Dog Bracing Made Simple

When a dog tears their Cranial Cruciate Ligament (CCL)—the canine equivalent of an ACL tear in humans—owners face a tough decision. Surgery (like a TPLO or Extracapsular Repair) is widely considered the gold standard, but for various reasons—such as financial constraints, high surgical risk, or underlying health issues—many owners turn to custom knee braces (stifle orthoses) as a non-invasive alternative. Custom braces like the Hero Knee Brace promise to support an unstable knee, reduce pain, and restore mobility. On the surface, the standard expectation is that a rigid brace works like a tight clamp, locking down the joint to eliminate all unwanted movement. But biomechanics are rarely that simple. A landmark study titled "Pelvic limb kinematics in the dog with and without a stifle orthosis," authored by Dr. Bryan T. Torres and colleagues (published in Veterinary Surgery), used high-tech motion capture to evaluate joint movement in dogs wearing custom Hero Knee Braces. The data reveal that, while the most surface-level assumptions about bracing seem straightforward, it is actually a set of counterintuitive mechanical design tricks, understood by clinicians, that explain how a brace truly supports an injured knee. Understanding the Goal: Motion Control vs. Motion Elimination To understand how a brace works, it helps to separate what owners expect from how orthoses are actually designed to function: The Common Assumption: A brace should lock the joint in place, preventing movement so the dog can't hurt themselves. The Clinical Reality: A functional stifle brace is supposed to allow normal, active Range of Motion (ROM) so the dog can walk, run, and sit naturally. It shouldn't immobilize the knee. Instead, its job is to step in at one specific moment during the step: mid-stance to stop the “bad motion.”  When a dog puts weight on their leg during mid-stance, the angle of the shinbone (tibia) causes it to slide forward under the thighbone—a painful instability known as cranial thrust or cranial drawer. A successful brace allows normal bending and straightening through most of the step, but selectively limits this harmful sliding motion right at mid-stance. Best Brace Design Parameters [ Active Gait Cycle ] ──► Allows Normal Flexion/Extension (Preserves Function) [ Mid-Stance Phase ]  ──► Restricts Cranial Thrust / Drawer (Targeted Stability) The Surface Conclusion vs. The Counterintuitive Mechanism When evaluating the study data, several key findings challenge basic assumptions and highlight how a stifle brace functions on a deeper level:   1. The Stifle Joint Maintains Active Range of Motion The Surface Takeaway: Looking at the rigid frame of a Hero Knee Brace, one might worry that it will make the dog's leg stiff and uncomfortable. The Counterintuitive Insight: The study demonstrated that the brace barely limits the active Range of Motion at the stifle joint. Walk: Natural knee ROM was 43.1°, while the braced knee maintained 49.1°. Trot: Natural knee ROM was 57.2°, while the braced knee maintained 54.3°. Why this matters: Because soft tissue and skin naturally cushion the brace, the knee moves a bit differently than the brace. How the brace moves isn’t as important as what it causes the body's joints to do differently. Fortunately, the data showed a distinct shift in stifle joint position specifically during the stance phase (when thrust would occur). While this study was conducted on healthy dogs—meaning true cranial drawer wasn't present to measure directly—this specific positional shift at mid-stance strongly suggests that the brace is engaging precisely when it needs to, potentially dampening drawer motion without locking up the knee.  2. How Ankle (Hock) Restriction Actually Protects the Knee The Surface Takeaway: The study found that the lower ankle joint (tarsus/hock) showed reduced movement while wearing the brace. At first glance, restricting a completely healthy adjacent joint seems like an unwanted side effect. The Counterintuitive Insight: Most of the hock’s range of motion is actually preserved, but the mild restriction imposed on the ankle plays a key biomechanical role in protecting the knee. The "Ground Reaction" Effect: By stabilizing and slightly limiting movement at the hock, the orthosis leverages Ground Reaction Force (GRF)—the upward force exerted by the ground when the paw strikes. Instead of letting that energy collapse the ankle, the rigid brace directs that force upward, pushing backward against the front of the proximal tibia.  