OrthoPets Hobbles Vest

OrthoPets is now offering custom made Hobble Vests for Medial Shoulder Instability.  Please contact an OrthoPets Case Manager to discuss your case.

OrthoPets Hobble Vest Medial Shoulder Instability

Medial shoulder instability in the dog can be likened to “rotator cuff” injury in humans.  The most commonly injured structure is the medial glenohumeral ligament.  This injury presents as a mild to moderate lameness made worse after exercise. The injury can be caused by repeated stress in sporting and athletic dogs or by sprawling out with legs wide when slipping in senior dogs.  Diagnosis is made by a veterinarian skilled in manipulation of the shoulder after ruling out more common causes of thoracic limb injury

Treatment includes

1. Activity restriction
2. Limiting abduction (limb moving away from midline).  The OrthoPets hobble vest holds the injured limb in alignment beneath the shoulder to prevent abduction.
3. Arthroscopy, shockwave therapy, and LASER are used in some cases
4. Professional rehabilitation significantly aids recovery

Jack from Brazil and his OrthoPets Stifle Device

Hi everyone!
My golden retriever Jack was born with a congenital problem. He has a luxating patella, the signal of which appeared when he was 15 months. It was in August 2012.
At that time, I took him to the family vet, who happens to be an orthopedist. It was when he diagnosed Jack’s kneecap problem.
He placed Jack at a grade II patellar luxation and told me not to pursue surgery because the post-operation for dogs is very complicate. And he tried to convince me that we would have to live with it. That we just had had a bad run of luck.
Jack was given then an infiltration injection, which eased his pain a bit. However, after a month, Jack’s hobbling was even worse. I called him again and he was very categorical by saying that there was nothing to be done. I should not worry that much and should try not to pass my preoccupation to the dog.
Nothing was not an answer to me. At all.
My sister, who lives in Ocala, FL, offered to send me a pony brace she saw at a local pet store, on which I should make some adjustments to fit it on Jack. I remember that I was speaking with her on skype, and as we talked I googled: dogs braces, and guess what? I came across ORTHOPETS.
I was absolutely astounded by the information on the site. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw some of the photos you posted. But, I was not sure you offered assistance oversees.
Well, I e-mailed your company for information on October 10th last year, 2012, and Shawna got in touch with me soon enough with all the pertinent info I should know about your custom fabricated devices.
The whole process, I mean, going through Q&As e-mails exchange, cast-molding, shipping Jack’s fiberglass impression and getting his device, was very fast. In early November I received Jack’s stifle brace. More precisely on the 8th.
I was very anxious to get home on that Thursday to put it on him and see how he would behave in it. The time seemed never come, for I work in São Paulo but live in the countryside – 1 1/2 hour away.
Guys, believe me: It was AWESOME! Past a couple of minutes in it, Jack walked much better. He gave me signs I was on the right track. What a wonderful alternative!
He had never been so active in his life. Now, he is really enjoying himself. He simply loves swimming, and he didn’t do it as much before. Your brace has put him back to his favourite pastime. Not seeing him aside when the others are jumping and diving is a blessing!
Sadly, dogs orthopedics in Brazil leaves a lot to be desired. When I showed your site to them ( I consulted more than one vet) and all the PAWssibilities it might bring, I was not given much credit. My endeavours were being mishandled, but I never gave up.
Last week, January 07th, I spent one afternoon with one of the vets on my ranch with the purpose of observing Jack. This vet was absolutely surprised by seeing how well Jack was walking in his stifle brace. And a couple of days later I received an e-mail congratulating me on my efforts towards this issue.
I couldn’t finish this without giving my special thanks to Shawna, who has proved to be a very devoted professional. Since our first contact, she made me feel “at home”. She never created anxiety and never gave me more than I could chew. She has a very down-to-earth and to the point attitude.
I had all my e-mails answered and all questions properly addressed. Shawna, thanks for your patience. And Keep up with the good work!
I still have some small points to cover with respect to Jack’s knee, and I count on your guidance, Orthopets Team!

Yara, from Brazil

The Rock Star- Meli!

 

My husband named our little Chihuahua, Melosa which is Spanish
for “honey”.  We’ve always called her
Meli for short and she’s been the “little princess” in our house ever since we
brought her home in the spring of 2000.

