Hey Christopher, thanks for the input. Moving forward, would you please use a link to your Hub as means of contact? Thanks
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https://www.3dhubs.com/chicago/hubs/christopher 9 . There is my hub!
7 months later
Hello Nick!
I’m new to this forum so bear with me. Trying to figure out how things work here. 
Anyways, I searched for “Dog Knee Braces” and your thread popped up.
Backstory: My dad’s dog has a CCL (i.e. ACL) tear. Operations start at $1500 and not a guarantee. He can’t afford that. I started researching alternatives and found dog knee braces, but those are too expensive as well. So I started researching on how to make own, but How-Tos online are not that great.
Do you have any ideas/plans on how to make knee braces for dogs (60 lbs) that you can share? Any help would be appreciated!
charlie_d
14 days later
Hi Charlie!
I apologize for the late response, but I did look into things slightly. I haven’t delved into the realm of animal orthopedics, but would be willing to learn as much as I possibly can in order to help you with this problem. I feel a 3d printed dog brace would be quite simple and easy to design and manufacture. Could you get me the dimensions (height, width, circumference around joints, etc) of for dogs leg. I would love to draw up a design and refer you to someone who would be able to print it directly for you.
Sincerely,
Nicholas Casey
2 months later
Hi Nicholas, me too, sorry for responding late and thank you for your interest and help.
First, wondering if you can print a 3"-4" collar strong enough that it keeps the dog from reaching/biting his knee & airy/cool weather wise. (The cones put on pets after surgery is a bit much & the 'bite free collars" would be too hot.)
Here’s why I need the collar: Since not able to afford the surgery/dog knee braces, I’ve been wrapping his knee in white medical tape daily only for walks because he bites off the tape upon return. And I’m sure he would bite off the braces once placed on his knees.
Please let know if possible. I’d hate to put the braces on him only for him to destroy them.
I await your response! Again, THANK-YOU!
11 days later
Hi Nicholas,
I was wondering if I can post an image of a dog’s side view (i.e. black silhouette) as an aid but not too sure if I can post the image since I don’t own it (i.e. shutterstock/getty images). I’d like to use it as reference for the measurements you need.
Let me know. Again, thanks for your help.
Hi Nick,
Just came across this, similar to Charlie, and was wondering if you had made an attempt on the dog brace? I have small dog (~25lbs) who has torn her ACL(CCL) and the vet would like to perform surgery for $3500. This just isn’t an option, and I was looking for alternatives. I’ve seen 3D printing use for other leg braces, even mouth braces and thought maybe there was an option for dog knee braces.
Thoughts on this? Let me know and thank you in advance,
Greg
I think this would be great! I currently am only designing human orthopedic braces at the moment, but the need for pet braces has inspired me enough to go that route now. Do you have dimensions of your dogs leg and/or photos? Let me see if I can help! I am sorry to hear about the price of your pets procedure. That must me a really tough situation to be in and hopefully I will be able to assist in some way, shape or form.
Stay strong!
Nick
Hi Charlie! Thank you for reaching out and I do apologize about the late response, sometimes 3D Hubs doesnt notify me when I have a new message. I just stared designing animal braces due to the need. What kind of dog go you have and what is he/she approximate height? Also, I am sorry to hear about the how expensive the operations are, hopefully we can work together and figure something out.
Sincerely,
Nick
Wow, thanks for the quick reply.
She is a pekingese/beagle mix weighing about 24 lbs. I just measure her and she appears to be 13" height (to top of hip), about 14" long (from Tail meets back, to top of shoulder/neck), and about 6 inches wide by the hip. I could take measurements of knee area etc…, just not sure what you need. I’ve been looking around and just to give you additional visualize of what I have seen, this site seems to be a common type design, although they use a cast for designing. http://mypetsbrace.com/home 6
How do you envision a brace looking?
Thanks for the support!
Greg
Hi Greg,
Sorry about your dog. I feel your pain and stress. Just want to pass on what I’ve learned. A small dog like yours will have a better chance of healing with braces than a larger dog. And it will take about a year to heal.
I’m not a doctor so take my advice with a grain of salt. I started giving my dad’s dog:
2 times a day with meals (am/pm, 12 hour intervals)
glucosamine sulfate caplets (1000mg) (stuffed into a piece of wiener, to get soft overnight)
glucosamine chondroitin caplets (2400mg) (stuffed into a piece of wiener, to get soft overnight)
Omega soft gel (3000mg)
Krill soft gel (1000mg)
tumeric powder (mixed w/wet food)
flaxseed
Also I mix a can of salmon, sardines, mackerel and give about a table spoon with their regular meals. Plus baked sweet potato on occasion. I started making fresh dog treats from scratch (store bought dog joint treats are very expensive), peanut butter cookies (for dogs, no sugar, salt) and I add tumeric and glucosamine pills. Both dogs love the treats.
Anyways, good luck, hope this helps and if you got any questions (i.e. brand names/prices) please feel free to ask.
Charlie
Any luck on the collar? Is there a type of material strong enough that keeps the dog from reaching his knee to bite off a knee brace?
Also, I found a place woundwear that discusses how to measure (video) as well. Wondering if the actual x-ray might help. I don’t know if it’s a digital one. But if you think that might be better let me know and I can call the vet to see if he can send me a copy.
Thanks again for your help.
Charlie
27 days later
2 months later
Hello Nick!
I have been searching for a person who could model my dad’s brace so that I could give them for additive manufacturing. A 3D printing industry requires a CAD model of my dad’s knee inorder to print it. On that note, I would like to know if you may be interested in the proposal. My dad has a polio attacked left leg where he suffers from Hyperextension. How will you be able to design a brace for him? He is using a brace from transcend where the fit is not perfect and he is uncomfortable. Do let me know your thoughts.
5 months later
So i have bilateral femoral antiversion that is progressive. I am looking to have surgry in the next great or so finally but until then i wear full leg braces. I am a firefighter as well but since my braces are not high heat resistant i can not wear them on duty. Which makes my job all that much harder and soon i won’t be able to work at all. So i need to get high heat material braces that are not super bulky that i can wear under my uniform and under my bunkers. Any ideas??