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Using Orthotics and Prosthetics: When Are They Right For Your Pet

Using Orthotics and Prosthetics: When are they right for your pet?
By Martin Kaufmann

            There’s a general rule of thumb I like to keep in mind when it comes to the physical health of my dogs: If my doctor were to suggest the same solution for my recovery as a vet is suggesting for my pet, would I accept it?  If not, I would explore other health care options. Let me explain.

            Imagine that your dog has ruptured his Achilles tendon, a tendon that attaches to the heal bone. Surgery can repair this, but the standard recovery time is hard to swallow. Your formerly active companion must be confined to a kennel for an average of six to eight weeks after surgery to prevent re-injury. Would you choose bed rest for an ankle injury or use a brace to get back to daily activities? I know I wouldn’t choose bed rest and neither would my pet. If your pet received a brace from OrthoPets after surgery much like a human would receive, he could resume regular activity while healing safely.

            Orthotic devices—those that add support or control to an affected limb or joint—are common in the human world, and have been around for hundreds of years. People are fitted with such braces when they have arthritis in a joint, a torn ligament or tendon, or when healing from an operation.

            Prosthetic devices – those that serve the purpose of replacing a limb – are also common and have been around for a number of years. From my career in the Orthotic and Prosthetic field, I have discovered that similar devices from the human world could be of great benefit in the animal world. In my experience, these devices have proven to make a dramatic difference in a pet’s quality of life.

            The following guidelines and real-life case studies will help you determine if an Orthotic or Prosthetic device is a viable option for your pet. Consider these treatment plans in the event of an accident, surgery, birth defect or other medical condition.

Consider the time commitment

            When a vet or pet owner contacts OrthoPets to find out if an Orthotic or Prosthetic device could help, often the answer is “Yes!” But there is an important point to consider before moving forward: I want them to be aware of the additional time commitment involved beyond regular care. However, with this time commitment, soon your pet could begin to enjoy his regular daily activities while wearing a device from OrthoPets.

An alternative to surgery

            Older pets have an increased risk of organ failure during surgery. This is a fact of life, and depending on the condition of an animal, a vet might suggest putting the animal to sleep if surgery seems too risky. In some cases, an Orthotic or Prosthetic device can solve the problem and provide a viable alternative to surgery.  I discovered this three years ago when my cousin’s schnauzer Walt had a stroke, which caused him to drag one front paw when he walked. The vet recommended that Walt’s entire front limb be amputated at the shoulder level just because he couldn’t use his paw. Luckily, my cousin wanted to explore other options. I reasoned that when this happens to a person, a simple brace holds the foot up. So, I fabricated an Orthotic for Walt and he was back to walking normal while wearing his new brace.

            Maybe there is some other reason your pet would not be able to go through surgery. The risk of infection or other complication during surgery can be a huge obstacle to overcome without having other conservative healthcare options such as an Orthotic or Prosthetic device. Perhaps, like in Walt’s case, you’d rather your pet didn’t have to lose his entire limb for an ailment that only affected part of it. While each pet presents individual needs, I find that 25 to 50 percent of the time, an Orthotic brace is a plausible alternative to surgery.

A healing tool after surgery

            Pets don’t understand the supposed greater good that comes from a long healing process in a kennel—they are more interested in chasing squirrels, as they did before.  When surgery is necessary, Orthotics can be crucial in helping a limb heal successfully, while allowing pets to get back to being pets.

            My own dog, an Italian Greyhound named Bella, was the perfect example of this. When my wife and I found Bella through the Italian Greyhound Rescue, she was listed as a “special needs” dog. She had broken her front leg and the day after the 1st cast came off, she re-broke it. When we adopted Bella post-surgery, we were told she would have to be kenneled for 8 to 12 weeks to avoid damaging her leg again. Instead, I decided to follow a typical human post-op protocol: a fracture brace and physical therapy. She wore the brace for a total of six weeks, and now you’d never guess she was a dog with special needs.

A permanent mobility solution

            Perhaps your pet is in need of a permanent solution to help him get around, such as the case of Peabody, an Irish Wolf Hound mix. Peabody had cancer. As a result, his shoulder blade had to be removed. The surgery was successful in removing all cancer cells, but without a shoulder blade, there was nothing to hold his forearm in place. When Peabody’s vet contacted me, his expectations of successful recovery were low. He asked if I could create a brace to simply keep the shoulder from dislocating when Peabody walked. I took this as a challenge, and was able to fabricate a mechanism that simulated his shoulder joint. Afterward, Peabody was able to do much more than walk—he could run, swim and play in the snow—all while wearing his shoulder stabilizer.

            Prosthetic legs can offer permanent mobility solutions as well. If some of the joints are still present in a partial limb, a prosthetic can create an opportunity for an animal to get around just as well as his other four -legged friends.  Animals do exceptionally well with a Prosthetic device, especially if the device is used shortly after the loss of the limb. 

            And while less common, a dog that is missing two legs can also greatly benefit from a prosthetic. Take the case of a Jack Russell Terrier named Kandu.  Both of his front legs were missing at birth due to a congenital birth defect, but he was otherwise in good health. Fitting him with a single wheel beneath his chest allowed him to go on walks with his owner. In the wintertime, the wheel was switched out for a high-density plastic sled so he could romp in the Colorado snow.

Difficult Situations

            There are a few situations when using Orthotics and Prosthetics proves to be a bigger challenge. If an animal has undergone radiation treatments, his skin is extremely sensitive, thin and susceptible to pressure sores. Using a brace against this type of skin condition isn’t safe. However, after radiation treatments have stopped, the skin will improve and using a brace then becomes a viable option.

            Attaching a prosthetic becomes more challenging when there is little or no residual limb, or stump, to which the prosthetic can attach. Some vets and animal health care providers currently default to a high level amputation because prosthetic devices have not been an option.  If you find your pet facing an amputation, communication between your surgeon and OrthoPets is critical in order to discuss the prosthetic care options. 

            Through our experience, OrthoPets has seen Orthotics and Prosthetics drastically improve the quality of life for a wide variety of pets. We believe they are both viable health care options. Animals can benefit from the same type of technology used in the field of human Orthotics and Prosthetics. Until the day that animals can receive the same level of care as humans in this field, be bold about finding alternatives and asking questions. Your pet will thank you by the spring in his step.

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Martin Kaufmann is the founder of OrthoPets, a company that creates custom-fabricated Orthotics and Prosthetics for animals. Since 2003, he’s created more than 300 devices for dogs as well as cats, show goats and sheep, while continuing to work in the field of human Orthotics and Prosthetics. Martin also partners with Western Washington University’s engineering department to research and develop new types of knee braces for dogs. His goal remains to be an ally to vets, in order to provide animals with the same mobility solutions that are available to humans. www.orthopets.com

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