Dog Brace for Injured Stifle - Tamarack Habilitation Technologies, Inc.

Here’s a recent article on the growing trend of fabricating leg braces for dogs. The May 25, 2009 article is about Derrick Campana, CO from the Sun Gazette of Arlington, Virginia: “Entrepreneur’s Prosthetics for Animals in Vanguard of Growing Industry.” Campana’s company, Animal Orthocare, is one of the

(photo courtesy of Animal Orthocare)

growing number of firms worldwide that make orthoses and prostheses for animals. Animal Orthocare typically handles 50 to 100 cases per month. Because of demand, Campana plans to open another office and double his case load. According to Campana, orthopedic surgery on a dog can cost between $3,000 and $5,000. Moreover, some animals are not good candidates for surgery. An orthosis can be an adjunct or an alternative to surgery. Most of Campana’s orthopedic braces cost $350, with knee braces priced at $500. The stifle brace is typically for a dog with an injury to the cranial cruciate ligament (canine equivalent of the anterior cruciate ligament). As shown in the photo above, Campana uses Tamarack Flexure Joints in fabricating his custom orthoses.

35 Comments on “Dog Brace for Injured Stifle”

  1. cristina burr

    I have a 10 year old bernesse, female, that needs a dog brace for her right rear foot. She needs support for her knee problem.
    Please tell me if you have a knee brace that can help her, she weighs between 88 to 99 pounds.
    I would like to know if you can send it to Chile or i can get you an adress in the states. Also tell me the price of the knee brace.

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  2. John

    We just sent you an email giving you the names of companies that you might wish to contact about having a dog brace made. As mentioned in the email, we do not make custom dog braces (orthoses); we make the orthotic joint that allows them to bend efficiently and in a way that replicates the pet’s natural joint. If you need additional help, do not hesitate to contact us.

    John Lampe
    Tamarack Habilitation Technologies

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    1. Gayani

      I am wondering if you could send me a list of places that make bracers for who have CCL injury.Also what you think of bracers for such injuries.

      Reply ↓

  3. Dog Gone Crazy Pet Orthotics! « Inside Tamarack

  4. Drew Gandley

    My 3 yr old Beagle Mix has a CCL injury. I do not like the odds for surgery. I have been researching orthotic alternatives. Are they effective and is there anywhere I can find other people that have used them and see how they like them.
    Will my dog actually wear it and not try to bite it off?

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  5. johnlampe

    Drew,

    I would recommend you contact one of the following companies listed in alphabetical order below. They should be able to advise you on having a custom orthosis made for your dog with the CCL injury. They should be able to direct you to customers who have had custom orthoses made for their pets. You should of course also talk with your vet. This white paper provides general background on pet orthotics: Crainal Cruciate Ligament Injury in Dogs: http://www.tamarackhti.com/assets/pdf/CCLInjury_WP-52809.pdf

    Let us know, Drew, if you need any more help.

    John Lampe

    Animal Orthocare, LLC
    Derrick Campana
    3080 Abingdon St, South #C2
    Arlington, VA 22206
    http://www.animalorthocare.com/index.cfm

    HandicappedPets.Com
    Mark Robinson
    10 Northern Blvd, Suite 7
    Amherst, NH 03031
    Phone 888-811-7387
    http://handicappedpets.com/www/index.php

    K-9 Orthotics & Prosthetics Inc.
    Jeff Collins
    CEO & President
    Phone: (902) 865-5596
    http://www.k-9orthotics.com/

    OrthoPets
    Amy & Martin Kaufmann
    702 West 48th Ave Unit H
    Denver, CO 80216
    Phone: (303) 953-2545
    http://www.orthopets.com/index.html
    orthopets@yahoo.com

    PawsAbility
    Janice Olynich
    Toronto, Ontario
    Phone: (647)888-6809
    http://www.pawsability.ca/home.asp?PageID=433&sMenuID=446

    Sky Prosthetics Inc.
    Ben Blecha
    503 Chief St.
    Benkelman NE 69021
    (866) 832-1269
    http://www.skyprosthetics.com/

    Woundwear, Inc.
    Dr. Joe. F. Spatt
    (800) 443-4055
    http://www.woundwear.com/

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  6. johnlampe

    There no doubt are other providers of custom made braces or orthoses for dogs and other pets than those listed in this post. We would be glad to list them whether they use Tamarack joints or not.

    An orthosis or brace typically is used for support of the stifle joint because of a CCL injury. However, braces can be used to treat a variety of orthopedic injuries. Braces can be an alternative or adjunct to surgery but not always. Some veterinarians may not be familar with orthotic therapies for pets. Many of the experts listed in the previous post can help you communicate with your vet so you can decide whether a orthosis makes sense for your pet.

