Custom Hock (Ankle) Brace | Dog Tarsal - Rear Leg Brace
$895.00
CUSTOM DOG Braces - Order Process
Cast
We send you a Casting Kit for you to make a mold of your pet's limb.
FIT
We ship you the finished custom brace. You fit it to your pet. Your pet is on their way to recovery!
HOW TO MEASURE
Hock Circumference
Measure the circumference of the leg just above the hock (the raised part of the ankle below the knee)
Need Your Dog's Brace Sooner?
MY CASTING DIDN'T GO WELL
BUILDING YOUR DOG's ANKLE BRACE
AFTER RECEIVING YOUR DOG'S CAST,
FABRICATION TIME WILL TAKE 3-5 BUSINESS DAYS.
A DOG ANKLE BRACE IS COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS AN ACHILLES, OR HOCK BRACE.
Conditions That Benefit From a Custom Dog Ankle Brace
- 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 dog's recovery
- As a complimentary treatment option for physical therapy methods, including hydrotherapy and acupuncture
Benefits of a Custom Dog Ankle Brace
- Provides support to the affected area
- Stabilizes the joint
- Decreases the time and expense of injury/post-surgical recovery
- Helps improve your dog's activity level by providing a return to near-normal joint function
- Allows for easier wound/surgical site inspection
- Reduces pressure on the contralateral (opposite) limb, preventing further injury
features
- Custom-fitted to your dog's limb
- Non-porous medical grade foam cushions and eases pressure on the affected area
- Durable hook and loop strap system allows easy adjustments for fit and comfort
- Made in the USA
- Removable
- Two-month warranty for brace alterations and modifications
- 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-Tether hinges allow for limited ligament motion in order to prevent hyper-extension and hyper-flexion
- 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.
how to cast for a custom hock dog brace
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 dog. This helps to prevent irritation and allows your dog to become comfortable when wearing their brace. Failure to follow the break-in period could result in further injury to your dog.
- Your dog may wear their brace whenever they are active, both indoors and outdoors. Custom Dog Ankle braces are waterproof and therefore can be used in the water, such as for hydrotherapy sessions.
- Remove your dog'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 dog 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 Dog Ankle Brace should initially be worn in short increments as your dog 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 dog 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 Dog Ankle 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 Dog Ankle Brace and areas of skin that come into contact with it must be kept clean. This reduces the chance of your dog 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 Dog Ankle Brace?
Purchases of our Custom Dog Ankle Braces include a free casting kit, which you will use before we begin fabricating the brace itself. Once you have cast your dog'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 dog'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 dog'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 dog's brace needs refurbishment?
Refurbishing your dog'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 dog wear this brace?
There is a two-week break-in period where you will gradually increase the time your dog wears their Custom Dog Ankle Brace by 30 minute increments. Once this period is complete, you may leave the brace on your dog for up to 14 hours a day. However, be sure to remove the brace when your dog 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 dog goes to bed at night.
Can my dog use stairs while wearing this brace?
Yes! However, give your dog 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 dog's leg, it takes 5-7 business days to fabricate the brace. Expedited Fabrication is available for $150.00 per brace which reduces the fabrication time to 3 business days.
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. If you select an expedited shipping option, we will ship the casting kit to you based on that option. Once we receive the cast of your dog'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 dog; more anxious or badly injured dogs may find the process more distressing. It is recommended that you perform the process with at least 3-4 people depending on your dog'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 dog's leg. We also offer FREE on-site casting at our Arden Hills, Minnesota location.
Product fabricated and shipped in a timely manner. The straps and velcro fasteners were not as durable as expected. I had to manually repair (sew) two straps. When the vet tried to adjust one strap to make the hock area more flexible, the screw would not come out. Very disappointing! When I talked to customer service they said perhaps locktite was used on it at the factory. Other screws on other parts do unscrew. Not being able to adjust this flexible hock area does not allow the movement that he needs.
Hey Mary,
Thank you for taking the time to write a review for the custom tarsal brace and sharing your experience. We will have a customer care representative reach out to you regarding your concerns!
Respectfully,
AOC
Great customer service. Our situation was a little different, since we live in Switzerland. We had to get the brace with out a fitting post production. The customer service was great. The production seemed rushed and the finished brace still needs some tweaking after the production. The spacing between the main parts of the brace were not cut parallel, the stitching of the straps ran over the edge and the placement of the straps of the brace wasn’t well thought. Fitment was good but again fitting is still needed post production so nothing can be said about the post production service.
Hello,
Thank you for the feedback. Looks like a customer care rep has reached out regarding your fabrication concerns with the brace.
Repsectfully,
AOC
Amazing customer service and high quality durable brace! My experience with this company has been excellent. The team is very friendly, knowledgeable, accommodating, and quick to respond. I am beyond happy with the brace we received, it fit perfectly and my dog is finally able to play fetch again with no pain. It was well worth every penny and I’m so grateful I was able to find this company. Don’t go anywhere else if you’re looking for a brace for your pet!
Hi Monica,
We are so happy to hear you are happy with your product...and more importantly it is helping your dog so much! Happy to hear your dog can get back to more normal activity such as fetch and play without being in discomfort. Please do let us know if you have questions along the way, always happy to assist. Thank you for taking the time to write us a review.
Best,
Animal Ortho Care
It would be much easier to slide a tapered Velcro strap through the metal piece as opposed to a blunt tip piece of Velcro. The blunt tip has to fit more exact and that can be hard to do on a rambunctious Lab. All in all the brace was a perfect fit.
Hello,
Thank you so much for your feedback, we will share this great feedback with the team. We are so happy to hear the brace fits well. Please do let us know if you have questions along the way. Thank you for taking the time to write us a review.
Best,
Animal Ortho Care
The people there are so nice .I had to cancel my order because of the virus my dog was not diagnosed with Cushing desease. He fell and went lame we had to hire dog ambulance out of Cleveland to get him to animal hospital.When he fell he ripped his elbows off with exposed bone. They couldn’t be fixed and we had no choice but to let him go. We are heartbroken but we couldn’t get the braces soon enough. We got a refund. Should one of my other Standard Poodles need help or any of my friends I will definitely send them there .Hope that explains it all.
Hi Arlene,
We are so deeply sorry to hear what happened. It is never easy to lose a furry loved one. Please know if you ever need anything down the line we are always here to help.
Best,
Animal Ortho Care
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