Throughout the years, Meli has always been quick to jump up
on our laps to claim her place when watching evening TV, or beg to be taken out
for afternoon walks.  So, it seemed odd
to me when one weekday this past spring, I noticed that Meli was not coming to
the door to greet me or coming out to see what our boys were up to when they
got home from school.  Upon taking a
closer look, I realized that she was limping and basically not using her right
hind leg at all.   I had seen this before
because several years earlier, Meli had torn a ligament on her Left knee which
resulted in Meli undergoing an expensive surgery.

Surgery for us was just not an option this time around, yet we wanted to provide Meli with a means of stabilizing her leg and providing support so that she could return to a more active lifestyle.  After talking the situation over with Dr.
Lesli Groshong (Boulder Humane Society), it looked like a great solution would
be for us to consider putting a leg brace on Meli!  Lesli mentioned that she had worked several
times with the staff at OrthoPets and that they were doing just phenomenal
things with braces for pets of all breeds and sizes and I should check into
them as well.

So I did!  We got in to
see Dr. Patsy Mich within a week and shortly thereafter,
Meli was outfitted with a new leg brace.
Meli has been an absolute “Rock Star” ever since, adapting very quickly
to the brace being on her leg.  I think
the brace has given her confidence & support to race after our kids, chase
rabbits & squirrels and even, yes, jump back up on our laps to claim her
rightful place watching movies with the family.

Thanks
OrthoPets team!!

Camelot and His OrthoPets Stifle Devices

 

Camelot

 Camelot is a sweet soul I rescued from Hurricane Katrina.

About a year ago, he started to be lame in one back leg. I could tell he was in a lot of pain since he is such a tough and stoic dog.

My previous boy, Mr. Big was a Newfoundland that was born with little or no ligaments in his back legs. I had sought out another alternative after 4 surgeries, including 2 TPLOS that weren’t very successful. That is when I met Martin and his wonderful braces.

When Camelot presented with his issues, I immediately called OrthoPets.  Dr. Patsy diagnosed a torn cranial cruciate ligament and found a torn meniscus.  A menisectomy and a brace were planned. After surgery, he tolerated and adapted to his brace in a moment and I feel that each dog feels the support immediately and goes on from there in a normal way.

About a month later, Camelot snapped his cruciate in his other back leg. With a lot of tears and confusion with what to do, Dr. Patsy assured me that he would do so well with another brace and we went ahead and casted another one.

One of Camelot’s favorite pastimes is running in our pasture of about 15 acres. I didn’t think he would ever enjoy his runs again. Today, after a lot of therapy to build his muscles up and adapt to both braces (which happened very quickly), he is running in the pasture! He does come back tired, but with a happy face and big wags and doesn’t show any lameness in his braces. In fact, I went to see the great technicians at Orthopets to have his braces overhauled after a year (they get a lot of wear on the ranch) and as I walked him outside while they were working on him, I started to do a normal walk with him and suddenly realized that he didn’t have either brace on and I didn’t even notice since he was doing so well!

Putting braces on takes a few minutes in the morning and are so easy and fit amazingly well to his legs. I would never trade or complain about those few minutes because his recovery has been easy and amazing. He will wear them for the rest of his life, but the tears that I first had are really for a different reason now. I tear up to see him running free and happy…he is the best dog and deserves the best!

Anne from Berthoud, CO (Client for 6 years!)

Jack, the 4 Year Old Chocolate Lab and his OrthoPets Stifle Device

After our 4 year old Chocolate Lab, Jack, had been diagnosed with 2 torn ACL’s, and the devastation had set in regarding the cost of these surgeries, I decided to do some research myself on alternative options for recovery.  I came across the OrthoPet’s website and chose to make a phone call.

The staff was extremely informative and compassionate regarding what we were currently being faced with.  Since we live only an hour away from their facility, I opted to drive up for a consultation. 

Dr. Patsy and her assistant looked over our existing x-ray and concluded that Jack was a good candidate for a stifle brace.  They took precise measurements and prepared to make the casting of his leg.  The procedure only took about an hour-and-a-half, and we were headed back home.  A week later, his brace was ready, and we set-off on another road trip to Denver for his fitting!

At this appointment, they fit the device to his leg, gave us a ‘break-in’ orientation on how to use the brace, and gave us a sheet of rehabilitation exercises to help Jack along.

Not long after receiving his first brace, a second one was necessary for his other leg.

Currently, Jack uses 2 stifle braces on his rear legs.  The adjustment period was brief, and he is now a much happier dog being able to go on long walks once again, and hopefully, start back up with his swimming routine as the weather starts getting warmer! 

