When a dog suffers from injuries or chronic conditions affecting both legs, the impact on their mobility and quality of life can be significant. This is where bilateral braces come into play, offering support and stability to both limbs simultaneously. This article explores the benefits of bilateral braces for dogs, the conditions they address, and what to consider when choosing one for your canine companion.
Bilateral braces are designed to provide support and stability to both legs at the same time. They differ from single-limb braces, which focus on just one leg. These braces can be used for various conditions affecting the hips, knees, hocks (ankles), or a combination of these joints. They are typically custom-made or highly adjustable to ensure a proper fit and optimal support.
Double Brace can be beneficial for dogs with several conditions, including:
Using a double brace offers several advantages:
Bilateral braces come in various designs, depending on the specific needs of the dog. They can be categorized by the joints they support:
Selecting the right bilateral brace requires careful consideration and consultation with your veterinarian or a veterinary orthopedic specialist. Factors to consider include:
Bilateral braces can be a valuable tool for improving the mobility and quality of life for dogs with conditions affecting both legs. By providing support, reducing pain, and enhancing stability, these braces can help dogs stay active and enjoy their lives to the fullest. Consult with your veterinarian to determine if a bilateral brace is the right choice for your furry friend. For more information about our Posh Dog Knee Brace you can contact us via our contact form or visit our Facebook page.
Hey guys, this is Nikki Lead Veterinary Technician with Posh Dog knee Braces, and today I would like to talk about the prevalence of dog obesity, and the affects it has on your dog’s health. It seems that people were not the only ones who were affected by Covid, as the amount of obese pets has also really come up since the pandemic. Maybe it is because more people are working from home, and thus giving more food or treats to our pets. Either way, we are definitely seeing a very bad trend.
Just like in people, this causes a huge strain on our heart, organs, and yep you guessed it, the joints. Overweight people are so much more likely to have knee and hip replacements, as well as many health issues. The same thing goes for our dogs. Just last week I have had to decline 5 beautiful dogs from getting knee braces, because we just physically can’t brace their dog due to the enlarged belly protruding past the knee. It breaks my heart, because most of these patients also can’t have surgery, due to the increased anesthesia and surgery risks involved.
Once a patient get’s into the obese category, it is very very hard to loose the weight. They are now used to eating more food, treats, and not exercising, and bad habits have now formed from both the owners and the dog. Now, I am not saying you can never give Fluffy a treat, just please be aware of the caloric intake vs. the amount of exercise you are giving to your sweet dog. Dog’s love attention, they do not need a cookie or treat every single time they beg.
There are many successful weight loss programs for dogs, and it is important to start implementing these at the first sign of being overweight. Now I am not talking about a tiny bit of chub or fluff, we are talking about an 8+ out of 10 on the healthy weight scale. To check this, simply look down at your dog’s back. You should be able to see the curve of the ribs and a nice trim tummy.
Now, if you can see each rib, that is too thin. Next, you should be able to palpate or feel the ribs easily when you pet your dog’s side. I can feel every single rib on my healthy dog if I press gently, but they are not visible. If you must push to feel for the ribs, then your dog is obese. This is an easy trick.
I challenge people to put everything your dog consumes in a day, including any treats or people food, into a container. At the end of the day you will be surprised how much your dog is actually eating. A lot of clients would come in with an obese patient and say that they are “picky” eaters.
Your dog is not a picky eater. He is holding out for the goodies he knows you will make and feed him when he doesn’t eat his kibble. He has now trained you, not the other way around. A normal healthy dog will not starve. They may get stubborn, and go off food for a day to see if you will give in and feed them some treats or people food, but they will not starve.
As for supplementing their food to help them feel more full, I recommend feeding veggies. Peas, green beans, a small amount of sweet potato or carrots (remember these also have sugar, so not too much). As a treat I really love freeze dried liver. It can come in large cubes, in which I cut it down into tiny pieces, and my girl loves them. They are naturally fat free, sugar free, and a great snack for your dog.
