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 Video
- Dr. Jim Humphries, VNN - Pet Orthotics
Photos and story courtesy of the
VNN
Veterinary News Network -- Orthotics
Give Pets a Step Up to Normal Lives!
 From
the repair of torn ligaments to mending
broken bones, veterinary orthopedic medicine
has made huge advances. But, what happens
when the cost of a surgery is prohibitive or
when surgery alone cannot give a pet a good
quality of life?
Like their human counterparts, animals are
also prone to a variety of debilitating
injuries and pains including torn ligaments,
broken bones and debilitating arthritis.
Human medicine has battled these ailments
with the help of orthotics for years. By
using custom braces and devices to support
and correct limb function, orthotics help
individuals with neurological problems such
as cerebral palsy, strokes and spinal cord
injuries, as well as orthopedic injuries
like ligament tears and fractures.
Additionally, these devices are used to
support an injured joint before and after
surgery.
Luckily, advances in veterinary orthopedics,
combined with the ingenuity of human injury
specialists, are bringing this type of
relief to many pets – even saving lives!
With more than a decade of experience in
human orthotics, Dr. Martin Kaufmann began
exploring the potential of pet orthotics
after his cousin’s Schnauzer suffered from a
stroke and lost all ability in one leg.
Facing amputation, Kauffman developed an
ingenious brace allowing the dog to use his
leg normally – saving his leg, and quite
possibly – his life.
Since then, Kauffman has devoted his talents
to helping pets. His company, Ortho Pets (www.orthopets.com)
is dedicated to supporting the quality of
pets’ lives through the science of orthotics.
So far, Kaufmann’s company has helped
thousands of animals across the United
States and Europe. Today, he continues to
advance his work by teaching courses at
Colorado State University.
But by far, one of Kauffman’s biggest
success stories is about an adorable,
overweight Labrador retriever named Otis.
Otis ruptured his rear leg Achilles tendon.
Although the tendon was successfully
repaired with surgery, Otis’ extreme obesity
made it difficult for his leg to heal. To
make matters worse, Otis began transferring
his weight – eventually developing problems
in his good leg. As a result, Otis was
extremely uncomfortable, had great
difficulty walking and poor quality of life.
Working with Otis’ veterinarian, Ortho Pets
designed a pair of custom braces to protect
the damaged leg, and at the same time,
support his good leg. Now with a strict diet
and miracle braces from Ortho Pets, Otis is
a healthy, happy Labrador retriever.
Often, a painful orthopedic condition can
cause severe suffering and disability in a
pet. Unaware of companies like Ortho Pets,
pet owners often believe that easing the
pain of their companion through euthanasia
is the only option – this is not always the
case.
In some cases, a custom orthotic brace
alleviates pain and corrects dysfunction,
allowing the pet to move normally and
without pain.
Likewise, owners often face difficult
decisions due to surgery costs and extended
aftercare services their pet may require.
Additionally, many veterinary surgeons
recommend strict cage rest with no activity
for six to eight weeks after surgery. For
many dogs, this enforced rest period is
difficult.
Custom orthotic braces may support the
post-operative joint, allowing the animal to
become active earlier. For some elderly pets
or pets who are not good surgical
candidates, a brace may support the injured
joint well enough for the pet to live a
normal life without surgery.
Custom orthotics provide more options when
striving to help an injured or disabled pet.
Working together, pet owners, veterinary
surgeons and orthotic specialists improve
and save the lives of many pets that may
have been forced to live with pain – or
perhaps, may not have lived at all.
To learn more about these exciting new
advances in Orthotic pet medicine, visit
www.MyVNN.com.
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