Posh Dog Knee Brace

Help Your Dog Recover Without Surgery

Custom braces for injury recovery, stability, and comfort

Page 2 of 5

Road to Recovery: Rehabilitating Your Dog’s Knee Joint

A knee injury can sideline even the most energetic dog, impacting their mobility and overall quality of life. Whether the injury is due to a cruciate ligament tear, patellar luxation, or another issue, proper rehabilitation is crucial for a successful recovery. This article explores the importance of knee joint rehabilitation in dogs and outlines the key components of a comprehensive recovery plan.  

Dog Knee Joint Rehabilitation Program

Understanding the Importance of Rehabilitation:

Rehabilitation isn’t just about rest; it’s an active process designed to restore function, reduce pain, and prevent further injury. A well-structured rehabilitation program after a knee injury or surgery offers numerous benefits:  

  • Reduced Pain and Inflammation: Targeted therapies can minimize pain and swelling, making your dog more comfortable.
  • Improved Range of Motion: Exercises help restore flexibility and mobility in the knee joint.  
  • Strengthened Muscles: Rehabilitation focuses on strengthening the muscles surrounding the knee, providing better support and stability.  
  • Enhanced Proprioception: Proprioception is the body’s awareness of its position in space. Rehabilitation helps improve balance and coordination, reducing the risk of re-injury.  
  • Faster Recovery: A structured program can accelerate the healing process and help your dog return to normal activity sooner.  
  • Prevention of Further Injury: By strengthening supporting structures and improving proprioception, rehabilitation can help prevent future knee problems.  

Components of a Knee Joint Rehabilitation Program:

A comprehensive knee rehabilitation program for dogs typically includes several key components:

  • Rest and Controlled Activity: Initially, rest is crucial to allow the knee to heal. Your veterinarian will recommend a gradual increase in activity as your dog progresses through rehabilitation. Controlled leash walks, avoiding running, jumping, and playing, are essential in the early stages.  
  • Pain Management: Pain management is crucial for comfort and allows your dog to participate more effectively in rehabilitation exercises. Your veterinarian may prescribe pain medications, anti-inflammatories, or other therapies.  
  • Therapeutic Exercises: Specific exercises are designed to improve range of motion, strength, and balance. These may include:
    • Passive Range of Motion (PROM): Gently moving the knee through its range of motion.
    • Assisted Exercises: Such as weight shifting and balancing exercises.
    • Active Exercises: Like walking on inclines or over cavaletti poles.  
  • Hydrotherapy: Water-based therapy can be very beneficial. Swimming or underwater treadmill walking provides low-impact exercise, reducing stress on the joint while improving strength and range of motion.  
  • Massage Therapy: Massage can help reduce muscle tension, improve circulation, and decrease pain.  
  • Laser Therapy: Laser therapy can stimulate tissue healing and reduce inflammation.  
  • Acupuncture: Some dogs benefit from acupuncture, which can help manage pain and promote healing.  
  • Home Care: Your veterinarian or a certified canine rehabilitation therapist will provide you with instructions for exercises and activities to perform at home. Consistency is key to a successful recovery.  

Working with a Canine Rehabilitation Specialist:

A certified canine rehabilitation therapist can play a crucial role in your dog’s recovery. They have specialized training in designing and implementing rehabilitation programs. They can assess your dog’s specific needs, develop a tailored plan, and guide you through the exercises and therapies.  

Phases of Rehabilitation:

Knee rehabilitation typically progresses through several phases:

  • Phase 1 (Acute Phase): Focuses on pain management and reducing swelling. Rest is paramount.
  • Phase 2 (Early Mobilization Phase): Gentle exercises to improve range of motion and begin strengthening.
  • Phase 3 (Strengthening Phase): Focuses on building muscle strength and improving balance.
  • Phase 4 (Return to Activity Phase): Gradual return to normal activity levels.

Importance of Consistency and Patience:

Rehabilitating a knee injury takes time and dedication. Consistency with the prescribed exercises and therapies is essential for a successful outcome. Be patient with your dog, and celebrate their progress along the way.

Conclusion:

Knee joint injuries can be challenging for dogs, but with proper rehabilitation, they can often regain mobility and enjoy a good quality of life. Working closely with your veterinarian and a certified canine rehabilitation therapist is crucial for developing and implementing a comprehensive recovery plan. With patience, consistency, and a lot of love, you can help your canine companion get back on their feet and back to enjoying life’s adventures. For more information about Posh Dog Knee Brace you can contact us via our contact form or visit our Facebook Page.


Understanding Dog Orthotics: Getting Back on Their Paws

Just like humans, dogs can experience a range of orthopedic issues that impact their mobility and comfort. From arthritis and hip dysplasia to ligament injuries and post-surgical recovery, these challenges can significantly affect a dog’s quality of life. Thankfully, advancements in veterinary medicine have led to innovative solutions, including custom-made orthotics. This article explores the world of dog orthotics, explaining their benefits, the conditions they treat, and how they can help your canine companion regain mobility and enjoy a happier, more active life.  

Dog orthotic

What are Dog Orthotics?

Dog orthotics are custom-made support devices designed to fit inside a dog’s shoes or attach directly to their paws. They work by providing support, cushioning, and correcting biomechanical imbalances. Unlike prosthetics, which replace a missing limb, orthotics work with the existing limb to improve its function. The old way of making custom orthotics was to make a cast of the dog’s leg.  Now with Posh Dog Knee Braces we can bypass this step using our state of the art technology, and make a custom orthotic based on a quick video call with one of our certified veterinary technicians.  

Conditions Treated with Dog Orthotics:

Dog orthotics can be beneficial for a wide range of conditions, including:

  • Arthritis: Osteoarthritis and other forms of arthritis can cause pain and stiffness in joints. Orthotics can help redistribute weight, reduce pressure on painful joints, and improve comfort.  
  • Hip Dysplasia: This developmental condition affects the hip joint, leading to instability and pain. Orthotics can help stabilize the joint and improve biomechanics.  
  • Elbow Dysplasia: Similar to hip dysplasia but affecting the elbow, orthotics can provide support and reduce pain.  
  • Ligament Injuries: After a ligament tear or sprain, orthotics can provide support during healing and prevent re-injury.
  • Post-Surgical Recovery: Orthotics can be used after orthopedic surgery to protect the surgical site, reduce stress on the joint, and aid in rehabilitation.  
  • Patellar Luxation: This condition involves the kneecap slipping out of place. Orthotics can help stabilize the kneecap and improve joint function.  
  • Limb Deformities: Dogs with congenital or acquired limb deformities can benefit from custom orthotics that provide support and improve alignment.  
  • Neurological Conditions: Certain neurological conditions can affect a dog’s gait and balance. Orthotics can provide additional support and improve stability.  

Benefits of Dog Orthotics:

Using dog orthotics offers several advantages:

  • Pain Reduction: By providing support and correcting biomechanical imbalances, orthotics can reduce pain and discomfort.  
  • Improved Mobility: Orthotics can enhance a dog’s ability to move around, making daily activities easier and more enjoyable.
  • Enhanced Stability: Orthotics improve joint stability, reducing the risk of further injury.  
  • Custom Fit: Because they are custom-made, orthotics provide a precise fit that maximizes support and comfort.  
  • Conservative Management: Orthotics can be a less invasive alternative to surgery for some conditions.  
  • Improved Quality of Life: By reducing pain and improving mobility, orthotics can significantly enhance a dog’s overall quality of life.  

The Process of Getting Dog Orthotics:

The process of obtaining custom orthotics for your dog typically involves these steps:

  1. Veterinary Consultation: The first step is to consult with your veterinarian to get the correct diagnosis.
  2. Referral to a Specialist: Your veterinarian may refer you to a veterinary orthopedic specialist for diagnosis, but remember you don’t always have to do the surgery.
  3. Free Consultation with our Certified Veterinary Technician:  That’s right, free consult with our lead veterinary technician who can help guide you.
  4. Measurements:Once the issue is diagnosed, we will take it from there!  You will get a 1:1 call with a Posh Veterinary Technician to help with the measurement process, and we can begin fabrication.
  5. Fabrication: The orthotics are then fabricated based on the measurements, using specialized orthotic materials.  We only use the best materials for our Posh Braces, similar to what they use for pediatrics, to ensure our patients comfort and fit.
  6. Fitting and Adjustments: Once the orthotics are ready, they will be fitted to your dog. Adjustments will be made to ensure comfort and proper function.

