Dog Knee Brace Cost: 2026 Pricing Guide

If your dog was just diagnosed with a CCL tear or knee injury, one of the first questions on your mind is probably: how much is this going to cost me?

It's a fair question — and one that's surprisingly hard to get a straight answer to online. Dog knee brace costs range anywhere from $30 for a generic sleeve on Amazon to over $1,100 for a custom-fabricated orthotic device. That's a massive range, and the difference between the low end and the high end isn't just price — it's an entirely different product.

As a Certified Prosthetist-Orthotist (CPO) who has spent over a decade fitting orthotic devices for humans and now designs custom braces for dogs and cats here in Southern California, I want to give you an honest breakdown of what dog knee braces actually cost, what you're paying for at each price point, and how to make the best decision for your pet and your budget.

Off-the-Shelf Dog Knee Braces: $20–$535

These are the braces you'll find on Amazon, Walmart, Chewy, and some pet supply stores. They come in standard sizes (small, medium, large) and are typically made from neoprene, fabric, or flexible plastic.

What you'll pay:

Generic fabric knee sleeves: $20–$80
Semi-rigid off-the-shelf braces: $100–$300
Higher-end adjustable braces (like Ortho Dog): $150–$535

What you get: A general-purpose compression sleeve or wrap that provides mild support. These can be helpful for very minor sprains or post-exercise soreness in smaller dogs.

What you don't get: True joint stabilization. Off-the-shelf braces are not molded to your dog's anatomy. They cannot replicate the cranial drawer restraint that a custom brace provides for a CCL tear. For a partial or complete ligament tear, these devices simply cannot deliver the mechanical stability your dog's knee needs to function properly.

Bottom line: If your dog has an actual CCL injury — not just a mild sprain — a generic brace is unlikely to provide therapeutic benefit. I've seen too many pet owners spend $100–$300 on off-the-shelf products, see no improvement, and then come to us months later wishing they'd started with the right device.

Custom Dog Knee Braces: $700–$1,100+

Custom braces are medical-grade orthotic devices fabricated from a physical mold of your dog's leg. These devices stabilize a CCL-deficient knee — whether your dog is recovering from surgery or your veterinarian recommends conservative management as part of the treatment plan.

What you'll pay across the industry:

Custom dog knee braces from other providers typically range from $800 to $1,100 or more. Many charge additional fees for casting kits, vet-assisted casting, and shipping on top of the base device price.

SoCal Pet Brace (Long Beach, CA): $900+ (include face-to-face cast and fitting)

These prices generally cover the device itself, but here's where it gets important — what's included in that price varies dramatically between providers, and the differences matter more than most pet owners realize.

The Hidden Cost Most Companies Don't Talk About: Who Does the Casting and Fitting?

This is the single biggest factor that separates a brace that works from one that sits in a closet.

Most dog brace companies in the United States operate on a mail-order model. Here's how it typically works:

They ship you a casting kit (or your vet orders one)
You or your vet wraps the casting material around your dog's leg and mails it back
The company fabricates the brace from that mold
They ship the finished brace to you
You fit the brace on your dog yourself, using video instructions or phone support

There are real problems with this approach. Casting an orthotic device is a clinical skill. In human orthotics, prosthetists train for years to learn proper casting technique — how to position the limb, how much pressure to apply, how to capture the anatomy accurately. A cast that's wrapped too tight, too loose, at the wrong joint angle, or with wrinkles in the material will produce a brace that doesn't fit right. And a brace that doesn't fit right won't stabilize the joint.

Fitting is equally critical. When I fit a brace on a patient — human or animal — I'm checking alignment, assessing gait, making real-time trim adjustments, confirming that the brace is producing the mechanical correction it's designed to produce. That's not something you can do from a YouTube video and a phone call.

