Doggleggs

During the course of Miss Phoebe's rehab, I have investigated many, many products that are on the market to make life with a rehabbing dog easier. One of the best, is the little hock brace that I found at ortho-pet. It is not designed for her knee, but does protect her lower leg and ankle, both of which are taking more strain these days. It is a simple velcro wrap around compression sleeve that seems to be doing its job.

The problem with knee braces for dogs is the fact that they do not stay in place without an elaborate contraption that wraps around the dog's neck. This all seemed like much too much work for both Phoebe and me and I was not sure Phoebe would tolerate it, so we went for the easier approach. My vet says it is not hurting but she is not sure if it is helping!

Along the way, I purchased many other gizmos to make getting in and out of the car easier, etc. but I also came across a great company, with a great story, just in case you are ever in need of dog rehab products.

The company is Doggleggs and it is the brainchild of a graphic designer named Schon Gross whose large dog developed a fluid filled callous on his elbow. The vet really had no great solution for the treatment of the hygroma--fluid filled callous--and suggested she try to adapt some sort of sports kneepad to fit the dog.

Well that is what she did, combining it with a sleeve harness to keep the kneepad in place. By the second day of wearing his new kneepad contraption, the swelling in the hygroma was reduced by half and the dog was soon walking without a limp. When she took the dog, wearing his Doggleggs to the vet, he suggested she patent it at once.

Dogglegs Therapeutic Rehabilitative Products expects to have $500,000 in sales this year and there is now a complete line of rehabilitative products for horses as well as dogs. Unfortunately, there is still no ACL brace for dogs that does not require a harness to keep it in place around the dog's neck or a small fortune.

But she does have an interesting back leg brace that is a bit more substantial that Phoebe's but the same idea.

Schon Gross also does custom fittings so you never know. . .