Important Considerations:

  • Cost: Custom dog orthotics can be an investment. Discuss costs and financing options with Posh Dog Knee Brace, as we do have several no interest payment plans.
  • Finding a Veterinarian or Homeopathic Vet: It’s important to work with a qualified Veterinarian experienced in custom dog orthotics.  Definitely ask your veterinarian how much experience they have working with orthotics.  We also offer free consultations once you have the injury diagnosed
  • Maintenance: Orthotics require regular cleaning and maintenance to ensure they remain in good condition.  
  • Transition Period: Your dog may need a period to adjust to wearing the orthotics.

Conclusion:

Dog orthotics can be a valuable tool for improving the mobility and comfort of dogs with orthopedic issues.

By providing customized support and correcting biomechanical imbalances, they can help dogs regain an active and happy life. If your dog is struggling with mobility problems, talk to your veterinarian about getting a proper diagnosis, and let Posh Dog Knee Braces take it from there!  For more information you can cotact us via our contact form or visit us on Facebook.


Surgery Facts

CCL Surgery Facts And A Brace For Dogs Accomplish The Same Goal, So Why Go Through Surgery?

Surgery- Alert

Sept 15, 2018: The AVMA Admits That TPLO Surgery Causes Bone Cancer,
Which Is Very Often Fatal

Link To AVMA Alert 


CCL Sugery with a Dog

Facts about Surgery

“There Is No Real Proof That Any Of These Surgeries Are Truly More Effective Than Non-Surgical Management.” ​ 

From Vets At TiggerPoz.com 


sad TPLO surgery dog brace
sad TPLO surgery dog brace

Regardless Of Whether You Get A Posh Dog Knee Brace, You Need To Read This Entire Page Before You Get Surgery On Your Beloved Dog For A CCL Injury. Then You Will Learn Why We Never Had CCL Surgery ​On Our 11 Year Old Beloved Golden Angel Pasha, In 2013.

The data on this page was presented by vets, veterinary organizations, and veterinary trade publications. We did not create this data or write these articles, only honest, knowledgeable vets and veterinary surgeons did.

Posh Dog Knee Brace Mission Statement

Our singular loyalty and sole commitment is to helping YOUR injured Dog recover from a Dog ACL injury without surgery. A torn ACL in Dogs, is a serious problem for over a million Dogs a year.

We not only offer the best Dog knee brace for your injured Dog, but also the most current and relevant information about the various surgeries, like TPLO, TTA, etc, so that you’ll find the best solution for your Dog with a torn CCL (ACL).

There Are Many Cases Where A Dog Is Not Really A Suitable Candidate For Dog ACL Surgery, Including: Older Dogs, Dogs With Other Medical Issues, Lack Of Funding, And Dog Parents Who Would Rather Do More Conservative Therapy First.

With Human ACL Injuries, Surgery Is Done Only After Bracing And Conservative Management. But With A Torn ACL In Dogs, Vet Surgeons Rush A Dog Into Surgery. This Page Can Help Dog Parents Decide: Is Surgery The Best 1st Choice For Treating An CCL Injury? Or Should You Do Surgery, When All Else Has Failed? You Will Still Need A Brace To Minimize The High Chance Of Your Dog Suffering From A Surgically Induced Bilateral Injury.

THINKING OF CCL SURGERY? READ THIS:

A Well-Respected Veterinarian Trade Website, VeterinaryPracticeNews.com, Published An Illuminating Article In October 2012, About The Epidemic Of Lucrative CCL Surgeries, Written By Dr. Narda Robinson DVM. Click Below:

 “Questioning Canine Cruciate Ligament Surgery”

TPLO dog brace

A Vet At Tiggerpoz.com:
(More Quotes Below) 
“TPLO, TTO, and TTA have become cash-cows for a number of veterinary ortho-surgeons who are making huge profits selling these questionable procedures by misrepresenting potential outcomes and risks to clients.”


The same Vet at Tiggerpoz.com discusses TPLO and TTA surgeries

The problems that can develop during and after one of these bone alteration surgeries can be very serious.

  • All surgeries have risk, but there are some especially nasty potential complications that are specific to TPLO & TTA surgeries:
  • Cracking and splintering of the bones where the metal plates are attached to bone with screws:
  • Persistent infections in the bones;
  • Failure of the patellar ligament due to increased stress on that ligament caused by altered joint geometry.
  • Failure to heal of the saw-cut re-positioned bone segments.
  • Damage to the joint’s meniscus following the ‘meniscus-release’ often done in association with TPLOs.
  • Loosening of the mental plates caused by backing-out of the screws after surgery or failure of the screws’ attachment from crumbling bone or other causes.
  • Tibial tuberosity fracturing:
  • Spinal alignment problems resulting from the altered bone structure having changed stress vectors:
  • Increased cancer rates associated with the metal implants.
  • Peroneal nerve damage
  • Popliteal artery trauma
  • And More.

With TPLO or TTA you have these risks, plus the risk that unavoidably exist in all surgeries, and all without a potential outcome superior to other treatment options. There is seldom a good reason to choose to subject your dog to these risks.


The Veterinary Industry Itself Has Acknowledged:
Over 35% Of Dogs Knee Surgeries For ACL/CCL Injuries Have Serious Complications, Including:

  • Bilateral Injury: Greatly increased likelihood of the other leg CCL rupturing. The disproportionate & extra stress load of the uninjured leg during a 3-6 month post-op recovery period, which will have to absorb most of the load of walking, standing, etc. as the originally injured leg tries to recover from surgery, frequently caused a bilateral (both legs)injury. Having surgery on one leg? Make sure that you set aside thousands more: for TWO surgeries.
  • Severe post-op infections – Set aside many hundreds more for infection management and post op”care.”
  • Arthritis
  • Severe drug reactions
  • Need for corrective surgeries to fix the initial failed surgery
  • Limb amputation after a botched ACL surgery
  • Severe anesthesia complications, including mortality (death)
  • Acute depression while being crated during 2-3 month recovery
  • Pain and suffering, often prolonged and chronic in nature
  • Mortality
  • At least 1 in 4 dogs will still be lame after a CCL surgery
  • According to many veterinarians, the so-called “state of the art” most expensive CCL surgery, (2018 proven to cause a 40x greater risk of Osteosarcoma aka Bone Cancer) called TPLO surgery, is not even 1% more effective than other cruciate surgeries costing half as much
  • Geriatric Dogs in fact, have 700% (7 xs) greater risk of severe complications from anesthesia while undergoing a surgery for a torn ACL in a dog.
  • A knee brace for dogs will aid in the recovery of surgery for a torn knee ligament in  a dog, which is why all human orthopedic surgeons use knee braces if they have to operate on a similar ligament in person, (called an ACL) which human doctors do as a last resort.
  • Unlike all the CCL Surgeries, A Posh Dog Knee Brace and conservative management causes none of the aforementioned complications, and starts healing your dogs’ leg immediately, without pain and suffering.
  • Our former vet did not tell us of the possible surgical complications. Once we learned this information, CCL surgery was no longer as option for recovery. A Posh Dog Knee Brace and conservation management worked, and healed a completely torn CCL in our 11 years old golden child, Pasha within 7 months.

We are contacted every day by people who were never told of dog knee braces, most of these dogs THEN had a bilateral injury, i.e. the other cranial cruciate ligament failed, as a direct result of the stress on the good leg during the painful and arduous “recovery” period of 2-3 months- (barring the high severe complication rate of 35% admitted by the veterinary industry).

ACL/CCL Tears in Dogs - Surgery Facts

Letter From A Prospective Customer Sharing Their
CCL Surgery Experience – (Names Have Been Changed)

NOTE from Posh Dog Knee Brace: Although there are many CCL surgeries performed every day, this is an example of the “35% severe complication rate” the veterinary industry concedes. Note that our Golden child Pasha NEVER had to risk going through this massive debilitating trauma of surgery – we did not do the $5,000 + TPLO surgery and she recovered completely with our own Dog brace, with NO bilateral injury.

