CRCG is proud to be an Orthopets Partner Clinic. As a Partner Clinic we have priority access to the Orthopets experts.

OrthoPets products are engineered to be the most advanced, biomechanically appropriate, brace and prosthetic solutions available within the animal brace and prosthetic industry. Their most fabricated device is the OrthoPets Stifle Orthosis for the canine cranial cruciate injury (dog knee brace for ACL/CCL injury). OrthoPets has helped revolutionize veterinary medicine by creating this exciting new industry. Being the leader in V-OP (Veterinary Orthotics and Prosthetics) industry, they choose to not only set the bar for patient care through their innovative biomechanical solutions but continue to push the bar higher to achieve the best outcomes.

Each OrthoPets device is custom made for your pet and is made right here in Colorado. We are fortunate to have this resource nearby so your device can be ready in record time!

If you are unsure where to turn for assistance or advice on a wrap, splint, brace or prosthetic, we can help! We will walk you through the decision-making process, as well as measure, cast, fit and develop a comprehensive program for using the device. To make the most of your new device, we recommend a rehabilitation program to regain lost quality of life, mobility, comfort, and function.

When is your dog a good candidate for an orthotic brace?

  • Some dogs cannot handle general anesthesia due to concurrent medical conditions, therefore surgery is not an option.
  • Orthotic devices may be an option if surgery is not an option due to financial constraints. Generally, braces will be significantly less expensive than surgery.
  • Surgeons and therapists frequently recommend clients consider a custom-made orthopedic brace when surgery is not an option or as an adjunct to surgery. These devices, along with appropriate rehabilitation therapy, have helped treat many orthopedic conditions and injuries with great success, with and without surgical intervention.

Functional Benefits of a Brace:

Functional braces for dogs can provide many of the same benefits as knee braces for humans.

  • Enhances proprioception/joint position sense
  • Permits injured limb to relax
  • Reduces fatigue in injured limb
  • Provides some mechanical protection against impact
  • Slow things down to allow muscles time to react and control

What to expect:

The first step in exploring whether a brace or other orthotic device might benefit your pet is to set up an initial evaluation with us. In the evaluation appointment, our therapists will examine your dog to ensure that your pet is a good candidate for a device. We also need to make sure that there are no contraindications or underlying conditions that may be exacerbated by a device.

To make the brace, we will make a cast of the injured leg. The brace is then made by an orthotic-prosthetic clinic. Because the brace is custom, it will fit the unique size and shape of your dog’s leg. We will help you ensure the brace fits properly. There is a break-in period to allow the pet to get accustomed to the brace. Most pets adapt to orthopedic braces within days to weeks. If the device is worn and broken in properly, most animals experience very few complications because of the custom fit. Objective gait analysis has shown that dogs continue to increase their stride length and weight-bearing pressures as they become accustomed to the device.