The Human Connection: This exact principle is used in human medicine through Ground Reaction Ankle-Foot Orthoses (GRAFOs). In humans, a GRAFO uses the floor's force at the ankle to push the tibia back, preventing knee collapse and stabilizing the joint during stance. In dogs, harnessing this same force helps actively counteract forward tibial thrust at the knee. Comparing Joint Motion Dynamics Joint & Plane Unbraced Joint Braced Joint (Limb + Brace) Biomechanical Impact Stifle Flexion/Extension (Walk) 43.1° 49.1° Preserves active motion; shifts stance mechanics to reduce thrust. Stifle Flexion/Extension (Trot) 57.2° 54.3° Maintains a comfortable gait while dampening peak extension. Tarsus/Hock Sagittal ROM (Walk) 33.3° 25.3° Directs ground forces upward to push the tibia back. Tarsus/Hock Frontal ROM (Walk) 14.1° 7.1° Stabilizes side-to-side ankle motion to support knee alignment. What This Means for Dog Owners Understanding these counterintuitive mechanics helps set realistic, evidence-based expectations for custom bracing: Functional Freedom: You don't have to worry about a custom brace like the Hero Knee Brace turning your dog's leg into a rigid post. It allows them to bend, sit, and walk naturally while intervening primarily during the weight-bearing phase of gait. Whole-Leg Engineering: The brace doesn't work on the knee in isolation. By controlling the ankle, it uses basic physics to apply a stabilizing, backward pressure on the shinbone right when weight is applied. Promising Preliminary Evidence: While additional scientific testing on dogs with active CCL tears is needed to explicitly measure drawer reduction, the stance-phase shifts captured in this study offer strong evidence that stifle orthoses provide targeted mechanical support right where it counts. Read the full study here.  

If your dog loves to sprint, leap, or zoom through agility courses, an unexpected front-leg limp can feel devastating—especially when it turns out to be a wrist sprain. Fortunately, groundbreaking research in veterinary medicine has proven that surgery or rigid casting isn't your only option. Here is what every dog owner needs to know about how custom carpal braces work, and why one landmark study changed canine rehabilitation forever. Understanding Your Dog’s Wrist: The Biological Spring To understand why wrist sprains are so tricky, it helps to look at how a dog’s front leg works. A dog’s wrist joint—known medically as the carpus—is a complex assembly of bones and supportive collateral ligaments. During athletic gaits like trotting or galloping, the carpus acts like a high-tech spring: Energy Storage: When your dog puts weight on their front leg, the wrist joint stretches into extension, storing elastic energy in the tendons and flexor muscles. Forward Propulsion: As the paw leaves the ground, that stored energy snaps back, propelling your dog forward with power and efficiency. When a dog stretches or sprains the ligaments that keep the wrist straight (a condition called carpal instability), that spring mechanism breaks. The wrist starts wobbling abnormally side-to-side (known as valgus or varus deviation). Instead of kinetic energy moving straight forward, it leaks sideways, causing pain, weakness, and persistent limping. Casts vs. Surgeries vs. Bracing: The Old Way vs. The Modern Fix Historically, dog owners dealing with carpal instability faced a difficult set of choices: Treatment Option How It Works The Drawbacks Strict Cage Rest Restricting all movement for weeks or months. Frequently fails to fix ligament sprains on its own. Heavy Casts & Bandages Immobilizing the leg completely in a rigid wrap. Total immobilization weakens healing ligaments over time. Casts cause pressure sores or tissue damage in 63% of pets, leading to expensive complication repairs. Joint Fusion Surgery Surgical plates permanently lock the wrist bones together. Permanently destroys the wrist’s