Earlier this year, we received a heart warming email from a customer singing the praises of the Cruciate Care Knee Brace and the amazing results her pup, Pandora, experienced from wearing her Ortho Dog brace.
Pandora’s New “Fur-ever” Home
Pandora came to live in her fur-ever home in the summer of 2015. Her adopted family had their sights set on a puppy, but as soon as her dad saw her at the local shelter, he “had to have her!” The rescue worker told them that she had been surrendered with her puppies and was one tough girl. That day her new family drove away with Pandora and one of her puppies, Hank!
An Active Pup with a Torn ACL/CCL
It soon was clear that Pandora was an amazing dog: intelligent, gentle, and loving. Pandora and Hank, would spend endless hours in the yard, babysitting the chickens, enjoying the fresh air, playing and running. She loved to race around the one acre back yard every morning with Hank. On one of these daily runs, Pandora tore her ACL/CCL.
Pandora came into the house limping badly and her mom feared the worse. After confirming the diagnosis with their vet, they were told surgery was the best option. The vet informed them that they would have to keep her immobile for weeks and that the injury might recur. After doing her own research, combing the internet for alternatives, comparing braces and gauging surgery success percentages, Pandora’s mom stumbled upon Ortho Dog. She “enjoyed reading the success stories and watching videos of other dogs that had opted to try the Ortho brace as opposed to a painful, expensive and at times unsuccessful surgery.”
“Surgery, with no guarantee, and a price tag of close to $2,000 didn’t sound to us like the best option.”
– angie
Recovery and the Ortho Dog Experience
Pandora wore her “Suit” (knee brace) for the entire summer of 2018 and by October she could function without it. Success!
Pandora spent the next several years without an issue. About a year ago, however, her owners noticed she again was limping. They did not hesitate to get her “suit” back out and after a few weeks of wear, Pandora was walking normally and no longer needed the brace.
Pandora had her annual veterinary exam at the end of January 2024 and her vet could not get over how great she looked for a dog roughly thirteen years young.
“The Ortho team was very supportive and super helpful.”
– angie
Pandora’s Best Life!
Pandora has a new playmate, Dolly, who is a certified Therapy Dog. In addition to helping their human family heal through some difficult times, the pair have helped many others as well. Dolly spent many of her early months helping the students of Oxford High School following a tragedy and later, students of Michigan State University. These days Pandora and Dolly get plenty of their much loved teenager time as they are both honorary captains of the High School tennis team.
Pandora still loves her trips to the local park and although Dolly (her new puppy companion) is much faster…
“Pandora still jogs the entire mile and a half route with a smile on her face!”
-Angie
Her favorite pastimes are splashing in the lake (making her own splashes with her paw), riding in off-road vehicles, babysitting her chickens, and spending time with her family.
A beautiful story from a beautiful family! Thank you to Angie for sharing Pandora’s story!
Ortho Dog’s Cruciate Care Knee Brace was designed for dogs who suffer from a torn ACL (anterior or cranial cruciate ligament), strains or sprains of the canine knee, back leg limping or fatigue, arthritis, post-operative support and stabilization, or when knee immobilization is needed.