Brace for a dogs leg?
Discussion
Is it possible to get a brace type thing for a dogs elbow joint? Phoebe (my beloved black lab) has a real problem with her left front leg at the elbow. It was broken last July but her vets misdiagnosed it as her arthritis playing up!
The elbow that she broke just before Christmas (the right one this time) was pinned and plated and is sort of okay... certainly better than the left one! When the ortho surgeon saw her pre op, he took x-rays of her left elbow as well as he was unhappy with it and confirmed that it had broken a few months before but had healed on its own, but VERY badly.
I strongly believe that her left elbow is giving her discomfort (though it's really hard to tell with her as she just doesn't whinge or complain) as she does odd things now: she lies down to drink, sits or lays down when we are out on a walk if I stop (cripple myself so stop frequently) and eats laying down.
She takes 'Carprieve' every day.
Other than the above behaviour, she is fit and happy; she eats well, wags her tail constantly and is always keen to go out for a walk even if she's just been! Obviously, I am limiting the amount of exercise that she gets, mainly because I freak at the thought of her hurting herself again! She rolled down a bank into a stream the other day and scared the life out of me! No harm done that time...
So, I'm looking for a brace that would velcro above her elbow and again below it with some sort of hinge/support in-between. Does such a thing exist?
Other than that, is it possible to have an artificial elbow fitted? I'm not keen on putting her through even more surgery (she's had more bloody operations than the ortho ward at the local hospital!) but I will if it means she can rin around okay again.
Any idea of costs for these options? I'll be paying myself back for the last lot of operations until 2020 as it is!
Sorry for the long post and thanks in anticipation.
The elbow that she broke just before Christmas (the right one this time) was pinned and plated and is sort of okay... certainly better than the left one! When the ortho surgeon saw her pre op, he took x-rays of her left elbow as well as he was unhappy with it and confirmed that it had broken a few months before but had healed on its own, but VERY badly.
I strongly believe that her left elbow is giving her discomfort (though it's really hard to tell with her as she just doesn't whinge or complain) as she does odd things now: she lies down to drink, sits or lays down when we are out on a walk if I stop (cripple myself so stop frequently) and eats laying down.
She takes 'Carprieve' every day.
Other than the above behaviour, she is fit and happy; she eats well, wags her tail constantly and is always keen to go out for a walk even if she's just been! Obviously, I am limiting the amount of exercise that she gets, mainly because I freak at the thought of her hurting herself again! She rolled down a bank into a stream the other day and scared the life out of me! No harm done that time...
So, I'm looking for a brace that would velcro above her elbow and again below it with some sort of hinge/support in-between. Does such a thing exist?
Other than that, is it possible to have an artificial elbow fitted? I'm not keen on putting her through even more surgery (she's had more bloody operations than the ortho ward at the local hospital!) but I will if it means she can rin around okay again.
Any idea of costs for these options? I'll be paying myself back for the last lot of operations until 2020 as it is!
Sorry for the long post and thanks in anticipation.
There are things available I believe, I'll try and find links, only problem is anything around the elbow is high risk of rubbing/ pressure sores etc or causing swelling if too tight (but too loose and it will slip)
It may be worth having another chat with her ortho vet. Physio/hydrotherapy may help her.
Eta, the company I was thinking of appear to do support for everything but the elbow.
If you Google Kruuse rehab catalogue you should see some pdf files to download and will show you what they do. (I googled Kruuse canine orthopaedic equipment and found it.
It may be worth having another chat with her ortho vet. Physio/hydrotherapy may help her.
Eta, the company I was thinking of appear to do support for everything but the elbow.
If you Google Kruuse rehab catalogue you should see some pdf files to download and will show you what they do. (I googled Kruuse canine orthopaedic equipment and found it.
Edited by bexVN on Monday 4th May 00:08
Edited by bexVN on Monday 4th May 10:10
Found the Kruuse website and they do an elbow brace. I have now got the vets on the case so should have one in a day or two. Also asked how much for a new elbow... not looking forward to the answer on that!
