Custom Cat Leg Brace - Stifle | Carpal | Tarsal
$795.00
This purchase includes a casting kit.
Custom Cat Braces - Order Process
Cast
We send you a Casting Kit for you to make a mold of your cat's leg.
FIT
We ship you the finished custom brace. You fit it to your cat and they are on the way to recovery!
building your cat's custom brace
AFTER RECEIVING YOUR cat'S CAST,
FABRICATION TIME WILL TAKE 5-7 BUSINESS DAYS.
benefits
- Option for non-surgical candidates due to age, cost, other contraindications
- Stabilizes the joint
- Provides support to the affected area
- Decreases healing time and decreases cost
- Return to improved activity level and near normal joint function
- Allows for easier wound inspection
- Releases pressure on Contra-lateral Limb
conditions
- Post-operative care following a ligament repair or other surgeries
- Conditions for which surgery is not available or recommended for your cat
- If you prefer a non-invasive option for your cat's recovery
- Contralateral (opposite) limb management post-operatively
- As a complimentary treatment option for physical therapy methods, including hydrotherapy and acupuncture
- Contralateral (opposite limb) management during post-operative care, preventing your cat from damaging their healthy leg while the other leg recovers
- Chronic pain from osteoarthritis
- CCL or other ligament tears
- Partial tears, which require an average of 6 months to stabilize and may take up to a year to form mature scar tissue to better stabilize the knee.
- Full tears, which take longer on average to heal than partial tears due to the severity of the injury. These injuries may begin to stabilize within a year and may form mature scar tissue to stabilize the knee within 2 years. Please note that a full tear may not heal with conservative treatment depending on the severity of the injury.
- Patellar Luxation, by limiting the sideways movement of the leg and helping to keep the patella in place
- Distal femoral or proximal tibia/fibula fractures, as an alternative to splinting
how to cast for a custom knee brace
MY CASTING DIDN'T GO WELL
CONDITIONS
- AOC's Custom Cat Wrist Braces help with injury prevention and recovery
- The most common diagnosis this brace recommended for is Carpal Hyperextension
- Custom Cat Wrist Braces can also address angular deformities of the front leg; specifically Carpal Varus (joint bowed outward) and Carpal Valgus (joint bowed inward)
- This brace also provides support with Radial Nerve Paralysis or Brachial Plexus Avulsion (tearing) diagnoses
- Depending on Diagnosis, braces are made with or without the paw segment, determined case by case
HOW TO CAST FOR A CUSTOM WRIST BRACE
MY CASTING DIDN'T GO WELL
CONDITIONS
- Achilles tear
- Primarily used post-operatively after Achilles tendon repair, as an alternative to external fixation devices that require drilling into healthy bone
- Knuckling is common with Achilles tendon injuries, so a paw segment attached to a custom hock brace is often recommended
- Uneven distribution of pressure can also be resolved with a hock brace with a paw segment
- Post-operative care following a ligament repair or other surgeries
- Conditions for which surgery is not available or recommended for your dog
- If you prefer a non-invasive option for your cat's recovery
- As a complimentary treatment option for physical therapy methods, including hydrotherapy and acupuncture
HOW TO CAST FOR A CUSTOM ANKLE BRACE
MY CASTING DIDN'T GO WELL
features
- Hand-sculpted using thermal & vacuum formed technology
- Fitted to your pet's very own limb
- Cushioning non-porous medical grade foam to ease pressure on affected area
- Adjustable durable hook and loop strap system to tighten and loosen for comfort
- Made is the USA
- Removable
- One-year warranty for manufacturing defects
- Lifetime warranty on Tamarack Hinges
- Free replacement straps during the first 90 days
why an aoc custom brace?
technology
- Hand-crafted using vacuum forming and thermal technology
- Waterproof
- Tamarack hinges allow motion that mimics normal ligament mobility
- A specialized ROM hinge can be fabricated with the brace instead. There is an additional $200 charge when fabricating a custom brace that requires a ROM hinge.
- Durable Non-Slip Tread (if using a paw segment)
CARE:
- Use light soapy water or antibacterial wipes to clean the plastic shell and non-porous liner of the brace.
- Hand-wash pads as needed and let them air dry.
- Remove any hair or dirt from the hook and loop straps with a wire brush, gently brushing in one direction on the hook side only.
USE
- It is required that you follow the break-in period protocol for your cat. This helps to prevent irritation and allows your cat to become comfortable when wearing their brace. Failure to follow the break-in period could result in further injury to your cat.
- Your cat may wear their brace whenever they are active, both indoors and outdoors. Custom Cat braces are waterproof and therefore can be used in the water, such as for hydrotherapy sessions.
- Remove your cat's brace when they are not active for extended periods of time. This allows their leg to relax, prevents irritation, and allows their skin breathe.
