Dog Bracing Made Simple

Super excited about the research coming out on the Hero Brace. Special thanks to Dr. Kelly at Online Pet Health for the interview on the research presented by Kiki Haeusler at the IAVRPT at the University of Cambridge in August of 2022.  

It’s been a relaxing spring day at your house. As you leave the kitchen, you realize that your senior Golden Retriever is no longer by your side. You look back to see him struggling next to the dishwasher, one rear leg caught under the sharp sheet metal edge. You act quickly. Minutes later, you have untangled his leg and are confronted with a deep cut above his ankle. Your mind races as you prepare to go to the vet. Is this repairable? How long will it take to recover? Who has the knowledge to help? Hunter’s Journey This is what happened to Hunter, Amy’s low-key Golden Retriever.  Amy knew that he needed immediate attention and had the Achilles tendon on the back of his ankle repaired by a veterinarian. Amy was told Hunter would be in a cast for 8 weeks and then start several months of physical therapy or “Rehab”. During rehab, the tendon would still be healing and would need support if Hunter were to go back to his normal play quickly. Who could help guide her through the healing process and provide a quality brace? His Therapist to the Rescue Luckily, Jolene, Hunter’s rehab therapist at VCA PineRidge, suggested supporting the leg with a custom ankle brace from Hero Braces. Their team guided Hunter through the process to create a brace to support his hock. This brace allowed Hunter to be more active right away and served to protect the Achilles tendon as he regained strength. Amy felt that wearing the Hero Brace gave Hunter more confidence to move and play during his recovery, and now, a year later, he continues to do well. Even though Hunter has been given permission to go without his Hero Brace, ”Hunter is more confident when he wears it,” Amy noted, and “Hunter won’t jump or use stairs without his brace.” He is “just as mobile now with the brace as he was before” his injury. “His brace gives him confidence so he can let his playful spirit shine!” Healing Achilles Injuries in Dogs Achilles tendon injuries can be debilitating if left alone, and even after corrective surgery, the tendon is never quite as strong and can require continued custom support. Hero Braces has a custom Ankle Brace that allows your dog to play sooner and fits in nicely with traditional Rehab. Although Hunter still wears his brace daily, many pets graduate and no longer use the brace daily or use it only when playing hard or going on hikes.  As an owner, it’s comforting to know that Hero Braces is there to help speed recovery and prevent re-injury. Does your dog have an Achilles injury? Consider a hock brace.     Update:  After a full life, our gentle-souled Hunter recently crossed the rainbow bridge.  He will always be close to our hearts.  Hunter's mom, Amy, made a beautiful video of his life.  Please watch it here.

Caroline Adrian is a PT, PhD, and CCRP, and the new leader of Canine IQ and most recently at VCA Veterinary Specialists of Northern Colorado in Loveland, CO, where she was the Director of Rehabilitation Services for all VCA Hospitals. In 2005, Dr. Adrian met Hero's founder, Ben Blecha, through his uncle and co-founder, Dr. Wayne Watkins. Dr. Adrian was impressed with the unique Hero design and how it was based on established, biomechanical concepts. She was also impressed with how Ben made sure his designs 'worked' before ever introducing them to the public. Dr. Adrian stresses that it is the proper stability-providing, biomechanical design that allows the brace to be truly effective. A stifle orthosis may be used as an alternative to surgery when surgery isn't an option due to concomitant medical reasons or when finances are a concern. A Hero Brace can allow a dog to perform at any level, even when a meniscal tear is present. In her experience, she's noticed that other braces steer you away from a bracing option when a meniscal tear is involved. Dr. Adrian likes how simple the casting process is for the Hero Brace; the fact that it's done while the dog is side-lying and that it only takes 20-30 minutes in the clinic. She appreciates that the entire process is quick and simple: from talking with the client, to evaluating the dog, to casting and mailing the brace. She admires how Ben and the Hero team are extremely responsive to any questions or concerns, and she thinks the videos and learning tools online are most beneficial and easy to follow. Because of the accurate design, she likes that the brace itself is easy for clients to use with minimal complications and/or adjustments needed. She is glad that her clients are satisfied with the product and see positive results immediately with their dog after the first fitting! Dr. Adrian's patient, Sadie, sustained a CCL rupture in July 2013. Surgery was not an option as Sadie had several other issues, including polyarthritis, and had been on steroids long-term. Her owner, Cindy, recently sent Dr. Adrian an email to thank her for recommending a Hero Brace. From: Cindy Leary Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2014, 3:59 PM To: Carrie Adrian Subject: Re: Sadie with new knee brace Hey, Carrie....How are you? Sadie is handling her new "knee" fairly well. The other day I took her for a walk with the leash out of our back gate, which she hasn't been out of since her accident. We walked all along the breeze stone path, and it's all open acreage back there and very rugged; she pulled like crazy to get back