Diets such as the Farmers dog have become more and more popular, as they mix fresh healthy ingredients specific to your dog’s dietary needs. You will notice your dog having a healthier coat, weight, and more energy. Diet plays a big role in how our dog’s feel and look.
There are some healthy kibbles out there, but if you see a carbohydrate as a first or second ingredient, I would keep looking. Dog’s do not need a lot of carbs, they need healthy proteins. Now I’m not saying go grain free, butfind a healthy mix. Ask your veterinarian for suggestions. Maybe start cooking for your dog, you will be amazed how much your dog’s health will improve.
If you have any questions, about dog obesity don’t hesitate to contact poshdogkneebrace.com via our contact form or visit our Facebook page.
Hey guys, let’s talk about different braces for dogs that are out there. We will go over the cheaper, over the counter options, as well as custom braces, and casted braces, and which may be the better option for your and your furry best friend. First, before purchasing or looking for any type of brace for your dog, please make sure the injury is in the knee. There are other issues that can look just like knee injuries, however, it may be something else going on. So, always have your dog checked out by a Veterinarian or naturalpath before purchasing any orthotic for your dog.
You know, the ones you can find on chewy or amazon, sometimes even online, that advertise amazing results for under $200. Sounds great, right? Well, truthfully these products are not meant for full stability. If your dog has a minor strain or sprain, and just needs to take things easy for a couple of weeks, a lot of people feel they need to get right in there and put a soft brace on their dog. This can actually cause the injury to worsen, cause rubbing sores, and really did not do anything to help your poor dog.
While they may be budget friendly, they really are not in the end. More than 80% of people that purchase these “non refundable” soft braces online end up getting a custom orthotic anyways. Sadly, some of these companies are charging up to $500 for these non-custom products, promising great results. Don’t fall for these, anything that needs a strap or stirrup to go up over the back or connect to a collar or harness is not a custom product, and will not work long term for your dog’s injury.
If your dog only has a small sprain, just let them recover by keeping them quiet and leashed for a few weeks, and they will be just fine, no need to spend your money on soft braces. Unlike with people, a dog knee is just too angled for these to fit properly without the need for straps, and they will not stay up.
You will see a few companies that try to say casted braces are the only way to go custom. Well, that is not necessarily correct. If you are in a local area for one of these places, and are able to go into their manufacturing facilities to have them actually do the cast, then you may be ok, however, in our experience, even veterinarians get casts wrong, and this can be a huge headache. Then, you will need to remake your appointment at the vet’s office, possibly re-sedate your poor dog, and remake the cast again. And if your dog has hair, this can be quite a painful process.
Then, if all of that is finally finished, you now have a hard plastic, not forgiving, brace. How would you like to have hard plastic up against your sensitive areas/groin? Or on the soft tissue of your ankle? And you can imagine that if your dog starts to get back into walks and gains muscle back, now there is a new issue. The brace was made for your dog’s leg circumference at the time of casting, but if your dog looses weight or gains muscle, the brace no longer will fit, and you are looking at a lot of modifications, or most likely the need to completely remake the brace. Not really cost effective anymore, is it?
You can tell that this brace was made with our dog’s comfort and daily activities in mind. There is no need for casting, we do everything through our proprietary computer software, that allows us to make a perfect fitting dog knee brace the first time. Also, our custom dog knee brace will last you for the rest of your dog’s life. It is waterproof, weather proof, easy to care for, comfortable, and actually made with decades of experienced hands.
Not only that, but we do a fitting video call with all of our clients, so you get to have one on one time with our certified veterinary technicians to help with physical therapy, walk schedules, and supplements. No other company offers this, for free, with the brace. I know, right? Posh is one of a kind, as there is no hard plastic touching your poor dog’s sensitive areas. Most people comment that they want us to make them a brace, as it is so well made! The semi-rigid shells provide support for the knee, without taking away the comfort.
So, there you have it! The 3 types of braces for dogs. Let us know if you have any questions!
If you are interested in our braces for dogs please check out out store page or visit our Facebook Page for more information.