“Bonnie is a VERY active Dog that loves to run, jump and swim. She injured herself about a year and a half ago while playing with some of our family’s dogs. Bonnie has had a previous surgery to repair her lateral collateral ligament and her cranial cruciate ligament. The surgery worked for a while, but she developed a severe infection that we did not know about until recently. She became depressed and laid around the house, which I’m sure was a mix of depression and feeling bad from her infection.

Bonnie has been in physical therapy and it did help some, but she ultimately needed to have a second surgery on her knee to reverse the previous surgery and to take a culture and biopsy of her bone to see the severity of her infection. We are currently treating the infection and having to go back to the specialist every six weeks or so for a biopsy/culture of her knee until she is free of infection.

The infection has deteriorated her bone to a point that a Custom Knee Replacement would be needed. We simply cannot afford the $12,000 quoted to us, but we want Maggie to have the freedom to run and play without serious pain. We were told we could amputate, but she uses the injured leg, she has a pretty good limp, but I cannot just bring myself to amputate a limb that she can clearly use. 

We are spending between $1,550 and $3,000 at each specialist appointment we go to. We were lucky to have enough saved for the $3,000 bill and we were also very blessed to have gotten enough in our tax return to cover the $1,550 bill. We still have to go back in 6 weeks for another culture and biopsy if her infection hasn’t completely resolved. One of her antibiotics is $275 for a months worth and she has to be on that for a while yet.

A FEW STATISTICS TO CONSIDER ABOUT DOG KNEE SURGERY FOR CCL RUPTURES

Every CCL surgical procedure has its advocates and many veterinary surgeons claim high success rates, but the results of research studies can be sobering.

In 2005, the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association published a study comparing the results of lateral suture stabilization (LSS), intracapsular stabilization (ICS), and TPLO surgery on 131 Labrador Retrievers with ruptured cranial cruciate ligaments and injury to the medial meniscus. Limb function was measured before surgery and again two and six months after. Treated dogs were also compared to 17 clinically normal Labrador Retrievers.

Study Results

Compared with the clinically normal dogs, only 14.9 percent of the LSS-treated dogs, 15 percent of ICS-treated dogs, and 10.9 percent of TPLO-treated dogs had normal limb function.,/

Overall improvement was seen in only 15 percent of dogs treated with ICS, 34 percent of those treated with TPLO, and 40 percent of those treated with LSS.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15706973

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CANINE CCL SURGERY BUSINESS 

FROM WWW.TIGGERPOZ.COM

CREATED BY A SEASONED VETERINARIAN

www.TiggerPoz.com Author and DVM: “In addition to in-depth study of the research literature on this subject, I have communicated with hundreds of vets experienced in treatment of these injuries, and with researchers who have studied all the various treatment options. Since this website was first created I have heard from thousands of people who have dealt with these injuries in their own dogs about their experiences with surgery and non-surgical recovery.

I have reached these conclusions:

  • That the majority of the surgeries done on dogs diagnosed with ligament injuries are unnecessary, and do not improve ultimate recovery outcome.  
  • That surgery is often described to clients by vets as a medical necessity in cases where it is neither necessary nor the best treatment option.
  • That the reasonably expectable results of ligament-injury-related surgical procedures are often misrepresented.
  • That all the ligament-injury surgeries, especially the bone-altering TPLO, TTO, and TTA, have risks which are often not disclosed to clients by surgeons.
  • That non-surgical recovery, while usually the best first-choice treatment for dogs’ ligament injuries, is frequently inaccurately portrayed or ignored in surgically-inclined vets’ presentations to clients of the available treatment options.
  • That TPLO, TTO, and TTA have become cash-cows for a number of veterinary ortho-surgeons who are making huge profits selling these questionable procedures by misrepresenting potential outcomes and risks to clients.

Note from PoshDogKneeBrace.com: This article was written years before we ourselves experienced firsthand, 100% of the aforementioned issues from several vets when our Golden suffered a complete CCL rupture May 2013.

“I have read over your website. I think it is fantastic. I am a veterinary surgeon and have been board certified for 10 years. I have performed almost all of the procedures described for cruciate rupture. I have worked at multiple surgical practices with many surgeons. As you mentioned there is no real proof that any of these surgeries are truly more effective than non – surgical management. I feel that a large number of people are unhappy with the outcome of surgery regardless of the procedure. In addition, people forget that surgery can do harm. I have seen more than one dog that required an amputation due to surgical complications. I have yet to see a dog require amputation when surgery was not performed. Over the past 2 years I have managed more and more patients without surgery. I find that it is uncommon that people are disappointed in the outcome. Unfortunately, not all patients do great, but then again, not all patients that have surgery do great either. Needless to say my view on the treatment of cruciate disease is not popular among my peers. My thoughts on cruciate disease have caused me great grief with other veterinarians. However, I feel confident I’m doing the right thing for clients and patients.”  (Name withheld), DVM, MS DACVS


QUESTION: 

What Is Considered A Significant Underlying Cause Of Cranial Cruciate Ligament Injury & Other Serious Health Problems In Dogs?


ANSWER

Early Spay & Neuter – Click Here to Read More


Citations:

THIS  Article and THIS Video By An Well Known Vet: Dr. Will Falconer DVM

THIS Article And THIS Article From DogsNaturallyMagazine.com

Considering the numerous unnecessary and significant risks of major surgery for a Dog with a partial or complete CCL rupture, it makes sense to treat an ACL tear with a Dog brace and conservative management first; surgery should be the last option.

If your veterinarian is not knowledgable about using a Dog knee brace to treat ACL tears in Dogs, please invite them to look through our site, read all our success stories, and then to feel free to contact us about bracing and conservative protocols for treating Dog knee injuries.

When TPLO Surgery Goes Wrong, It Really Goes Wrong


Solutions

A Dog Knee Brace Comparitive Analysis

Dog Knee Brace Comparison Solutions Between Soft and Custom Dog CCL Braces

Read What You Need To Know About A Dog CCL Brace. Learn The Facts – Before You Get One For Your Injured Dog.

Just like us in 2013, we never thought we’d have to learn about Dog knee braces. When our Beloved Golden Pasha had a serious CCL injury, our vet (we’ll call her “dr. Whitecoat”) insisted only that we get the $5,000 TPLO surgery in 3 days, and said nothing about Dog knee braces. Too late. We had already found out about them online. We believe that anyone who is learning about a Dog CCL brace is wayyyyy ahead of the hundreds of thousands of people who unwittingly trust the “dr. Whitecoats,” and dreadfully get the surgery (which is at least 3 – 6 times more expensive, and lucrative for a vet clinic than a custom made Dog knee brace).

What It’s All About: Suppressing The “Tibial Thrust.”The cranial cruciate ligament a/k/a CrCL or CCL is one of the ligaments between the thigh bone (femur) and the shin bone “tibia.” it helps stabilize the knee. In people, a similar ligament is the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament). Many vets call it an ACL injury since ACL injury in athletes is a common injury that most people are familiar with. The CCL helps holds the tibia in the correct alignment with the femur. When it is partially or completely ruptured, it becomes a serious orthopedic problem. Ligaments do not grow back. When the knee bends, the tibia is loose and slides forward away from the femur. Now the stifle alignment is off and no longer bio-mechanically correct. This very painful condition is known as “tibial thrust.” think of a wheel on a bicycle having a slight bend in it – it no longer functions correctly or rolls smoothly.

Did you know that: surgery and a good quality custom knee brace for Dogs BOTH accomplish the same goal: they both suppress, or stop, the tibial thrust, which must happen so that the knee (stifle in dogs) can start to develop fibrous scar tissue and re-stabilize the knee and stop the tibial thrust.

A Dog Knee Brace Comparitive Analysis - Solutions

So What Does A Custom Dog Knee Brace Do For A Dog A Torn CCL?

A custom Dog CCL brace is a comfortable, custom-molded, adjustable Dog brace that stabilizes your Dogs’ injured knee as it naturally builds restorative scar tissue, as surgery does. By effectively stabilizing the stifle, a custom Dog leg brace provides a therapeutic alternative to TPLO, TTA, and other Dog knee ligament surgeries, without the numerous risks and higher costs involved with surgery.

Let’s Take A Look At The Difference Between Dog Knee Braces.

