My dog has an ACL tear. Should he wear a knee brace before surgery?

So, this is not a simple answer because braces for ACL tears are not as easy to work with in dogs as they are in people. For a knee brace to work in a dog, it needs to be custom made which requires a vet to make a cast from Shamus' leg and mail that to the company to make the brace. They braces cost about $800, but that does not include casting or fitting fees. The brace I have used most commonly is an OrthoPets stifle orthotic. https://orthopets.com/products/dog-knee-brace/ Hero is also an excellent company. https://www.goherogo.com/braces/knee-brace I have not personally casted for this product, but have done rehabilitation on dogs with a My Dog's Brace, and the owners have been pleased with them. https://mypetsbrace.com/canine-knee-braces-rear-leg Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

It is true that he will put more weight on his other limbs and that is why 40-% if dogs tear the other. I would also encourage you to start him on fish oils to reduce inflammation as well and a chondroprotectants such as dasequin. Surgery is the absolute best option to reduce the development of arthritis. Happy healing!

Don't wrap it. Wrapping a knee is hard even if you know what you are doing! The muscles above the knee are so thick that most wraps will slip down and could cause damage. After a few weeks of healing, if Gus is still limping or painful you could discuss an orthopedic wrap or support with your vet. They can be a little pricey because they have to have a perfect fit in order to not cause damage.

The best treatment is surgery. There are some dogs that may respond ok to rest and pain medications or a brace (mypetsbrace.com) but in the end most do best from surgery. I would consider having the surgery performed or going to get the opinion for a surgeon. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I am not aware of a brave that would keep the patella within the femoral groove and therefore help with a luxating patella. Dogs with luxating patellas are predisposed to injuring the cranial cruciate ligament and if this is the case for Milo then a brace might help provide some support to his knee joint until surgery is performed. Using splints and other forms of external coaptation can lead to growth plate and ligament damage in young growing animals so you should definitely check with your vet before purchasing a brace. Depending on how severe the lameness is and whether or not Milo has changes to the bones due to the disease, surgery might be best performed now to prevent further changes, or it might be recommended that you wait until he is close to a year of age and at his adult size.

Your best option is probably to keep her confined and only take her outside to go potty on a leash, much like you did after her first surgery. Wraps or splints can be harmful if improperly applied, or applied too tightly.

Hi and thanks for using PetCoach! Sorry to hear that Nevaeh is going to have surgery this Friday. Great question regarding supplements. I would advise that you check out the following website- http://www.vrshealth.com/canine-products/?petcoach=1977951 Look at Canine Omega Benefits and Osteo TruBenefits I wish you and her the best of luck. I hope she does great.