When a dog injures its knee, the healing process can be slow and painful without adequate support. A knee brace can significantly aid recovery by stabilizing the joint and minimizing strain on the leg. However, for the brace to be effective, it must fit your dog properly. The initial and most crucial step is taking precise measurements to find the correct brace.
Modern veterinary care has made huge progress, and dogs today have many options for supportive gear like braces and animal prosthetic solutions. For a knee brace, you’ll need to measure the length and the circumference of your dog’s leg in specific spots. That means checking the distance from hip to knee, knee to hock, and measuring around the thigh and knee. Writing these measurements down clearly ensures you have the correct size when ordering or fitting the brace.
At first, taking these measurements can feel confusing, but if you stay calm, follow the steps carefully, and double-check your work, you’ll set your dog up for a much smoother recovery.
The Basics of A Dog’s Back Leg
Before you start measuring, it’s helpful to know the structure of your dog’s hind leg. It comes down to three main areas:
- Thigh: the upper portion of the leg that connects to the body.
- Stifle: the knee joint, which bends in the middle of the leg.
- Lower leg: the section below the knee that leads down to the hock (similar to an ankle in humans).
Many common knee problems in dogs occur at the stifle joint, such as a torn cranial cruciate ligament (CCL, similar to an ACL in humans) or a luxating patella (a kneecap that moves out of place). So, knee braces are often suggested to keep the knee stable, ease the pain, and prevent further damage from getting worse.
If the brace doesn’t fit right, it could slip, irritate the skin, or fail to provide proper support. That is why it is so important to measure carefully.
Preparing to Take Measurements
Put your dog on all fours on a flat area to achieve the best results. Keeping your dog standing calmly will allow the leg to extend naturally. Ask a friend or family member to help keep your dog calm if it is acting up or is scared.
Always use a measuring tape that is soft and flexible. Unlike a ruler or metal tape, it bends nicely around the leg and delivers the most accurate measurements.
Measuring the Length of the Leg
You’ll need to take two main length measurements:
Step 1: Hip to Knee
Find the hip joint, where your dog’s back leg joins the body. Then, measure down straight to the joint, which is the knee. If unsure, view the leg from the side and identify the first major bend. Write down the measurement in inches or cm.
Step 2: Knee to Hock
Next, find the length from the kneecap to the hock. The hock sits just above the paw and resembles a prominent joint that angles backward. This size ensures the brace is long enough to cover and support the whole knee without getting in the way of normal movement.
Measuring the Circumference
Length measurements aren’t enough; measuring the leg’s circumference helps the brace stay in place and not slip:
Step 1: Thigh Circumference
Measure your dog’s upper leg around the widest part, close to the hip. The tape should be flat against the fur and fit just right, but not too tightly. One finger should be able to get under the tape.
Step 2: Knee Circumference
To find the knee joint, gently bend your dog’s leg. Find the bump on the bone, which is the kneecap. Keep the tape level as you wrap it around this area. Once more, make sure it fits well without being too tight.
Record both measurements clearly, which leg you measured (left or right). Always measure twice to make sure you’re right.
Conclusion
It might seem hard to figure out how to measure your dog’s leg correctly. Get a soft tape measure and measure your dog from hip to knee and knee to hock. Place your dog on a flat surface. Then, measure the circumference of your dog’s thigh and knee. Double-check each measurement, write down which leg you measured, and keep your notes in order.
As veterinary care and animal prosthetics continue to improve, knee braces and other helpful tools are becoming easier to find and more useful. But even the most high-tech brace will only help if it fits properly. Being careful and accurate with your measurements gives your dog the best chance of recovering quickly and safely and returning to happy, busy days.