How SoCal Pet Brace Is Different: Full-Service, Start to Finish

At SoCal Pet Brace, I handle every step personally — and it's all included in the price:

In-person evaluation: I assess your dog's injury, range of motion, gait, and anatomy before we commit to a treatment plan.
Professional casting: I cast your dog's leg myself, using the same clinical technique I used for over a decade fitting human patients at the VA. Proper limb positioning, appropriate tension, accurate joint angle capture — these details determine whether the brace will work.
Custom fabrication: The brace is designed and built based on the cast I took, so I know exactly what the mold represents and how the device needs to function.
In-person fitting: When the brace is ready, I fit it on your dog in person. I check the alignment, watch your dog walk, and make adjustments on the spot until the fit is right.
Follow-up adjustments: If anything needs tweaking as your dog adjusts to the brace, I'm here in Long Beach — not on the other end of a shipping label.

You're not doing any of this yourself. You're not watching a tutorial on how to wrap casting material around your dog's leg. You're not guessing whether the brace is on correctly. You're working with a board-certified prosthetist-orthotist who does this for a living.

That full-service approach is why our patients get better outcomes — and it's why veterinarians across Southern California refer to us. The brace only works if it fits, and it only fits if it was cast and fitted by someone who knows what they're doing.

Understanding the Full Cost of CCL Treatment

CCL deficiency — whether partial or complete — does not heal on its own. The ligament will not regenerate. That's why treatment is essential, and your veterinarian will help you determine the best approach for your dog.

Surgery: The Gold Standard

TPLO (tibial plateau leveling osteotomy) and TTA (tibial tuberosity advancement) are considered the gold standard for CCL tears, and for good reason. These procedures directly address the underlying joint instability and give many dogs excellent long-term outcomes. Here's what you can expect to pay in Southern California:

Surgeon consultation: $200–$500
Pre-surgical bloodwork and imaging: $300–$800
Surgery: $3,000–$6,000+ (varies by surgeon and facility)
Post-op medications: $100–$300
Follow-up visits and rehab: $200–$600
Total estimated cost: $3,800–$8,200+

If your veterinarian recommends surgery, that recommendation carries real weight — especially for young, active, large-breed dogs with complete tears.

How Custom Orthotics Complement the Treatment Plan

A custom knee brace is not a replacement for surgery when surgery is the right call. But orthotics play an important role in CCL treatment in several situations:

Pre-surgical support: A brace can stabilize the joint while you're scheduling surgery or waiting for an appointment, keeping your dog comfortable and preventing further damage.
Post-surgical recovery: After TPLO or TTA, a custom brace can provide additional stability during the rehabilitation period, supporting the joint as your dog regains strength.
Conservative management: For dogs who are not good candidates for surgery — due to age, other health conditions, or anesthesia risk — a custom brace provides ongoing mechanical stabilization so they can maintain mobility and quality of life.
Bilateral CCL cases: When the second knee is showing early signs of CCL deficiency (which happens 40–60% of the time), a brace can support that knee while the surgical knee recovers.

At SoCal Pet Brace, a custom knee brace costs starts at $900, which includes the evaluation, professional casting, custom fabrication, in-person fitting, and follow-up adjustments.

We work closely with your veterinarian throughout the process, whether orthotics are part of a surgical plan or a standalone conservative approach. Schedule a free consultation and we can evaluate your dog's specific situation together.

What Factors Affect the Price of a Custom Dog Knee Brace?

Several variables influence what you'll ultimately pay:

Size and Breed

Larger dogs require more material and more complex biomechanical design. A brace for a 120-pound Rottweiler involves different engineering than one for a 15-pound Dachshund. Most providers (including us) price within a range to account for this.

Injury Type and Severity

A partial CCL tear with mild instability may require a simpler device than a complete rupture with significant joint laxity. During the evaluation, I determine what level of support the brace needs to provide, which influences the design.

Bilateral Bracing

If your dog has CCL injuries in both knees (which happens — the second knee tears about 40–60% of the time), you may need two braces. Most providers offer a discount on the second device. Ask about this upfront.

What's Included vs. What's Extra

This is where you need to read the fine print. When comparing prices between companies, make sure you're comparing the full cost:

SoCal Pet Brace (full-service, in-person):

Initial evaluation — included
Casting by a CPO — included
Fabrication — included
In-person fitting by a CPO — included
Follow-up adjustments — included, in person
Shipping — not applicable (local pickup)
Total out-of-pocket: $900+

Typical mail-order brace company:

Initial evaluation — separate vet visit required ($200–$500)
Casting — DIY kit ($49+) or your vet does it (you pay the vet)
Fabrication — included
Fitting — you fit it yourself at home
Follow-up adjustments — ship the brace back, or phone/video support
Shipping — $0–$50 each way
Total out-of-pocket: $950–$1,500+ when you add vet visits, casting, return shipping

When you factor in the vet visit for casting, the casting kit fee, potential return shipping for adjustments, and the cost of your own time — the mail-order model often ends up costing more than working with a local full-service provider.

