Dog Bracing Made Simple
Tips and tricks to help your dog succeed with added support
Dog Bracing Made Simple
Cecelia and Ozzie's Triumph Over a Volleyball Injury
Rising from a torn ACL and multiple surgeries, in the end a simple knee brace allowed Ozzie to return to comfort a Mom battling dementia.
Ozzie and Harriet...er...
Cecelia and Ozzie have been best friends for the past 11 years.
Not only is the 12-year-old, black Chow mix a lifelong companion to Cecelia, but he’s a great comfort to her mom, who has dementia.
"Sometimes my mom won't remember who I am, but she'll always recognize her dog,” says Cecelia of her mom’s love of Ozzie.
Cecelia moved back home in 1994 to help take care of her ailing mom. Dementia doesn’t just affect one family member — it can take its toll on the whole family. Cecelia says Ozzie has been a great help, with his calming and steadying presence, for all members of her family.
Cecelia found Ozzie back in 2004 on a pet-finding website. She drove from just outside of Lincoln, Nebraska all the way to St. Louis, Missouri that Memorial Day weekend. Ozzie was only about 1 1/2 years old then.
Adventure takes a turn
Besides having a therapeutic nature, Ozzie also has an adventurous spirit. On a recent visit to a friend’s house, Ozzie injured his leg playing sand volleyball with the other dogs. When he was trying to get back in the car after the visit, Ozzie whimpered.
While it occurred to Cecelia that it could be hip dysplasia, it turned out that Ozzie had actually torn the ligament in his knee.
Ozzie's veterinarian recommended surgery. Unfortunately, the first surgery was not successful. As a result, a second surgery was performed.
But Ozzie wasn’t out of the woods yet. While he was recovering from his second surgery, he tore the ligament in his other knee. Ozzie then underwent a third surgery to help repair the ligament in that knee.
Cecelia knew she had to do something to help Ozzie. After three surgeries, she had to find some additional support to help him heal properly and avoid further injury. She thought about what is available to humans for similar injuries. Humans often use leg braces. Was something like this an option for dogs?
The knee brace
After some research, she discovered Hero and its dog leg braces. After Cecelia connected Ozzie's veterinarian, Dr. Pat McInteer at Hillcrest Animal Clinic, with Hero Braces, the company sent a casting kit. Within a few weeks, Ozzie's brace arrived at the door.
After the brace was placed on Ozzie, he was able to stand up and bear weight on his leg immediately. Within a few hours, Ozzie was almost back to walking normally.
Ozzie is getting up there in years — but don't tell him that — and he is undergoing treatment for arthritis of his toes. He doesn't run as much as he used to, but he is able to go for short strolls and live pain-free.
He continues providing companionship and therapy to Cecelia and her mom. While Cecelia does all she can to help the dog that has given her family so much to live a full, happy life.
(Ozzie’s story was originally posted on June 12, 2015.)
Dog Bracing Made Simple
Bodhi is a survivor. She's a 14-year-old, lovable Cattledog and has been battling cancer for the last year and a half. She's been through two surgeries and two rounds of chemo, but nothing can keep her down. Literally.
A few months ago, Bodhi was playing in the backyard when she made a quick turn and immediately yelped, falling to the ground in pain. Doctors determined that she had completely torn her back left ACL. She was unable to put any weight on it at all, with all movement excruciating. Bodhi need to be carried around everywhere, even outside to relieve herself. This was another obstacle to a dog who has already gone through so much.
Because of Bodhi's cancer and her age, her oncologist recommended against surgery since it would require months of rehab. Out of options, the family considered putting Bodhi down. Then her chiropractor suggested a Hero Brace as an option. She had seen success for other clients and referred the family to Dr. Annette Richmond in Carmel, CA.
Dr. Richmond examined Bodhi and created the cast for the brace. After three weeks, the brace for the ACL tear arrived. It only took a day or so for Bodhi to get used to the brace. Now she wears the brace from morning until just before bedtime and has about 80% of her mobility back.
