Dog Bracing Made Simple

Knees are joints. They give out over time. That’s certainly true of humans, and it’s also true of dogs. Dogs depend on knee ligaments for their joints to work much like we do, and when something goes wrong with a dog’s knee, it can be extremely painful and debilitating. We all love our dogs, and we will do whatever we can to give them a happy, healthy and comfortable life. If your dog injures his or her knee, you’re most likely going to research the issue before you can see your veterinarian. During that research, you’re going to see information regarding surgical procedures and other treatments. You may also come across information regarding knee braces for dogs. A dog knee brace may seem like a strange thing to ponder, but much like humans, there are situations where knee braces for dogs are a better option than surgery. Every case is different, but having an understanding of knee braces for dogs isn’t a bad thing before you speak to your vet. However, suggesting a treatment to your veterinarian can be tough. We all care for our animal so much we want to learn as much as we can to help our pet. We tend to lean on Dr. Google in these times, just like how we learned about knee braces for dogs in the first place. To make the conversation go smoothly, it's important to remember your Dr. went to many more years of veterinary school than Dr. Google. They did it because they care about animals very deeply. Appreciating this goes a long way with someone that may have had to deal with a deathly ill animal earlier in the day. As with any conversation, people do not like to be surprised. If you can, get the info about the dog knee brace to your Veterinarian before you meet. Or at the very least give them time to process any new info you bring to them. Here is an dog brace information sheet you can share with your veterinarian. It is also important to understand the background. For many years, surgery was seen as the gold standard for treating a CCL/ACL injury in dogs. "A chance to cut is a chance to cure" has been a saying in the veterinary profession for a long time. And for a long time, surgery was the only solution. There were simply no knee braces for dogs on the market that could adequately support a dog's leg, allowing them functionality and proper movement. There were fabric wraps available, but they just didn't do the trick. Then along came Hero. The Hero Brace was designed by both a veterinarian and an orthotist-prosthetist with a dog's knee unique biomechanics in mind. After many different designs and materials, the Hero Stifle Brace was created. Our Hero Brace starts with the neoprene sleeve customized to a dog's unique anatomy and then uses a black polypropylene shell for lightweight durability. The placement of our Velcro wraps holds the dog knee brace in the optimum place to ensure a secure fit and maximum functionality without relying on a harness or heavy piece of equipment. The brace effectively allows the dog's knee to develop scar tissue and heal on its own while keeping the dog active and happy. Sometimes Veterinarians can be resistant to the idea of knee braces for dogs simply because they haven't seen a product that works as effectively as Hero. Canine bracing is on the forefront of veterinary medicine, and gaining popularity all of the time. In the coming years, as more Vets graduate with the bracing skills, you are going to see more knee braces for dogs than you have to this point. Our Hero Braces have been endorsed by Dr. Carrie Adrian, the first PhD recipient in Canine Biomechanics and veterinarian and Michelle Beck, DVM and canine rehabilitation expert. Another CCRP who has worked extensively with animals using Hero Braces is Robert Porter who will be speaking at the STAAR conference in April. We also teach bracing with the University of Tennessee Canine Rehabilitation Program, a world-renowned canine rehabilitation program. If you have decided that you would prefer a non-surgical route because of concerns about complications of surgery, anesthesia, recovery time, financial reasons or just don't like the idea of surgery in general, tell your veterinarian. Great veterinarians continually want to learn more. They love working with you to make sure that your dog receives the best care possible. If that involves a dog knee brace, then that must be what's best for your furry friend. Let her know that you are not comfortable with the idea of surgery and then tell her about Hero. Heck, give her our phone number. We would love to discuss with her about what makes Hero braces so effective and how we can best put together a plan to help your dog get back on his feet.  

