Guest guest Posted June 27, 2008 Report Share Posted June 27, 2008 Hi : I agree with Rob and Jan Steiss. A carpal 'brace" may not be the answer for an asymptomatic dog. But I do believe in taking a proactive approach, and it is often more difficult to treat a problem (e.g., carpal hyperextension) once it has occurred rather than "keeping it at bay". A strengthening program for the core and remaining limb is essential. And, as a proactive approach, I would provide light carpal support (not a brace) for use during periods of daily activity. Hope all is well with you and Finnegan! Ilaria Ilaria F. Borghese, MS, MA, OTR/L Able Pet & Thera-Paw, Inc.. www.ablepet.com www.therapaw.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 27, 2008 Report Share Posted June 27, 2008 I would be hard pressed to put a brace on a dog that has no symptoms or pathology, three legged or not. Hypothetically speaking, if you were to get a perfect fit brace then it would help support the carpus and therefore would de-condition the tissues that are there and are working just fine at the moment. I would suggest to the owner to keep her fit and lean and maybe get her into a conditioning program to improve core strength and stability. You can always conceder a brace for her if she does develop a problem. Just my two cents...Robby J Porter III, VT, LMT, CCRPAnimal Rehabilitation CenterMandeville, LA70448 carpal brace question HelloWe have a 6-year-old fs poodle weighing about 50 pound. BCS 5/9. She had aright forelimb amputation about a year ago after a nasty comminutedfracture to her elbow, which occurred while playing with her brother.The owners are inquiring about a carpal brace for the left forelimb as apreventative measure. The thought being that extra stress is placedon her remaining front leg. Currently the leg is fine and she is veryactive. Does anyone have any thoughts/suggestion s/experience with this? Any helpwould be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 28, 2008 Report Share Posted June 28, 2008 I agree with Robby. In addition, some veterinarians have commented on how fast some dogs recover from a dropped carpus (not due to neurological problems) if they are swimming or doing UWTM therapy a couple times a week. So aquatic tx is another way to strengthen the forelimb muscles and tendons. Or just observe the dog on a regular basis and get the dog on an aquatic program if and when there is any evidence of carpal hyperextension. You might want to do goniometry measurements of the carpus with the dog standing and weight bearing now, in order to have a starting point for evaluation later on. JanJanet Steiss, DVM, PhD, PT Associate Professor Dept of Anatomy, Physiology & Pharmacology College of Veterinary MedicineAuburn University AL 36849______________________________work ph: home ph: FAX (departmental): alternate email: steisje@... To: VetRehab From: robpossible5@...Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:52:08 -0700Subject: Re: carpal brace question I would be hard pressed to put a brace on a dog that has no symptoms or pathology, three legged or not. Hypothetically speaking, if you were to get a perfect fit brace then it would help support the carpus and therefore would de-condition the tissues that are there and are working just fine at the moment. I would suggest to the owner to keep her fit and lean and maybe get her into a conditioning program to improve core strength and stability. You can always conceder a brace for her if she does develop a problem. Just my two cents...Robby J Porter III, VT, LMT, CCRPAnimal Rehabilitation CenterMandeville, LA70448 carpal brace question HelloWe have a 6-year-old fs poodle weighing about 50 pound. BCS 5/9. She had aright forelimb amputation about a year ago after a nasty comminutedfracture to her elbow, which occurred while playing with her brother.The owners are inquiring about a carpal brace for the left forelimb as apreventative measure. The thought being that extra stress is placedon her remaining front leg. Currently the leg is fine and she is veryactive. Does anyone have any thoughts/suggestion s/experience with this? Any helpwould be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 28, 2008 Report Share Posted June 28, 2008 It is my experience that the only carpal hyperextension brace that actually corrects the carpal hyperextension has to come proximal to the carpus and limits the ROM. If you fit the dog with the rigid brace to prevent hyperextension, you will relatively cut the remaining propelling motion in half. All of this motion will have to come from the elbow and shoulder. The elbow & shoulder would quickly become problematic. You are trading problems to prevent something that has not happened yet. Non-symptomatic, I would not brace. Ben Blecha, CPOwww.skyprosthetics.comwww.TriAmphant.com-- Those who can laugh without cause have either found the true meaning of happiness or have gone stark raving mad.