The Biko PR Bands were originally designed as an assistive device for dogs suffering from long-term, chronic problems involving weakness of the hind limbs. This weakness could be due to a nerve or spinal cord disorder, an orthopedic problem, or an overall conditioning issue. It is NOT meant to treat acute or short-duration conditions, such as cruciate ligament tears.
It is important to understand that using the Biko PR Bands, with or without additional physiotherapy and other treatment prescribed by your veterinarian, will improve your dog’s condition and help manage it, but “cure” may not be a realistic term to use, depending on your dog’s specific problem.
If your dog has one or more of the following, the Biko can help:
The Biko PR Bands are straight forward devices. The elastic resistance bands clip to the “D” ring of a standard (Roman) harness, and are attached to a padded Velcro cuff that fits just below the ankle (“hock”) joint.
The bands stretch slightly as the dog walks and assists the forward movement of the feet, also protecting and preventing the feet from knuckling under. This is very helpful for dogs with poor muscle strength, or nerve disorders that prevent proper foot placement. As the right foot moves forward, the resistance that develops in the left Biko PR Band prevents the left foot from slipping sideways or backwards, and the process is repeated on the other side as the dog walks.
The Biko PR Bands Individual Kit contains three (3) sets of Biko Progressive Resistance Bands (the bands included are customized to each individual patient/condition), one set of extenders, and one pair of cuffs.
Your dog will get used to wearing the bands quickly. After about five (5) weeks of gradually increasing the daily walking time, your dog will move up to a higher resistance level for further conditioning and muscle strengthening. If your dog suffers from degenerative myelopathy, the protocol may be slightly different – please see below.
Here is a short video of the Biko in action:
While the Biko PR Bands help virtually all dogs suffering from hind limb weakness, it is not a “cure-all,” and definitely has more effect if started early on in diseases such as degenerative myelopathy:
Degenerative myelopathy (DM) is a progressive disease of the spinal cord, in which the outer layer of the spinal cord (myelin sheath) gradually breaks down. Because this layer is important in increasing the transmission of nerve impulses, the tail and hind legs get very weak, and this weakness progresses up the spinal cord, eventually reaching the chest and front legs.
The Biko PR Bands were originally developed to help DM patients maintain a good quality of life for as long as possible. They have a huge impact on their physical and emotional well being, but they do not impact the disease itself.
These dogs use the Biko PR Bands as an ongoing assistive device. For this reason, if your dog has DM, the set of bands will be customized for the condition. You will receive one (1) pair of yellow (light resistance), and two (2) pairs of red (medium resistance).
It is Simple to UseFew things are simpler!
The Biko PR Bands connect to the “D” ring of your dog’s Roman harness, and the padded foot cuffs go around the long foot bones, just below the ankle (“hock”) joint. See how easy it is:
Because the Biko is so simple, it is ideal for home use. The Biko is equally at home in the rehab facility, on a standard or underwater treadmill, or used with other therapeutic modalities as needed (and available).
As your dog becomes stronger, your veterinarian may recommend moving up to a higher level of resistance. As with any physiotherapeutic device, close monitoring by a professional is critical to success, and we recommend frequent rechecks with your veterinarian or canine rehabilitation specialist.
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