How To Measure Your Dog Leg For A Knee Brace?

If your pet hurts its knee, getting it the right support can make all the difference in how quickly it heals. Dog knee braces help keep the joint stable and support it while it heals, but getting the right size is important for the best support. Animal prosthetics have come a long way and now offer our four-legged friends a wide range of options. For a knee brace, you'll need to properly place your dog and measure the length from hip to knee, knee to hock, and the circumference of the thigh and knee. Make sure you write down all of these measurements correctly. At first, it might seem hard to get an accurate measurement, but if you're patient and follow the right steps, you'll be able to find the right brace for your dog.

Understanding Your Dog's Knee Anatomy

Before you measure, knowing how your dog's leg is put together is helpful. There are three main parts to a dog's back leg: the thigh (the upper part), the stifle (the knee joint), and the lower leg, which goes down to the hock (like our ankle). Injuries like CCL tears (similar to ACL tears in humans) and luxating patella (kneecap dislocation) are most likely to happen in the knee.

Getting the right knee brace for your dog is very important for its healing. If the brace doesn't fit right, it can slip, hurt, cause pressure sores, or just not give the right amount of support. If you know where to measure and what to measure, you can ensure your dog gets the help they need and stays comfortable while they heal.

Measuring the Length of the Leg

To get exact measurements, position your dog standing on all four legs on a flat surface. If your dog flits around, get someone to help it stay calm and still. Use a soft measuring tape so it can contour naturally around the leg.

Step 1: Measure Upper Leg Length

Find the point on your dog's leg where their leg connects to their body. From there, measure down to the knee joint. If you look at the leg from the side, the knee joint is the first major bend. Write down this length in inches or centimeters.

Step 2: Measure Lower Leg Length

Next, find the distance from the knee to the hock. The hock is the second major joint in the leg and looks like a turned-back knee. This measurement helps determine how long the brace needs to be to fully support the knee area.

Measuring the Circumference

Measurements of the circumference are just as important as measurements of the length for a knee brace to fit correctly.

Step 1: Measure Thigh Circumference

Wrap the tape measure around the biggest part of your dog's thigh, where the leg meets the body. Ensure the tape is tight enough to hold their fur in place but not so tight that it presses against the skin. You should be able to slide your finger under the tape measure.

Step 2: Measure Knee Circumference

To get your dog's knee in the right place, gently bend its leg and feel for the bone sticking out. This is the knee joint. Keep the tape level as you wrap it around the knee joint. Once more, the tape should fit snugly but not too tightly.

Write down your measurements clearly and note which leg you measured (left or right). Make sure you're right by measuring each thing twice.

Common Measurement Mistakes to Avoid

Even small mistakes in measurement can cause a brace that doesn't fit right. Here are some mistakes that people often make:

• Not seeing the right anatomical markers, mainly the correct knee joint position.

• Pulling the measuring tape too tightly or keeping it too loose.

• Not checking both legs to see which one needs support, even if only one does.

Taking pictures of how you're measuring can help when you talk to vets or people who make braces.

Conclusion

It's not hard to get the right measurements for your dog's leg for a knee brace, but you need to pay close attention. To go over the measuring steps again, place your dog on a flat surface and measure its length from hip to knee and knee to leg. Then, measure its thigh and knee. Ensure you get each measurement right by doing it twice, and write down which leg you used. As the field of animal prosthetics grows, it becomes easier to help pets that are hurt, but even the best brace will only work if it fits right.

Click here and read more blogs