Types Of Dog Knee Braces For Cruciate Injuries:
Non-Custom “Ready To Wear,” And Custom Made.

“Ready To Wear” – “Soft” Non-Custom

Custom Made For Your Dog

Do Not Fit Closely On Your Dogs Inured Leg, And Will Not Actively Suppress The Tibial Thrust Or Prevent Internal Tibial Rotation Closely Mimics The Topography Of Your Dogs’ Leg. Fully Suppresses The Tibial Thrust And Prevents Internal Tibial Rotation

Most Are Made From Flimsy Materials Like Neoprene, Fabric, Or Rubber. They Are Not As Durable As A Custom Built Brace. They All Do NOT Have Human Grade Tamarack Flexure Hinges, Which Allow For Natural Movement & Articulation Of The Knee

Made From Orthotic Grade Components That Are Very Durable. Almost Every Custom Dog Brace Has Tamarack Flexure Hinges, Like Human Braces. These Hinges Are Also Energy Absorbing & Help Take A Lot Of The Load Off The Dog Knee, Which Facilitates Faster Healing

Easily Slide Side- To-Side Around The Knee

Doesn’t Slide Around On The Knee. Stays In The Correct Position

Usually Needs A Veterinarian To Fit It Correctly, If You Can Find One Willing To Help You

Requires A Vet To Fit It Correctly On The Dog. (Except The Adjustable-At-Home Posh Brace)

Will Often Require An Over-The Back Harness To Hold It Up

Doesn’t Need A Harness To Stay Up On The Leg

Cost From $100-$495. Can Be Made In About An Hour Without Any Real Attention To Detail

Cost From $945-$1,765. Requires A Multi-Step Process And 4-6 Hours To Fabricate One

Little To No Service After The Sale

Different Levels Of Services After The Sale

Buying a non-custom Dog knee brace will not really save you money. Often, our customers had bought a non-custom brace and then had to get a custom Dog brace, to really help their Dog recover from this serious orthopedic injury. If you can afford it – get a custom Dog brace. You’ll get real results and your Dog will recover without surgery. You’ll be glad you did – and so will your Dog!

Point-By-Point Comparison: 100% Custom Made CCL Braces

Compare Custom Brace Features

Posh Dog Knee Brace

Western USA Dog Knee Brace Company #1

Western USA Dog Knee Brace Company #2

Eastern USA Dog Knee Brace Company #3

Eastern USA Dog Knee Brace Company #4

To Custom Make & Ship Brace

3-5 Days
(About 4 days)

2-3 weeks

2-3 weeks

2-3 weeks

2-3 weeks

Is Risky, Stressful Casting Needed?

NO-This Saves You $150-$600

Yes – Only by affiliate vet = $$$

Yes – Only by Vet = extra fees

Yes requires cast by someone

Yes requires cast by someone

Is Brace Shipped Directly To?

Yes

No – Only by affiliate vet = $$

No – Goes to a vet you must pay

No-Goes to a vet you must pay

Yes

Live Video Fitting By Our Vet Tech

Yes- included With Every Dog

Optional = more ss

No

No

No

Is Case Manager A Vet?

Always, On Every Single Dog

Sometimes

Sometimes

Sometimes

Sometimes

Had CCL Injury On Their Own Dog?

Yes

No

No

No

No

Easy Adjustable By Customer

Yes – A Posh Brace Exclusive

No – requires mailing brace back

No – requires mailing brace back

No – requires mailing brace back

No – requires mailing brace back

No Rubbing Flexible Comfortable Brace

Yes – Flexible Frame Conforms To Dogs’ Leg

No – rigid frame causes irritation & rubbing issues

No – rigid frame causes irritation & rubbing issues

No – rigid frame causes irritation & rubbing issues

No – rigid frame causes irritation & rubbing issues

Innovation Design

Yes – Advanced Technology

No-older design obsolete brace

No-older design obsolete brace

No-older design obsolete brace

No-older design obsolete brace

Precision Hi-Tech Micro Buckles & Ladder Straps

Yes – Straps Stay Clean- Have Lifetime Warranty

No- Velcro straps need frequent replacement

No- Velcro straps need frequent replacement

No- Velcro straps need frequent replacement

No- Velcro straps need frequent replacement

Completely Waterproof

Yes and we use rust free parts

No-and their screws rust

No-and their screws rust

No-and their screws rust

No-and their screws rust

Requires Fitting Appt With Vet

No-and their screws rust

Yes – “affiliate” vet=extra fees

Yes- extra fees

Yes- extra fees

No-But no live video support

Total Price

$945 Shipped No Vet Casting or Fitting Fees

$950-$1,800 + Casting Fees

$950 and Up + Casting Fees

$950 and Up + Casting Fees

$775 and Up + Casting Fees

Click HERE And Read Why The Posh Dog Knee Brace Is The Most Effective, Most Comfortable And Most Advanced CCL/ACL Dog Knee Brace You Can Get, Anywhere.


What’s Going On? Why So Many Dog CCL Surgeries??

Human orthopedic MD’s almost always first put a brace on their patients with CCL injuries. That is why there are hundreds of human knee braces ranging in price from $300 to $3,000 (for a custom brace). We’re not here to annoy anyone, but we need to illuminate certain facts. In 2013, a customer of ours who is a lawyer, whose Dog healed with a Posh brace, may have answered the foregoing question.

Why do veterinarian surgeons seldom mention putting a brace on a Dog with a very similar knee injury as a person? Why do they almost always recommend TPLO and other lucrative ($2 billion annually) surgeries?

Human Orthopedic ​Surgeons Always Do: 

  1. Bracing First.
  2. Conservative Management Of the Patient.
  3. Surgical Intervention Only As A Last Resort. If #1 And #2 Fail.

Is The Solution Below ??

Imagine If Human Doctors Could Get Away With This:

humans legs

Did you know a Dog is 8 times more likely to get surgery on knee ligament injury than a person? Unlike human doctors, veterinarians are largely exempt from costly legal claims and hefty settlements if they cause harm to an animal. Why? Because courts in the USA regards a loving, beautiful, Dog as: “property.” most people are unaware of this.

U.S. courts don’t recognize that your Dog is a sentient, loving being who fills your world each day, with unrequited and boundless love. According to the law in this country, an animal is viewed as: “an item of personal property,” and most courts limit a legal recovery, i.e. settlement of a lawsuit or verdict, to the cost of replacing the companion animal with another animal.

This is tantamount to a court ruling, after an orthopedic surgeon seriously maimed you after an ACL operation on your injured knee, that your surgeon only needs to cover the cost of a shiny new wheelchair. That is why veterinary surgeons need not worry about expensive lawsuits if a CCL operation has serious complications, as 35% + of them do. Is this the reason the number of veterinary surgeons has doubled in the past ten years?

See Our Success Stories Of A Torn CCL In Dogs Who Recovered With No Surgery!


Our Dog CCL brace promotes healing by allowing Dogs to exercise while protecting the knee from further injury. This helps to maintain muscle tone and normal range of motion during the healing process. Exercise and activity also helps to improve the morale of your Dog suffering from the injury. A torn CCL in Dogs can be treated with a high-quality Dog leg brace, conservative management, and proper supplementation.

CCL Braces

Many vets are recognizing that non-surgical treatment options such as a Posh Dog Knee Brace can be an effective treatment alternative to Dog knee surgery for a torn CCL in Dogs.

Even Dogs with complete cruciate tears can heal without surgery using conservative management and our Dog brace during activity. Our Golden Retriever is just one of thousands of case examples of a complete non-surgical recovery from a full CCL rupture using a Dog CCL brace built by Posh Dog Knee Brace.

Using high quality components coupled with groundbreaking innovation, we create an orthotic Dog knee brace which is specifically fabricated to fit the anatomy of your Dogs’ leg, and when worn correctly, will prevent the unwanted and painful forward movement of your Dogs tibia (also known as “drawer movement” and/or “tibial thrust”).

Our Dog CCL stifle brace helps your Dogs leg begin to heal by correctly positioning your Dogs’ tibia relative to the femur so that your Dogs’ leg is incorrect bio-mechanical alignment during flexion (moving) states. Our brace should only be worn during daily periods of physical therapy and exercise, not all day.