- Once your cat has successfully completed the break-in period without irritation occurring, they may wear their ankle brace for up to 14 hours a day. Wearing the brace for longer than 14 hours could result in irritation and/or injury
BREAK-IN PERIOD
Similarly to breaking in a new pair of shoes, the Custom Cat Brace should initially be worn in short increments as your cat builds up a tolerance to the device. For best results, place the brace on your pet for only half an hour the first day. You can typically increase this time by a further half hour each subsequent day. You can facilitate this process by positively reinforcing and rewarding your cat for wearing the brace. Please keep in mind that the break-in period and time of each increment will depend on your pet's diagnosis and overall acceptance of the brace.
If there is any irritation or skin breakdown, discontinue use of the brace for one full day. If irritation continues, contact us at care@aocpet.com
SKIN & BRACE EXAMINATION
It is crucial that you thoroughly inspect your pet's skin after each use of the Custom Cat Brace. This is especially important during the initial break-in period. While it is not uncommon to see minor problems for the first few weeks of brace usage, make note of any blisters or other unusual marks on the skin. Skin redness that does not disappear within an hour after the brace is removed and other signs of skin breakdown are indications of excessive pressure from the brace. The brace can easily be modified to relieve these areas of irritation.
You should also carefully examine the brace itself after each use. Identify any cracks, tears, or areas of unusual wear. Padding and the hook and loop straps can be replaced by contacting Animal Ortho Care. Consult our warranty terms for other details on the service process.
HYGIENE & CLEANING
Both the Custom Cat Brace and areas of skin that come into contact with it must be kept clean. This reduces the chance of your cat contracting contact dermatitis or other skin conditions. Regularly clean the brace with a mixture of half water, half isopropyl alcohol. After cleaning, dry with a towel or let the brace dry at room temperature. Do not speed the drying process through use of applied heat, such as from a hair dryer. Never put a wet brace onto your pet, as it will affect the fit. A properly-fitted brace can be worn in water, but should be thoroughly dried after use before re-application.
MATERIALS:
- Outer Shell: polypropylene, polyethylene, co-polymer
- Inner Liner: closed-cell polyethylene foam
FAQS
WHAT IS INCLUDED WITH THE PURCHASE OF A CUSTOM cat BRACE?
Purchases of our Custom Cat Braces include a free casting kit, which you will use before we begin fabricating the brace itself. Once you have cast your cat's leg - or legs if you are ordering a pair of Custom Braces - you will mail us the casts. At that point we craft your brace order based on the cast of your cat's leg, and then send the Custom Braces back to you.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE BRACE DOES NOT FIT CORRECTLY?
Please contact us and we will work with you to find the fit! The hook and loop straps give you some freedom to adjust the brace yourself. Depending on the issues with the fit, we may instruct you to ship it back to us for more extensive modification.
Please note it is imperative that you take an accurate cast of your cat's leg in order for the brace to have the best possible fit. Please refer to our casting directions and be sure that you are familiar with them before attempting a casting.
WHAT IF MY Cat's BRACE NEEDS REFURBISHMENT?
Refurbishing your cat's brace is easy. Strap replacements are free within the first 90 days of your purchase if you order and replace them yourself. We offer various methods for refurbishing your brace depending on what needs to be done. You can order new Straps (1 inch or 1.5 inch) and Pads to replace on your own. If you don't want to replace the straps yourself or need a liner replacement, you can use our Custom Brace Refurbish Service and we will refurbish the brace based on what you order.
HOW OFTEN CAN MY cat WEAR THIS BRACE?
There is a two-week break-in period where you will gradually increase the time your cat wears their Custom Cat Brace by 30 minute increments. Once this period is complete, you may leave the brace on your cat for up to 14 hours a day. However, be sure to remove the brace when your cat is resting, this will prevent irritation and allow their leg to air out. Check for any signs of irritation and/or swelling after removing the brace.
Please remove the brace before your cat goes to bed at night.
CAN MY cat USE STAIRS WHILE WEARING THIS BRACE?
Yes! However, give your cat a few days of using the brace before they attempt stairs. If they seem to be adjusting well to the brace and moving comfortably, you should be able to introduce stairs. Be sure to supervise their first few attempts.
HOW LONG IS THE FABRICATION PROCESS?
Once we receive the cast of your cat's leg, it takes 5-7 business days to fabricate the brace.
HOW LONG WILL SHIPPING TAKE?
We offer free 5-7 business day ground shipping in the US for both the casting kit and custom brace, as well as 2 Business Day or Overnight shipping options for an additional charge. Once we receive the cast of your cat's leg and fabricate the Custom Brace, we will ship that using the same option you selected at checkout.
IS THE CASTING PROCESS DIFFICULT?
The difficulty of casting will depend on your cat; more anxious or badly injured cats may find the process more distressing. It is recommended that you perform the process with at least 3-4 people depending on your cat's energy level.
Detailed instructions on how to cast are included in the casting kit. We can walk you or your veterinarian through the casting process, so please contact us with questions or concerns before you begin casting your cat's leg. We also offer FREE on-site casting at our Arden Hills, Minnesota location.