~Norm Papernick carpal brace question HelloWe have a 6-year-old fs poodle weighing about 50 pound. BCS 5/9. She had aright forelimb amputation about a year ago after a nasty comminutedfracture to her elbow, which occurred while playing with her brother.The owners are inquiring about a carpal brace for the left forelimb as apreventative measure. The thought being that extra stress is placedon her remaining front leg. Currently the leg is fine and she is veryactive. Does anyone have any thoughts/suggestion s/experience with this? Any helpwould be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 28, 2008 Report Share Posted June 28, 2008 Hi.I agree with all that Ilaria, Robby, Jan, and Ben have said.In addition, what does the hind end look like-- strength, ROM, function?  To take some stress of the remaining fore limb, definitely focus on hind limb strengthening and core stabilization.AmieHelloWe have a 6-year-old fs poodle weighing about 50 pound. BCS 5/9. She had aright forelimb amputation about a year ago after a nasty comminutedfracture to her elbow, which occurred while playing with her brother.The owners are inquiring about a carpal brace for the left forelimb as apreventative measure. The thought being that extra stress is placedon her remaining front leg. Currently the leg is fine and she is veryactive. Does anyone have any thoughts/suggestions/experience with this? Any helpwould be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 28, 2008 Report Share Posted June 28, 2008 I have done prolotherapy on these heavily used limbs with evidence of increased comfort and better function, even in ones that we didn't think had any problems!!! Have definitely helped ones that had started to break down, and stabilized ones that had already hyperextended. We have used braces also, but not all dogs tolerated them.Judith M. Shoemaker, DVMAlways Helpful Veterinary Services305 Nottingham RoadNottingham, PA 19362ph fax info@... www.judithshoemaker.com To: VetRehab From: renee.shumway@...Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2008 20:04:35 +0000Subject: carpal brace question HelloWe have a 6-year-old fs poodle weighing about 50 pound. BCS 5/9. She had aright forelimb amputation about a year ago after a nasty comminutedfracture to her elbow, which occurred while playing with her brother.The owners are inquiring about a carpal brace for the left forelimb as apreventative measure. The thought being that extra stress is placedon her remaining front leg. Currently the leg is fine and she is veryactive. Does anyone have any thoughts/suggestions/experience with this? Any helpwould be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance. Introducing Live Search cashback . It's search that pays you back! Try it Now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 29, 2008 Report Share Posted June 29, 2008 Thanks to all of you for your response and the great information! You have been extremely helpful. We will talk to the owners!PS, Ilaria... Finn sends his love! I have done prolotherapy on these heavily used limbs with evidence of increased comfort and better function, even in ones that we didn't think had any problems!!! Have definitely helped ones that had started to break down, and stabilized ones that had already hyperextended. We have used braces also, but not all dogs tolerated them. Judith M. Shoemaker, DVMAlways Helpful Veterinary Services305 Nottingham RoadNottingham, PA 19362ph fax info@... www.judithshoemaker.com To: VetRehab From: renee.shumway@...Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2008 20:04:35 +0000 Subject: carpal brace question HelloWe have a 6-year-old fs poodle weighing about 50 pound. BCS 5/9. She had aright forelimb amputation about a year ago after a nasty comminutedfracture to her elbow, which occurred while playing with her brother. The owners are inquiring about a carpal brace for the left forelimb as apreventative measure. The thought being that extra stress is placedon her remaining front leg. Currently the leg is fine and she is very active. Does anyone have any thoughts/suggestions/experience with this? Any helpwould be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance. Introducing Live Search cashback . It's search that pays you back! Try it Now -- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 Hello, I am somewhat