How to Make a Homemade Knee Brace for My Dog?– If your dog is suffering from a knee injury or has arthritis in the knee joint, walking can be painful.
If the knee injury is minor and does not require any surgery, then a homemade knee brace will help you ease your dog’s pain.
And even though it is possible, the normal question you will ask is how to make a homemade knee brace for my dog.
The simple steps to making a homemade knee brace at your home are by measuring your dog’s leg and then cutting two identical pieces of the material you are planning to use. Apply duct tape to hold them together and use velcro strips.
The above steps will hold the brace while you place it on your dog. It doesn’t feel good when you see your dog whining in pain each time he takes a step.
You don’t need to worry as we will provide you with a comprehensive guide on knee braces.
Dogs are energetic and agile animals; unfortunately, they don’t know their limits. The basic nature of a dog is to reveal curiosity about everything and be active all the time, which can lead to injury. That’s why this article will come in very handy for the purpose.
What is a Knee Brace?
A knee brace is a support that helps your dog when he is in pain. It is generally made up of plastic or elastic fabric. The braces that are made up of the dog’s knee are formed from neoprene, nylon, or lycra.
The main function of the knee brace is to provide aid to your dog’s knee and to help in elevating knee pain. It will get fixed to the knee joint and create compression. The compression will improve the dog’s blood flow and help the dog heal the injury quickly.
If your dog is suffering from arthritis, then you should make your dog wear it regularly. The dog might also need a knee brace after the process of surgery.
How Does a Knee Brace Work?
It is an awful experience when you see your dog in pain. To understand your dog’s ache, you need to understand the comfort that they get from wearing a knee brace. You should know how a knee brace works to make your dog feel better.
The main function of the knee brace is to regulate blood circulation by creating pressure on arteries and veins. The pressure or compression that is produced makes the diameter of the veins small, making the blood flow faster and preventing swelling.
It also puts pressure on the knee joint of your dog. Braces contradict the motion of the injured joint to protect it from impairment.
Things to Consider Before Making The Knee Brace
If you decide to take a knee brace, you should take care of a few things and take some precautions.
- Make sure that the knee brace prevents sideways motion and that the knee should remain stable as it heels.
- It should have a strong support mechanism so that it runs down the entire leg length and holds the leg teddy and balanced.
- Remember to allow some movement so that the knee does not become completely stiff.
Materials Needed for Making a Homemade Knee Brace for Your Dog
The canine knee is a very intricate joint known as a stifle joint, and it functions as a human hinge joint. There are a few things that you will need while making a knee brace for your dog.
- Velcro traps
- Some types of support
- Duct tape
- Scissors
- Measuring tape
How to Make a Homemade Knee Brace for My Dog?
Always use soft material for making a knee brace as it is comfortable for your dog. If you use a rough material instead of a soft one, then your dog will feel pain and also have an expectation that the injury will get severe. A dog’s knee braces should be made of materials like neoprene or soft plastic.
- The first step is to determine the length and pattern of the dog’s legs. Do this by measuring the length from the top to the bottom of the dog’s knee. You will notice that it has a slight turn on the joint, so measure the upward part and the downward part separately.
- The next step is to cut two pieces of the plastic lid or any material that you are using to the same length and pattern as the dog’s knees.
- Place the pieces side by side and the dog’s leg in between the two pieces.
- Apply duct tape to hold the pieces together. You can also use foam and put them at the corners to maximize comfort.
- Your dog’s knee brace is ready to use after you’ve covered the entire area with duct tape.
- The final step is to use velcro strips to provide safety to the breast around the leg. Use strips of it, one at the top and the other at the bottom, to safeguard The Brave properly.
Reasons to Make a DIY Knee Brace
Generally, people use a ready-made knee brace from the market because it is more comfortable than a DIY one, but there are many reasons for using homemade knee braces. You can take it as a hobby to craft them, which also comes with many benefits.
Here are some of the reasons why you should make DIY knee braces:
Cost
The main reason for the majority of dog owners who decide to make knee braces at home is the cost. Dog knee braces are costly when purchased from the vet or any pet supply store. Making a dog knee brace at home will cost you nothing if you have the right items in your home.
Fit
You may or may not be the perfect companion for your dog. But DIY knee braces will give you a custom brace that will fit your dog’s knees.
Necessity
Most people who don’t want to see their dog in pain want to make a homemade brace because they are waiting for their vet to give them their appointment and are waiting for the ordered knee brace to come to their place.
Safety
Some dog owners don’t want their dogs to get exposed to plastic and toxic chemicals; hence, they avoid using ready-made knee braces and choose to make a homemade knee brace with the items easily available in their homes.
How to Make Sure a Dog Brace Fits Right and Feels Comfortable?
It is quite challenging to assure that there is enough support provided with the brace that you have made.
The main issue arises when the brace is too loose or too tight. The simple answer to this question is that you should be able to get a finger between the two things, i.e., the brace and your dog’s leg.
If you can’t place your finger between the two, your dog’s knee brace is too tight. You should not worry if you see your dog upset when wearing the brace for the first time, and you should always be polite and gentle when working with your pet until he becomes comfortable walking with a knee brace on.
You must remember that your dog is in pain and worried about the new thing lying on his leg. It will take some time for you to become comfortable, so you must be patient and constantly work on your dog to heal and prevent him from getting injured.
Other Conditions That Cause Knee Pain in Dogs
The knees of the dog function just like humans by taking all the force of their weight. There are many conditions in which a dog might feel knee pain, and you should be aware of your dog’s anatomy.
The three main components of the knee joint are also called the stifle joint. Those are:
- Tibia
- Fibula
- Patella
They all incorporate to form a knee joint. If any of these structures, in addition to ligaments, tendons, and cartilage, are injured, they can cause pain in your dog’s knee.
Knee problems are the most common injury from which dogs suffer. Dogs of all sizes, shapes, breeds, and ages can experience knee pain. Older dogs are more likely to have stiffness and pain in their knees because of the wearing and tearing of the ligaments caused by ageing.
Dogs have three main types of knee conditions, each causing different types of pain. These are:
- Arthritis
- Torn CCL or ACL
- Luxating Patella
We now anticipate that you will better understand the question of how to make a homemade knee brace for my dog.
There is always a possibility and a chance to recover from knee injuries, but it is not applicable to all situations.
You should not always treat your dog at home in all situations. Always make contact with a certified veterinarian for your dog’s good health.
Do not take any chances for your dog’s well-being and provide them with the best nourishment by taking care of their knee during healing.