natural "springiness". Has a high 50% complication rate and prevents most dogs from competing in sports ever again. Celebrating the Pioneers: Dr. Tomlinson and Dr. Manfredi A major turning point in veterinary medicine occurred when Dr. Julia E. Tomlinson and Dr. Jane M. Manfredi published their foundational study in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA). Looking at human sports medicine—where human athletes wear functional braces for ankle and knee sprains rather than heavy casts—Drs. Tomlinson and Manfredi asked a critical question: Why aren't we doing this for active dogs? Their research became a cornerstone for modern Veterinary Orthotics and Prosthetics (VOP). They proved that an injured joint doesn't need to be locked completely still to heal; instead, it needs targeted support that controls bad movement while allowing safe, natural movement. Inside the Study: How Custom Braces Saved 14 Athletic Dogs The researchers evaluated 14 active, client-owned dogs suffering from severe carpal ligament instability that had failed to heal with rest alone. Twelve of these dogs were high-performing agility competitors, one was a working herding dog, and one was a beloved family pet. Instead of surgery or casting, the dogs were fitted with a custom-designed neoprene carpal brace lined with memory foam. (This brace is similar to the DogLeggs Carpal Support. The Hero Wrist Brace is for dogs that need much more support) The Design: The brace fitted snugly over the wrist, extending from above the paw pad up to the middle of the forearm. The Biomechanics: It completely eliminated dangerous side-to-side twisting (valgus/varus) while allowing safe front-to-back bending (flexion/extension between 135° and 180°). Allowing controlled front-to-back movement provided the exact mechanical strain needed to signal the body to deposit organized, strong collagen fibers to rebuild the torn ligaments. The 4-Step Rehabilitation Protocol The study demonstrated that a brace is most effective when paired with a structured, home-based rehabilitation plan: Full-Time Support (Weeks 1–8): The dog wore the custom brace 24/7. Owners removed it twice daily to inspect the skin and perform 20 gentle, passive flex-and-stretch repetitions on the wrist. Targeted Exercise (Weeks 2–8): Exercise was restricted to short leash walks. At week two, owners began static balance exercises (having the dog stand on three legs) to rebuild supporting leg muscles safely. Gradual Weaning (Weeks 8–12): Brace time was slowly reduced. The brace was removed for short walks and indoor time, but worn during faster outdoor sprints. Return to Sport (Weeks 12+): Supervised recall sprints and agility-specific drills safely conditioned the dogs to return to full competition speed. The Results: Back in the Game The clinical outcomes of this study were game-changing for the veterinary community: 79% Returned to Normal: 11 out of 14 dogs achieved complete, normal function. 92% Returned to Agility: 11 out of the 12 competitive agility dogs successfully returned to jumping, weaving, and competing in agility events! Pain Completely Resolved: Lameness scores dropped from a consistent, limping gait (median score of 3 out of 5) all the way to 0 (completely sound) at brace removal and long-term follow-up. Restored Joint Stability: Physical measurements confirmed that the affected wrists regained normal stability, matching the healthy, uninjured opposite leg. Safe & Affordable: Custom braces cost roughly $100 compared to ~$300 per week for constant clinic bandage changes. Side effects were minimal—only 3 dogs developed light hair rubbing, which was easily fixed by adding a bit more memory foam padding. What This Means for You and Your Dog If your dog suffers a wrist sprain or carpal joint instability, you don't have to accept an end to their active lifestyle. Thanks to the visionary work of Drs. Tomlinson and Manfredi, custom orthotic bracing offers a safe, comfortable, and highly effective alternative that helps your dog heal naturally while keeping their spring in their step. Speak with your veterinarian or a certified veterinary rehabilitation therapist to see if a custom carpal orthotic is the right path forward for your dog.

