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Curious about orthopedic braces for senior dog

amr4434 posted:

I am curious about back/ leg braces for my aging poodle. She is 17 yrs old and approx. 9lbs. She does have arthritis but it doesn't seem to cause her pain. According to our vet, her joints are slipping in and out of place. She is quite mobile considering her ailments; it is just sad to watch her walk around. Her back legs are especially weak.

1. Are there any product that could help?
2. If so, has anyone tried them?
3. Any

I've seen one website which sells an orthopedic brace for dogs, but it costs $80. That isn't an investment I want to make unless I know it works.

6 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Curious about orthopedic braces for senior dogI am curious about back/ leg braces for my aging poodle. She is 17 yrs old and approx. 9lbs. She does have arthritis but it doesn't seem to cause her pain. According to our vet, her joints are slipping in and out of place. She is quite mobile considering her ailments; it is just sad to watch her walk around. Her back legs are especially weak. 1. Are there any product that could help? 2. If so, has anyone tried them? 3. Any I've seen one website which sells an orthopedic brace for dogs, but it costs $80. That isn't an investment I want to make unless I know it works.

Home2strays responded:

maybe you could fashion an ace bandage wrap to help? im a big advocate for orthopaedics and have a paralyzed shih tzu myself, her cart was donated to my by dachshund rescue... i dont think that would be in your kids best case those because with arhtritis you "use it or lose it" muscle wise and itll just make her weaker in the long run.

Report This| Share this:Curious about orthopedic braces for senior dogmaybe you could fashion an ace bandage wrap to help? im a big advocate for orthopaedics and have a paralyzed shih tzu myself, her cart was donated to my by dachshund rescue... i dont think that would be in your kids best case those because with arhtritis you "use it or lose it" muscle wise and itll just make her weaker in the long run.

amr4434 responded:

My 3rd question was accidentally left off.

3. Is there any harm in letting her wobble around?

Thank you Home2strays for the advice. I have thought about the ace bandage, but haven't tried it yet. Is there any danger in doing that? I ask because I knew a person whose poodle had a broken leg. After the cast was removed, some thing happened where her leg had to be amputated. I tend to be overly paranoid.

Report This| Share this:Curious about orthopedic braces for senior dogMy 3rd question was accidentally left off. 3. Is there any harm in letting her wobble around? Thank you Home2strays for the advice. I have thought about the ace bandage, but haven't tried it yet. Is there any danger in doing that? I ask because I knew a person whose poodle had a broken leg. After the cast was removed, some thing happened where her leg had to be amputated. I tend to be overly paranoid.

Home2strays replied to amr4434's response:

no prob. I also have a 16 yr old chow mix with bad arthritis and weak back end, I just keep her comfortable with Previcox and Tramadol for pain now thats its going to get cold out but really theres no harm in letting hr wobble. Think of an 85 yr old person (which is kind of where our kids are now) they have trouble when first getting up or on different surfaces, some need knee braces or walkers : ) I dont see where an ace bandage would be harmful as long as its not cutting off circulation and it may help bring some added stability to her. As far as your friends dog, Ive seen it where sometimes broken legs- depending on where they are broken in conjuction with growth plates or joints- sometimes the bone ends refuse to come together and the body resorbs it so there is no option left but to amputate. maybe thats what happened with her dog? or if it was an open break maybe it got mrsa in the bone?

Report This| Share this:Curious about orthopedic braces for senior dogno prob. I also have a 16 yr old chow mix with bad arthritis and weak back end, I just keep her comfortable with Previcox and Tramadol for pain now thats its going to get cold out but really theres no harm in letting hr wobble. Think of an 85 yr old person (which is kind of where our kids are now) they have trouble when first getting up or on different surfaces, some need knee braces or walkers : ) I dont see where an ace bandage would be harmful as long as its not cutting off circulation and it may help bring some added stability to her. As far as your friends dog, Ive seen it where sometimes broken legs- depending on where they are broken in conjuction with growth plates or joints- sometimes the bone ends refuse to come together and the body resorbs it so there is no option left but to amputate. maybe thats what happened with her dog? or if it was an open break maybe it got mrsa in the bone?

amr4434 responded:

Update:

I went to the vet on Saturday (for a different reason), and asked my vet about wrapping her legs in ace bandages. He advised against it. I just wanted to add that to this post just in case others were curious.

Report This| Share this:Curious about orthopedic braces for senior dogUpdate: I went to the vet on Saturday (for a different reason), and asked my vet about wrapping her legs in ace bandages. He advised against it. I just wanted to add that to this post just in case others were curious.

AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

Bonnie Beaver, BS, DVM, MS responded:

Unfortunately we don't have a lot of options for our pets when it comes to orthopedic devices. For dogs that have lost their ability to walk with their rear legs, there are carts to support them and if the arthritis is severe enough in the rear, such that she doesn't want to walk, then something like this might be helpful. Braces for joints tend not to work very well in dogs. Probably because dogs come in so many different sizes, it is not practical for a company to make them. Also the types of problems that need to be managed are somewhat different that what humans get. A "sloppy" joint like your dog might have may have resulted in the arthritis, but once the abnormal bone growth in in the joint, tightening the joint is not particularly helpful. You might want to talk to your veterinarian about getting some pain medication for your poodle so see if that will help her.

You must be a great owner if she has gotten to 17 years! Very impressive.

Report This| Share this:Curious about orthopedic braces for senior dogUnfortunately we don't have a lot of options for our pets when it comes to orthopedic devices. For dogs that have lost their ability to walk with their rear legs, there are carts to support them and if the arthritis is severe enough in the rear, such that she doesn't want to walk, then something like this might be helpful. Braces for joints tend not to work very well in dogs. Probably because dogs come in so many different sizes, it is not practical for a company to make them. Also the types of problems that need to be managed are somewhat different that what humans get. A "sloppy" joint like your dog might have may have resulted in the arthritis, but once the abnormal bone growth in in the joint, tightening the joint is not particularly helpful. You might want to talk to your veterinarian about getting some pain medication for your poodle so see if that will help her. You must be a great owner if she has gotten to 17 years! Very impressive.

Thomas_Dodd responded:

My 12 year old Schnoodle, Liberty, had great success with the Woundwear A-Trac Dynamic Brace after tearing her ACL. We ended up saving so much money and Liberty isn't dealing with the aftermath of an unnecessary operation. Our vet assured us she would have problems if we didn't operate. But with a few months of your brace, she is doing great. No limping even after a 2 mile run. It's so great to see my little girl live life again! I would highly suggest the Woundwear A-Trac Dynamic Brace to everyone!

-Thomas D.

Report This| Share this:Curious about orthopedic braces for senior dogMy 12 year old Schnoodle, Liberty, had great success with the Woundwear A-Trac Dynamic Brace after tearing her ACL. We ended up saving so much money and Liberty isn't dealing with the aftermath of an unnecessary operation. Our vet assured us she would have problems if we didn't operate. But with a few months of your brace, she is doing great. No limping even after a 2 mile run. It's so great to see my little girl live life again! I would highly suggest the Woundwear A-Trac Dynamic Brace to everyone! -Thomas D.

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