I feel so sorry for this little girl, she has had a bloody torrid time over her 7 years; so many operations and injuries, never had a dog before that needed any ops (other than spaying etc), and she has had 6 so far! She's a lovely little lass as well, so good and so intelligent. She didn't/doesn't deserve all this.
I feel so sorry for this little girl, she has had a bloody torrid time over her 7 years; so many operations and injuries, never had a dog before that needed any ops (other than spaying etc), and she has had 6 so far! She's a lovely little lass as well, so good and so intelligent. She didn't/doesn't deserve all this.
She was four months old when I rescued her from a bad home situation: she had been kept in a shed alone from birth (well, a few weeks) and was living in her own poop and wee. She was very scared, underweight/size was small and her eyes were milky.
She was absolutely terrified of people and used to run and hide under the bed if anyone came round. We had to wait until they had gone then drag her out and carry her round every room so she could see she was safe. Her eyes used to bulge and she'd drool uncontrollably...
It wasn't pleasant...
Over the years, she has got better and now has a few human friends that she is quite fond of, but other dogs she just ignores-even Chester she doesn't bother with much just tolerates him, but is secretly, really rather fond of her irritating little brother. They sleep together (with me), eat together etc.
She is still scared stiff of people. It makes all her visits to the vets quite challenging for everyone concerned. She's not aggressive to anyone ever, but shakes and gets very upset.
Still waiting for the brace.....
She was absolutely terrified of people and used to run and hide under the bed if anyone came round. We had to wait until they had gone then drag her out and carry her round every room so she could see she was safe. Her eyes used to bulge and she'd drool uncontrollably...
It wasn't pleasant...
Over the years, she has got better and now has a few human friends that she is quite fond of, but other dogs she just ignores-even Chester she doesn't bother with much just tolerates him, but is secretly, really rather fond of her irritating little brother. They sleep together (with me), eat together etc.
She is still scared stiff of people. It makes all her visits to the vets quite challenging for everyone concerned. She's not aggressive to anyone ever, but shakes and gets very upset.
Still waiting for the brace.....
Poor girl but goes a long way to explain her joint issues and confirmed my thoughts that she probably didn't have a great start, possibly even puppy farm bred.
I hope the brace helps. Is the vet ordering it in for you? If you are ordering direct I would advise your ortho vet fit it initially.
I hope the brace helps. Is the vet ordering it in for you? If you are ordering direct I would advise your ortho vet fit it initially.
The ortho vet has vetoed the brace and said she is not a candidate for elbow replacement surgery!
Bugger!
She does do well without it, it must be said, but she gets really tired - took her to the park today (and chunky Chester of course) and she had a great time chewing sticks and laying in streams and wrecking foliage etc, all of her favourite things, but when I took them out about 6:30 she was sooooooooo slow and undoubtedly would have gone home if given the option.
I've cut her walks down to two/three a day instead of four/five trips round the block (including one big walk in the afternoon which she now rarely has), but Chester is suffering. He NEEDS the exercise as he is a fat little bugger!
However, on the odd occasion I have tried to take him and leave her at home, there has been 'hell on' as Chester refuses to go! He was sat on one side of the front door, while she was sat the other and he wouldn't move for love or money. The gate was open and so was the back door of the car (normally he'd be out and straight into the back of the car) but not a chance.
It was really rather sweet I thought.
Bugger!
She does do well without it, it must be said, but she gets really tired - took her to the park today (and chunky Chester of course) and she had a great time chewing sticks and laying in streams and wrecking foliage etc, all of her favourite things, but when I took them out about 6:30 she was sooooooooo slow and undoubtedly would have gone home if given the option.
I've cut her walks down to two/three a day instead of four/five trips round the block (including one big walk in the afternoon which she now rarely has), but Chester is suffering. He NEEDS the exercise as he is a fat little bugger!
However, on the odd occasion I have tried to take him and leave her at home, there has been 'hell on' as Chester refuses to go! He was sat on one side of the front door, while she was sat the other and he wouldn't move for love or money. The gate was open and so was the back door of the car (normally he'd be out and straight into the back of the car) but not a chance.
It was really rather sweet I thought.
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