For years, the veterinary community has maintained a cautious—and sometimes skeptical—stance regarding orthotics for managing cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) ruptures. While surgery remains the traditional standard of care, many patients are not ideal candidates due to advanced age, comorbidities, or financial constraints. Custom stifle bracing offers a promising alternative, yet clinical uptake has been hampered by a lingering question: Does wearing a brace cause compensatory mechanical issues or restrict movement elsewhere? At the 11th International Association of Veterinary Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy (IAVRPT) Symposium, Kirsten Häusler presented groundbreaking clinical research that addresses this exact concern head-on. Find full proceedings here The Findings: Preservation of Natural Mechanics Häusler’s study evaluated sound, adult Border Collies walking and trotting on an instrumented treadmill under three distinct conditions: baseline (no brace), while wearing a patient-specific custom stifle brace on the left hindlimb, and immediately post-removal. Using high-precision gait analysis, the study monitored spatial and temporal gait parameters—including symmetry indices, step length, and peak loading across all four limbs. Key insights from the presentation include: No Step Length or Symmetry Deficits: The patient-specific brace provided structural joint support without restricting natural step length or compromising gait symmetry. Zero Adverse Compensatory Load: Crucially, the orthotic produced no negative compensatory shift to the front limbs or contralateral hindlimb. Improved Hindlimb Loading: During trotting, wearing the brace resulted in improved, balanced weight bearing across the hindlimbs. What This Means for the Veterinary Perspective Häusler’s study represents a critical pivot point in how veterinary professionals evaluate non-surgical orthotic options. Historically, critics feared that rigid external bracing might artificially lock down joint mechanics, forcing the dog to alter its stride and overcompensate with healthy limbs. By demonstrating that custom-designed stifle orthotics preserve natural temporospatial gait parameters without inducing mechanical stress elsewhere, Häusler’s work validates orthotics as a safe, biomechanically sound intervention. It lays key objective groundwork showing that a brace can offer stability without forcing detrimental trade-offs. As objective gait analysis continues to replace anecdotal assumptions, research like Häusler’s equips veterinarians and rehabilitation practitioners with the evidence needed to confidently recommend stifle bracing as a primary or supportive therapy for CCL injury management.

Yearning to return hiking and his camping lifestyle, Jason Darrah of the Primal Outdoors Channel needed to find a way to help his dog Wheeler avoid surgery for his torn ACL. Looking for an alternative to surgery he found Dr. Lisa Plumb of Klamath Animal Hospital and Go Hero Braces. Watch his journey below: And if you are really in the mood, buy some of Wheeler's coffee here!

Canine intervertebral disc disease or IVDD is a condition where the disc material between two vertebral levels deteriorates and extrudes into the vertebral canal, compressing the spinal cord. The result is a varying degree of neurological deficit, affecting the dog’s ability to walk, perceive sensation, or have bladder and bowel control. The current recommendation for dogs with IVDD is to undergo surgical intervention as soon as possible following the occurrence of symptoms. However, for many owners and their dogs, surgical intervention is just not an option. If this is the case, what can be done for these dogs? Understanding intervertebral disc disease Intervertebral discs sit between the vertebrae throughout the length of the spine. While we like to think of intervertebral discs as separate from one another, in reality they are very connected – we should consider them as part of one structure. The disc is made up of an outer ring, the annulus fibrosus, and an inner portion, known as the nucleus pulposus. The nucleus pulposus is gelatinous and has a very high water content. When Things Go Wrong If the disc degenerates, the annulus fibrosus becomes hard and brittle, making it prone to rupture, while the nucleus pulposus becomes calcified and solid. In the event of a disc herniation, the annulus fibrosus can remain intact but change its shape and protrude into the spinal cord. Alternatively, the annulus fibrosus can rupture, causing the nucleus pulposus to escape into the spinal cord. In both cases the spinal cord becomes compressed. Categorizing Disc Disease IVDD is usually categorized into one of two categories. Acute Hansen Type 1 extrusion In this condition, the annulus fibrosus ruptures and the nucleus pulposus escapes into the spinal cord, causing compression of the spinal cord and neurological deficits in the patient. This usually occurs in chondrodystrophic breeds between 3 and 7 years of age, with the signs of dysfunction progressing over the course of a few days. These dogs are usually in great pain. Chronic Hansen Type 2 protrusion In this condition, the annulus fibrosis remains