Aside from a little ‘extra’ daily dog-preparation, the braces have given him another chance to live out his happy, youthful years, without my having to mortgage my home to pay for it!

Thank you, OrthoPets, for offering such a wonderful, cost-effective, proven alternative to expensive surgery!

-M.K. Snellstrom, Colo Spgs., CO

ACL injury in the dog Part 4:Using a Custom Brace to Treat an ACL Injury

ACL injury in the dog Part 4: Using custom braces (orthoses) to treat ACL injury

Last post I covered the surgical options for canine ACL (CrCL) injury. This is the most common method and the standard of care for stabilizing the knee in the average dog. However, there are a number of dogs who don’t fit the average mold and for whom surgery will not be performed for a number of legitimate reasons; fortunately, there is now a solution for externally stabilizing the knee. The OrthoPets knee brace (orthosis) is designed to limit all of the abnormal motion caused by a partially or fully torn ACL (CrCL). It can prevent forward tibial movement (so called cranial drawer motion); tibial rotation; and knee hyperextension. It just does this from the outside of the leg instead of the inside. Our patients wear their devices during periods of weight-bearing activity and many wear them morning to night in order to participate in their sports and jobs, even if those jobs are keeping the backyard squirrels in line! Many people ask us if dogs tolerate the device. In one word…YES. The devices are custom so they are built for each individual dog and comfort is as important as function. Each device is made from a fiberglass mold of the patient’s injured leg. This mold allows us to shape the device for best fit and importantly to keep the device properly suspended on the leg. The device works because it utilizes the dog’s normal muscle contraction in the thigh and calf to biomechanically unite the device with the leg. In this way the hinges of the device control all motion and thereby prevent abnormal motion. There is an odd misconception that a brace (orthosis) restricts normal motion and is static (non mobile) rather than dynamic (mobile). In a properly designed and fitted orthosis the leg can go through normal flexion and extension comfortably allowing the dog to regain strength, stability, and balance. We recommend basic orientation to teach weight-bearing and proper gaiting (walking, trotting, running) and then, as we do for surgery patients, we recommend professional rehabilitation (physical therapy) for strengthening and conditioning. Very importantly, if the meniscus (cushion inside the knee) is torn or crushed a minor surgery to remove the torn portion is necessary to allow return to weight bearing and function. For dogs that cannot have surgery a knee orthosis is the NEXT STEP in veterinary medicine. Next post I’ll introduce you to some of our ACL orthosis patients. In the meantime you can contact us at orthopets@yahoo.com  or call us at 303 953 2545, for specific questions.

Part 3 Surgical Stabilization of ACL Injury

ACL injury in the dog

Part 3 Surgical stabilization of ACL injury

Last post I talked about immediate pain management for the partial or complete ACL (CrCL) tear.  This is symptomatic therapy for the initial injury.  However, in order to improve comfort and function, to help decrease the severity of osteoarthritis, and to decrease strain on the rest of the body, I recommend stabilizing the knee with surgery or a brace (orthosis).  This is because, unlike humans, dogs stand with their hip, knee, and ankle flexed at all times.  This stance means that the instability and discomfort caused by the injured ACL is never relieved unless there is NO weight bearing on the leg.

There are many surgical solutions for this injury.  The most common are the tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO), the tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA), the tight rope, and the so-called extracapsular or lateral suture repair.  The purpose of each is to control abnormal movement (instability) in the knee.  However, the current state of science in this area has yet to determine the very best surgical approach.  The choice of which surgery to utilize depends on the dog, its lifestyle, and client goals.   Recovery is typically 8 weeks and, just as for humans with knee injury, professional rehabilitation (physical therapy) is very important.  This should start immediately after surgery and continue for several months.  We recommend consulting a certified rehabilitation specialist (CCRT or CCRP).  For more information and resources you can check out the Canine Rehabilitation Institute (www.caninerehabilitation.com).

For many reasons, some dogs cannot or will not undergo surgery.  Some of these reasons include unsafe anesthesia candidate, additional health concerns, advanced age, or financial constraints among many others.  Until recently there were no options for these dogs and they were destined for a life of debilitating osteoarthritis and chronic medications.

Next post I will talk about the new world of veterinary orthotics for ACL (CrCL) injury or you can contact me, Dr. Patsy Mich, at Orthopets@yahoo.com for more information.