Pet Ortho Braces, a specialized veterinary clinic in Scottsdale, has created orthotic braces for dogs with ligament injuries. These injuries often require expensive surgeries that can cost pet owners thousands of dollars. By using the braces as an alternative, dogs with ligament injuries can experience recovery in about 18 weeks.
Each brace is handmade by Pet Ortho Braces and assists in a dog’s mobility to recover from these ligament injuries. Allowing for weight to be placed on the injured limbs and even the ability to swim.
Dave Vowels, President of Pet Ortho Braces, alongside Barb Spruck and her dog Ziggy joined “Arizona Horizon” to share more about these braces.
Vowels shared how suitable the braces are not just for dogs, but for every animal as well.
“We make custom braces for animals, mostly dogs, but all animals. We’ve done horses, pigs, goats, everything. These are custom-made to the dog for orthopedic situations. Torn ligaments, fractured bones, any of the sorts,” Vowels said.
Spruck described Ziggy’s recovery period after surgery and how the brace helped him stay active.
“The surgery was great, it worked. It’s just the recovery is very long and it’s not just for the dog, it’s for the human. It’s hard to keep a dog calm for that many months. So, having the brace, immediately once we put it on, he could start walking and got used to it pretty quickly,” Spruck said.
Similarly to surgery, the braces are designed to build scar tissue. Vowels explained the company’s goal of providing an alternative to surgery.
“I want to make it perfectly clear, we’re not anti-surgery. Surgery’s very close, we’re tools of the toolbox. We’re here for those folks who don’t want to do it. Or maybe, can’t afford it,” Vowels said.