We Specialize In One Dog Brace: A CCL (ACL) Brace For For Stifle Injuries. Compare The Groundbreaking Features Of Our Stifle Brace To All The Others, Our Proprietary No-Cast System, And Compare Our Prices With Theirs (See Order A Brace Page). You’ll See That We Deliver Higher Quality & Real Innovation At A Lower Price For Your Dog. And We Have Been Where You Are Today…


QUALITY DOG CCL STIFLE BRACES BY EXPERT TECHNICIANS

Each Posh Dog Knee Brace Is Individually Crafted And Overseen By In The USA By Certified Orthotists And Fitters With 21 Years + Experience. We Make The Highest Quality Brace Available Today Using Only The Finest Materials, Including:

  • “Tamarack” Joints – Energy Absorbing, State-Of-The-Art Joints With A Lifetime Guarantee Help Keep Your Dogs’ Knee In Proper Alignment During The Healing Process.
  • Medical Grade, Soft, Waterproof Foam Lining.
  • Corrosion-Resistant Rivets And/Or Chicago Screws For Added Strength.

THE GROUNDBREAKING POSH DOG KNEE BRACE: 
STATE OF THE ART SOLUTIONS FOR TORN CCL IN DOGS.

Effective Tibial Thrust Suppression
Unlike Most Other CCL Brace Makers, We Don’t Rely On A Thin Velcro Strap Below The Knee To Suppress The Painful Forward Motion Of The Tibia (Caused By The Ligament Injury). Our Comfortable Tibial Padded Frame Extends the Full Length of Your Dogs Tibia and Stabilizes Your Dogs’ Knee Capsule Much More Effectively.

Anti- Migration Suspension
Most ACL Knee Braces Have A Tendency To Ship, Causing Them TO Not Work Properly. Unlike Velcro Straps Others Use, Our Unique Tibial “Wrap” Helps Holds Our Dog Knee Brace In Place, Without Causing Uncomfortable Pressure On The Hock Region Of Your Dogs’ Leg. Our CCL Brace Is Very Comfortable.

Durable Hi-Tech Fastening System
Our Unique Precision Fit Micro-Buckles And Ladder Straps Come With A Life Time Warranty & Allow You To Quickly Connect & Remove Our Dog ACL Braces. For Most Dogs, (Over 30 lbs), We Don’t Use Velcro, Which Needs Frequent Replacement, And Extra Uneven, And Undue Pressure on the Achilles tendon.

No Casting Needed
For Over Sixty Years, The Orthotics And Prosthetics (O&P) Industry Has Relied Upon Manually Making A Fiberglass Impression (Mold) Of The Body Part On Which A Device Will Be Made. We Innovate and Use Technology. We Use Measurements, Pictures and Proprietary Methods to Create an Accurate Mold of Your Dogs’ Leg.

DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT FOR EVERY DOG WE HELP

Since Our Own Golden Has Suffered & Fully Recovered From A Complete Rupture Of Her CCL, We Offer A Unique Perspective That You Won’t Find At Other Companies. We Know First Hand That You Want:

  • An Effective Recovery Alternative To Surgery
  • The Ability To Relieve Your Dogs’ Pain & Suffering While Recovering Immediately And Without Surgical Setbacks.
  • A Chance to Regain Most Of The Lifestyle You Enjoyed With Your Dog Prior To The Injury.
  • Ongoing Support To Ensure Your Dog Leg Brace Is Working Correctly And Helping Your Dogs’ Recovery, Just Like We Did With Our Beloved Golden Pasha.

 A Custom Posh Dog Knee Brace Can Do All This For Your Dog:

ALLOWS AN IMMEDIATE HEALING PROCESS FOR THE
INJURED LEG AND HELPS PREVENT A BILATERAL INJURY

Unlike surgery, our brace for CCL tears in Dogs immediately helps your Dogs recovery, not after months of painful and problematic recovery from surgery. After surgery, a Dog will bear most of its’ weight on the uninjured leg, greatly increasing the stress on that leg and the risk of an eventual CCL rupture of the uninjured leg. Vets have told us what we long suspected: that CCL surgery, in many cases, may actually cause a bilateral injury. A disproportionate weight load upon your Dogs hind legs for an extended period may also cause other problems for your Dog.

ALLOWS TIME TO EVALUATE WHETHER SURGERY IS EVEN NECESSARY. 
​SURGERY IS NOT REVERSIBLE. YOU CAN ALWAYS GET SURGERY LATER.

Since a Posh Dog Knee Brace accomplishes the same end goal of allowing the affected region to begin to heal naturally, this raises a critical question: why should your Dog be subjected to TPLO surgery and other canine knee surgery, when it may not even be necessary? Why not benefit from the conservative management option of no surgery, and managing the activity of your Dog for months, which you must do even with surgery? With our CCL stifle brace, your Dog begins to recover right away, not after months of painful post-surgery recovery, and with none of the surgical complications.

HELP PREVENTS RISK OF POSTOPERATIVE RE-INJURY. BILATERAL INJURIES 
​CAUSED BY THE 1ST SURGERY, (NOT BRACES), ARE EXTREMELY COMMON.

If you elect to have canine CCL surgery, the advanced stability provided by a Posh Dog Knee Brace is a form of an “insurance policy” for your Dogs’ recovery, to help prevent post-operative re-injury of the leg. After a CCL Surgery, there exists a substantial occurrence of a CCL tear in the uninjured other rear leg. Unfortunately, this dreadful occurrence of a bilateral injury happens more frequently than you may think. After surgery, the “parents” of the Dog must be very careful to restrain it from running, jumping, playing, etc for several months. A Posh Dog Knee Brace helps the CCL stifle injury heal and greatly reduces the risk of post-operative re-injury.

What You Can Expect From A CCL Surgery On Your Dog:

A Surgery Induced Bilateral Injury

Months Of Post Op Recovery Infections

Depression From Surgery And “Crating”

High Veterinary Costs, Including Bilateral Surgery

What You Can Expect From A Posh Dog Knee Brace:

No Surgical Complication Risks

An Immediate Healing Process For Your Dog

Therapeutic Increase In Mood

Your Dog Gets To Walk & Be A Dog Again.


Case Studies

A Small Handful Of Actual Case Studies Of How We Helped Dogs Whose Parents Did NOT Want Their Dog To Endure CCL Surgery

case study

Case # 1: RAM – Bilateral Boy In Such Terrible Pain That He Could Only Walk On His Hands

SEVERE CCL INJURY: SEE A CRIPPLED DOG WALK AGAIN.

Our Recent Patient: Ram, An Adorable 4 Year Old Male Anatolian Shepherd/Lab Mix. Diagnosis: Bilateral – Complete Rupture Of CCL Ligaments In Both Hind Legs. The Vet Recommended Surgery At A Cost Exceeding $8,000 + For Both Injured Legs.

As Seen On The “Before” Video, Rams’ Acute Pain Prohibited Him From Walking And Bearing Any Weight On Either Of His Hind Legs. Astoundingly, He Was Literally Walking On Only His Two Front Legs, Until His Mom Put On His Custom Posh Dog Knee Braces For Dog Knee Injuries.

BEFORE

June 2015: Ram Suffering From A Bilateral CCL Injury In Both Legs And Walking On Only His Front Legs 

AFTER

Ram Walking And Running Again With His Custom Posh Dog Braces, Recovering Without An $8000 + Surgery. 

As you can see, Ram is recovering beautifully with NO surgery and with our Posh Dog Knee Braces made without the casting hassle. Within a week he was walking around and not a limping Dog anymore. Now handsome Ram is running around Maui with his Mom, Megan. Notice how he is not only running but also bearing 100% weight on each leg, as he leaves “pea mail” everywhere like male Dogs do lol. Rams’ veterinarian now recommends the Posh Dog Knee Brace for Dogs with even severe CCL ruptures, like Ram.

Many Vets now realize that surgery should be the LAST option for even completely torn CCL/ACL injuries in Dogs. Bracing and conservative management therapy should be pursued before surgical intervention.


