Sit Down Dog Wheelchairs
How to Choose the Right Dog Back Brace
How Does a Dog Back Brace Work?
If you're looking to improve your pet's back health, a back brace can provide the necessary support and stabilization for their spine. A back brace can effectively ease your dog's back pain by reducing pressure on injured areas By reducing pressure on the injured areas, a back brace can effectively ease your dog's back discomfort.
Proper back support can help to limit the movement of the spine, while also decreasing back pain and discomfort by stabilizing your dog’s spinal column. Back braces can be particularly helpful when worn during recovery and may also be worn as a preventive method before IVDD presents itself. Moreover, Back Braces offer your dog the ability to be more active and safely move, jump, and enjoy life.
Back Brace Benefits:
Stabilize and Supports
Wearing a back brace will help to immobilize the injury, keeping the back properly supported so that the spine can heal. A back brace should stabilize the dog's entire back and spine, including the muscles surrounding the spinal column.
Limits Further Injury and Promote Healing
Dogs want to be active, by wearing a brace they can still move around but the continued support of the brace will limit excessive movement and range of motion to protect the back as it heals. Wearing a back brace acts as a reminder to the pet to limit activity and prevent your dog from moving in a way that could cause further damage.
Limit Range of Motion
When a dog wears a back brace it will help to keep the spinal column properly aligned, and restrict motion, such as twisting, to prevent the dog from movements that could cause further pain or injury.
How to Choose the Right Back Brace
1. Make Sure the Support is in the Right Spot
Always check where and how the dog’s spine is being supported. If the back brace has support only along the dog’s side, the dog’s range of motion will be limited. The back brace should have a support structure that conforms to the dog’s entire back to support the support structure that conforms to the dog’s entire back.
2. Support the Entire Spine
When choosing a back brace for your furry friend, be sure to select one that offers support to both the spine and surrounding epaxial muscles. The spinal support should support the spinal column and also offer support to your dog’s back muscles.
3. Consider Your Dog’s Breed
Every dog is shaped differently and dog's with long bodies and short legs have an increased risk of developing spinal conditions, back pain, or other back problems. Both the Corgi and Dachshund are among the most common dog breeds that need back braces. So they need a brace that’s going to support their entire back and spine.
How Long Should My Dog Wear a Back Brace?
Give your dog time to get used to wearing its new back support and introduce it to them gradually. At the beginning, have your dog wear its brace for short periods of time until it adjusts to the feeling of it’s new back support. Once your dog is comfortable wearing the brace, it can be worn for longer periods.
Most dogs need support when they are active and moving around. The brace can be removed when your dog is resting, although it doesn’t need to be. The vertebraVe features mesh side panels that will allow your dog’s skin to breathe.
What is most important is your dog’s comfort while wearing the brace. It should be snug but not too tight. The back brace should be tight enough to offer support but without restricting natural movement. Your dog should be able to move easily while wearing the back brace, they should be comfortable and able to move naturally while supported.
Is a Back Brace Right for My Dog?
A back support can work for some dogs, but it isn't always the right choice for every dog. Crate rest is the most common first step after a dog has a spinal injury or disc issue. For dogs whose rear leg strength has been impacted, the right mobility device for your dog would be a dog wheelchair.
A wheelchair will support your dog to allow them to stand and walk with assistance. Dogs with a disc issue will need to support the center of their back as well, the belly wrap is a neoprene sling that will help to keep your dog's spine aligned.
Dog with Back Injury Loves His Wheelchair
I would like to thank you for providing a Walkin’ Wheels dog wheelchair for my grandma’s dog “Mikey”. He has since passed away, but after he hurt his back trying to jump into the car, he couldn’t use his back legs. We felt so bad that we called you and you provided a dog wheelchair for him that fit him perfectly. He immediately started running through the house, chasing the cats, and having a ton of fun. I’d never seen him so happy and excited in his life. He could run faster with his dog cart than he could before his injury. It improved his life and our lives seeing him so active again. I highly recommend these products to people who have a dog with a spinal injury or back legs injury/deformity and are considering euthanizing the pet to try this first because they work better than I had ever expected. Thank you for giving our little friend years back on his life.
He passed away, but we have all of the memories of spending time with him, and he had memories of chasing cats and playing with his toys, being able to chase balls, and go for walks. Thanks to all of you who do this work. I know just where to go online to find you in case I ever have another animal in need of new legs/wheels.
- Mikey's Family
