URGENT - dog braces

I have never used a knee brace for a torn ACL, when my Lab tore hers, she had surgery.  I would ask your Vet for a recommendation.

 Dear JG. The vet agrees with the idea of brace, but doesn't have a recommendation as to what brand.

I put a call in to my Vet and they are going to call me back.  I won't be on the forum later today, but will post here when I get an answer.  I know there are a few Vet tech's on here and a Vet or two, maybe one of them will respond sooner.  Did the Rottie in your Avatar tear an ACL?  My Lab was 11 when she tore hers and she was the oldest dog the ortho surgeon had ever done the TPLO surgery on.  She did pretty good considering her "good" leg had severe hip dysplasia.  She is in retriever heaven now, chasing balls and retrieving birds, but she had a few good years after her surgery.

I talked to my Vet about a knee brace for a torn ACL.  He said he doesn't think it will help much.  It would have to wrap the knee itself and the thigh and then be attached around the shoulders in some method. He thought this would be a painful manipulation for the dog. He is not the type to always want to do the most expensive procedure but he said in his over 30 years of practice large dogs don't normally do well with this injury without surgery.  Eventually the cartilage will also tear due to the knee's instability.  I have been going to this Vet for over 20 years and he and his wife are personal friends and I tend to trust his advice and all I can do is pass it on to you.

ask at http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ConservativeManagement/

lots of people managing to avoid surgery for ACL problems, might have thoughts about brace brands

Maybe brace bands are what the OP was looking for.  I'm sure lots of people avoid surgery for ACL's, I was simply relaying what my Vet told me.  I tend to trust him and he has taken great care of my pets. Some people don't have a good Vet or they don't trust their Vet but I am not one of those people. I know I am lucky.

 Maybe the OP can check out your link and get some helpful tips.

 Dear JG. THANK YOU!

Yes, it's the one in the picture. Her name is Jasmine. She's my baby :-) She's 5. I am glad your girl did well with the operation. I don't think animals should get sick at all.

The brace we are mainly considering is OrthoPet. Seems very impressive, it's the same technology used for human athletes. I had a long interview with them and I am quite impressed with it.So we lean towards that one, but want to make sure we make the right choice.

Thank you! :-)

Jana

  large dogs don't normally do well with this injury without surgery.  Eventually the cartilage will also tear due to the knee's instability. 

TPLO is disturbing to many people- it's incredibly invasive (they cut your dog's bones up and put in a metal plate), expensive, has a low but real risk of really serious side effects like leg amputation and cancer, and there's no proof it works better than the "conventional" types of surgery. Conventional types of surgery act to stabilize the knee from the inside while scar tissue forms to support the knee and take over the function of the ACL. Braces act to stabilize the knee from the outside while scar tissue forms to support the knee and take over the function of the ACL. Recovery protocols after surgery or with brace appear to be highly similar. I'm going the brace route if I ever have a dog blow an ACL; you can always do surgery later if it doesn't work. There are rumors of a new type of minimally invasive surgery to stabilize the knee in the works but it hasn't been fully tested yet.

 http://handicappedpets.biz/www/pet-products/help-pets-walk/99-k9-dog-orthotic-brace.html

All ACL injuries are not equal.  MY dog had a complete tear and her opposing hip had SEVERE dysplasia.  This was a 70 lb dog, 11 years old and believe me when I say that I thought long and hard before agreeing to the surgery.  My regular Vet referred me to a specialist who performed the surgery.  I understand what a severe procedure it is and would not have put my dog through it if there were viable options for her.  She did well and lived two years beyond the surgery.  Every dog owner has to do the research and base their decision on what they feel is the best treatment for their dog.  I was NOT recommending surgery to the OP, I was and I REPEAT, simply relaying information from my VET.  I know a lot of people on this forum seem to feel most Vets are strictly in it for the money but I don't share that feeling.  I know that Vets are like any other profession and there are some bad apples but there again it is up to the owner to do the research and make an informed decision.  I would do the same with a medical procedure for a person or if I were hiring a remodeling contractor. 

I  applaud you and spiritdog for providing links to alternate treatments.  That is what makes this a good place for people to find information.

OP you are welcome and I hope your dog has a good outcome.

Vets are like any other profession and there are some bad apples but there again it is up to the owner to do the research and make an informed decision.  I would do the same with a medical procedure for a person or if I were hiring a remodeling contractor. 

absolutely. some dogs do best with surgery; some might do better with other options. depends on the dog and the situation. The problem is most vets don't even know about alternative options; the onus is on you the dog owner to check everything out and decide what's best for YOUR particular dog.

 Hi All

Thank you so much for your input and thoughts!

Jana

 You're very welcome, Jana - let us know how it all works out.