Case # 2: MONA – Cancer Survivor And Amputee

How We Helped Mona The “Tripawd” In Less Than 48 Hours With A Custom Made, Great Fitting Posh Dog Knee Brace

No Casting Required! – Mona, A Special 8 YO Girl With 3 Legs – Kentucky

Monas’ Mom and Dad contacted Posh Dog Knee Brace on February 28, 2016. Their beautiful girl had her right forearm amputated because of osteosarcoma in mid-January 2016. Then barely a month later, she suffered a complete rupture of her right hind leg cranial cruciate ligament. She literally could not stand, as her entire right side legs were gone.

​In 48 hours, on March 1, we had Mona walking around again in a Posh brace, even though we’re hundreds of miles away. No other custom brace company can offer that level of expedited service. Learn more about Monas’ story and dozens of other success stories at our Testimonial page.


Case # 3: TWIZZLE (RIP 2017 Beautiful Angel)

No Casting Required. – Mare, Mom of Twizzle, 7 YO Adorable Terrier – MI

Comment from Posh Dog Knee Brace: Our customer, Filmmaker Mare Costello, has made a wonderful short film about her adorable girl Twizzle and her non-surgical recovery from a severe CCL injury, wearing her Posh Dog Knee Brace!]

“Twizzle, the wonder dog and actress, has been through a lot since the end of last November when she was chasing a squirrel halfway down our block leading to a diagnosis of a stage 3 CCL (ACL in human terms) tear. Surgery was immediately suggested which when I found out how much the cheapest costs, how 75% of the dogs tear the other, not to mention, the kind of recovery we would still be doing I chose the lesser known route of conservative management, photonic red light therapy, changed her diet from the ground up and found out about the Posh Dog Knee Brace!

Enjoy this video that speaks to this. I’m more than happy to answer any of your questions as I’ve been documenting her progress since the beginning. She has now been in this recovery for 226 days total with a re-ingury making a new total of days 116 and the last 54 using the brace. She is stable but still has months more of recovery.

We even have cool hand painted black/white “Twizzle” t-shirts to raise funds for her recovery and awareness to the alternate methods of handling your dogs life threatening knee injuries. Send a request to in**@****************lc.com.


Case # 4: KONA – Bilateral (Both Legs) Husky

Recovering With NO surgery (& No Casting!) Tracy M, Mom Of Kona, 9 Year Old Husky, Arizona

NOTE from Posh Dog Knee Brace: Just like us in 2013 with our Beloved Angel Pasha, Kona’s parents were given ONE option for a severe bilateral CCL injury to their beloved boy: major surgery at a very high cost – on a 9 year old boy. See the before and after vids below of handsome Kona. Here is the note Tracy, Konas’ Mom, sent us:

“Handsome Husky and Posh Dog:

Bad luck! Bilateral torn CCL! Both need surgery. These words greeted our ears from the friendly neighborhood vet who sincerely sympathizes with our precious pup, Kona. Sadly, the cost of surgery was prohibitive and unattractive for our situation. As a happy nearly nine year old husky, Kona loves long walks, playing in the back yard, and sleeping on the cold tile. Tearing his CCL ligaments stopped all but one of these favorite activities. We went on a hunt to find an alternative treatment to return Kona to his fun-loving self. 

“Through a thorough internet search, we found Posh Dog knee braces. After reading research and watching YouTube videos of the product in action, we decided that Posh Dog knee braces were perfect for Kona. The service was amazing! 

We completed the simple measurements and photos and within 3 days Kona was wearing his new knee braces. His first time on them was a little shaky, but by day 3 he was able to walk 15 minutes twice a day. He went on his first outing since his injury to a favorite walking path along the Colorado River and he acted like his old self – sniffing, trotting, and chasing other dogs. Thank you Posh Dog for providing this awesome product and service for our handsome husky!”


See Scores Of More Success Stories HERE And
At Our Facebook Page HERE. Just Click “Posts” On The Left!

Our Advanced Custom CCL Brace Offers A Non-Surgical, Painless And Effective Alternative For Canine CCL Injuries. Order The Custom Posh Dog Knee Brace And Get The Most Advanced, Waterproof, Adjustable CCL Brace To Help Your Dog Recover, Without Pain, Surgical Risks, And Bilateral Failure.

*Disclaimer – Results may vary per Individual Dog.


Dog Compression: 5 Benefits, Uses, and Considerations

Dog Compression therapy isn’t just for humans anymore! It’s increasingly being used in veterinary medicine to aid in healing, reduce pain, and improve mobility in dogs. This article explores the benefits of compression for canines, the various ways it’s used, and important considerations for pet owners.

Dog compression

How Does Dog Compression Work?

Dog Compression therapy involves applying external pressure to a specific area of the body. This pressure can have several positive effects:  

Uses of Compression for Dogs:

Compression therapy can be used to treat a variety of conditions in dogs, including:

Types of Compression for Dogs:

Several methods are used to provide compression for dogs:

Important Considerations:

When to Avoid Dog Compression:

Dog Compression therapy is not appropriate for all conditions. It should be avoided in cases of:

Conclusion:

Compression therapy can be a valuable tool in managing various conditions in dogs, offering pain relief, reducing swelling, and promoting healing. However, it’s crucial to work closely with your veterinarian to ensure it’s the right approach for your dog’s specific needs. With proper guidance and application, compression can help your canine companion stay comfortable and active. For more information about our Posh Dog Knee Brace you can contact us via our contact form or visit us on Facebook.


Dog Limping: Possible Causes and Treatments

Limping in dogs can have various causes, ranging from minor injuries to serious health conditions. Here are some causes and treatments for your dog.

Possible Causes of Dog Limping:

When to See a Veterinarian for your Dog Limping:

Treatment for Dog Limping:

Disclaimer: This information is for general knowledge and does not constitute veterinary advice. Always consult with a qualified veterinarian for any concerns about your dog’s health. For more information about our Posh Dog Knee Brace you can visit our contact page or Facebook.


The Benefits of Acupuncture for Dogs: A Holistic Approach to Pain Management

Acupuncture approach to pain management, an ancient Chinese medicine practice, has gained significant traction in veterinary medicine as a holistic approach to managing various health conditions in dogs. By inserting thin needles into specific points on the body, acupuncture stimulates the nervous system, promoting the release of endorphins and other natural pain-relieving chemicals. This can offer a valuable alternative or complementary therapy to traditional pain medications for dogs.  

The Benefits of Acupuncture for Dogs A Holistic Approach to Pain Management

Key Benefits of Acupuncture for Dogs for Pain Management:

Conditions That May Benefit from Acupuncture:

How Acupuncture Works:

Acupuncture points are located along specific meridians or pathways in the body. When needles are inserted into these points, they stimulate the nervous system, triggering the release of endorphins, natural pain-relieving chemicals. Acupuncture also helps to regulate the flow of qi (pronounced “chee”), which is believed to be the vital energy that flows through the body.  

Finding a Qualified Veterinarian:

If you’re considering acupuncture for your dog, it’s essential to find a qualified and experienced veterinarian who specializes in this field. Look for veterinarians who are certified by the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS) or similar organizations.

Conclusion:

Conclusion:

Acupuncture can be a safe and effective holistic approach to managing pain and other health conditions in dogs. By stimulating the body’s natural healing mechanisms, acupuncture can help improve your dog’s quality of life and reduce reliance on medications. If you’re considering acupuncture for your dog, consult with a qualified veterinarian to discuss whether it’s the right option for your pet.  

Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with a qualified veterinarian before making any decisions about your dog’s health care.  

For more information about acupuncture or our Posh Dog Knee Brace you can contact us via our contact form or visit us on Facebook.


4 Holistic Approaches to Managing Pet Arthritis: Natural Remedies and Therapies

Holistic approaches to managing pet arthritis offer a comprehensive and natural approach to relieving pain and improving mobility. These methods complement traditional veterinary care and can provide significant benefits for pets suffering from this common condition.  

Holistic-Approaches-to-Managing-Pet-Arthritis-Natural-Remedies-and-Therapies

Dietary Considerations:

Holistic Natural Remedies:

Therapies:

Additional Holistic Tips:

It is important to remember that while holistic approaches can be beneficial, they should be used in conjunction with traditional veterinary care. Always consult your veterinarian before starting any new treatment or making significant changes to your pet’s care plan.

For more information about our brace or tips on how to help your dog you can contact us via our contact page or visit our Facebook page.


