Amy Rosenthal
My Pet's Brace Practitioner
The Patient
Bailey, an 11.5-year-old, 8-pound Yorkshire Terrier with a left CCL injury
Type of Device
Custom stifle knee brace
Case Report
Bailey is one of the smallest dogs for which we’ve fabricated a knee brace. Tiny Yorkie dogs are exceptionally challenging, as brace joints and other components cannot be made small enough for the size of their leg. In Bailey’s case, we used one urethane joint on the lateral side and a single-axis pin joint on the medial side of the brace to account for his size.
Diagnostic History: Bailey is a senior Yorkshire Terrier. His health issues include hydrocephalus, heart disease, bilateral medial luxating patella, and a left cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) tear. His veterinarian confirmed he was not a good surgical candidate.
We informed the owner that due to Bailey’s breed and size, he may not be a candidate for a brace. The stifle knee brace consists of three main parts: the thigh cuff, the tibial cuff, and a suspension sleeve. All three of these pieces are needed for proper stabilization of the tibial thrust and suspension of the brace on the leg. If there is physically no room for all three of these components, then a Yorkie isn’t a candidate for a knee brace.
Bailey’s injured leg was cast and his brace was fabricated using state-of-the-art technology at our facility in Morgantown, PA. It was determined that his thigh was tall enough for a brace if we made a change to the joints. Bailey’s brace was fabricated with a standard urethane joint on the lateral side, but we used a single-axis pin joint on the medial side of the brace.
Follow-Ups: Five months after receiving the knee brace, Bailey the Yorkie wears the brace for up to 12 hours per day. He’s a happy, energetic Yorkie who likes to be on the move. Our clinician has seen significant improvement in his weight-bearing on the braced leg and we look forward to seeing his progress in the months to come. Most senior dogs, like Bailey, wear the brace for the rest of their lives.
If you have a small breed dog or tiny Yorkie with knee problems, don’t give up until you’ve talked with the experts at My Pet’s Brace. Contact us today!