Secondary abstract: |
Introduction: Humans and dogs have been co-living for thousands of years. In recent decades, the dog's role evolved from a guardian, hunting, and work assistant to the role of a pet. The need for veterinary care has expanded as more people than ever experience their pets as equal family members. Disorders of the musculoskeletal system most often affect the ability to move. Orthotic care can restore an active lifestyle and improve a dog's quality of life. Purpose: The aim of the thesis was to develop suitable orthoses for a Doberman dog with pronounced valgus in both knees with the associated restricted flexion motion during walking, present the process of making these orthoses and check their functionality. Methods: We used two methods to prepare the thesis. In the first part, we performed a review of the literature, followed by a practical part. Results: We produced a total of six orthoses. We tested each of them individually and adjusted the production of the following orthoses based on our observations. The final orthoses, which proved to be the most effective, were made of polypropylene and carbon. After a week of use, the dog got some abrasions, which vanished after the treatment was discontinued. During a long walk, the dog didn't perform sufficient knee flexion, which manifested as toe stubbing during walking. Discussion and conclusion: Our concern for dogs' welfare has grown as their presence in our lives has increased. The development of orthotics and prosthetics offers the possibility of orthotic care for animals, which was unimaginable in the past. Nowadays, orthoses allow us to treat conditions for which there are no other alternatives left or for which animals were once euthanized. We partially successfully treated a dog with pronounced valgus in both knees. To better assess the effectiveness of care, even more, precise measurements would be necessary. Due to problems with prolonged use, we recommend regular check-ups. Quality orthotic care execution, detailed analysis of effectiveness, and reporting on orthotic care are the key to successful orthotic treatment of dogs, even those who will yet receive orthotic care. |