Signs your dog needs a Wheelchair instead of Dog Knee Brace

Hey guys, this is Nikki the lead Vet tech with Posh Dog Knee Braces.  Today let’s talk about signs that your dog may need a cart or a wheelchair.  Unfortunately, just like us humans, sometimes our furry friends need a little extra help to get around.  There are a lot of devices, such as our posh dog knee brace, that can be used with a limb injury such as a CCL tear, or even elbow and carpal issues, but sometimes that is just not enough. 

Signs your dog needs a Wheelchair instead of Brace

Dog’s who have neurological issues, a degenerative disc disease, or severe hip dysplasia for example may really benefit from a cart or wheelchair.

Dog’s like to have their independence, just like we do.  If you have a dog that used to be very active, loved to go outside for walks and enjoy playing, and now they are unable to really stand on their own, it may be time to consider a wheelchair.  They are not as hard to put on as you would think, and most dogs will adapt to them quite fast. 

I have worked with a few patients in wheelchairs, one had two legs that needed to be amputated due to cancer.  She could fly in her little cart, go up and down stairs, there was no stopping her.  Her attitude changed from depressed and unable to go play to immediately taking off in her cart.  I have seen several great outcomes like this, and definitely feel carts are a great resource for patients that otherwise can’t walk.

Some patients with hip dysplasia may just be in too much pain to stand and walk.  Those back leg’s have probably atrophied, and they are not strong enough to get up and go outside.  Having a cart lets them have some of that freedom back, so that they can once again go outside, walk in the park, or even go to the bathroom without aid.

There are many great companies now that make carts and wheelchairs, be sure you do your research and find the right fit for you and your best friend.  Wheelchairs can be anywhere from $100 to over $1000.  Make sure you find a custom chair that is comfortable for your pup.  I’m not a big fan of amazon braces or medical parts, so I would find someone that has great reviews, and good customer service like we do at Posh Dog Knee Brace

Again please let me know if you have any questions!  You can contact us via our contact page or visit us on Facebook.


Stretching and PROM:  Why it is so important after a CCL tear?

Hey guys, this is Nikki the lead Vet tech with Posh Dog Knee Braces. Today let’s talk about PROM and stretching, especially after an injury like CCL tears.  So to explain better, let’s first dive into what happens when we injure a ligament. Those fibers are gone forever once torn.  There is no surgery to re-attach them; they will be absorbed by our body.  Then, our bodies do something quite amazing. They replace those collagen fibers of our ligament tissue with new collagen fibrous tissue, called scar tissue.  So scar tissue can be a good thing, or it can be a bad thing. 

Stretching and PROM

The difference? Stretching and doing your PROM

Ever had a car accident or injury?  Did the Dr. say to just rest for 6 months and never move that joint?  I sure hope the answer was a big NO!!  Letting scar tissue form, but not doing any stretches or PROM after an injury while scar tissue forms, will result in a joint recovering, sure, however, there will be no range of motion after.  The joint will be stiff, the scar tissue hard and unforgiving. 

I see these patients come in, months after the CCL injury, and their dog is stiff and sore still after the allotted recovery time.  This is from lack of stretching those joints most likely.  Scar tissue is strong stuff.  Sometimes it takes surgery to remove scar tissue once it forms incorrectly, and we start over.  The second time around, hopefully you would be doing the recommended stretches and PT.

When we do stretch and PROM after an injury, it not only tells our joints to produce lubrication to keep things healthy, it also makes those scar tissue fibers more elastic, and healthy.  These patients have a much more comfortable long term success rate than those that do not do any PROM.  They will have full function of their knee and joints, and much less discomfort long term.

Takeaway?  Please follow our PROM and stretching recommendations when using the Posh Dog Knee Brace, or even the elbow and carpal braces.  Find a physical therapist if you are unfamiliar with PROM, or uncomfortable doing it yourself.  It is definitely in your pups best interests.

Again please let me know if you have any questions! You can contact us via our contact form or follow us on Facebook.


6 Brace Friendly Activities you can do with your Dog

Hey guys!  This is Nikki, Lead Veterinary Technician with Posh Dog Knee Braces.  Today let’s go over six fun activities you can still do with your braced pup. 

6 Brace Friendly Activities you can do with your Dog

Brace Friendly Activities

First activity, walks, walks and more walks!  We include a full rehab and walk schedule for you, so you don’t have to guess how long is too long.  When starting out, nice and slow up to 10 minutes twice daily is perfect, if your dog is feeling up to it.  Then, you can slowly increase the amount you are walking each week.

Second activity, swimming!  Just like Dory says “Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming.”  Swimming takes all the pressure off those limbs and joints, so that your pup is using all of the muscle, without all the pressure on those legs.  There is no overcompensating on joints with swimming, so enjoy some fun times with your furry friend at the beach, or a pool!

Third activity is hydrotherapy.  Similar to swimming, hydrotherapy is done with a controlled setting, usually at a rehab facility.  Exercising with an underwater treadmill is one of the most common forms of hydrotherapy.  Make sure to find a facility that will accommodate this activity.  This is one of the best options, as it is controlled, and helps strengthen those atrophied muscles.

Fourth activity is finding something that will help strengthen the core.  This helps support our hips and spine, and keeps things happy and in alignment.  This is why with the posh program, we include tips on doing dog ups and downs, sit ups, even doggy yoga specific for dogs!

Games that are less of an impact, such as nose work, obedience training, or something fun mentally like a puzzle treat game.  Play hide and seek with your dog, have them try to find you.  Have them try to sniff out their favorite toy or treat.  Give them fun things to do.

Lastly is physical therapy.  This can be done with a physical therapist, which is the best option, or at home.  While a physical therapist can tailor a routine for your dog, you can find similar exercises to do online as well, such as passive range of motion, ladder work, curb work, sit to stands, ect.  We do provide a lot of these with our PT handouts, as suggestions to our clients for use.

Thanks, and feel free to reach out with any questions via email Po*********@***il.com or through our website and you can visit us on Facebook.


Dog Limping: Potential Reasons and Remedies

People sometimes assume that a dog isn’t in pain if it isn’t screaming out or whining. However, a limp is a clear indication of pain and a warning that your dog is unwilling to bear weight on the injured leg.

Dogs are typically energetic, active members of the family, which makes them prone to accidents. These can include systemic infections, fractured bones, and strained muscles.

If your dog is limping, it’s time to take him to the vet. Depending on how serious the issue is, they might want you to keep an eye on your dog at home for 24 to 48 hours while you rest him. If your limp doesn’t get better or gets worse, they’ll probably want you to make an appointment.

It is crucial to keep in mind that in this situation, over-the-counter pain relievers should not be used. Dogs can safely take aspirin and acetaminophen (Tylenol), but overdosing can cause bleeding issues and liver failure. Do not take these drugs without first talking to your veterinarian.

Dog Limping: Potential Reasons and Remedies

Why Your Dog Is Limping Can Only Be Determined by a Vet

To find out why your dog limps, the veterinarian must perform a complete physical examination. An examination from head to toe should involve taking your dog’s vital signs, feeling its lymph nodes, listening to its heart and lungs, manipulating the achy limb, and watching it while it walks. In order to identify potential reasons, it is critical to identify which limb and which part of the limb is afflicted.

Dog limping has a very wide range of causes. Infectious ailments like Ehrlichia and Lyme disease, inflammatory disorders like panosteitis, vascular disorders like blood clots, and orthopedic issues like fractures are some of the broad categories that encompass soft tissue strains or rips (ligaments, tendons, and muscles). These can be further separated into front and back limbs. A torn cranial cruciate ligament is one particular issue that can only occur in the back limb, however the majority of lameness issues are comparable in the front and back legs.

With a history and your dog’s age and breed, you can frequently determine the triggering cause (this is called the signalment). For example, panosteitis, a typical inflammatory illness of the breed, would be a strong suspect in a German shepherd puppy with acute onset of shifting leg lameness. If an elderly dog suddenly became lame in one leg and could not bear any weight, this could be a sign of a bone malignancy such as osteosarcoma and a fractured bone. Rocky Mountain spotted fever, a common tick-borne infection, could be the cause of a young limping Coonhound with a history of tick exposure, fever, and abnormalities on bloodwork.

Evaluation and Management of Limping Dogs

Your veterinarian may offer a variety of tests, such as bloodwork, tick disease testing, and/or x-rays, depending on what they discover. The optimal course of treatment will also be decided by them.