intact, but loses its shape and starts to bulge into the vertebral canal. This often occurs on more than one spinal level, and it can be very difficult to determine which spinal level is responsible for the neurological symptoms in the patient. This condition usually occurs in older, large breed dogs with slowly progressing neurological signs. Often these patients are affected with other conditions, such as arthritis. Discerning deep pain The presence or absence of deep pain sensation in IVDD patients creates a large divide in how we think about these patients’ treatment, and their prognosis for recovery. Patients who have deep pain sensation intact have a good prognosis for a return to function. Patients who do not have deep pain sensation have a poorer or guarded prognosis for recovery. This seems to be true whether surgery is performed. Treatment For dogs that lose their ability to walk, surgery is currently the recommended treatment route. In this article, we will not be discussing surgical treatment, but rather medical management. Learn more about the different surgical techniques and whether surgical intervention is the best option for your animal by speaking to your vet. Medical management Medical management usually includes a combination of cage rest, pain control, bladder management and rehabilitation or physiotherapy. Rest This can be the most challenging component of medical management. Rest aims to improve the condition in a few ways: • preventing further extrusion of the disc material into the vertebral canal; • allowing the body time to resorb the disc material within the spinal canal; • protecting the dog from further injury because of neurological deficits and a inability to walk. There are many different recommendations for the duration of rest and how strict rest needs to be. Dr Paul Freeman recommends at least one week of strict cage rest, followed by three weeks of exercise restriction and cage rest when necessary. We can help make rest easier with a few enrichment activities and modifications to the environment to ensure that the dog receives mental stimulation and social interaction, remaining part of the daily activities of the household. Pain Control A multi-modal approach to pain control is highly recommended. The pain needs to be managed as quickly and efficiently as possible. Many veterinarians will prescribe a combination of opioids, NSAIDs, and gabapentin – please discuss pain control with your treating veterinarian. Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy The primary goal of physiotherapy is to help the patient regain function as quickly as possible. We also want to facilitate the best possible quality of functional motion. There are a few ways in which we might work towards these goals. Rehabilitation of Neurological Conditions The rehabilitation of neurological conditions focuses on helping the patient to regain function. During the initial phases of rest, a rehab therapist can help both the owner and the patient negotiate the challenge of confinement with advice on the following areas: • Mental games that help build postural awareness and stability • Advice on incorporating the patient into activities of the household safely• Massage and gentle traction techniques that may be performed with the patient daily to reduce pain and encourage healing• Gait retraining that can be performed daily to help maintain the muscle and sensory stimulation from the affected areas without stressing the spine• Fitment of supportive devices such as harnesses, back braces, carts, etc., depending on the needs of the client and the patient. As the patient begins to heal and regain function, the rehab therapist will continue to aid in optimizing function in a variety of ways. A Rehab therapist plays an essential supportive role as they help to overcome the individual challenges faced by the owner and the patient throughout the stages of progression and healing. The Use of a Back Brace for IVDD The use of a back brace for dogs with IVDD may be indicated in a few different instances. A back brace is protective, helping to stabilize the spine and reduce movement through the back, making it ideal to use during the phases of rest when we want to prevent any further damage to the intervertebral discs. As dogs with IVDD start to regain function, they can be very ataxic, with large anduncontrolled movements of their limbs and back occurring throughout movement. Using a back brace during walking can help stabilise the body, preventing uncontrolled ataxic movement that can be damaging to the spine and the soft tissues of the back and limbs. When the dog practices walking in a straight and stable fashion, we also strengthen those neurological pathways, establishing them as the norm. In other words, the more the dog practises with correct posture, the more it will become second nature. Walking with incorrect posture will have the opposite effect, establishing damaging movements as the norm. Chronic type 2 IVDD, especially, can benefit from the use of a back brace during periods of activity. The back brace is also something that can be used during strenuous exercise once the dog has recovered function, or in the event of a recurrence of IVDD in the future.  

