joints so they align with the knee center. The easiest way to identify the knee center is by bending the dogs leg. You will see a top and bottom boney protrusion. Find these two protrusion points. The knee center is the midway point between these two protrusions.
2. Ensure the bottom shell piece of the brace is above the hock(ankle bone). Begin strapping the hock. Strap the middle strap and then the thigh strap. If the brace has a front tibial strap, fasten only after all back straps are secured.
3. Have your dog take several steps with the brace and ensure the knee brace does not fall and the knee center is aligned.
4. Check to make sure that there is two fingers worth from the top of brace to the groin (where the upper thigh meets the abdomen).
5. Once aligned properly snug up all straps even tighter and allow your dog to get accustom to the brace for a half hour.
6. Build up wear time every day with an additional half hour. Check to make sure your dog has no irritation or redness with the brace
7. Reach out to the knee brace specialist if you have concerns about fitment or irritation.
Do dog knee braces work?
Yes, dog knee braces do work. It can depend on the type of brace. Soft knee braces do not provide a enough support for a CCL tear or a luxating patella. Our dog knee braces are customized to your dog's leg to ensure they are getting the support and stabilization they need to start a healthy pain free recovery.
What knee brace do doctors recommend?
Typically, the best brace for dogs are ones that provide adequate support to the joint without limiting range of motion. While compression sleeves and soft braces help to alleviate a little bit of pain, they are not effective when it comes to the healing process. The best dog braces are custom because they provide sufficient support to the tibia preventing drawer motion, reinjury of the ccl, which allows the ccl tear to heal over time. Also custom braces are made specifically for the dog by a cast of the dog's leg. As a result, the brace stays suspended on the leg and doesn't need another strap over the top of the dog to suspend it.
WHAT ARE ORTHOPEDIC DOG KNEE BRACES?
It's a custom-built brace made by a trainer orthotics & prosthetic technician using a cast of a dog's leg. We offer a dog performance knee brace that is for partial CCL tears but for a full CCL tear and more support to the tibia we recommend you purchase our custom knee brace.
Are dog knee braces effective?
Yes, dog knee braces are effective. Knee braces can help with many conditions and offer the support they need for their knee. A dog brace can be an option for dogs who are non-surgical candidates, that need support to an affected area, help with joint stabilization, decreases the time and expense of injury/post-surgical recovery, helps improve your dog's activity level, and can reduce pressure on the contralateral (opposite) limb. Our custom dog knee braces can also help prevent joint deterioration that can advance when more stress is being put on the opposite leg that isn't being treated.
Where can I purchase a dog knee brace near me?
You can purchase a dog knee brace directly from Animal Ortho Care in Blaine, MN. We offer free onsite castings for custom dog knee braces and use the mold of your dog's leg to build their brace. After the fabrication of your dog's brace is finished, we will have you come back in for a fitting of the brace to determine if any quick modifications need to be made. If your dog's brace fits great, then on the way to a healthy recovery they go. If you are not located near our headquarters in Minnesota, you can purchase directly from the website and Animal Ortho Care will ship your cast and brace to you for free.
Where to buy a dog knee brace?
If you are not located near our headquarters in Minnesota, you can purchase directly from the website www.aocpet.com. We offer free shipping on all of our custom braces and casts. We offer a variety of custom braces that are specialized to help your dog heal and support an injury.
Are knee braces good for dogs?
Yes, knee braces are good for dogs. Knee braces can help with many conditions and offer the support they need for their knee while being able to put weight on their knee. A custom brace will help build up muscle after being injured and decrease any atrophy in the injured leg. A dog brace can be an option for dogs who are non-surgical candidates, that need support to an affected area, help with joint stabilization, decreases the time and expense of injury/post-surgical recovery, helps improve your dog's activity level, and can reduce pressure on the contralateral (opposite) limb.
Can a dog recover from an ACL Tear without getting surgery?
Yes, a dog can recover from an ACL Tear without getting surgery but depending on the severity of the injury, a full tear may not heal with treatment. A partial tear can require an average of 6 months to stabilize and may take up to a year to form mature scar tissue to better stabilize the knee. A custom brace helps to heal the Cranial cruciate ligament by keeping the tibia in place preventing furthering tearing of the ccl. A full tear will take longer on average to heal than partial tears due to the severity of the injury. It won't help to heal a full tear, but it will help further joint deterioration and the acceleration of arthritis. A custom brace is a long-term management option for dog's that are not candidates for surgery.
Is there a dog knee brace for a luxating patella?
We don't offer a brace specific to this condition, but we build our dog knee brace based on the condition of the dog and will be able to customize it for a luxating patella. Our custom dog knee brace can be used to help by limiting the sideways movement of the leg and to keep the patella in place.
Is there a dog knee brace for torn meniscus?
Yes, we do have a custom dog brace that can be built specifically to help with a torn meniscus and can be used to keep the joint stabilized and provide support to the affected area. Small tears typically heal on their own but more severe may require surgery. A custom brace is a long-term option that can help stabilize and support the knee and give pain relief.
Do you have a dog ACL knee brace?
Yes, we do have a dog ACL knee brace that is available for purchase. We offer a performance dog knee brace that can be used for a partial ACL tear and a custom dog knee brace that we recommend using for both a partial and full ACL tear. Our custom dog knee brace offers more support and stabilization to the knee while also reducing pressure on the opposite limb preventing any farther injuries. Our custom is also a better option for long term pain management.
Is there a dog knee brace for cruciate ligament?
Yes, there is a knee brace for the cruciate ligament. We offer a custom dog knee brace that we recommend for a full CCL (cruciate ligament) tear and a performance dog knee brace for a partial CCL (cruciate ligament) tear. Our performance dog knee brace can provide support and stability for post-operative recovery.
Is there a dog brace for arthritis?
Yes, we do have a dog knee brace that can be built specifically to help with arthritis, but we do offer a custom knee brace or a performance dog knee brace that can be used to help with chronic pain due to arthritis.
Where can I purchase a dog stifle brace near me?
You can purchase a dog stifle brace directly from Animal Ortho Care in Blaine, MN. We offer free onsite castings for custom dog stifle braces and use the mold of your dog's leg to build their brace. After the fabrication of your dog's brace is finished, we will have you come back in for a fitting of the brace to determine if any quick modifications need to be made. If your dog's brace fits great, then on the way to a healthy recovery they go.
How to make a dog knee brace?
It is recommended for pet owners to consult with a veterinary orthotic expert and not attempt to make a brace themselves for a dog. Braces that are made incorrectly can cause more damage to the dog's leg and can impact compliance, due to the pain the dog remembered from a bad fitting brace.