Questions to Ask Before Buying Any Dog Knee Brace

Whether you work with us or another provider, here are the questions that matter:

About the provider:

Who designs and fabricates the brace? What are their clinical credentials?
Is the provider a certified orthotist or prosthetist?
Will the same person who takes the cast also fit the final device?

About the process:

Who performs the casting — a clinician, your vet, or you?
Is the fitting done in person or remotely?
What happens if the brace doesn't fit correctly on the first try?
How many follow-up adjustments are included?

About the cost:

Does the quoted price include evaluation, casting, fabrication, AND fitting?
Are there additional fees for shipping, casting kits, rush orders, or adjustments?
What warranty is included on the device?

The answers to these questions will tell you more about the value you're getting than the sticker price alone.

Can Pet Insurance Cover a Dog Knee Brace?

Some pet insurance plans cover orthotic devices, especially if a veterinarian prescribes the brace as part of a treatment plan for a diagnosed condition like a CCL tear. Coverage varies widely by plan, so contact your insurance provider directly and ask about coverage for "prescribed veterinary orthotic devices."

Additionally, some pet owners use CareCredit or Scratchpay to break the cost into monthly payments. We're happy to discuss payment options during your free consultation.

Why Southern California Pet Owners Choose a Local Provider

If you're in Los Angeles, Orange County, Long Beach, or anywhere in the Southern California area, working with a local orthotics provider has real advantages over mailing your dog's leg cast across the country:

No guesswork on casting. I cast your dog's leg in person, ensuring the mold is clinically accurate.
No shipping delays. Your dog isn't waiting extra weeks for a brace to arrive (and potentially ship back for adjustments).
No DIY fitting. I place the brace on your dog, watch them walk, and adjust it until it's right — while you're in the room.
Ongoing local care. If your dog needs an adjustment three months from now, you drive to Long Beach — not ship a brace to Pennsylvania.
Veterinary collaboration. I work directly with your vet throughout the process. If your vet is in Los Angeles, Orange County, or San Diego, we can coordinate seamlessly.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a custom dog knee brace cost at SoCal Pet Brace?

Our custom dog knee braces start around $900. This includes the evaluation, professional casting by a Certified Prosthetist-Orthotist, custom fabrication, in-person fitting, and follow-up adjustments. There are no hidden fees for casting kits or fitting appointments.

Is a $30 knee brace from Amazon worth trying first?

For a diagnosed CCL or ACL tear, generic braces do not provide the joint stabilization needed to support your dog's knee. They may offer mild compression, but they cannot replicate the mechanical support of a custom orthotic device. If your vet has confirmed a ligament injury, a custom brace or surgery are the two evidence-based treatment paths.

How does a custom knee brace work alongside surgery?

Surgery is the gold standard for CCL tears. A custom brace can complement surgery by stabilizing the joint before the procedure, supporting recovery afterward, or managing the opposite knee if it's showing early signs of CCL deficiency. For dogs who aren't surgical candidates, a brace provides ongoing joint stabilization as a conservative management option. TPLO surgery in Southern California typically costs $3,800–$8,200+ total, while a custom brace at SoCal Pet Brace costs $700–$950.

Does pet insurance cover dog knee braces?

Some plans cover prescribed orthotic devices. Contact your insurance provider and ask specifically about veterinary orthotic coverage.

Why is SoCal Pet Brace less expensive than some mail-order companies?

Because we're a local, full-service practice without the overhead of national shipping logistics, casting kit fulfillment, and remote fitting support infrastructure. You get more hands-on clinical care for less total cost.

How long does it take to get a custom brace?

From your first evaluation to having the finished brace fitted on your dog, the typical timeline is 2–3 weeks.

How Much Does a Dog Knee Brace Cost? A CPO's Honest 2026 Pricing Guide