Not sure bracing fits into your practice? Initially a skeptic, Dr. Beck shares how her veterinary practice has grown to use bracing. 100% of my professional time is devoted to healing animals.  You could say I come by it naturally.  My father and I are both veterinarians. I took it a step further and am a certified canine rehabilitation therapist. Our private practice still believes surgery, with rehab, is the best way to treat orthopedic injuries. AND not all dogs can have surgery. My first experiences withe bracing were in 2010.  Initially, I was skeptical about bracing for cranial cruciate disease (torn ACL). After bracing many patients I have found it extremely useful when used in combination with rehabilitation therapies. I have had many cases where bracing has made a dramatic difference in a pets life. One patient tore both CCLs in the course of two years and chose to brace one leg and rest for the other (conservative management).  While both knees are now stable, the braced knee has better range of motion and less scar tissue that the knee that went unstabilized (no surgery, no brace).  I think that speaks to the biomechanics of the brace in preventing tibial thrust. I had a 150 lb. Boerboel dog tear both cruciates within 30 minutes of each other.  He had surgery on one knee and the other knee was braced. Otherwise he would not be able to walk and he was certainly to large for his mom to carry. I had a labrador retriever patient that lived on the second story apartment building with no elevator.  Bracing allowed her to use the stairs without pain, and she could still go for walks with her mom in downtown Omaha..  This treatment certainly made life easier for her mom! The Brace Honestly, I think what makes Hero Braces exceptional is their customer service. I feel like Ben, the orthotist, has a deeper understanding of the needed fit and support because he is an amputee and wears a prosthesis everyday. I have always believed that the more empathy you can have for your patients, the higher quality care you can provide them. The Hero Braces are very high quality and durable for all the wear and tear a dog can do. Dogs do very well with the application of the braces, and most owners do a great job monitoring the leg for  any changes from the brace. Michelle Beck, DVM CCRT

Facing amputation after a severe injury, Luke's owner chose hope. A custom Hero Brace completed his recovery, allowing this active dog to run and hike the mountains again.

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 brace 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.  This 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, the better the brace did at 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!

Your dog has been shaking his head a lot lately, and then suddenly, you see something disturbing: His ear flap has swelled up. Aural hematomas are also known as ear hematomas or even blood blisters. An aural hematoma usually forms from trauma to a dog’s ear — often from head shaking — that causes a blood vessel or vessels to break and bleed into the area between skin and cartilage that make up the ear. Aural hematomas are often a result of an underlying issue like allergies, ear infections, or something in the ear canal like a tick, mites, or a grass lawn. These will cause a dog’s ears to feel itchy or uncomfortable, leading to shaking and scratching at his head and ears — and resulting in ear trauma. Effective treatment involves treating the hematoma while also treating the underlying condition. Conditions Leading to Ear Hematoma Environmental and food allergies can both lead to a lot of itching and discomfort in pets. There are many potential triggers for both kinds of allergies — from chicken and corn in food to pollen, grass, and mold in the environment. Allergies in themselves can take some investigation to figure out, but elimination diets and allergy testing may be a good place to start if these are suspected. An ear infection is another condition that may cause a dog to shake his head excessively. They are painful and uncomfortable. When ear infections are chronic, there may be underlying conditions — including allergies and hormonal imbalances like hypothyroidism, for example. So if your dog is getting a lot of ear infections, it’s important to figure out the root cause. Dogs who spend a lot of time outdoors may end up with something in their ear — like a tick or grass awn. As you can imagine, this is highly uncomfortable for a dog and will cause him to shake his head. Fortunately, once the foreign body, like a tick, is removed from your dog’s ear, the problem should rectify itself on its own. If you have a younger dog with