Bill, Bodhi's owner, reports that her attitude improved immediately, and her quality of life has returned. "Shortly after she started wearing her Hero Brace, she got her "silly" back and is thoroughly enjoying her golden years," Bill says. "I just wanted to say thank you for such a great product. I can't speak highly enough of the results."Bohdi has overcome so much in her dog life. We are happy to be a part of her survivor story. Go. Bohdi. Go
Dog Bracing Made Simple
Bionic Pickles - Dog ACL Success
When Alisha says "hold the pickles," she's not talking about a burger. She's talking about her almost three-year-old Great Pyrenees/Akbash-mix Pickles.
Alisha has been holding and snuggling Pickles since the rescue dog was six weeks old. Pickles had been battling a severe case of parvovirus and struggled with respiratory issues for months with a less than 50% chance of survival. After fighting back with a mix of medications, steroids and a whole lot of moxie, Pickles pulled through.
Just this spring, Pickles was playing with her sister Popcorn (I know. Adorable.) when she made a quick turn on the wet grass and let out a yelp. Alisha's father-in-law, a veterinarian, knew immediately that Pickles had torn a ligament.
The family's local vet recommended surgery, but Alisha was apprehensive. She was concerned about complications with the hardware required for the recommended surgery. She was worried about future injury after the surgery. She was also apprehensive about the 6 months recovery time and wondered how Pickles would be able to remain immobile with three other active dogs in the house. Alisha decided to look for other options.
Alisha's husband had torn his ACL a few years earlier (a similar injury to a dog's CCL tear). One of the options his doctor had recommended had been a non-surgical route with bracing. Alisha knew that if that was an option for humans, there would have to be something similar for dogs. That is when she found Hero Braces.
"The durability and the science behind the brace is pretty impeccable. Now Pickles and her dad have matching braces; it's crazy how much the braces function and resemble one another."
Since Pickles has received her ACL brace, the family is amazed at how active she has become again. She runs and is able to keep up with her pack. When Pickles is in her brace, she acts like a puppy again. Alisha says that Pickles gets excited to put it on and has never shown any discomfort, "We call her our little bionic pup."
Bionic Pickles. Sounds like a great superhero name to us.
Dog Bracing Made Simple
Wheeler Conquers The Great Outdoors With A Torn ACL
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!
Dog Bracing Made Simple
Benson Battles Cushing's and ACL Tear: Wins!
Benson was born November 21, 2001. He is a parti-colored Cocker Spaniel that sat up and begged for Maria Lowe to take him home 13 years ago. Since then, he has been the joy of the Lowe family's lives. They love to dote on him and treat him like royalty. As a matter of fact, anyone who comes into contact with the family jokes about a desire to be reincarnated as a Lowe family pet.
As a young dog, Benson loved to play frisbee and seemed to fly through the air to catch it. As Benson aged, he slowed down, and although some of that had to do with the normal aging process, Benson has also had some tough times physically. During his 13 years, Benson has had several surgeries for tumor removal and is currently battling Cushing's Disease.
Two years ago, Benson became very sick, running a fever of 105. The family quickly brought him to the ICU, but the prospects seemed grim. After the tests and blood work, Benson's vet, Dr. Gordon Schmucker from Lisbon Vet Clinic in Lisbon, Ohio was unable to determine what was wrong. He suspected there were complications with the Cushing's Disease and Benson's immune system. Benson did make a recovery but lost some of his hearing and became sensitive to different medications.
A few months after he recovered, Benson tried to jump up on the bed and fell back crying with a limp. During a quick phone consultation, Dr. Schmucker recommended aspirin and monitoring. A few days later, the vet was able to examine Benson and made the official diagnosis of a torn ACL. Worried about what it could do to Benson's weakened body, Dr. Schmucker did not want to recommend anesthesia. Surgery was ruled out as a treatment option. He recommended seeing how Benson would do letting it heal on its own.
Maria's son, Eric is a local middle school assistant principal and athletic director. He knew that humans benefit from proper bracing when they injure their ACLs and thought he could find something similar for animals online. He found Ace Ortho Solutions, now known as Hero Braces.
Dr. Schmucker was unfamiliar with bracing for dogs but agreed to cast Benson. He did express concern that Benson would wind up just chewing the brace because of previous experiences with him but was interested in trying it as an option.