    John Lampe
    Tamarack Habilitation Technologies

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  7. Dogs, Cranial Cruciate Ligaments, Surgery, Brace, Orthosis « Inside Tamarack

  8. John Taylor

    I have a Lab/CoonHound mix that was hit by a car in 2003 which resulted in the fracture of the epicondylar region of her right humerus. She refractured this area in 2008 and had surgery to repair her joint again but 14 months later she bent a pin in this area and cannot use her right arm. Surgery would compromise the integrity of the bone so I was wondering about a brace for this injury. Could you please contact me and give me your advice. Porsche is 8 years old and I want her to walk as pain free as possible. Thank you for your attention to my request. JT

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    1. johnlampe

      John,
      We are just following up on the emails we exchanged with you. We urge anyone who is considering an orthopedic brace (orthosis) to talk with her or his veterinarian. Some vets are not familiar with orthopedic bracing for pets. However, by working with the orthotic provider, you and your veterinarian can find the appropriate solution. This earlier post on orthopedic braces for dogs lists orthotists and providers of custom-made orthotic devices.

      Reply ↓
  9. Ellie Whitlock

    I was interested in finding a place around where I live that carry your Tamarack flexure joint brace. My Boxer “Boo” Had surgery on his left knee at the all- care animal hosp. in fountain valley And during that time I was told he was going to need the same surgery on his right knee. after about 5,000.00 dollars I am broke and cant afford to do it again. please help…I live in Ontario Calif.

    Sincerely,
    Ellie

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    1. johnlampe

      Ellie,

      Try one or more of the companies listed in the response above to Drew. Although these companies are not located in California, they can work with your veterinarian to get a cast of your Boo’s right leg. Using that cast (with some steps in between), a custom made brace can be made. All the best, Ellie,

      John

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  10. Ellie Whitlock

    I live in Ontario, California. Are there any vets that will do the casting in my area?
    Thanks Ellie

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  12. www.woundwear.com

    Dear Mr. John Lampe
    Tamarack Habilitation Technologies

    The A-TraC Dynamic Brace is a canine cruciate brace that has been effective in treating over 5000 dogs over a 6 year period, far longer than any other brace on the market. Our brace while not custom made, has 10 sizes that fit dogs from 13 to 180 lbs. Fitting is based on measurements taken of the dog and does not require casting and “Guaranteed to Fit”. The satisfaction rating for the A-TraC Brace is between 88 and 90%. Our braces are shipped immediately so treatment can begin without the two week delay for custom braces. Many dogs also do not like the hard custom braces. The A-TraC Brace is far more cost effective with prices between $175 and $294. Please mention our brace in your list of available braces so that all options are available to your readers. For your information Sherman Canapp DVM after using our brace at least 10 times wrote an article published in “Clinical Techniques in Small Animal Practice”, entitled ” The Canine Stifle”, Dr. Canapp states and I quote ” For dogs with grade 3 sprains (complete CCL Tears) who are not candidates for surgical intervention, long term success has been obtained with the use of the A-TraC Dyynamic Stifle brace (www.woundwear.com)”

    Sincerely,
    Dr. Joel F. Spatt

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  13. Marsha

    I have a little 10 pound mixed pup (chihuahua/dachshund/terrier) only 11 months old and already having knee problems. It is worse in one back leg moreso than the other but keeps going out of joint. She tends to sit quickly when this happens and sometimes it will go back in to place … more often though she carries the leg. She is quite small but i am wondering if there is a brace (rubberized or some such substance) that can be put on there that will not stop the circulation but still keep that joint in tact.

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  14. Linda

    My 8 year Rottie tore his cruciate and is booked in for surgery in a few weeks times but he also suffers from Hip Dysplasia and i don’t have the time to waste as he know carries most of his weight on his worse hip so i was looking at getting a brace before and after his surgery could you recommend a brace and if you would know of anywhere in Australia that make them….Thank-You for your time its much appreciated!
    Tyson’s Mum

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    1. TamarackHTI

      Hi Linda,

      Thank you for your reply. For an up-to-date list of veterinary orthotic & prosthetic device companies, visit http://www.animaloandp.com/facilities.asp. There’s a company called Dogs in Motion in Victoria AU who also does business as OrthoPets Australia.

      I recommend contacting them. Also, be sure to let your veterinarian know that you are interested in a custom brace for your Rottie. He/she may not be familiar with recent advancements in animal orthopedic devices.

      We wish you and your dog great success with his surgery and custom brace!

      Reply ↓
  15. Steph

    Hi, I am writing my dissertation for University on whether orthotics are a good alternative to surgery in dogs with ligament damage.
    Just wondering if anyone has any comments on their experiences with orthotics for ligament damage that I can use for my research. I live in the UK where, it seems so far, that orthotic use for animals is not as widespread as in other countries.

    Thanks, Steph.

    Reply ↓
    1. TamarackHTI

      Thank you for your message, Steph. We have created n Animal O&P Resource website that lists nearly all of the companies that provide veterinary orthotic and prosthetic bracing, worldwide. I suggest that you contact one of those companies to see how they might be able to address your questions. Here is the link to our site: http://www.animaloandp.com/facilities.asp. There is also an interesting white paper on the homepage of that website that discusses cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) surgery, which you might find interesting.

      Best of luck with your research!

      Jason P., Sales & Marketing @ Tamarack Habilitation Technologies

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      1. Steph

        Hi, thanks for getting back to me, I will have a look at the website now. I read the paper on CCL surgery, it was very informative, thanks. Take care.