itchy ears, he may have ear mites. Some signs of these tiny parasites include head shaking, scratching ears, ears that droop when they’re usually upright, smelly ears, and a dark, coffee-ground-like discharge. Puppies and young dogs are more prone to get ear mites than adult dogs. Of course, there are other reasons why a dog might shake his head enough to cause an ear hematoma, like a bug bite, so it’s important to keep a watchful eye if you notice any excessive shaking by your dog. Aural Hematoma Treatment There are a few ways an ear hematoma is treated. Surgery is one common treatment and involves draining the hematoma and suturing the ear flap while the dog is under sedation. A vet may also choose to use a syringe to aspirate the fluids out of a dog’s ear flap or place a drain to remove the blood until it heals and bandages the head and ear. Holistic remedies may include homeopathy, topical applications of yarrow oil and/or witch hazel, and compression wraps. The Surgi-Sox Aural Compression Bandage is an alternative for head and ear bandaging. It helps prevent damage to the ear during head shaking. It can also reduce head shaking and help keep ear medications inside the ear to treat underlying ear conditions. A compression wrap may help a hematoma from getting worse or keep a new one from forming. An ear hematoma may actually heal on its own over time. However, it can result in scar tissue and deformation known as “cauliflower ear,” which can block the ear canal. It’s best to consult a vet to develop the best plan to treat your dog’s ear hematoma, which should also include addressing any underlying conditions. Prevention Ideally, a dog never gets an ear hematoma in the first place. If you start to notice your dog shaking his head or scratching at his ears excessively, take note and act quickly before it turns into something worse. Check his ears for foreign objects and make sure he’s not hurting himself. If it continues, start looking into possible causes, including allergies, infections, and ear mites, and schedule a veterinary visit.

Super excited about the research coming out on the Hero Brace. Torn Dog ACL? The Groundbreaking Science Behind Why the Right Knee Brace Actually Works If you’ve just found out your dog has a torn CCL (Cranial Cruciate Ligament), which is basically the doggie equivalent of a human ACL tear, your mind is probably racing. Your vet might have told you that expensive surgery is the only real option. But what if your dog is too old for anesthesia? What if they have other medical conditions, or what if surgery simply isn’t in your budget right now? For a long time, the veterinary world looked down on knee braces, writing them off as useless band-aids. But a fascinating episode of The Veterinary Rehabilitation Podcast turned that assumption upside down. Host Megan Kelly sat down with Ben Blecha (a human and animal brace expert and founder of Hero Braces) and Dr. Kiki Haeusler (a leading German veterinary physical therapist and researcher). They discussed brand-new, hard scientific data that proves a properly engineered, custom rigid brace isn't just a backup plan, it actively stabilizes your dog's knee and helps them heal. Here is what the latest science says, and why it perfectly explains why the Hero Brace design works so well. The Big Problem: Why Vets Used to Hate Braces To understand why this new research is such a big deal, we have to look at why vets were skeptical in the first place. If you go online right now, you can find dozens of cheap, soft neoprene fabric sleeves claiming to cure dog knee injuries. Spoiler alert: they don’t. When a dog tears their CCL, their knee joint becomes completely unstable. Every time they step down, their shin bone (tibia) slides forward painfully against their thigh bone (femur). A soft fabric sleeve cannot stop that massive mechanical shifting. Vets saw these cheap braces failing and causing nasty skin sores, so they assumed all braces were bad. But human medicine moved away from soft knee wraps decades ago, opting instead for custom-molded, hard-shell braces. The podcast panel set out to prove that when you apply that same advanced human engineering to dogs, the results are magical. The Science: The Treadmill That Doesn’t Lie Dr. Kiki Haeusler wanted to take the guesswork out of the equation. Instead of just asking owners, "Does your dog seem better?" (which can be biased), she put injured dogs on a highly advanced, high-tech piece of equipment called the Zebris CanidGait system. Think of it as a super-smart treadmill packed with thousands of pressure sensors. It measures: Exactly how many pounds of pressure the dog puts on each individual paw. The exact length