Wrist hyperextension in Dogs
Wrist hyperextension is common in dogs. But how does this problem arise? And how can a wrist brace help your dog with this?
The wrist joint is composed of several complex joints. All these joints have a number of bands that limit the movements in the wrist to the 'normal' movement. These bands have their function during walking, so that they absorb the shocks by allowing the wrist to stretch. Extending the wrist joint during landing is a movement for optimal shock absorption, which puts less strain on the front legs.
If the hyperextension has been too great, due to an acute trauma , the wrist joint will remain in that hyperextended position because the ligaments have been stretched too far.
The hyperextension can also become too great due to repeated overloading . These overloads often come from jumping over an obstacle. But also jumping off somewhere, jumping out of a car, is a heavy burden on the wrist joints of the dog.
The weight of the dog also plays an important role. The dog carries 60% of its weight on the front legs. So if the dog is slightly overweight, this will mainly manifest itself in the front legs. Keep in mind that every dog is an athlete, if you look at his movement while walking, playing ... The more weight the wrists have to bear, the more chance of (serious) injuries.
The construction of the front legs is such that with normal joints the line of load runs straight through the wrist joint. However, if the wrist is overstretched, this line falls behind the wrist joint. As a result, this joint will be pushed down even more, so that even more hyperextension will/can take place.
And this is where a wrist brace can help your dog. By keeping the wrist straighter during load, this line will go back through the wrist joint and it will therefore no longer be negatively influenced or sag further.
The dog brace that we provide always works with a stop so that the wrist joint can no longer go to overextension. But bending can still occur due to the installation of a hinge. This will make the dog's gait pattern as normal as possible.
If you have any questions about this or other Pro4Paws braces, you can always contact us at info@pro4paws.com .
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