Proper Fitment of a Dog Knee Brace or ACL Leg Brace for Dogs
You have made an excellent choice by purchasing a dog knee brace from Specialized Pet Solutions. As you can see our ACL leg brace for dogs is a little different from all the other ones on the market. As it has a built in achilles relief channel on the back side of the brace which means our design will help heal your special pet without the worry of long term damage to the achilles tendon from over tightened straps. It is very important to be sure your dog knee brace is properly fitted so other issues do not arise such as wounds from ill fitting braces. When braces do not fit properly they can rub and cause hair loss eventually leading to skin breakdown and wounds. When a device is properly placed it should cause no irritations or issues.
Our goal is to help your dog heal from an ACL or CCL tear and not cause other problems therefore when you receive your ACL leg brace for your dog we recommend taking pictures of the fit and emailing them to us at specializedpetsolutions@yahoo.com so we can determine if the brace is proplery fitted to your pet.
How to properly fit your dog with their ACL leg Brace:
The first thing you will want to do is watch our video on how to fit your brace which can be seen on our website at the following link:
https://specializedpetsolutions.com/video-tutorials-dog-knee-brace-and-prosthetics/
Please slide your pets leg into the brace by “threading” the leg through the “hole” at the bottom of the brace (turning the brace sideways then twisting it on can be easier). Start by tightening up the bottom strap, This step is important as it is the anchor point for your brace and will keep it in place while your dog walks and moves around. The strap should be snug to keep it from shifting. Be sure the strap pads are centered on your dogs skin/fur and there are no creases or wrinkles in the skin. This can happen as you tighten down the straps. As seen in the video you can just move the skin around until any wrinkles or pinching have been fixed. Next tighten the middle strap again strap should be snug. This strap takes out any gapping at the knee. Again be sure to remove any wrinkles or pinching of the skin and center the pad on the skin/leg. Tighten the top strap last. This strap holds the brace close to the thigh and should be snug but does not have to be as snug as the bottom two straps.
Check the groin, there should be 1-2 finger width of clearance from the fold of the groin to the start of the brace. If there is no clearance the brace could rub on the groin or will force the brace to slide down as your dog walks. The brace will sit right above the hock. You should be able to bend the hock without any resistance from straps or pads.
You may notice your pet rolling over on their toes when they first start using their knee brace. This is common and they may do it for a couple of days while they get use to their movement with the brace on. It is very important to follow the break in period instructions we have sent along with your Dog ACL leg brace. Begin with your dog wearing the brace for 30 minutes the first day this can be two 15 minute walks or 3-ten minute walks. Increase by 30 minutes daily for the first two weeks. Inspecting for skin issues or hair loss after each use. After the break-in period is complete you may leave the brace on most of the day or while your pet is active and remove at night. Removing the brace at night is important as it allows the skin time to air out. This is also a good time to clean the device and allow it to air dry overnight. The inner liner is a non-pores foam and the outer shell is a polypropylene plastic, both materials can be wiped down with an antibacterial wipes or a 50/50 mixture of rubbing alcohol and water everyday. Dirt and grime can cause irritation to your dogs skin so the cleaner the brace is kept the better. Finally if you notice any hair loss, skin breakdown, or wounds discontinue use immediately and contact Specialized Pet Solutions.