When the knee brace arrived, Benson never looked back. It almost seemed like he knew it made his leg feel better and totally accepted that fact. He never chewed or bothered his brace.
Nowadays, Benson doesn't play as much as he used to due to his age. He can still run along the fence and chase the mailman and the UPS man, who really get a kick out of him. All around, the family reports that he gets around very well. The veterinarians at the clinic are amazed, and Benson is a celebrity there.
Maria and her family would recommend Hero Braces to anyone who may be looking for options for their pet, "Thank you so much for creating them and for all of your compassion and help. Hero is an outstanding place to deal with, and Monica is so helpful. Cannot say enough about what this brace and Hero have done."
Dog Bracing Made Simple
Magoo is a 7 year old Springer Spaniel who loves to spend his days running after squirrels, swimming, chasing birds on the beach in Massachusetts and doing serious amounts of snuggling. And as the beloved dog of Joe and Brooke's young family, he has lots of opportunities to do just that.
At the end of August, Magoo was out for one of his morning runs and came back to the house holding up his back right leg. Two days later, when he still was favoring the leg, Joe and Brooke brought Magoo immediately to the vet.
As with most vets unfamiliar with bracing, Magoo's vet initially recommended surgery. Joe and Brooke were hesitant to put Magoo under the knife. They were concerned about Magoo's age and how he would be able to recover from the process. Everyone they had talked to who had similar procedures done on their dogs discovered the other leg eventually needed to be operated on as well. And with a growing family, the $4000 surgery was difficult to fit into the budget.
Joe combed the internet looking for a solution and discovered Hero Braces.
Four months after keeping the Hero Brace on Magoo regularly, Dr. Andra DeTora from Massachusetts Vet Referral Hospital reported that Magoo was 90% healed. She anticipates close to a full recovery with six more weeks of regular wear. Dr. DeTora is also thrilled at the results and will be using Hero Braces as a valid alternative for her patients in the future.
"Seriously, try this brace before going the surgery route," Brooke recommends. "It is light-weight and very comfortable on Magoo. He actually seems to like wearing it."
Brooke and Joe are thrilled to have their Magoo back to playing and having fun. And the entire family is glad to get their snug
Dog Bracing Made Simple
Zoey, Thankful for Thanksgiving
They found her at a rescue home for homeless pregnant dogs. Zoey was 11 weeks old and the daughter of a German Shepherd/Husky mix. It was an instant connection.
Seven years later, Zoey is an integral part of the Parker family. She loves to play with her "brother" Toby and in fact, it was while playing with Toby when the family believes she injured her CCL. Erin and her husband were out of town in the beginning of October when they received a text message from the dog sitter; Zoey was limping. It didn't seem to be a serious injury, but they decided to keep an eye on her just in case.
Within three days, Zoey was unable to put any weight on her leg at all. The vet and the X-rays confirmed a torn CCL. The vet immediately suggested surgery and even went so far as to set up an appointment with a surgeon four days later.
Erin panicked. Over the past year, Zoey has been battling liver problems which have been improving with medication. But Erin was very concerned that Zoey's liver condition would make any surgery very dangerous. She insisted that they run her liver numbers and do a bile acid test before she would agree to surgery. They told her that her only options were surgery or doing nothing. No one had ever mentioned bracing.
That's why it is so important to have friends. One of Erin's friends had heard of Hero Braces and suggested that bracing could be the answer for Zoey's injury. After talking to Crystal from the Hero Team, Erin decided that this was the right decision, regardless of the results of the tests.
Sure enough, the bile acid test results were not good, and the vet recommended treating the liver before any more talk of surgery on Zoey's CCL. Erin was concerned about Zoey's other leg and worried that the 90 lb. dog would injure her other knee by having all of her weight only on one rear leg.
Luckily the casting kit was already on its way. They weren't able to get back in to see the vet for another week. Monica from Hero walked them through the process and provided all of the videos, tips and instructions that they needed.
"The people at Hero were awesome! They got the brace to me the day before we left for Thanksgiving," Erin reports. It took a day or two for Zoey to adjust to wearing the brace, but now she loves it. "First thing in the morning she lays down in front of us to allow us to put the brace on before she goes outside. She will wear it all day long running and playing in the backyard and then takes it off at night when it is time to sleep."