and rhythm of their stride. How much they are limping or shifting their weight to their healthy legs. By testing CCL-deficient dogs completely bare-legged, and then testing them again wearing a custom rigid brace, Dr. Haeusler got undeniable, mathematical proof: The right brace instantly improves the dog's gait, balances their weight distribution, and stops the limp. Why the Research Points Directly to the "Hero Brace" Design The most exciting part of the discussion was how Dr. Haeusler’s data perfectly validated the exact engineering behind the Hero Brace. The data showed that for a brace to actually work, it needs to follow a very specific design checklist. Here is how the Hero Brace delivers on that science: 1. It Must Be Hard and Custom-Molded (No Soft Fabrics!) Dr. Haeusler's research proved that only a rigid structure can fight the forces inside a dog's knee. The Hero Brace is made from an ultra-durable, medical-grade rigid plastic shell. Because it is built from a custom plaster cast of your exact dog's leg, it fits like a second skin. It doesn't twist, slip, or rub, which completely eliminates the skin sores caused by generic braces. 2. The Magical "Three-Point Pressure" System To stop the shin bone from sliding forward painfully, a brace has to push back in just the right places. Ben Blecha explained the "Three-Point" physics system built into the Hero Brace: Point 1: A firm hold on the back of the thigh. Point 2: A secure anchor point low on the ankle. Point 3: A crucial, protective pad on the front of the shin that gently pushes the shin bone backward into its proper place. When your dog steps down, this three-point system acts as an external ligament, locking the joint in place so they can walk without pain. 3. An Hinge That Mimics Nature A dog’s knee doesn't just open and close like a simple door hinge; it moves in a complex, rolling arc. If a brace hinge is placed incorrectly, it will fight against your dog's leg, causing pain. Hero Braces use aircraft-grade aluminum hinges that are aligned perfectly with your dog's natural joint center. Dr. Haeusler's data showed that this allows the dog to flex and extend their leg totally naturally while completely blocking the dangerous sideways and forward sliding. 4. Boosting Your Dog's "Brain-Body" Connection When a dog tears their ligament, they lose the nerve endings that tell their brain where their leg is in space. This makes them protective, fearful, and hesitant to use the leg, leading to rapid muscle loss. Dr. Haeusler noticed that dogs wearing a total-contact rigid brace immediately walked with more confidence. The gentle, snug fit of the Hero Brace stimulates the nerves in the skin and muscles, essentially sending a message to the brain saying: "Don't worry, your knee is safe. You can step down now." Key Takeaway: A custom rigid brace doesn't just protect the knee mechanically; it gives your dog the psychological confidence to use their leg again, preventing their muscles from wasting away. The Road to Recovery: What This Means For Your Dog So, what happens long-term? When a dog wears a Hero Brace, the joint is held completely still and steady. Over a period of several months, your dog’s body does something amazing: it builds up its own natural scar tissue (fibrosis) around the joint. This scar tissue acts as a permanent, internal brace. Furthermore, because the treadmill data proves dogs can safely bear weight while wearing the brace, you can start physical therapy much sooner! You can safely take your braced dog to underwater treadmill sessions, do gentle balance exercises, and go for controlled walks. Best of all? By supporting the injured leg, you prevent your dog from overloading their other back leg, ”saving them from the dreaded "second ACL tear" that happens to so many dogs. The Bottom Line If surgery isn't the right path for your family, you don't have to lose hope. The science has officially caught up to the technology. By combining Dr. Haeusler’s groundbreaking data with Hero Braces’ custom human-grade engineering, we now know that conservative management with a rigid orthosis is a highly effective, scientifically backed way to get your best friend back on their paws. 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.

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.  

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 several options to help a dog with a torn ACL. Dr. Brumett talks about them in this article. Let's see if this situation sounds familiar... It's just like any other day; you're playing fetch with your dog. 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 your vet reveals 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