Additionally, your veterinarian will advise resting your dog. There won’t be much exercise involved—leash walks will only be taken to use the restroom. Icing or using heat can be helpful in certain situations. The cause determines the appropriate course of action.

Things to Keep in Mind If Your Dog Is Having Limbs

Consult your veterinarian right away if your dog starts to limp, give them some rest so they can heal, and refrain from giving them over-the-counter medication without first talking to them. There are many different reasons why dogs limp, and your veterinarian should be able to assist your dog based on a comprehensive medical history and physical examination.

If you are interested in more information or would like to know more about our Posh Dog Knee Brace you can contact us via our contact form or visit us on Facebook.


Heating Pad for Arthritis in Dogs

Dogs with heat pad therapy can have less pain, less stiffness, and more relaxed muscles.

Can your dog’s arthritic pain be relieved by heat therapy? Indeed. In addition to providing your dog with certain benefits, an orthopedic dog heating pad can also be comforting on a chilly day.

Your dog with arthritis may find that heat helps both relieve and heal chronic pain over time. Not only can heat relieve your dog’s sore joints, but it also promotes blood circulation. Warmth frequently relieves muscle spasms and causes stiff joints to relax. Using heat on your dog can help him benefit as much as possible from stretching exercises or rehabilitation.

Heat treatment lowers muscular spasm, improves local tissue oxygenation and metabolism, and raises the pain threshold and extensibility of connective tissue.

Heating Pad for Arthritis in Dogs

Acute Injury? Chill

Cold therapy works best to reduce inflammation after an acute injury. Consider using cold compresses for the first 24 hours if your senior Labrador aggravates a previous stifle injury, for instance. After surgery, cold therapy is the most beneficial alternative for up to 72 hours.

Using a Dog Heating Pad for Arthritis: Exercise Caution

When using heat or leaving your dog on a heating pad, exercise caution. It’s possible to unintentionally warm the region and exacerbate the trauma. Pet-specific heating pads come with heat settings that are ideal for a dog’s requirements. It is possible to set a human heating pad too high, and overheating is particularly dangerous for elderly, injured, or young dogs.

Always make sure your dog is comfortable by checking on them often. Placing a covering, such as a towel, between your dog and the heating pad is usually the best option. Applying heat to your dog for longer than 30 minutes is generally not recommended, while your dog might benefit from as little as 10 minutes.

Warm, Moist Towels

You may create a low-cost heating “pad” at home by heating a moist towel in the microwave. Keep in mind that your dog will find it too hot when you remove it if it is hot to the touch. You can apply the warm, damp cloth straight to a sore joint. The same goes for rice or maize kernels; keep them away from the dog, as well as hot water bottles. For your dog’s arthritis pain, warm therapy works great—but it’s important to use warm, not hot, therapy.

If you are interested in more information about our Posh Dog Knee Brace or treatment for your dogs leg injuries please contact us via our contact form or visit our Facebook Page.


Supporting Your Dog’s Physical Rehabilitation

Dogs undergoing physical therapy sessions can heal from wounds or surgeries more swiftly and with wider range of motion. Additionally, visiting a canine rehabilitation therapist doesn’t cost much.

Supporting Your Dog's Physical Rehabilitation

Although it’s incorrect to refer to professionals who help humans as “physical therapists,” canine rehabilitation therapists offer the same services to dogs. With the increasing availability of dog physical therapy, some veterinarians have pursued post-doctoral studies in acupuncture, chiropractic, pain management, and other rehabilitation modalities.

For instance, the American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians (AARV) provides information on the efficacy of this method for managing pain and function loss resulting from disease or injury to veterinarians, veterinary surgeons, and pet owners. In an effort to better serve the special needs of working and athletic animals, including those with chronic conditions like arthritis and neurologic impairments, the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation was established more recently.

Dog physical treatment typically starts with a referral to a canine rehabilitation therapist if your veterinarians do not specialize in rehabilitation themselves. These experts complete credentialing programs that concentrate on canine anatomy and physiology, common medical conditions and injuries, assessment methods, pain recognition, and rehabilitation programs to obtain credentials like CCRP (Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner) and CCAT (Certified Companion Animal Rehabilitation Therapist). Among the therapies they provide are:

It’s crucial to remember that the field of canine rehabilitation treatment is evolving quickly due to the availability of new technologies and methods as well as ongoing research, which makes continuing education and staying up to date for rehabilitation therapists essential.

What Issues Are Treated by Canine Rehabilitation Therapists?

Dog physical therapy can be used to treat both acute and chronic diseases, much like comparable human treatments. A canine rehabilitation therapist may be able to assist with techniques, specialized equipment, and at-home exercise routines if your dog is in pain, has lost strength or flexibility, has an uneven gait or loss of balance, is recuperating from an accident, injury, surgery, or illness, or has chronic symptoms that interfere with favorite activities.

Certain therapies call for tools that you may use at home, like ramps, platforms, balance pads, cushions, and discs. Clinic consultations are necessary for other equipment, like swimming pools, treadmills for dogs, and electronic/magnetic gadgets.

Locating a Rehabilitation Therapist for Dogs

In order to ensure that their dogs have comprehensive physical assessments and that the therapist can contact the veterinarian with any necessary medical treatments or diagnoses, the majority of canine rehabilitation therapists choose to collaborate with veterinarians. Meanwhile, other dog owners have put together their own teams for physical therapy, working directly with holistic practitioners such as massage therapists, chiropractors, and canine acupuncturists. Go to AHVMA.org, the website of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, and select “Find a Member” to locate veterinarians who specialize in nutrition and complementary therapies that improve healing and rehabilitation.

What to Anticipate During Your Initial Visit

A physical examination, which includes noting the dog’s stride, movement, structure, flexibility, strength, muscle tension, sore spots, and mobility, is the first step in seeing a canine rehabilitation therapist. The therapist will have time to get to know the dog and owner, go over the owner’s improvement and treatment objectives, and talk about the dog’s medical history and behaviors during what may be an hour-long session.

It could be beneficial to record your dog walking or moving in various directions both inside and outside as canine rehabilitation specialists concentrate on mobility and movement. Include the dates, diagnoses, and treatments of any specific illnesses, injuries, or incidents that have impacted mobility in your documentation.

The primary objective of the first visit is to create a strategy using the technology, tools, and therapies that are suitable. This frequently includes the suggestion of certain workouts to improve the muscles weakened by disease or trauma. Usually, these are made specifically for the patient to incorporate into an at-home workout regimen. Dogs that are healing from surgeries or accidents, or whose hind legs are weakening, may find that at-home exercise is very beneficial.

A follow-up plan can contain notes to distribute around family members to ensure that everyone can take part in the rehabilitation process and encourage the dog’s progress. This way, everyone in the family can help your dog heal.

Your dog’s progress will be meticulously documented by your canine rehabilitation therapist, who will also keep track of the specific therapies your dog has received, evaluate the effectiveness of rehabilitation plans, create exercise schedules that you and your dog can follow at home, schedule check-ups to record the healing process, and assess your home for any potential effects on the dog’s functional status.

How Much Are the Treatments?

Costs for veterinarian visits vary based on the type of treatment required, the therapist’s training and experience, and the location. Individual treatment sessions can cost anywhere from $50 to $100 or more, and initial consultations usually run between $100 and $200. The number of sessions needed for treatment determines the overall cost. Costs can be cut by using do-it-yourself therapies and home fitness regimens.

As long as the dog is insured prior to being sick or wounded, several pet insurance companies will pay for holistic and alternative therapies, including canine rehabilitation. For this reason, insurance specialists advise getting coverage for young, healthy dogs well in advance of the onset of any pre-existing conditions that might prevent coverage.

You understand the value of rehabilitation therapy if you have ever worked with a physical therapist following a disabling injury or illness, a broken bone, or a torn ligament. When the time comes, as an informed pet owner, you can be prepared to provide the same hands-on care for your dog by locating a canine rehabilitation therapist.

For more information on your dog physical therapy and how our Posh Dog Knee Brace helps in your dogs recovery contact us via our contact form or visit our Facebook page.


Page 2 of 5
© Posh Dog Knee Brace
Website Development By: Tinker Graphics