Erin has decided that Zoey is doing so well with her knee brace that they are going to avoid surgery on her CCL altogether even when her liver condition improves.
At Hero, we want people to know there are always options. The important thing to remember is to do what is right for your animal and your situation. You don't have to give up hope for your pet.
Dog Bracing Made Simple
A Christmas Tree Farm's Hero: Kuli's Inspiring Tale
For years, families would celebrate tradition and travel for miles to get their annual Christmas Tree at the Clapp Christmas Tree Farm off the coast of Maine. Waiting, with tail wagging to welcome them and help each family find the perfect fir, was Kuli.
Kuli is a beautiful 10 1/2 year old Black Labrador Retriever who for years has loved to run and play at the Clapp's Christmas Tree Farm, helping families pick out the perfect tree to celebrate the holidays. One December afternoon in 2008, she was out playing amid the trees when she somehow ruptured her Achilles tendon.
Her owners, Kathy and John panicked. Kuli is the 3rd member of the Clapp family, and they could not stand to see their dog in pain. Their veterinarian, Dr. Greg Thibodeau recommended surgery, so they drove almost three hours through a northeastern snowstorm to Norway, ME for the procedure. Unfortunately, the surgery did not work. The surgeon, Dr. Todd Gauger of Norway Veterinary Hospital stated that there was nothing more he could do surgically to help repair Kuli's leg. The situation looked grim.
Dr. Gauger had heard about something new that was being talked about in veterinary circles and thought it was worth a chance. He called Hero to request a casting kit to be sent to Dr. Thibodeau in Blue Hill. He sent the cast off and a short time later, Kuli received her ankle brace. This is the first time anyone at the veterinary clinic had ever heard of bracing for dogs, and Kuli was soon the poster child for the concept.
Proper fit is paramount when determining whether a brace will help or not. If a brace does not fit properly, it will not only fail to help a dog to recover, but it can also cause more physical problems. That is why having a custom dog leg brace and a good cast is so important. When Kathy and John sent the pictures of Kuli trying on her brace for the first time, Ben from Hero was not satisfied. He made another brace for her immediately in order to guarantee the perfect fit.
"We think the world of Ben," says Kathy. "The brace helped Kuli so much." Kuli was able to begin walking and playing again, even wearing out the brace's Velcro a few times during the past 5 years. She has gotten to the point where she doesn't need to wear it any more and continues swimming every day in warm weather.
The Clapps are so grateful for the second chance Hero has given Kuli that they send Ben and the team a Christmas card every year to keep them up to speed with what the family is doing.
It's been a joyous 10 1/2 years on the farm, but eventually all dogs get to the point when they need to slow it down just a bit. This year Kuli has decided to enjoy the season from a different perspective; underneath her very own Christmas tree with a warm blanket, twinkling lights and the comfort of the season.
Enjoy your break, Kuli. You deserve it.
Wherever your Holiday traditions take you this year, we hope your family pet can be with you.
From our pet to yours --
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Dog Bracing Made Simple
Caleb, Happier than a Pig in Slop
It was an exciting day nine years ago in Massachusetts. It was the week before Thanksgiving, and Greg's family had decided to adopt a new puppy from the local no-kill shelter. Greg and his youngest son were waiting in the greeting area when two dogs enthusiastically rushed up to greet them. Both were full of exuberance and playfulness, looking for a forever home. Both sniffed and wagged and showed off total adorableness. One scampered off. One stayed.
Caleb is half English Springer Spaniel and half Black Labrador Retriever. He is now nine years old and in great shape due to the quality time he spends with Greg enjoying the woods and the outdoors. But three years ago it was a different story, the day Caleb came back to the house with a limp.
Caleb's vet originally thought it was only a hypertension of the dog's leg muscle, and the injury seemed to heal after a week. Six to seven months later, the injury resurfaced but again seemed to heal quickly. Last April, Caleb injured his knee once again but this time didn't recover.
Greg is proud that his dog is a typical New Englander, stoic and strong. This was the first time he had ever heard Caleb cry. When Caleb wasn't able to jump up in the chair with Greg for comfort the night of his injury, Greg got down on the floor himself and spent the night with his dog.