As devoted pet parents, we witness the sheer exuberance our dogs bring to life. But when injury strikes, it’s our duty to find solutions that restore their mobility and joy. Enter the canine stifle brace, a remarkable aid for dogs suffering from CCL (cranial cruciate ligament) tears. Canine CCL Tears Canine CCL tears can severely impact a dog’s stifle joint (akin to our human knee). These tears result from factors like obesity, strenuous activity, genetics, and aging. Certain breeds, including Labrador Retrievers, Staffordshire Terriers, and Saint Bernards are more susceptible. Symptoms vary from limping to complete lameness. If your furry friend shows signs of ligamentdamage, consult your veterinarian. They’ll perform a physical evaluation and X-rays to confirm the diagnosis. Surgery and Beyond While surgery is recommended and considered the standard of care, it’s not always feasible due to health issues or cost. That’s where non-invasive treatments come into play: • Joint Supplements: Fish oil, turmeric, glucosamine, and chondroitin sulfate aid in comfort.• Diet and Exercise Modifications: Proper nutrition and controlled activity help maintain a healthy weight.• Integrative Therapies: Acupuncture, Laser therapy, Extracorporeal Shockwave, Pulsed Electromagnetic Field, Animal Chiropractic, and Physical Rehab support recovery.• Pain Management: Medications alleviate discomfort.• Custom Bracing: Supports the stifle and applies corrective forces to help prevent excessive movement. The No Top Strap Solution Hero Braces revolutionized canine stifle support. Unlike traditional braces, they skip the top strap, offering unparalleled comfort and freedom. Here’s how they work:• Stabilization: Hero Braces focuses on increased stability for rear legs and knees. • Custom Fabrication: Each brace is tailor-made to fit your dog’s unique body structure, ensuring optimal support. Why Hero Braces? • Durability: Hero Braces withstand rough play. No worries about stretching or tearing fabric.• Sleek Design: Lightweight and sleek, they won’t hinder your dog with extra weight.• Custom Fit: With over 200 dog breeds, customization matters. Hero Braces nails it. The Science Behind the Top Strap Removal Hero Braces initially explored the force-couple concept, akin to approaches used in human medicine for addressing cruciate tears. However, canine biomechanics posed unique challenges. The origin and insertion of hamstring muscles in dogs differ from humans, affecting brace fit. Canine thighs change shape significantly during hip and stifle (knee) movement, causing fitting issues. The top strap often loosened during walking due to changing thigh size. To address this, Hero Braces consulted biomechanists at the University of Nebraska. They found that maintaining tension without design changes was mathematically impossible. By removing the strap, Hero Braces reduced fitting issues while still mitigating tibial thrust and cranial drawer. Our clinical experience showed that pets continue to do well without the top strap. For a deeper dive, watch out for Drs. Millis and Levine’s upcoming textbook on Canine Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy. Remember, a stifle brace isn’t just a device; it’s hope for your beloved companion. Whether your pup is a playful Labrador or a dignified St. Bernard, consider this simple solution to restore their zest for life. I hope this blog sheds light on the innovative design of no-top strap stifle braces. If you have any questions, visit Hero Braces.

Not all dogs can have surgery, but we still want to reduce their pain. Dog braces help your dog walk sooner. The field of bracing is relatively new to Veterinary medicine, so not all doctors are familiar with how bracing works. We started designing braces to help these doctors over 15 years ago. After helping thousands of dogs recover, this is what we know.... What The ACL Does The ACL is a ligament that connects the bones above and below the knee. This ligament limits the bottom bone (the tibia) from sliding forward underneath the top bone (the femur.) This bad motion is called the cranial drawer. Veterinarians test to see if the ACL is torn by a cranial drawer test. Your vet pushes forward with their thumb and pulls backward with their fingers as shown by the red arrows. When the ACL is torn, the cranial drawer happens easily in your dog's knee. It scares and hurts your dog to put weight on the leg when this motion happens.  So they quit using the leg, and over the following weeks, muscles start shrinking from disuse. Arthritis Forms If the cranial drawer motion is allowed to continue long term, arthritis forms in the joint. Arthritis can be painful and slow your dog's activities later in life. So it is important to limit this cranial drawer motion as much as possible to slow the formation of arthritis.A torn ACL is the most common leg injury in dogs. It can be caused by strenuous activity, obesity, age, breed or a combination of all of those factors.Talk to your veterinarian about a dog brace as a treatment option when your dog tears his ACL. The brace applies the opposite forces (green arrows) to limit the cranial drawer. The Hero Brace is the only brace that provides support in these two areas with plastic versus trying to support the leg with velcro that will fail when a dog gets it dirty.Play sooner? Used alone OR to support surgery, a dog knee brace can provide a cost-effective permanent solution for your dog to play again. Robert Porter shows off his rehab of torn ACL in a Golden Retriever without surgery. Watch below About Hero Knee Braces for Dogs With such a high risk of additional injury -- some estimates say that 60 percent of dogs with one ACL tear are likely to tear the other side -- there's no time to waste if your dog has a sudden and significant leg injury. That's why we advise all owners, whether you plan to pursue surgery or not, to devise a plan of action to prevent further injury, minimize arthritis and reduce atrophy of the muscles. Working with veterinarians on the front lines of treatment, we've seen firsthand how our knee braces for dogs instantaneously provide mobility, confidence and a reduction of pain to suffering dogs of all ages. Just like with a person, an ACL tear is a serious injury, and hoping it'll get better on its own is no way to be a pet parent. But once you see how light, unobtrusive and easy it is to install and remove the Hero knee brace, we're confident that you'll do right by your dog. Unlike typical straps and convoluted velcro contraptions, the Hero dog knee brace is made from durable co-polymer plastic, which provides the rigidity your dog needs to prevent further injury without weighing them down. Better yet, the Hero brace is great for all kinds of activities, so not only will your dog get back their sense of independence and freedom, but games of fetch, frisbee and even a dip in the pool are all sure to get their tails wagging.

