Hock Brace

SKU: N/A Categories: K9 Orthotics and Prosthetics, Pet Products, Pet Splints and Leg Supports

FAQs

Product Details

The Walkin’ Pets Hock Brace supports and stabilizes a dog’s tarsal joint, ankle, and heel. Each hock brace is custom-made to provide the rear leg support your pet needs while limiting joint flexion while continuing to allow for a natural range of motion. The brace supports the lower hind leg and under to the paw to maintain a properly aligned position while still allowing your dog to stay active and bear weight on their back leg. Each dog leg brace allows your pet to sit and walk normally while reducing joint pain.

Custom-fabricated to perfectly fit the contour of your dog’s hind limb and provide support to the tarsal joint.
Bracing the hock allows the pet to return to near-normal joint function.
Non-invasive approach to help a pet heal after suffering a tarsal injury
Stabilize the tarsal joint to reduce hock pain and joint inflammation
Provide support to a dog’s ankle, Achilles, and hock joint.

IMPROVES PET MOBILITY

Each tarsal brace is handcrafted to perfectly fit your pet’s front leg and meet your pet’s specific medical needs.

BUILT TO LAST

Constructed of durable, medical-grade materials, the custom hock brace offers a long-term solution to keep your pet living its best life.

CUSTOM MADE FOR THE PERFECT FIT

Each tarsal brace is handcrafted to perfectly fit your pet’s hind leg and meet your pet’s specific medical needs.

Conditions

The Walkin’ Pets Tarsal Brace benefits pets with the following conditions:

Aid in post-operative healing and allow for weight-bearing sooner
Arthritis and polyarthritis
Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD)
Chronic osteoarthritis of the tarsal or metatarsal ligaments and joints
Achilles ruptures
Hock hyperextension
Tarsal or metatarsal joint instabilities or malformations
Instability in the frontal or sagittal plane

Medial and lateral instability
Post-surgical protection and support during recover
Post-operative immobilization of tarsal arthrodesis or fracture repair
Assist, prevent, or correct movement
Stabilize the lower hind for pets when surgery is not recommended
Allows pet to return to near-normal joint function
Reduce pressure on the opposite limb (contralateral limb) & prevent further injury

How to Cast a Pet’s Leg

For detailed instructions on how to cast your pet, please read the Casting Kit Instructions PDF.

How to Measure

Along with the impression of your dog’s back leg, our certified orthotist will require you to take three measurements of your dog’s back leg.

Length Measurement 1: Inside of groin to the inside of knee center

Length Measurement 2: Inside of knee center to inside of hock center

Circumference of your pet’s hind leg at the widest point.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the custom hock brace help my dog?

Orthotic leg braces for dogs are designed to stabilize a pet’s tarsal joint and support the hock joint and lower hind limb. A canine orthosis allows pets to return to near-normal function and bear weight on the injured back leg sooner. A canine hock brace is designed to protect an injured limb and prevent further injury. Since each brace is custom-made to fit your dog perfectly, its unique length, width, and shape are accounted for when the brace is created.

An orthosis or dog leg brace is ideal for:

An alternative to surgery.
Pets who are not surgical candidates, whether due to age or cannot go under anesthesia
Pets that suffer from a chronic injury that requires a brace to prevent further harm to the affected hock joint.
Reduce pressure on the opposite or contralateral limb.
Aid in post-operative healing and rehabilitation.
Help pets stay active longer and, therefore, healthier.

What is included with the purchase of a custom hock brace?

Each canine orthosis comes with everything your pet needs to support their limb, including:

A custom fabricated hock brace
Casting kit*
Fitting assistance and guidance from the orthotics expert

*The casting kit may also be purchased separately. If you have already purchased the Walkin’ Pets Casting Kit, the cost of the casting kit will be deducted from the final purchase price after checkout.

How long is the fabrication process?

Each orthosis is fabricated by hand and custom-built to fit your best friend. Once the mold has arrived, fabrication will start immediately and take 7-10 business days to build. Casting kits will be shipped to the speciﬁed address within 24 hours of receiving the completed order form.

Ship completed casts to:

Walkin’ Pets Ortho
6501 East Greenway Parkway,
103–533
Scottsdale, AZ 85254

How long does it take for a pet to adjust to wearing a custom leg brace?

It’s perfectly normal for there to be an adjustment period as a pet is getting used to wearing a brace. Your pet will need to break in the brace slowly for over a week or so. Every pet is different, and your pet may require more time.

To help your pet adjust to their new orthosis, we recommend the following schedule:

Day 1: Brace should be worn for one to two hours.

Day 2: The brace can be worn for two to four hours.

Day 3: Extend the length of time the brace is worn to four to five hours.

Day 4: Extend the wear time between five to six hours.

Day 5: Your pet should be able to wear its leg brace all day.

How often can my dog wear their leg brace?

Walkin’ Pets Braces are custom-made to fit your dog comfortably and can be worn all day. A dog leg brace is intended to be worn for extended periods and most dogs will put their brace on in the morning and take it off right before they go to bed. A custom leg brace is usually recommended for injured pets who need their leg braced for several months or more as they heal or for pets who require long-term leg support.

Can my pet sleep in their orthosis?

The orthosis is designed to support a dog’s leg or joint as they move throughout the day to prevent further injury as the leg heals. Pets do not need to wear the brace when they are resting, and the orthosis should be removed at nighttime.

What happens if my pet’s hock brace is not adjusted or fitted correctly?