Greg is familiar with his own knee injury and remembers feeling such excruciating pain that he was sick to his stomach. Knowing his dog was in similar agony was more than he could take.
Greg went on the internet to do some research. The most popular solution for a dog with a CCL tear is surgery, but Greg was not impressed with the results. While there is an 85% success rate from the surgery, Greg was concerned about the rates of re-injury. He was also concerned that if the surgery wasn't successful Caleb could actually be worse off. Because Caleb has never been crated, Greg was hesitant of the 13 week recovery period that requiring crating. Greg was also very concerned about the emotional recovery of Caleb and was worried that being crated for so long would do damage to Caleb's psyche.
Then Greg discovered Hero. He picked up the phone and spoke to Monica, finding her extremely helpful and able to answer all of his questions. He worked with a local vet and was impressed with the entire casting process.
A few weeks later, Caleb received his Hero Brace, and he took to it almost immediately. He had been taking Truprofin for pain management, but since receiving his brace, Caleb hasn't needed any pain medication. Because the knee brace supports his leg correctly, Caleb is able to put his full weight on his leg and not worry about re-injury or pain.
Greg does insist on Caleb wearing his brace for 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. "Know that the brace is not giving your dog a new knee," Greg advises other dog owners. "But you're giving your dog a better quality of life and giving him the chance to play without pain."
Greg can tell how happy Caleb is to be back to his old self again, whether out walking in the woods or jumping up for a rest on the couch, "You can tell when an animal is happy. You can see it in his eyes, in his ears, in his tail. I look at Caleb and I can just tell that he is happier. Caleb is happier than a pig in slop."
Well, wherever Caleb is happiest, on the couch or in the woods, we are glad that we were able to help.
Play, Caleb. Play.
Dog Bracing Made Simple
When you're a soccer star like Roxy, a little bump here and there is to be expected. In August 2013, Roxy received a little bit more than a bump.
Born to humble beginnings, Roxy was the runt of her litter. She has now grown to a 70 lb. playful Boxer/German Shepherd mix who is the star of Pete and Debbie's team and their hearts.
Roxy is an extremely playful and active dog who especially loves frisbee and soccer. One of her specialties is a twist move that she does when catching a toy mid-air. When she came down hopping around on only three legs, Pete was immediately concerned. He hoped she may have only strained her leg, but made sure to keep an eye on her.
A veterinarian confirmed that Roxy had completely torn her CCL and suggested a few options for the family: 1. Surgery on her knee to repair the injury or 2. A new Hero leg brace.
The family was hesitant to go the surgery route. Roxy just had surgery six months prior to remove a benign mast cell tumor from the same leg. Her vet had been hearing success stories of other dogs who had used a Hero Brace and suggested that as a primary option.
That's when the team got busy. The vet ordered and received the casting kit to make the cast of Roxy's leg. Pete studied the videos on the Hero website in order to best put the brace on Roxy's leg when it arrived. Roxy was very patient with Pete and he attempted to get the fit just right. Roxy and Pete went for a short walk as Roxy gingerly attempted to put some weight on her paw, but wasn't completely sure about her new device.
After a video evaluation from the Hero team and some tweaks to the fit, Roxy was so comfortable with her knee brace she began walking normally again. She never fought Pete when it was time to put it on, nor did she try to chew it off.
For the first few months of wearing her brace, they kept Roxy confined to the main floor of their house. She was able to walk normally, putting full weight on her leg. As Roxy became used to her brace, she was given free reign and immediately began to rebuild her strength. Her leg has now healed to the point that she only needs her brace for long walks, for runs and other rigorous playing.
Because she likes to have so much fun and is so athletic, Roxy's brace had to be returned recently to Hero to replace the Velcro. While the brace was being refurbished, Pete took Roxy for a walk without the brace and let her off-leash in the woods. Pete reports that after walking a couple miles, she broke out in full play mode, running full speed and jumping over ditches.
"She was playing super dog!" Pete smiled. "It has been 15 months since the vet diagnosed her with a full ACL tear. We got the brace back this week all spruced up. We are very grateful for Hero and their support. Thanks to them, Roxy is happy and enjoying life. In fact, she is looking at me right now asking if we can go for a walk."
