Frequently Asked Questions:
My pup has a CCL/ACL injury; which brace should I order?
Your vet will know for sure, but for pups 50lbs and larger, we'd suggest our Canine Knee Brace. For pups smaller than 50lbs, a hock brace can sometimes prove helpful. Even though these braces aren't designed to reach up as far as the knee, we have many customers who've used them to successfully support their pups' recovery from knee injuries. To be honest, it's not totally clear why the hock brace may help, but a brace does tend to slow a pup down, which in itself can help healing. It's also possible that some support may be better than none.
For the smallest breeds and especially those with shorter legs our best hock brace option is the Lightweight Canine Hock Brace. It's the smallest brace we make and can even be trimmed down a bit with scissors for a more custom fit. For small pups with longer legs, the Super Supportive Canine Hock Brace can be a good choice.
What size Extra- or Super-Supportive style hock brace does my pup need?
If your pup's back legs aren't extra thin or bulky, you can make a good guess using their weight as a guide:
Small 5-30 lbs (note that your pup's leg must be at least 15" tall, from the bottom of the foot up to the top of the hip—if the leg is shorter than this, our Lightweight brace will be a better fit)
Medium 30-75 lbs
Large 75-100 lbs
XL 100+ lbs
If you pup's back legs are extra thin or bulky it's best to also do some measuring: using a flexible measuring tape, measure the circumference of your pup's leg at 2" above the hock bone and then at 2" below it. Compare your findings with this chart to confirm which size will work best:
Small 5.5" above and 3.25" below
Medium 6.25" above and 4" below
Large 7" above and 5.25" below
XL 7.5" above and 6.25" below
What size knee brace does my pup need?
For the knee brace sizing you'll need to take two measurements: the circumference of the injured leg just above the knee joint, and the length of the leg from that point above the knee, down to an inch above the hock joint. It's also helpful to take into account your pup's weight. Once you have those numbers, you can compare them to this chart to figure out which size will most likely fit best:
Medium: 11-12.5" circumference, 9" tall, 50-75 lbs
Medium Tall: 11-12.5" circumference, 11" tall, 50-75 lbs
Large: 12.5-14" circumference, 10" tall, 75-100 lbs
XL: 14-15.5" circumference, 11" tall, 100+ lbs
Note that left/right is determined when standing behind your pup.
How do I return my item [SHOPIFY]?
We're sorry the item you purchased didn't work out for your pup! Please click this link to begin your return: https://www.labradog.com/pages/return-policy
How do I exchange the brace or sling for a different size?
We're happy to send you the correct size; just email us at ------- with your order number and a preferred mailing address, and we'll take care of everything! *This does not apply to REFURBISHED ITEMS, which—as stated on our website—are non-returnable*
My dog can't get up; how can I put on the sling?
If your pup needs help getting to a standing position so you can put on the sling, try sliding a bath towel under them while they're lying down, so the two ends of the towel are on either side of the pup's middle. Then lift up on both ends of the towel to help your pup stand. When they're up, drop the towel and put on the sling.
Once the sling is on in the morning, you can leave it on your pup during the day as long as they're comfortable wearing it. Just tie the handles together so they won't get tangled.
My small dog has a torn CCL/ACL; which brace should I get?
Our smallest knee brace (size medium) fits pups 50lbs and larger. If your pup is smaller than that, you might try a hock brace. Even though these braces aren't designed to reach up as far as the knee, we have many customers who've used them to successfully support their pups' recovery from knee injuries. To be honest, it's not totally clear why the hock brace helps, but a brace does tend to slow a pup down, which in itself can help healing. It's also possible that some support may be better than none.
For the smallest breeds and especially those with shorter legs our best option is the Lightweight Canine Hock Brace. It's the smallest brace we make and can even be trimmed down a bit with scissors for a more custom fit. For small pups with longer legs, the Extra Supportive Canine Hock Brace can be a good choice.