        Reply ↓
    2. Louisa

      Hi Steph
      I am also in the UK and my dog has ligament damage I am looking into surgery or a brace – did you get any responses I would be very interested to hear them as I am so confused on what is best for my dog
      Thanks
      Louisa

      Reply ↓
  16. kirsten

    i have a 18 month male cane corso with CCL injury. he is still very mobile and does not seem to be in pain and i’m trying to keep him as inactive as i can but i have four flights of stairs between my apartment and the outside. i definitely can’t afford the surgery. i’ve looked at braces and even those are not really affordable to me at this point in time. is there anything else i can try? does anyone know if its possible to rent a brace?

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  17. Melissa

    Hi there, I have two dogs with knee problems.

    My five year old, 6.5 lb Chihuahua has luxating patella in her left hind leg and my two year old, 5 lb Pomeranian has CCL in her left hind leg as well. The Chihuahua’s knee caps slips out and skips; however, she never has to hold her leg up. The Pom is a little more severe and limps while walking. I recently rescued them from a puppy mill situation and would prefer avoiding surgery.

    Do you have recommendations on vets or orthotic providers in the Alberta, Canada region? I don’t mind mailing in an orthotic if necessary.

    What are the benefits/differences of a custom fitted vs. pre-sized orthotics?

    Reply ↓
    1. TamarackHTI

      Thank you for your message, Melissa.

      There are three veterinary orthotic & prosthetic device providers whom we’re aware of in Canada.

      1) K-9 Orthotics & Prosthetics in Beaver Bank, NS Canada
      2) Pawsability in Toronto, ON Canada, and
      3) OrthoPets Canada (Mission Veterinary Hospital) in Mission, VC Canada

      For contact information, please visit http://www.animaloandp.com/facilities.asp

      We believe that custom fit veterinary orthotic devices are far superior to any off-the-shelf devices that are sold on the internet – for many reasons, including fit and function. However, we are not veterinary bracing experts, so we suggest contacting a veterinary brace provider (or a few) to discuss the options and treatment that will be the best solution for your dogs.

      We wish you the very best of success!

      Regards,

      Jason P.
      Sales & Marketing
      Tamarack Habilitation Technologies

      Reply ↓
  18. Ed K.

    Hello All,

    I think braces for dogs are great! I did research and went with the woundwear atrac brace for my dog Zep. I took him to my vet. and he prescribed an anti-inflammatory and rest. Zep seemed to improve and then all of a sudden he wouldn’t put his right leg down for anything and had a horrible time getting around and going outside. I started to rest him again but it did not help. I returned to the vet. and they sedated him and did a drawer test. Both vets at the practice agreed that there was no question Zep had a full ACL tear. My vet diagnosed him as having a full tear of the Cruciate ligament in his right knee. My vet. suggested rest or surgery. While waiting to see if Zep would improve I researched all the surgical procedures and their various success rates. None of the surgeries which I researched showed anything better than a 50/50 chance of a good recovery. I decided to opt for the A Trac Dynamic Brace becasuse of all the the success stories and this brace seemed to make the most sense when compared to the others. None of the surgeries which I researched showed anything better than a 50/50 chance of good recovery, so the brace seemed to be a good conservative treatment. From the moment I put the brace on Zep he began to put more weight on his right leg. After 3 weeks he is putting full weight on the leg and even has started to use the right leg when he urinates Although I had my doubts because of the severity of Zep’s injury. It has performed beautifully!! WoundWear has created an outstanding product and has helped me along with excellent technical support when I needed it. It seems to me Conservative treatment is the sensible first step for most injuries. the A-Trac Brace is a no brainer.

    Ed K.

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  19. Jes

    I had a similar experience to Ed. K with the WoundWear brace. As soon as I put the brace on my dog he started bearing weight on his injured leg. It was pretty unbelievable. I also was apprehensive about the surgery success rates, which is what led me to researching conservative management braces to begin with. I highly recommend checking out the A-Trac brace if you are researching conservative options. 🙂

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  20. Karissa

    I have an older dog named Ralphie and when he tore his acl I was so scared I was going to have to put him through surgery. I started to doing some research and ended up getting him an a-trac brace from Woundwear. After getting used to it, Ralphie was walking around the house again without a limp. I was so happy! 🙂

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  21. Hanna

    Hi to all! Ortocanis is a great online company that also manufactures and sells their own knee brace for dogs to help with limping and joint pain, for injured dogs, dogs undergoing surgery, arthritic dogs, etc. The brace is flexible enough to maintain mobility while still giving the knee the proper support and stability it needs. You can find the link here: http://www.ortocanis.com/en/technical-helps-for-dogs/90-knee-brace.html

    It’s a great alternative for people who want to avoid surgeries (whether out of necessity or personal choice) or for those who want an aid during recovery after a surgical procedure. Dogs tend to respond very well to this brace and adapt to it quickly. For those dogs that need more support, there is also a hinged knee brace manufactured by Ortocanis: http://www.ortocanis.com/en/technical-helps-for-dogs/231-hinged-knee-brace.html

    Like any other medical condition or device, it is always important to consult with your vet and figure out if these solutions could work for you and your dog! Warm regards.

    Reply ↓

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