there. Just seeing her reaction and happiness to her old stomping grounds was everything. She wears the brace for around 3 hours at a time and doesn't really pay any attention to it. SO upset at myself for not doing this sooner! Thanks for everything…..Cindy Dr. Adrian is proud to be able to offer Hero Braces to her clients, "Hero Braces are a viable, beneficial option for a cranial cruciate ligament rupture (+/- meniscal involvement) – even bilateral ruptures." She also recommends Hero Braces to fellow physical therapists, CCRPs, and veterinarians for their patients, "IT WORKS!" Dr Carrie Adrian, PT, PhD, CCRP, began her career in animal physical therapy in February 2000 at Alameda East Veterinary Hospital in Denver, CO. She received her PhD in Canine Biomechanics, the first degree of its kind in the country, from Colorado State University, with a research focus related to electromyography and the canine cruciate ligament. Dr. Adrian is so well respected in the field of canine rehabilitation that she has actually helped "write the book". She has authored several chapters in textbooks used by many entering the field. She is widely sought to speak at many conferences as an authority on topics such as rehab bracing and biomechanics.

Creating the perfect Casting can be summed up in four essential tips. Position. Tight. High. Criss-Cross. Understand each to make yourself the Casting superstar for Custom Orthotics! Let’s be clear on what “Casting” means in this article. Old school casts meant a kid with a broken arm had white plaster wrapped from elbow to wrist. These aren’t your old school casts! The word “Cast or Casting” is used because it sounds like “cast.” The material is fiberglass casting tape, used to make an impression of the limb. Position - The "Magic" of Walking Easily   This is where Hero Dog Braces really differ from other custom bracing. We ask for a cast with the dog lying on its side instead of standing. This is important for a couple of reasons. First is gravity.  Gravity is really what feeds any deformity.  The body weight pushes down on the legs, worsening the deformity.  Casting a dog while lying down neutralizes gravity, allowing you to focus on getting the limb into the corrected position. Second is rational.  Can you really get a dog to stand still for 15 minutes while the cast sets? Much less "correct" the leg while doing this. In our vet clinic, our team holds the dog to trim its nails. Casting is no different. So how do we correct the position?  It is important to remember what deformity we are trying to support. The cranial drawer of a cruciate tear is a unique motion. We reduce it differently from angular deformities like varus or valgus. When casting for the Knee Brace, pull the leg straight down perpendicular to the body. This will reduce the cranial drawer. Trying to cast in a “natural” standing position can cause the tibia to shift forward and adversely affect the fit and function of the custom orthotic. For the Ankle Brace, place the foot and ankle in a natural standing position.   The Wrist Brace reduces any varus (foot angled towards midline) or valgus (foot angled away from midline) deformity and places the foot in a natural standing angle. Typically, the pet is straight through the wrist, but it can vary with breed. If this one is confusing, give us a call, and we can help guide you through the process. Tight - Show us the Boney Landmarks   A Tight Casting is necessary for precision work. When the Hero Braces lab has exact dimensions taken from the Casting, they can create the best custom fit.   The Casting tape should be wrapped snugly to outline the bony prominences or bumps on the leg. If the Casting tape does not have sufficient tension, it will droop and fail to outline the prominences. This creates guesswork for the lab or necessitates another Cast. Remember, no padding is added, just a layer of stockinette to protect the limb. This keeps the Cast true to the leg's shape. Because the Cast will be removed as soon as it hardens, you don’t need to worry about pressure points. High - Capture the Groin   For the stifle, make sure the protective stockinette goes high into the groin or beyond the area to be cast. This is really important to have your helper focus on keeping the stockinette high. Notice where the hands are; it really helps to pull the stockinette high in the inside of the leg. When starting the Cast, casting tape is spiraled up the leg with a 50% overlap. The Casting tape wraps high into the groin for Custom Dog Knee Braces or to the joint above for the Wrist and Ankle Braces. Be sure to wrap to the end of the foot for our Custom Wrist and Ankle Braces. This technique enables the Hero Brace lab to identify landmarks, take measurements, and plan the proper dimensions of the Custom Brace. Criss-Cross - Make it Strong AND Thin This tip will make you happy when it comes time to cut off the cast. A thin cast is so much easier to cut through. A 50% overlap of the Casting material wrapped around the limb is completed by spiraling down at a 45-degree angle, like the spiral on a candy cane. Criss-crossing the material's weave creates a strong yet light Cast. The three layers created are thin enough to be cut off easily, yet they stay together during shipping and at the lab. For reference, download our Casting Tips PDF. For a more in-depth video about casting.  Watch our course from the UT Canine Rehab Lab If you have any questions or need a little help, we are here to support you. Make a quick phone call or send us an email. Hero Braces want to help you help more pets.

