Bracing FAQ...

Yes of course, we've helped 10's of thousands of dogs with braces. But, why would others say no?

Knee braces have been available to dogs for over 20 years. That said, they are just now being taught in veterinary schools.

Most Veterinarians were not taught the process in school, so there can be some apprehension from them. After all, they were taught surgery was the best option. If your Veterinarian says bracing does not work, simply ask how many braces have they fit or tried to fit on dogs?

Today, we find many dogs cannot have surgery. So bracing is becoming more used in practice. Studies published by Veterinarians have shown that knee braces can be helpful.

In the end, it is your choice how you can help your pet in your situation. Do your best, that's all anyone can ask.

Some methods are better than others, in fact some leave your head scratching because they won't work.

It is important to understand that dogs have more shapes and sizes than any other species of animal. Thus, trying to pick out a size like a t-shirt won't provide support to your dog's leg. Quite frankly, you are better off saving your money and spending it on joint supplements than buying that type of brace.

3-D scanning is sexy, but because of the fur and movement of your dog, it just doesn't work. Which leads us to casting.

Casting is something that we can help you with if you have not done it before. We send casting tips in our kit to make it simple for you.

There are two types of dog knee braces. Medical professionals that use bracing agree one helps your dog, the other doesn't.

There are fabric braces and custom plastic braces. Fabric stretches like your T-shirt and cannot stop the bone from moving after the ACL is torn.

Hero Braces are custom made to your dog's unique shape at flat rate starting at $996 with free 2-Day shipping.

Dog anatomy has evolved so they can be explosive jumpers. Because of this their thigh changes shape dramatically when they walk.

The strap causes a problem to fitting the brace because of this change in shape. The Hero Brace allows more room for good movement.

It is important to understand, in dogs, even with surgery, the ACL is not repaired.

The ACL in dogs is so small it cannot be reattached, so surgeons try other tricks to stabilize the leg.

Before surgeons were around, dogs would recover by forming scar tissue around the knee to stabilize the joint.

Braces are used to support the leg until this scar tissue forms in dogs that cannot have surgery.

Yes. We understand bracing is relatively new to veterinary medicine (within past 15 years.) So we provide different ways of learning for your veterinarian to implement bracing into their clinic practices.

Visit our Veterinarians page to see those resources.

The joints and plastic of a Hero stifle brace are guaranteed for the life of your dog.

The straps and tread should last between 6 to 24 months, depending on your dog’s level of activity and spunk.

The straps and tread can be replaced for a minimal charge.

Regarding fit, we guarantee to make sure the Hero Brace fits your dog properly.

Read our Terms of Service for more details

All Hero Braces are custom-made. So we give you the best chance for those tough sizes.

We have fit a 4 lb. Chihuahua AND a 214 lb. Newfoundland.

Hero Braces are fully custom-made, which means we can accommodate a wide range of sizes. We design each brace specifically for your dog’s unique anatomy to give them the best possible fit and function. That said, in rare cases, a dog’s limb shape or structure (regardless of size) may not be suitable for bracing. Once we receive your cast, we’ll carefully evaluate it to determine if a brace can be made. If it turns out bracing isn’t possible, we’ll notify you — just keep in mind that the $79 casting kit fee is nonrefundable...consider it a cheap test.

Yes, Hero Braces use a removable under-sleeve.

We do this so we can send you the padding directly. Braces with connected or glued in padding have to be sent into the manufacturer to be replaced.

We do not want your dog to go without the brace that is helping them play again!

Under-sleeve padding has many advantages:

1. Hand washing takes care of the dirt and bacteria.
2. If it wears out, we simply mail you a new under-sleeve.
3. The under-sleeve Velcros to the brace to ensure the brace will not fall off at the dog park.

We want your life to be simpler. The Hero Brace uses an under-sleeve to hold the brace on the leg.

Harnesses wrap around another limb, further limiting the motion of the ‘good’ leg. Harnesses can be a hassle to put on your dog when you are getting ready for an outdoor adventure.

The Hero Brace will simplify your life AND allow your dog to utilize the good motion of the other limbs.

Hero has found the best of both worlds; we use urethane joints for durability and strength without adding extra weight.

Stainless steel joints are strong but heavy, and dogs shred aluminum joints.

Less than 1% of owners report dogs chewing a brace. And often we find it can be fixed if it happens.

What we do find, as soon as your dog understands how much their Hero Brace helps them, they will not bother the brace.

We provide a break-in schedule with each brace to ensure your success!

If you see your dog licking the brace, this may be an indication for an adjustment. We make adjustments a priority at our lab.

Yes, we love our international friends.

You will be responsibe for intenational shipping costs, tarrifs, fees and brokerage costs. We capture $80 at checkout, you may be responsible for more when the brace is finally shipped. If you have an easy way for shipment to your country, let us know!

Sure, that is why we set up our Virtual Clinic. Ben will meet with you and your Veterinarian or Therapist live over Facetime or Google Hangouts.

In person? Yes

If you can get here, Ben will be happy to share his expertise and evaluate your pet. Hero is located in a small town in rural Nebraska. The closest commercial airport is Denver International, a 3-hour drive, and we have a regional airport for private jets.

You would have an opportunity to enjoy the relaxing solitude of the local Sage Hill Loft and Venue. Please call us in advance to coordinate these arrangements.