Using a Tarsal Brace with Graduated Articulation Most would agree that as practitioners we need to protect the Achilles tendon injury/repair early on and then slowly load the Achilles Tendon over time. That said, it is difficult to find a consensus on how to implement these needs. Below is a jumping-off point, a work in progress, based on my experiences and the knowledge gained from research of my peers. Please leave comments on how you think we should make it better. Partial Achilles Tendon Rupture or Post -Operative Arthrodesis Day 0 -Impression/casting at the time of diagnosis of a partial tear or end of surgery. Custom Orthotic will be taking the place of Bivalve Cast/Splint in 2-3 weeks. Weeks 0-2 -After Casting/Impression is performed place in Bivalve cast/Splint with dorsiflexion of toes, if possible at 45 degrees. Tarsus will typically be at 135 degrees extension. Recheck the bivalve cast weekly. Weeks 3-7  Sutures removed at 10-14 days post-op if used. Fit orthotic to pet. Orthotic is non-articulating. Wear in place of cast 24/7. Owner/practitioner to check 3-4 times a day for pressure sores. Begin rehab therapy. Continue rechecks every two weeks with Surgeon/RDVM. Weeks 8-11  -Cut brace to allow 15 degrees of articulation if a partial tendon rupture. Continue rehab in the clinic and at home. Weeks 12-16:  Pet out of brace or using as a “Sports Brace,” times of high activity. The pet needs to have sufficient strength to maintain a normal standing angle in Hock. The pet should be challenged with the rear leg in a “Three-legged Stand.” Typically 135 Degrees of extension. NOTE: Time intervals are stated as a guide. Some pets will need more or less time as they heal. This is where the “Art” of being a Practitioner is applied. Items to consider: Normal Range of Motion of the Tarsus. Flexion is 40 Degrees, and Extension is 170 Degrees in a relaxed pet. The normal Standing angle of the Tarsus for Tarsal Arthrodesis is 135 Degrees. According to Millis and Levine: Early partial weight-bearing and joint movement creates stress to promote parallel collagen alignment and increase tendon strength. The Hero Brace Tarsal Orthotic may help bypass or relieve weight-bearing forces to the healing tendon, much like incorporating a walking ring into a cast or external fixator. References: Small Animal Surgery 3rd Edition.  Fossum  pgs 1322-1324 Veterinary Surgery Small Animal 2nd Edition. Johnston and Tobios Vol 1 pgs 1204-1209 Small Animal Orthopedics and Fracture Repair 4th Edition. Brinker, Piermattei and Flo pgs 674-678 Canine Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy. Millis and Levine 2nd Edition pg 573 “Calcaneal Tendon Tears in Dogs” Four Leg Rehab Inc Newsletter March-April 2012 Vol1 : Issue 1. Laurie Edge Hughes “Post-Operative Management of Tendon Repairs” Four Leg Rehab Inc Newsletter May-June 2012 Vol 1 : Issue 2. Laurie Edge Hughes Copyright Paul Brumett DVM, CCRP, cAVCA