Though it’s not something we often think about, dogs use their elbows a lot. And the bigger the dog, the more weight that ends up on their elbows when they’re resting. Some dogs, especially large breeds, may develop elbow hygromas as a result. A hygroma forms under the skin as a fluid-filled, fibrous capsule in reaction to physical trauma on the dog’s soft tissues, including in areas like the elbows and hips. Elbow hygromas are not tumors or calluses. They’re inflammation that can turn serious if not taken care of. Hygromas generally start off soft and small, but repeated trauma can lead to growth and hardening. There is a risk of infection, which requires medical treatment. Elbow Hygroma Complications Though pet owners may not even notice elbow hygromas in some cases — in other cases, they may grow very large or become infected. Infection usually occurs after the hygroma ruptures, creating an open wound. If the hygroma gets infected, your veterinarian will likely prescribe antibiotics. Your vet may also recommend surgery if the situation worsens. These scenarios are not easy to overcome, considering how often dogs use their elbows. Healing any wound, whether from surgery or a rupture, will likely prove challenging in a spot like this. How to Prevent Elbow Hygromas Since a hygroma is an inflammation that’s basically a result of soft tissue stuck between a bone and a hard place, padding is the best kind of prevention. Make sure your dog has plenty of access to cushioned bedding, such as memory foam beds, especially if you have hard floors in your home and your dog spends a lot of time sleeping. Adding some floor padding may also help. Keeping a dog’s weight in check is also important. Maintaining a healthy weight for your dog isn’t only good for his or her joints, but also the areas covering the joints. The heavier a dog is, the more weight is placed on the elbows and other bony areas, which can lead to hygromas. This is why larger breeds may be more impacted. Elbow padding is another way to help prevent elbow hygromas from worsening or from forming in the first place. Providing this direct cushioning can help relieve pressure and give the swelling a chance to subside.   Standard-Length Adjustable DogLeggs cover mostly the elbow area. Scandi Orthopedic MPC Front Leg is made with a waterproof, stretchy, and breathable fabric without any seams inside. It covers the entire front leg. Add Some Cushion The best way to keep elbow hygromas from turning serious is by preventing them in the first place or catching them early. Keep an eye on the state of your dog’s elbows (and other bony areas) and act quickly by adding some cushion to your dog’s environment and elbows as soon as you can.  

Considering Euthanasia? If you found this post, it is likely that something bad just happened to your furry friend's leg. You may be searching for a perfect solution, and haven't found it yet. Worst case, you may even be wondering when to put down a dog with a torn ACL? First, DON'T; euthanasia is NOT the answer for this injury. There are lots of options to help a dog with a torn ACL. Dr. Brumett talks about them in this article. Let's see if this sounds similar to your situation... It's just like any other day; you're playing fetch with your dog, or is it? Normally, you throw the ball, he runs after it, and returns, tail wagging. YET, today, he doesn’t return right away. When you go find him, he's hopping back, unable to put weight on his rear leg. But he's still proud to have brought you the ball! A trip to the vet reveals to you that your dog has suffered a cruciate ligament tear – essentially a torn ACL in dogs. Your vet says he needs surgery, but it will cost several thousand dollars. You are also concerned about putting your 10-year-old golden retriever under anesthesia. PLUS, you hear it is very likely they will tear the other ACL within a few years. Sooo...is surgery the ONLY option for an ACL tear in dogs? Actually, there are several options to treat a dog with a torn ACL. You may also wonder, will a torn ACL heal on its own? Unfortunately, no. Once torn, the ligament will not heal like skin or bone. Your dog will need treatment to stabilize the leg so they can walk effectively without injuring the other limbs that are now carrying more weight. Although surgery is considered the “gold standard” for cruciate ligament tears in dogs, there are other alternatives when a dog’s advanced age, financial concerns, or a health issue such as liver or kidney disease makes surgery impossible, according to veterinarian Dr. Paul Brumett, Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner and owner of Animal Tracks Rehabilitation and Fitness LLC in Colorado A cruciate ligament tear creates an unstable knee in the dog. “It stretches the other ligaments and joint capsule of the knee, which creates a lot of pain,” Brumett said. The dog will experience swelling and great discomfort and will not be able to put any weight on the leg. Over time, the limb will develop arthritis, which can be painful and reduce the dog's activity even more. Something must be done – so what are the other options? Medication Pain management with conventional medications and nutritional supplementation is one route pet owners can take when dealing with cruciate ligament tears. However, since many pain medications have side effects when used over time, it is not ideal for long-term use, which Brumett considers more than a couple of weeks. “One of the things that I like to do is try to get these guys off the pain meds as soon as I can,” he said. