If you notice your dog’s hind legs sticking out, hurting, or showing signs of injury or lameness, you should visit your veterinarian as soon as symptoms appear. That way they can make sure your dog’s condition isn’t serious, and if it is serious, they can take care of your dog’s needs from there. Once they have informed you of your dog’s condition and the cause of his problem, you can then determine the steps needed to help your dog. Proper treatment may include medication, surgery, a support harness, or even a splint to support and stabilize the leg. Finding the right brace for your pet based on their injuries and diagnosis is a great way to help them heal properly.
Choosing the Right Back Brace
Once you have discovered the root cause of your dog’s problems, your veterinarian will advise you on what needs to be done to further help him. If your dog still has mobility and the ability to use his injured leg, your veterinarian may advise you to get a splint for your dog’s injured leg. While a great start, there are many types of splints that can be used to support your pup, and finding the right one for their injury can help ease the healing process and help your pet to acclimatize to the new brace.
Before ordering a hind leg brace for your pet, you should know the following:
- Where is the wound on the back leg?
- Which joints need to be supported?
- Does your dog’s hind leg need to be reinforced?
- How long will your dog need to wear the splint?
Knowing the answer to all of these questions will help you make the best rear brace choice for your dog.
back splint
Although splints are designed for specific areas of the leg, the most general splint your pet might need for a hind leg would be something that encompasses the entire lower hind leg. A hind leg brace will support the dog from the toe, under the leg and above the hock. This will help protect the leg itself and keep the hock joint and everything in between.
These splints are good for fractures, breaks and sprains of the lower leg and can help provide extra support for dogs with minor weakness. These are designed specifically for the lower leg and will not support the knee. Adjustable versions of these splints can be found, as well as custom versions.
Hock splint for tarsal support
A hock splint is designed to support the hock joint and provide additional reinforcement above and below the joint itself. These are excellent splints for lower leg injuries that do not involve the leg. Since he doesn’t have his foot encased in a boot, these splints are great options for dogs that don’t like to touch their paws, and subtracting the boot’s paw potion helps make these splints even more light for a recovering dog. .
There are custom hamstring splints as well as ready made versions. A ready made hamstring splint is the best option when dealing with a short term injury that will take a few months to heal. A custom leg brace is best suited for dogs with a longer recovery or a unique diagnosis that requires bracing.
Bootie brace for hind leg and ankle injuries
At the opposite end of the Hock splint is a Bootie splint. A bootie splint is designed only to help the lower leg. This style of brace supports the leg and ankle or wrist. These splints will not help the hock joint or any other point higher on the back leg.
Splints like these are great for broken feet or dogs that are starting to lose their footing. Problems such as joints and dragging are common reasons a dog needs a boot brace. The shorter splint style is ideal for dogs with temporary toe or leg injuries.
knee brace
A knee brace is designed only to support the knee. By bracing the knee, a dog will experience joint pain relief, stifling joint support, and reduced joint inflammation. Custom braces can be expensive and time consuming to manufacture. If your dog has a torn ACL or CCL or a knee injury, this is the best bet. These are usually custom made as they should move and follow your dog’s movements naturally and allow the knee to still be used without causing additional strain on the stifle joint.
A rear wheelchair can be an alternative to a dog knee brace. The support of a wheelchair reduced strain and weight on the hind legs to allow continued activity while the injured leg healed. Only use a wheelchair if it is safe for your dog to be active, talk to your veterinarian first.
The right fit is important
For your dog’s safety and comfort, it is essential that his brace fits him properly. Always measure your dog’s leg before purchasing your brace. Each dog is unique and the brace should be snug, yet comfortable. Watch the video below to learn how to measure your pet’s hind leg for a splint.
Conclusion
Although there are many types of back leg injuries and braces to help with them. Knowing where your dog’s injury is and what kind of leg support he needs is a great way to help your dog heal. Pre-made and completely custom-made splints are all great options, but the most important thing to determine is what type of splint your dog needs. From this moment you can decide on the best choice for your dog.
When choosing a dog brace, always consider your dog’s medical needs and preferences. Whether your dog is sensitive to foot touch or you’re worried about having too much extra weight on his leg, finding the right leg brace will help make his healing time and the whole process easier for both of you!
