galia weiss's hipster harness rehabilitates dogs with hip dysplasia

galia weiss’s hipster harness rehabilitates dogs with hip dysplasia
all images courtesy of galia weiss

out of the various skeletal problems that can affect dogs throughout their lifetime, hip dysplasia has earned the highest ranking at an 8% chance of occurrence. the heritable condition is one of the hip joint, where an interlocked ball and socket (femoral head and accetabulum) develop abnormally as the canines grow. environmental factors include diet, gender, and amount or type of exercise, along with a soft tissue laxity that causes agitated friction in the specified area. once the disease reaches a level of concern, the next course of action is to consult a doctor who specializes in physiotherapy and hydrotherapy. hoping to provide a solution for dog owners everywhere, industrial designer galia weiss‘ research into hip dysplasia has led to the creation of a harness called ‘hipster’.

in order to prevent the joint components from disconnecting, the device pulls up and strengthens the hip muscles to keep the femur in position. an integrated, rigid frame has been designed to avoid any additional burden on the dog’s bottom, while providing a resistance for the straps located on the back leg muscles. weiss believes that the work can improve any pet’s condition after a month.

adjustable strap and velcro

dressing the dog up with ‘hipster’ is easy and intuitive through the implementation of velcro fasteners. two adjustable ratchet straps located on the back of the harness allow for the accommodation of different canine sizes. towards the front, the material loops through a chest buckle that stabilizes the instrument as any movements are performed. the fabrics used are machine washable and are available in multiple colors.

detail of the harness

leg braces 

belly velcro fastener 

chest buckle

adjustable strap

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.