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the most common type of pain medication used. Still, they can cause liver and kidney problems, including failure of those organs in some cases, as well as gastrointestinal issues. Though Brumett said most dogs can be safely managed on these medications for several years, he prefers using nutraceuticals such as veterinary glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate complex, chondroprotective agents, essential fatty acids, and hyaluronic acid, which can all help with joint health. Another downside of treating only with medication is the crate required to prevent pets from overworking or worsening the injury. “Many 5-year-old labs will play through an injury and make it worse,” said Brumett. “So if the pet can't be under direct supervision, then keeping them in an appropriately-sized room or appropriately-sized crate makes sense until they are sufficiently healed to do more.” He added that, ideally, dog pain relief is provided alongside rehabilitation and bracing. Orthotics   Orthotics, or bracing, such as a Hero Brace, offer an alternative when surgery is not possible, according to Brumett. The knee orthotic maintains the knee in position so the dog can walk again. Because the canine species comes in so many shapes and sizes, we custom-make each size for comfort and optimal support. “What we’re doing is stabilizing the knee,” said Brumett, who works with the company. He added, “Pets that are wearing a stifle brace can be walking better in a day. We start out slowly and progress over a couple of weeks to get them used to it and to increase their sporting/workload.” Find My Brace Rehabilitation   Brumett advises using an orthotic, such as Hero, in conjunction with canine rehabilitation. Many modalities may help, including laser therapy, pulsed electromagnetic field therapy, acupuncture, and hydrotherapy. He said his rehab facility starts cruciate ligament treatment with ice therapy followed by heat therapy to help with that intense swelling and pain. As part of hydrotherapy, rehab may involve using an underwater treadmill. The water itself serves as a support to the dog’s body and movements. The amount of support is adjusted by changing the water level: the more the dog’s body is submerged, the more support he receives as he walks on the treadmill. “Rehab helps maintain strength, balance, and mobility,” said Brumett. “[It] can decrease recovery time and increase comfort; increasing the strength, balance, and mobility of a pet lessens the workload on the joint. A healthier and stronger joint needs less pain medication.” Ultimately, it’s up to the pet owner as to what course to take, but there are some options. Brumett said dogs who have a cruciate ligament rupture but don't have surgery, rehab, or bracing can develop some level of stability on their own in 6 to 12 months—and these dogs are typically comfortable walking, running, or jumping. With a brace, a dog can be back out playing in just a few weeks. Find My Brace More About Knee Braces for Dogs For worried owners and dogs dealing with a torn ACL injury, it can be a frustrating experience if surgery isn't an option (at least for right now) and medicines only manage the pain or, worse yet, they give your dog a false sense of security, encouraging them to play harder and risk further injury. As the lightest weight dog knee brace available, a Hero brace can give your favorite canine relief from their suffering and increase their mobility. Plus, the easy-on/off suspension band makes removing and applying the brace as straightforward as attaching a collar or leash. Furthermore, the lightweight co-polymer plastic is durable and waterproof, so even a swim isn't out of the question. Specially designed to resist motion that can cause further injury, inflammation, arthritis, and atrophy of the leg's muscles, Hero knee braces allow your dog to return to normalcy while their leg heals. Better than risky surgery and drowsy drugs, especially for older dogs, a Hero brace is nothing like those old, complicated, and tired leg straps that don't do much of anything to prevent bad movements as their velcro and straps loosen. A Hero brace, on the other hand, is made of rigid plastic, providing consistent support for as long as your dog needs it. In fact, some dogs are so filled with excitement with a Hero brace on that they jump for joy -- literally! We've seen and heard stories of many happy customers playing fetch and frisbee, going on hikes, and doing other activities that they loved before their injury. And we're so delighted that we were able to restore their mobility and confidence so they don't miss a single moment with their adoring families. With no need for anesthesia or other tricky treatments, the Hero dog knee brace is an excellent way to give relief for a torn ACL in dogs, whether surgery is in their future or not. Go hero go! Find My Brace