Hi,
I am seeing a 10 year old F/S Samoyed named Sasha. She has a left partial cranial cruciate ligament rupture. The owner does not want to do surgery. She is currently doing acupuncture and hanna somatics sessions and has done UWTM sessions and cold laser in the past. She is doing a lot of exercises at home now (plank walking, 3 legs stands, peanut work, etc) She is very dedicated. The owner wants advice on a brace to give Sasha some support when they go for long hikes this fall and winter. She won't be wearing it full time just when going on long hikes with the owner. We have looked at several websites and I am just not sure where to go. She wants something that will provide support and also maintain warmth in the knee when the weather gets colder. She does well and only has about 1/5 lameness on her left hindlimb but when she plays rough(usually not allowed) with other dog in house her lameness worsens.
Thanks for your help,
Amy
CCL brace
Re: CCL brace
Hi Amy,
So there isn't likely a high quality brace that will provide both stability and warmth. In my head stability is far more important.
At my clinic, we have been very pleased with the Hero Braces (and there's a discount on them for members... see the Discount link on the side bar).
Others in the industry: Orthopets, K9 Orthotics, & Animal Orthocare.
For warmth, I'd suggest that they purchase one of the human 'elbow/wrist or knee/calf braces'. They are NOT supportive, but have ceramic fibres in them that help to retain heat in the area.
Best of luck!
Laurie
So there isn't likely a high quality brace that will provide both stability and warmth. In my head stability is far more important.
At my clinic, we have been very pleased with the Hero Braces (and there's a discount on them for members... see the Discount link on the side bar).
Others in the industry: Orthopets, K9 Orthotics, & Animal Orthocare.
For warmth, I'd suggest that they purchase one of the human 'elbow/wrist or knee/calf braces'. They are NOT supportive, but have ceramic fibres in them that help to retain heat in the area.
Best of luck!
Laurie
LAURIE EDGE-HUGHES
Re: CCL brace
Laurie - do you guys do the casting for the Hero braces? I've watched the video online and wonder how easy it is to get the dog to cooperate and lie still for the cast to set? Can a PT do the casting or does it have to be a vet?? Thanks 
Re: CCL brace
Hi Stella,
We do the castings at the clinic. It's not as 'thick' of a cast (i.e you would only overlap by 3/4 around... and as such don't need the special saw to get them off). Anyone sensible could do it.
Usually the dogs are pretty good, but it's always at least a 2 person job. 3-person if the dog is nutty.
We have brought in a mobile vet before to sedate a dog in order for us to do the casting. It was actually a great experience for everyone involved! (But it was only once... every other time we are able to manage when we get the dog lying down.)
The different companies have casting kits you can purchase to get all of the supplies. (You will want to pick up a container of press & seal plastic food wrap.) We've tried a couple of different companies for purchasing casting materials directly as well. (I can't recall who/where of the top of my head... and I don't do the purchasing, but could find out if need be.)
As a non-casting practitioner on the human side, I have to say it was bit of a rush the first time I did it! I recommend practicing on your own dog first!
Cheers,
Laurie
We do the castings at the clinic. It's not as 'thick' of a cast (i.e you would only overlap by 3/4 around... and as such don't need the special saw to get them off). Anyone sensible could do it.
Usually the dogs are pretty good, but it's always at least a 2 person job. 3-person if the dog is nutty.
We have brought in a mobile vet before to sedate a dog in order for us to do the casting. It was actually a great experience for everyone involved! (But it was only once... every other time we are able to manage when we get the dog lying down.)
The different companies have casting kits you can purchase to get all of the supplies. (You will want to pick up a container of press & seal plastic food wrap.) We've tried a couple of different companies for purchasing casting materials directly as well. (I can't recall who/where of the top of my head... and I don't do the purchasing, but could find out if need be.)
As a non-casting practitioner on the human side, I have to say it was bit of a rush the first time I did it! I recommend practicing on your own dog first!
Cheers,
Laurie
LAURIE EDGE-HUGHES
Re: CCL brace
Laurie - this is why we need a bracing and casting course in Ontario!! I work solo so it isn't practical for me right now, but something i'd definitely be interested in doing in the future. None of the vets up here understand the merits of bracing at all and basically offer surgery or nothing 
Re: CCL brace
We do offer this option... but none of the vets here support it either!! Old habits die hard.
For a casting demo, check out the Training Video 135 (Casting for a brace) and Training Video 43 (Splinting by Dummy). Hopefully they'll tide you over for learning some of the bracing / casting / splinting info.
The bracing course is expensive to run... so it could be a few years before we can bring it back to Canada. If anyone else is interested in our upcoming course in January, check out: https://physiotherapy.ca/sites/default/ ... ration.pdf
It's good to have options!!
Laurie
For a casting demo, check out the Training Video 135 (Casting for a brace) and Training Video 43 (Splinting by Dummy). Hopefully they'll tide you over for learning some of the bracing / casting / splinting info.
The bracing course is expensive to run... so it could be a few years before we can bring it back to Canada. If anyone else is interested in our upcoming course in January, check out: https://physiotherapy.ca/sites/default/ ... ration.pdf
It's good to have options!!
Laurie
LAURIE EDGE-HUGHES