We're glad to have been able to help. If we can help a dog score the winning goal, catch a frisbee, jump over a ditch or just feel like a super dog again, we know we've done our job.
Dog Bracing Made Simple
Boo Boo, Melts a Heart, Saves a Life
When it comes to Heroes, sometimes you wonder who saves who.
J.R. Griffith was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis when he was only 33 years old. His disease presents itself in attacks. The first time he experienced one of these attacks, the entire right side of his body became numb, from his right toe to the top of his head. J.R. never knows when these attacks will happen or for how long. One attack left him bedridden for six weeks. These attacks leave J.R. dizzy, disoriented and depressed. They negatively affect his memory, the way his brain functions and overall quality of life. When J.R. turned 40, his symptoms became so severe that he had to discontinue working.
Wanting to do something to celebrate his 45th birthday, J.R.'s wife suggested getting a dog to keep him company. Thinking he already had enough to take care of, J.R. nixed the idea. J.R.'s wife is a nurse and was studying holistic healing at the time. She insisted the idea of canine companionship would be therapeutic and brought J.R. to the League of Animal Welfare, a no-kill organization.
That was where he met Boo Boo. The year-and-a-half-old Border Collie and Chow mix had black fur with white on his chest, two white back paws and soft brown eyes that could melt your heart. And it's hard to say no with a melted heart.
The responsibility of taking care of Boo forced J.R. to begin talking walks. The dog needed to walk, so he would as well. That bit of progress encouraged J.R. to do more, so he began lifting weights and building strength in the rest of his body. Little by little, J.R. began to feel better about himself and his future.
Boo and J.R. quickly became inseparable. Where J.R. would go, Boo would go, to the bank, to church and running errands. Boo was welcomed at every house in the neighborhood. It was rare to see one without the other.
In January of 2013 Boo and J.R. were taking a midnight walk around the neighborhood when Boo was hit by a car while crossing the street. Black dogs can be hard to see in the dark, and it took just a split second for the car to accidentally clip him. Boo's vet, Dr. Jack Shepherd contacted veterinary surgeon, Dr. Brian Ward immediately to help fix Boo's severed tendon. Dr. Ward suggested three options: 1. Amputate Boo's leg, 2. Perform surgery to connect the tendon back together using metal plates, 3. Put Boo down.
All day J.R. laid on the floor of Grady Animal Hospital next to his best friend, praying for guidance. He knew he couldn't let Boo suffer. J.R. had made up his mind to put Boo out of his misery the next day, but when they brought Boo into the room, everything changed. In that moment, J.R. realized that he would do anything for the dog who saved his life.
Dr. Ward performed the surgery and recommended using a Hero Carpal Brace as part of the recovery process. J.R. believes that the Hero Brace has been integral in getting Boo back on his feet again. With his brace, Boo has been able to rebuild strength in his limbs and regain mobility without worrying about re-injury. Boo has even learned when he should use the brace, whether going on walks or walking on slippery surfaces. He is back to his midnight walks with J.R. and isn't slowing down for a minute.
It has been almost two years since the accident and J.R. realizes their roles have been reversed. "If it wasn't for Boo helping to get me stronger," J.R. says, "I would never have been able to take care of him."
Just another story about a Hero saving the day. But who is really saving who, that is the question.
Dog Bracing Made Simple
Bowa's Comeback: From Injury to Obedience Champion
All dogs win a place in our hearts. Bowa actually wins in the arena. He is currently the #4 Australian Shepherd in the United States right now for upper level obedience trials. Bowa is named after the MLB baseball player and manager, Larry Bowa, and shares the shortstop's love of competition.
Bowa also competed successfully in herding trials but injured his CCL two years ago. He was put on the DL list for a month and turned his attention to competing in obedience trials only. Nine-year-old Bowa is part of an entire family of Australian Shepherds owned by Laura H., who treats each and every dog like they are her own children.
Recently Bowa was out playing with his siblings and accidentally re-injured the same leg. Laura knew to be concerned this time when Bowa wasn't able to just "walk off" his injury, and she contacted her vet immediately.