familiar with prolotherapy and how it works. However, I can't seem to find info on how long the results last and side effects, if any. One of my patients had stem-cell injections in the shoulder and stifle and Vet-Stem said it may last about 1 yr. Is prolotherapy similiar? I understand the methods are very different, but the goals are the same, to relieve pain and stabilize the joint. Also, I would assume prolotherapy is also less expensive than stem-cell. Would anyone mind giving an estimate for a package of prolotherapy? Thank you. Jackie Honghern Sharp VT, CCRP Louisville Veterinary Specialists and Emergency Services > > Subject: RE: carpal brace question > To: vetrehab > Date: Saturday, June 28, 2008, 6:59 PM > I have done prolotherapy on these heavily used limbs with > evidence of increased comfort and better function, even in > ones that we didn't think had any problems!!! Have > definitely helped ones that had started to break down, and > stabilized ones that had already hyperextended. We have > used braces also, but not all dogs tolerated them.Judith M. > Shoemaker, DVMAlways Helpful Veterinary Services305 > Nottingham RoadNottingham, PA 19362ph fax > info@... > www.judithshoemaker.com > > > To: VetRehab@...: > renee.shumway@...: Fri, 27 Jun 2008 20:04:35 > +0000Subject: carpal brace question > > > > > HelloWe have a 6-year-old fs poodle weighing about 50 > pound. BCS 5/9. She had aright forelimb amputation about a > year ago after a nasty comminutedfracture to her elbow, > which occurred while playing with her brother.The owners > are inquiring about a carpal brace for the left forelimb as > apreventative measure. The thought being that extra stress > is placedon her remaining front leg. Currently the leg is > fine and she is veryactive. Does anyone have any > thoughts/suggestions/experience with this? Any helpwould be > greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance. > > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > Introducing Live Search cashback . It's search that > pays you back! > http://search.live.com/cashback/? & pkw=form=MIJAAF/publ=HMTGL/crea=introsrchcashb\ ack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 --- Thanks to all of you for your response and the great information! You have been extremely helpful. We will talk to the owners! PS, Ilaria... Finn sends his love! > Hello, > > I am somewhat familiar with prolotherapy and how it works. However, I can't seem to find info on how long the results last and side effects, if any. One of my patients had stem-cell injections in the shoulder and stifle and Vet-Stem said it may last about 1 yr. Is prolotherapy similiar? I understand the methods are very different, but the goals are the same, to relieve pain and stabilize the joint. Also, I would assume prolotherapy is also less expensive than stem-cell. Would anyone mind giving an estimate for a package of prolotherapy? Thank you. > > Jackie Honghern Sharp > VT, CCRP > Louisville Veterinary Specialists and Emergency Services > > > > > > > > Subject: RE: carpal brace question > > To: vetrehab > > Date: Saturday, June 28, 2008, 6:59 PM > > I have done prolotherapy on these heavily used limbs with > > evidence of increased comfort and better function, even in > > ones that we didn't think had any problems!!! Have > > definitely helped ones that had started to break down, and > > stabilized ones that had already hyperextended. We have > > used braces also, but not all dogs tolerated them.Judith M. > > Shoemaker, DVMAlways Helpful Veterinary Services305 > > Nottingham RoadNottingham, PA 19362ph fax > > info@... > > www.judithshoemaker.com > > > > > > To: VetRehab@...: > > renee.shumway@...: Fri, 27 Jun 2008 20:04:35 > > +0000Subject: carpal brace question > > > > > > > > > > HelloWe have a 6-year-old fs poodle weighing about 50 > > pound. BCS 5/9. She had aright forelimb amputation about a > > year ago after a nasty comminutedfracture to her elbow, > > which occurred while playing with her brother.The owners > > are inquiring about a carpal brace for the left forelimb as > > apreventative measure. The thought being that extra stress > > is placedon her remaining front leg. Currently the leg is > > fine and she is veryactive. Does anyone have any > > thoughts/suggestions/experience with this? Any helpwould be > > greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > > Introducing Live Search cashback . It's search that > > pays you back! > > http://search.live.com/cashback/? & pkw=form=MIJAAF/publ=HMTGL/crea=introsrchcashb\ ack > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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