The quick answer is yes. So why didn't my Veterinarian offer bracing as an option to help my dog? Many Veterinarians didn't have much success with early braces designs, which left them with a bad taste in their mouths. So much has changed over the past 15 years. Early braces were made by do-good pet parents. They all started by looking for solutions to help their limping dog. Yet, these pet parents didn't quite understand some mechanical principles to make the knee braces effective. Today, braces are made by actual orthotists (people trained in brace making) who have researched mechanics and materials that work for dogs. To better understand what has changed, let's look at dog knee braces from 3 different perspectives. 1- Fabric Vs. Plastic Braces To better answer the question, you need to have a simple understanding of what "bad motion" we are trying to limit with a brace.  In dogs, an ACL tear allows a bad motion called a cranial drawer.  This motion is the tibia slipping forward under the femur. This slipping startles your dog because its leg feels unstable. It can also be painful. Over time, slipping causes inflammation that results in arthritis in the joint. If dogs want to play... they won't really put weight on their foot unless their knee feels stable.  This is likely why they also tear the other ACL. Fabric braces were the first braces used to address this problem. The big problem is that fabric stretches. Because of this stretching, it is physically impossible to stop the slipping, so they didn't work. Also, fabric braces need some sort of harness to hold them on the leg.  The harness made it very complicated to put on.   It also limits the motion in the hip joints, so your dog cannot move very easily. Today, we use plastic that is more durable and can actually limit bad motion.   Some worry about the comfort of plastic, but I can vouch as an amputee, that wearing a stable plastic device is so much more comfortable than a fabric piece that rubs back and forth.  The fabric feels like a rope burn. To replace the harness, plastic braces actually form fit around bones so they can stay on the leg.  This allows the dog to move more fluidly. Some are tempted to start with a fabric brace until they can afford a plastic brace. Knowing how well a fabric brace works, you really are better off saving your money until you can afford the support you need. 2- Surgery Vs. Surgery Not Possible Many people cannot have surgery.  Which has led people to look for other options to help their dogs. Surgeons know surgery works, so it can be hard to look at other options like bracing.  In the end, we want to help all the dogs. Surgeries like TPLO or TTA change the geometry of the bones and do not need added support from a brace. Surgeries like lateral suture or extracapsular work better with bracing. Heavier dogs can break the suture in these surgeries. Adding support from a brace is beneficial to help prevent too much pressure on the suture from failing. Dogs that cannot have surgery need some extra help until their body forms a medial buttress. (The medial buttress is the scar tissue that stabilizes the knee.) Veterinarians always like to see proof. Studies have been done by veterinarian colleges to help us know that braces do work.  If you are a big researcher, you can access those here.   If Not, Here's A quick synopsis.   A study done at Colorado State Veterinary School showed surgery wins out over bracing 98% to 85% for owner satisfaction.  So though not perfect, there is merit in bracing dogs that CAN NOT have surgery. University of Georgia Veterinary School did a study in a gait lab (complex measuring camera model.)  It showed the braces cause a shift in the knee motion when a dog puts its weight on the leg (when the bad motion happens).  However, it is not clear if this means that the brace stops the bad motion. The University of Louisville did a study simulating a dog's leg and a torn ACL, which showed the brace did as well as any surgery limiting the bad motion.  And that the more rigid the joints, meant the brace did a better job limiting the bad motion. Most credible companies are supporting more research to validate what they have seen with thousands of successful patients. However, there will always be skeptics. Surgery is best, AND if you cannot have surgery for whatever reason, you have to figure out how you can best help your dog.   In human medicine, we do surgery AND a brace because insurance pays for both. In veterinary medicine, we generally choose surgery OR a brace. Ultimately, how you help your dog is your choice. 3- Custom Made Braces Vs. Small, Medium, Large Fit All People who think braces don't work likely don't understand this difference. So, let me try to simplify it... If you were to tear your ACL, you would have 14 different sizes to fit your leg. Do you know how many breeds of dogs there are? The World Canine Organization recognizes 364 different breeds with a wide variety of shapes and sizes. So, how many different sizes of knee braces would you need for dogs? 14 x 364 = 5096 Okay, this is a large overstatement, but you get the picture.  Fitting dogs can be really tough with a few sizes. It is important to remember the bad motion we are trying to correct. The movement is so small that we really need a good-fitting brace to limit that cranial drawer motion.   Simply put, one size fits all is really one size fits NONE for dog knees. Ready-to-fit knee braces do not work. Custom is key to playing again! Custom just means you have to do a little bit more work upfront for the best chance for success.  The casting process is pretty simple.  Check out our casting tips to help. Ultimately, if you are here, you are trying to help your dog. We want to help you help your dog, too!

In case you weren't a child of the 80s cartoon or a fan of the blockbuster movies, Transformers were a line of alien robots who could transform from vehicles into fully functioning super robots locked in an endless struggle for either global dominance or world peace. Biomechanics takes engineering principles like Newton's Laws (Remember the guy who had the apple fall on his head.) and applies them to parts of the body. Biomechanics is the study of the mechanical structures of the body and how they move. Looking at the bones, muscles and ligaments as working parts of the body and then how these parts move in relation to each other and the surrounding environment. When there is a weakness or an injury in one part of the body, the rest of the body that is involved in making movement happen can experience trauma as well. This can throw the whole system off and results in pain and one unhappy individual (or dog.) Our dog braces have been engineered with a thorough understanding of the biomechanics principles of canine movement. We studied and analyzed the movement of walking, running and playing. We looked at how different breeds of dog combined with the age or weight of the dog factored into his movement. We designed our braces to not only help a dog bear weight on his injured limb, but to prevent unwanted cranial, medial and lateral motions that would only cause pain and further injury in the rest of the body. So, I guess when people think of what we do with biomechanics, imagining Optimus Prime and the Transformers isn't so far off after all. Hero can help transform your dog back to the happy tail-wagging pooch you've known and loved. One step closer to global peace. Autobots, Roll out. Or roll over!

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.