Custom Made Veterinary Orthotics
Bracing a weakened or compromised joint can be an effective way to provide mobility support.
The joint, ligament or tendon is supported from the outside of the body rather than the inside as is with orthopaedic surgery.
This may be a good option for some including older dogs that are not suitable for a long anaesthetic, will not tolerate the long recovery time after surgery or if there are cost constraints.
Prosthetics (artificial replacement for limb sections) may be considered in collaboration with veterinary surgeons.
The Process.
Melbourne Veterinary Rehabilitation is a location for custom bracing via Animal Tech.
The process first involves the casting of the limb (this may be done awake in calm dogs but can also be done with the aid of a calming tablet or a short anesthetic).
The cast is then used to design the custom brace which is then fitted at a revisit appointment.
Perfect fitting is not always achieved in the first rendition so there may be follow ups for required adjustments.
Braces are expected to wear out over time and may need replacing/refurbishing every 1-2 years depending on how often they are used.
Custom orthotics are best used in conjunction with a rehabilitation program.
Could a Commerical Brace be Enough?
A commercial or 'off the shelf’ braces comes in various sizes to be fitted to various joints. These are made by several different companies and can also be useful for rehabilitation and support.
They are often much cheaper but also come with some drawbacks including the potential for hotspots/rub wounds if it is not fitted perfectly. It may also achieve less-than-perfect biomechanical adjustment of forces.
Commercial braces are perfect for short-term recovery, post-operative use to aim immobilisation or gentle support (e.g soft neoprene braces).
However, we recommend custom braces for long-term frequent use and for some specific conditions including cruciate ligament injury.
Please refer to our recommended products page for more information on commercial braces.