How do your hock braces support healing of a CCL/ACL tear?
To tell you the truth, I'm not entirely sure! We do have many positive reviews from customers whose dogs have suffered knee injuries and have benefited from our hock braces. Although our hock braces don't support the knee joint directly, and aren't designed to be worn up around the knee area, they will provide some additional support throughout the leg. To be honest, it seems to be a case by case kind of thing with canine knee injuries and our hock braces. However, some support will almost always be better than none--and wearing a brace tends to slow a pup down, which can in itself help with healing.
How do I measure my pup for a knee brace?
For the knee brace sizing you'll need to take two measurements: the circumference of the injured leg just above the knee joint, and the length of the leg from that point above the knee, down to an inch above the hock joint. It's also helpful to take into account your pup's weight. Once you have those numbers, you can compare them to this chart to figure out which size will most likely fit best:
Medium: 11-12.5" circumference, 9" tall, 50-75 lbs
Medium Tall: 11-12.5" circumference, 11" tall, 50-75 lbs
Large: 12.5-14" circumference, 10" tall, 75-100 lbs
XL: 14-15.5" circumference, 11" tall, 100+ lbs
Note that left/right is determined when standing behind your pup.
The brace doesn't fit around my pup's thigh area; what should I do?
If the brace doesn't fit around your pup's thigh, or is surprisingly small, you may have ordered a hock brace rather than a knee brace. Is the brace shorter than 6 inches in length? If so, you have a hock brace. If what your pup needs is a knee brace, just let us know and we'll be happy to help.
How is right/left determined when purchasing a knee brace?
Right/Left leg is determined when standing behind your pup.
Do the braces work on either leg?
All of our hock brace styles as well as our front leg brace will fit either leg. Only our knee brace is leg-specific; right/left leg is determined when standing behind your pup.
Which sling style should I choose if my dog needs to be able to go up and downstairs?
Our best option for pups who need to navigate stairs is our chest strap style sling. Here's a link to it on our website, if you'd like to take a look:
https://www.labradog.com/products/canine-support-harness-with-chest-strap?variant=17493733179450
My dog hates the sound of Velcro; which sling should I choose?
Our Plush style sling is a great option for pups who don't like Velcro. It's cozy and easy to use, and often a good choice for the smallest pups or those with growths that other sling styles might irritate.
Can I leave the sling on my pup all day?
Once the sling is on in the morning, you can leave it on your pup during the day as long as they're comfortable wearing it. Just tie the handles together so they won't get tangled.
How long can I leave the brace on my pup?
To begin with, we recommend leaving the brace on for just an hour or two at a time, so that you can make sure it's not causing any irritation, and feel confident that your pup won't chew at it when you're not watching. If everything's going well, your pup can wear it for longer periods, with breaks now and then to allow the skin to "breathe".
Where exactly is my pup's knee?
The knee (or stifle) is the joint on the front of the hind leg, just in line with the abdomen. It bends forward when your pup is in a sitting position; having your pup sit makes it easy to locate.
Where exactly is my pup's hock?
Though it looks a little like an elbow, the hock corresponds to the human ankle and is the bony joint on the back of the leg, just above the foot.
How do I measure for a Lightweight hock brace?
If your pup's back legs aren't extra thin or bulky, you can make a good guess using their weight as a guide:
Small 5-30 lbs
Medium 30-75 lbs
Large 75-100 lbs
XL 100+ lbs
If you pup's back legs are extra thin or bulky it's best to also do some measuring: using a flexible measuring tape, measure the circumference of your pup's leg at 1" above the hock bone and then at 1" below it. Compare your findings with this chart to confirm which size will work best:
Small 3.5" above and 3.25" below
Medium 4.5" above and 4" below
Large 5.25" above and 5." below
XL 6" above and 5.75" below
How do I trim the Lightweight Hock Brace for my very small pup?
To trim the Lightweight brace, just cut straight along any of the three edges without the Velcro straps, depending on where you need to reduce the size of the brace.
