Support both knees before you book surgery.

For many dogs, yes. Not all. Vets widely recognize conservative management as a legitimate path, especially for smaller, older or less active dogs and partial tears: rest, weight control, controlled activity and supportive bracing while the joint settles. Large active dogs and complete ruptures often do best with surgery. Decide alongside your vet. Not sure it's even a tear? Here's how to tell an ACL tear from a sprain.

One brace, both legs, so you never buy two. It's a single connected harness wrapping both hind knees. About 1 in 3 dogs later hurts the other knee, so both are supported from day one.

Free shipping to the U.S. and Canada, and orders arrive in 8–12 business days. On the free Canadian option we cover the duties and customs fees ourselves, so nothing is collected on delivery. Canada also has a paid faster option at checkout, and on that one the carrier collects duties and fees. You'll get tracking by email as soon as your order ships. About 29 braces go out each day, so orders move in the queue they're received in, and ordering today puts you in the next batch.

That's what the 60-Day Perfect Fit Guarantee is for. Email support@wagwize.com a photo of the brace on your dog plus your measurements. We identify the right size, you ship the original back, we send the replacement, with no restocking fee. Not right for your dog at all? Store credit toward one that is. Exchange or credit, not cash refund.

Soft neoprene instead of a rigid shell is the main reason owners tell us their dog keeps it on. Start with 15 to 20 minute sessions indoors, then add a short walk, then build from there. Some dogs ignore it from the first day and some need a week of short sessions, so go at your dog’s pace rather than a schedule. Take it off for long naps so you can check the skin underneath.

That is the failure mode of every sleeve-style brace, and it is worth understanding why. A sleeve stays up by gripping a cone-shaped thigh. The moment your dog sits or lies down the thigh changes shape, the grip goes, and the sleeve walks down toward the hock. This brace is built the other way round: both wraps clip to a full-body harness and a rear strap sets their height, so the thigh is not what holds them up. Set that rear strap properly. Step 5 above walks through it, and it is the step that decides how the brace behaves all day.

A $24 brace is one stretchy sleeve that stays up by gripping the thigh. That is why the reviews under those listings say it slid down the first time the dog sat. This is a hinged brace on each back leg, the full-body harness they hang from, and a person who checks your measurements before you order. The market runs the other way too: a vet-cast custom orthotic is $800 and up per leg, and our own made-to-measure brace is $350. At $149.98 you cover both back legs, once.

Fair concern, and the one we hear most from vets. The hinge bends with the knee, so the leg keeps flexing and keeps taking weight instead of being held straight. And it is built for walks, stairs and active time, not around the clock, which is why we say take it off for long naps and overnight. If your vet has a view on wear time for your dog, follow theirs over ours.

Tell us what they said and we will answer straight, including when the answer is don't buy this. Some vets are against bracing for two reasons that are both true: a brace cannot hold a knee the way a cast holds a bone, and a poor fit can rub. This adds support to both back legs while your dog moves, as part of a plan your vet runs. It is not a repair, and where surgery is indicated it is not a substitute. Large, young, active dog with a complete rupture? Most surgeons will say repair, and they are usually right.

The groin and belly stay clear, so dogs relieve themselves normally. Take it off for sleeping. The knee benefits from unrestricted circulation overnight, and it's a daily chance to check the skin. Most owners use it for waking hours, walks and stairs.

We won't put a number on that, because it depends on injury severity, age, weight and how consistently the brace is worn alongside rest and your vet's plan. What owners tell us they watch for is weight going back through the leg and fewer sits on a walk. Think of it as support for the process your vet has set, not a switch.

Yes. The same hinged, compressive support helps a mild-to-moderate luxating patella (Grade 1–2) and adds warmth and support to stiff, aging knees. For the very small breeds most prone to luxating patella our standard sizes may run large, so ask about a custom brace.

Age isn't a disqualifier. Senior dogs are a large part of who we build for, since anesthesia is the hardest conversation for them. What matters is the severity of the instability and overall health. Talk it through with your vet.

Some plans reimburse mobility aids when part of a documented treatment plan; others don't. Email support@wagwize.com after ordering and we'll send an itemized receipt. Check your policy for "durable medical equipment" or "mobility aids."

Slide the hinge out of each outer pocket, then hand wash the neoprene with mild soap and lukewarm water. Air dry only. Heat degrades neoprene and velcro. Clean every 1–2 weeks during active use, and check the skin underneath for rubbing.