Every Walkin’ Pets Brace is hand fabricated by a certified orthotist who builds the brace to perfectly fit the mold and measurements provided to us. Each custom hock brace is crafted to fit your pet. Once you have received your orthosis, our orthotics specialist is happy to schedule a video call to review the fit and protocol to help your pet adjust to their new brace.

Any signs of hair loss, skin irritation, redness, swelling, or sores should be reported to your veterinarian and orthotist immediately; additional brace adjustments may need to be made.

Is the brace waterproof?

Yes, the dog leg braces are waterproof and can safely get wet. All foam liners are made from non-porous, closed-cell foam that does NOT trap moisture. It is not recommended that your pet leave the device on after getting it wet, as this can lead to skin irritation.

These devices can be used in underwater treadmills, etc., but should be taken off immediately following treatments to be dried off. Please follow the recommendations of your veterinarian or therapist as to use during treatments, etc.

How can I clean the brace?

We recommend spot cleaning your pet’s orthosis or prosthetic with a clean cloth or sponge and letting it air dry. To remove excess hair from touch fasteners, we recommend using a lint roller.

Is the casting process complicated?

Although it’s much easier than you may think to take a cast of your pet, for best results we recommend that you contact your veterinarian to assist you with the casting process. Once you place your order, Walkin’ Pets will ship you a casting kit with everything you need to get started.

We recommend a pet’s cast be taken with them lying down on their side, with the leg positioned as if it were bearing weight on the leg. The affected or injured leg should always be the leg that is cast. To avoid a cast that is too short, the casting tape should be brought as high up into the groin as possible and down around the paw.

See the video below for step-by-step instructions on making a cast of a pet’s hind limb.

How to Cast a Dog’s Leg

Once the cast is complete, ship the cast back to the Walkin’ Pets fabrication facility in Arizona, and we’ll ship the finished product within 7 – 10 business days. Need help? Call our orthotics specialist for a free casting consultation ($175 value) to guide you through the process. Call us 888-253-0777 to schedule your consultation with our Certified Prosthetist Orthotist.

How do you measure for the brace?

Each Walkin’ Pets Brace is hand-made to fit your pet perfectly. To ensure the perfect fit for your dog’s leg brace, please use the casting kit shipped to you to make an impression of your dog’s leg. Along with the cast, we will need the following two measurements for all knee braces:

Length Measurement 1: Inside of groin to the inside of knee center

Length Measurement 2: Inside of knee center to inside of hock center

Circumference of your pet’s hind leg at the widest point.

How are Walkin’ Pets Braces manufactured?

Once our certified Orthotist receives the cast of your pet’s limb and the brace has been paid in full, he will review the impression and the measurements submitted. He will begin to assess your pet’s medical needs and contact you with any questions regarding your pet’s diagnosis before fabricating.

During the fabrication process, the Orthotist will modify the plaster mold using hand tools and craft the design of the limb for a proper fit. This is done by adding and subtracting plaster material in the correct areas to achieve an ideal fit and form for your dog’s brace. The Orthotist will relieve boney areas and compress soft-tissue areas to obtain a total control brace. Then co-poly plastic is heated to 160 degrees, and the plastic is then vacuum formed over the plaster model. After the plaster is cooled, it is cut off the model using a cast saw. The brace is then trimmed, smoothed, and straps are added for proper suspension.

Once the brace is completed, it will be shipped to you to fit on your pet. Need guidance on how to fit the orthosis to your pet’s leg? Our orthotics specialists are happy to walk you through the process over the phone or through Facetime. To schedule a fitting appointment or speak with one of our orthotics specialists, please call us at 888-253-0777.

Is my dog too heavy for a tarsal brace?

There is no weight limit for any orthosis or prosthetic. Each brace is custom-made to fit your pet’s weight and size. If your pet has a conformational deformity or specific diagnosis that we need to be aware of, please speak to our orthotics specialist before fabrication.

Not sure if a hock brace is right for your pet, call us at 888-253-0777 to speak with one of our orthotics specialists.

Can my dog wear a hock brace on both legs?

Yes, if your dog injures or requires support in both tarsal joints, both limbs can be braced. Each brace is sold separately, and a cast will need to be made of each back leg to create each brace. If your pet requires support on both hind limbs, we recommend contacting our certified orthotist, and some pets may need their paws to remain unbraced for better traction and a more natural gait.

What materials are Walkin’ Pets Braces made of?

All Walkin’ Pets Braces are manufactured using the same materials used in the human field of orthotics and prosthetics. Each Walkin’ Pets Brace is constructed of medical-grade plastics, titanium, aluminum, touch fasteners, and carbon fiber.

Can a custom hock brace be returned?

Each brace is uniquely fabricated to fit one patient only, the process greatly increases your chances of success. Since the brace is custom-fabricated, it is not eligible for return. All custom brace sales are final, and no refunds, returns, or exchanges will be made. In the unfortunate event of patient death during the fabrication process, the customer is responsible for a portion of the cost which we will determine based on the materials used thus far, handling, and labor costs.

What is the custom brace return policy?

Each brace is uniquely fabricated to fit one patient only, the process greatly increases your chances of success. Since the brace is custom-fabricated, it cannot be returned to Walkin’ Pets or our agents. All custom brace sales are final, and no refunds, returns, or exchanges will be made. In the unfortunate event of patient death during the fabrication process, the customer is responsible for a portion of the cost which we will determine based on the materials used thus far, handling, and labor costs.

Walkin’ Pets will not grant a refund if the pet refuses to wear the device or the purchaser simply does not want to use the device.