Working with animals has been a breath of fresh air! We began our journey with animals in 2005 working solely with Alameda East Veterinary Hospital. We have redesigned and advanced many bracing techniques in the animal world since that time. The pictures of the innovative dog braces on this page are a result of our research. In August of 2008, we had the honor of being asked to speak at a breakfast session at the 5th International Symposium on Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy in Veterinary Medicine in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Since that engagement, we have started working with leading animal rehab professionals around the world to advance animal rehabilitation’s orthotic/prosthetic niche.

We work with Veterinarians and Physical Therapists worldwide. If you believe your pet can benefit from a brace or artificial limb, please have your Vet or PT contact us at our sister company www.aceorthosolutions.com. (For your pet's best interest, we insist your vet or PT are involved in the fitting of the device.)

Stifle Braces

Sky Prosthetics Inc has developed a new stifle brace for dogs.  A stifle brace is the equivalent to a knee brace in humans.  The brace’s design borrows biomechanical principles from humans and relates them to a dog's anatomy. This stifle brace has had great results of the dogs returning to weight bearing, climbing stairs paw over paw, and, best of all, playing.  Check out the picture of Timon standing on the affected side and her video's climbing and descending stairs.

What makes our brace better than the rest?
1) We use biomechanically correct principles to support the CCL.
2)  Our suspension mechanism does not require a harness.
3)  It is custom made for the best correction and fit.
4)  All this, and still allows motion at the stifle for good ambulation.
Testing is currently being done in Colorado State University’s biomechanical gait laboratory to verify our results of better weight bearing by the dogs.  Dylan is our most famous patient that has been fit with the stifle brace.
Check out a news story about Dylan on My Fox Colorado. 
Also see the pictures and video below of Timon using the stifle brace. (Click to enlarge)

Osteointegration

Sky Prosthetics Inc. began working with Alameda East Veterinarian Hospital (www.aevh.com ) of Animal Planet's "Emergency Vets" fame in 2005.  This relationship has allowed us to be a part of Alameda's technological advancement of the new surgical process of osteointegration.  Osteointegration involves surgically implanting a connection for a prosthesis in the end of the bone of the residual limb.  Because there is high risk of infection and it is considered expirimental,  osteointegration is only performed on humans outside the United States, Alameda is doing it in animals in Aurora, Colorado.  Triumph is one of Alameda’s osteointegration patients Sky has worked with for prosthetic care.
Check out a news story about Triumph on CBS 4 Denver.
Unfortunately, Dare had a bout with infection.  The implants had to be removed.  His owner reports he is still as sassy as they come!  These are pictures of Dare before his surgery. (Click to enlarge)

Orthoses

We have developed other braces for the hock and carpus.  The hock brace is used for a variety of pathologies including Achilles tears, neuromuscular deficiencies, and calcaneal ruptures just to name a few.  The carpus brace can be used for carpal hyperextension and to support other deformities. These braces are different from other braces because they use biomechanical principles that put the plastic it the places where the proper corrective push should be instead of relying on a strap (that can give away) for the support. 
Check out a few pics of our designs. (Click to enlarge)  Lain is modeling the carpal brace and Doc is using his new hock brace.

Prostheses

While fitting braces to dogs may be complicated, fitting a dog with a prosthesis can be even tougher.  Ruby, our Chihuahua friend, had a circulation problem and had to have her paw amputated.  We fit her with a gel liner, similar to what some humans use, to stop skin breakdown.  The fitting process involved clear check socket fittings so we could make sure that her limb would not get sores.  You can see her wearing her final prosthesis here.  (Click to enlarge)