Joe Consigli, DVM works at Quakertown Veterinary Clinic in Pennsylvania. The clinic is a top-notch facility in the area helping animals for over 100 years with 24/7 care. Dr. Consigli originally recommended surgery for Bowa.
But Laura had reservations, "At Bowa's age, I couldn't see him going through the surgery and laying around in a crate for 10-12 weeks, watching the other dogs playing, going in and out, and going to shows. I just knew it would age him mentally." She was also apprehensive how Bowa would react to the anesthesia and was worried about complications. She did some research online and shared information about Hero Braces with her vet.
The concept of bracing is not new to the Quakertown Veterinary Clinic. They currently have four other dogs with braces for CCL tears, but Dr. Consigli was very impressed by the quality, craftsmanship and functionality of the Hero Brace. They decided to have Bowa serve as the trial dog for Hero Braces.
The casting process went smoothly. Dr. Consigli and Laura watched the Hero casting videos before casting Bowa. While some dogs may need some mild sedation, Bowa was able to just lay down still on the floor while Dr. Consigli and a vet assistant made the cast. Dr. Consigli was impressed with the the casting kit as a whole. The buffer strip and hook knife made the removal of the cast a simple process.
Bowa received his finished brace a few weeks later and was a little apprehensive when it was first put on. After faithfully following the adjustment process, he now knows he can trust it. Bowa is walking, running, swimming and using all four feet instead of three. "He can even jump up into the truck and on the bed," says Laura. "Which I really don't encourage but that's Bowa. At this point in his life, if that's what makes him happy, then it's OK. I love to see him happy."
Just eight weeks after Bowa's injury, Laura is now able to take him on two mile walks with the rest of her fur family. He does wear the brace faithfully all day and only has it off at night when he's in his crate.
"I hope he keeps getting better to the point where he won't have a limp at all and we'll be able to return to the show ring," Laura says. "But if not, at least I have my happy, sweet, mommy's-boy Bowa, and he's able to get along just fine with the brace on."
While he might not win the World Series, and his winning of show trophies may be put on hold for a while, Bowa definitely knows how to win hearts.
Dog Bracing Made Simple
From Roof Jump to Squirrel Chase: Farley's Inspiring Tale
We like to think of all of our Hero Dogs as superheroes. Their special powers include tennis ball-catching, squirrel-chasing, end-of-day snuggling and empathy. Their super powers do not include flying off a roof.
Farley is a 7-year-old Mini Pinscher/Poodle/Shitzu and has been Talena's best friend since he was just 8 weeks old. Farley and Talena were visiting family in Wisconsin this past July when Farley decided to try out his superhero skills. In a single bound, he tried leaping off a walk-out roof that was undergoing repair.
Talena was devastated. Farley fractured the carpal in his front right paw and hyper-extended both of his front paws so badly that he tore the ligaments and tendons. He was in so much pain that Talena knew she would do anything she could to help her little guy.
Farley's veterinarian recommended surgery, carpal arthrodesis, for both of his legs. But at an approximate cost of $6500, Talena knew it just wasn't in the budget. Farley's vet then recommended Hero Braces for both of Farley's legs.
So far the carpal fracture in Farley's right paw has healed, and his doctor is thrilled with the progress that he is making with his leg braces. He will be checking Farley again in November to see how well the scar tissue is forming around his joints.
Talena is very happy with her Hero Braces and the fact that Farley is getting around great in them. Farley is just happy that he can continue to play and have fun with Talena and continue to fight evil every day. Especially squirrels.
Dog Bracing Made Simple
Jack's Triumph: Overcoming Knee Injury with a Hero Brace
What decisions would a vet make if they were treating their own dog?
Dr. Sarah Bradley works at All About Pets in Citrus Heights, Ca. Her best buddy is 8-year-old Jack, an Old English Sheepdog who often accompanies her to work and loves to go camping with the family.
While jumping into the back of Dr. Bradley's SUV, Jack suffered a traumatic patellar luxation (dislocated knee cap).
Dr. Bradley worked closely with a veterinary surgeon through four surgeries over six months to fix his leg. She kept him on strict cage rest for seven months and wanted to find a solution to support his knee (stifle) while increasing activity.