Can my pup wear two knee braces at once?
Our knee brace design doesn't allow for use on both legs at once.
Should I buy a second brace to support my pup's non-injured leg?
For pups recovering from a knee injury, it can be helpful to provide some support for the non-injured leg; your vet will know for sure. Though our knee brace design doesn't allow for the use of 2 braces at once, some of our customers do purchase our Super Supportive Spring Hock Brace to give some extra support to the non-injured leg.
How can I tell if I received a right or left knee brace?
To make sure you have the correct knee brace, open the brace and lay it out flat, with the Labra label facing up. If the anchor strap--which goes to the opposite leg and is sewn to the top edge of the brace—is on the top right, then you have a left knee brace. If it's sewn on to the left top edge then your brace is for the right knee.
How do I put on the knee brace?
Here's how to put on the knee brace:
1) Place the center vertical crease of the brace itself along the front "edge" of your pup's leg, positioned up as high as possible, with the attached cross-hips strap on the outside of your pup's leg.
2) Wrap the two sides of the brace around towards the back of the leg and fasten the velcro straps snugly.
3) Take the cross-hips strap and put it across your pup's back; fasten the "garter" as high up as possible around the non-injured leg. Shorten or lengthen the cross-hips strap as needed to make it snug.
4) Fasten the clip on the end of the back strap to the clip on your pup's harness. Shorten or lengthen this strap as needed to make it snug. It should pull the cross-hips strap forward a bit, so it doesn't slip down towards your pup's tail.
5) All done! If your pup sits or lies down you will need to adjust these straps again when they get up.
How do I put on the Super- or Extra-Supportive style hock brace?
1) place the center vertical fold of the brace along the front of your pup's leg
2) wrap the sides of the brace around the leg to meet at the back (it's okay if there's a small gap between the two sides, or if the sides overlap a bit)
3) fasten the velcro strap just above the hock
4) fasten the velcro strap just below the hock
5) fasten the two straps at either end of the brace
6) tighten the first two straps again if necessary
How do I put on the Lightweight hock brace?
1) place the hole that's in the center of the brace on the back of your pup's leg, so that the hock bone sticks through it
2) wrap both sides of the brace around to the front of the leg
3) fasten the top Velcro strap
4) fasten the lower Velcro strap
5) adjust the top strap again if necessary.
How do I put on the Chest Strap style sling?
With your pup in a standing position, place the middle of the sling under their belly so that when you wrap the two sides of the sling up to meet along the backbone, the Labra label is visible on your pup's left side. Overlap the sling ends so that the two hook and loop (Velcro) closures fasten securely. Place the chest strap across your pup's front and fasten with the clip, then adjust the length of the strap. Grasp the two handles, and you're ready to go!
How do I put on the front leg brace?
Start by placing the center of the brace along the front of your pup's leg, so that the bottom edge sits an inch or so above the bend in the paw. Wrap the two sides of the brace around towards the back of the leg, and fasten the lower Velcro tab. Wrap the long upper Velcro strap around the leg, pulling it a little bit as you do, so that it stretches slightly, and fasten it securely. Then adjust the bottom Velcro tab again, to make sure the fit is snug but not uncomfortably so.
How tight should the hock brace be?
Determining how tightly to wrap the brace can be a bit tricky. What is too tight for some dogs, may be too loose for others. Ideally, the brace will be tight enough that it offers additional support, but not so tight that it is overly restrictive or painful for your dog to wear. When I put the braces on my dog I think of it the same way as if I were putting a knee brace on my own leg and aim for snug and supportive, but not so tight as to be uncomfortable.
What is a refurbished item?
These are very lightly used braces, offered at a deep discount. Most of these braces were returned due to sizing issues and have seen very little use. However, please keep in mind that these are not new products so there may be small amounts of dog hair or dirt on them. Please be aware that we are unable to accept returns on refurbished items.