Dr. Bradley chose a Hero Brace based on a recommendation from a former classmate. The Hero Brace allows Jack to be mobile while supporting the leg and protecting him from re-injury. Now Jack wears his Hero Brace every day when he comes to the clinic with her and when he plays with the boys in the family's backyard.
"This brace is exactly what I was looking for. It's custom fit for him and he is able to wear it all day without a problem. Now that I know that the brace is effective and wonderful, I now have another option to offer my clients!"
Dog Bracing Made Simple
Luke's story makes him sound like the perfect adventure hero.
He was born in the cold, icy fjords of Alaska. His mother was fending for herself in the wild when rescuers were able to save her pups from a life of uncertainty. Luke is a Malamute, Husky, Akita and wolf mix who, at 10 weeks old, moved to California to start a new life with Terri.
That's when the adventure really started.
Terri and Luke were inseparable for a year and a half. Hiking and exploring the Sierra mountain range and getting into all sorts of trouble together.
Their story took a tragic turn three years ago when Luke was struck by a car resulting in a fractured pelvis. A specialist surgeon was able to repair it with a titanium plate, but Luke began to experience sciatic nerve pain. Terri was unsure if the damage developed from the accident or as a result of surgery. To alleviate the pain, the surgeon recommended amputating Luke's leg.
Terri would do anything for her best friend, but she wanted to do whatever she could to save Luke's leg. She just so happened to have friends in the veterinary industry with some alternative ideas to eliminate Luke's pain and avoid amputation. Jackie Woelz from the University of California-Davis began a treatment of physical therapy. Wendy Robinson, DVM of Tahoe Integrative Veterinary Care in Truckee, CA added a series of acupuncture. The series of treatments were able to restore enough muscle mass to Luke's leg which had atrophied due to lack of movement.
Six anticipated months later, when he was strong enough, Luke received his Hero Brace. Almost immediately, Luke took to the brace and hasn't stopped running, hiking, swimming or enjoying life for the past three years.
"Without Ben and Hero (and Monica!) Luke probably would have lost his leg," Terri explains. "Life would not have been much fun. Thanks so much for being out there Hero!"
Terri looks forward to the next chapters in their story and the many adventures that await.
Dog Bracing Made Simple
They first saw her as a puppy at a shelter, six months old and full of puppy-ness, all licks and tail wags. They weren't sure but guesses were that Kepa was part Rottweiler, part German Shepherd, part grizzly/teddy bear.
Two years later, Kepa found her permanent home with Rich and Diane in Ashland, Oregon. One of the perks to living so close to the border of California and Oregon is the network of superior hiking with close proximity to three mountain ranges. Rich and Kepa have spent many hours over the past 10 years soaking in the gorgeous scenery on the Pacific Crest Trail.
Recently, Rich thought he noticed Kepa favoring one of her rear legs, but didn't know if maybe she just strained a muscle or had another minor issue.
Their family friend, who happens to be a mobile veterinarian, came to visit and diagnosed Kepa with a torn ligament in her knee. Because the vet also discovered some other physical issues, they agreed that surgery was not an option for Kepa.
Rich worked with his veterinarian to research options for Kepa and happened upon Hero Braces (formerly Ace Ortho Solution). He was particularly attracted to the fact that a dog can recover from their CCL injury and still remain mobile.
Rich didn't have to give up sharing his walks with his dogs. Since Kepa has gotten her brace, Rich has noticed no limping. The biggest difficulty she experiences is climbing over the other dogs in the rush to get out of the car and onto the trail.
Rich has become such a champion for Hero Braces that he tells everyone they run into on the trail, "It has worked out so well. You wouldn't even know she's had an injury. Monica and the crew at Hero have been so great to work with. It's so simple to put on and then, off we go!"
Rich and Kepa have been able to maintain their hour and a half walks, and while some days Rich feels like he could just keep going and going, enjoying all that Mother Nature has to offer, Kepa does eventually want to return to the house and her end-of-the-hike bone.
Well, who can blame her? Who doesn't love a little treat after a job well done?
Dog Bracing Made Simple
Achilles Ruptures in Dogs - Hunter's Story
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.
Helping Pets live fuller lives
Helping Pets live fuller lives