Dog Braces for CCL Tears: What Pet Owners Should Know Before Using One

It’s a scary time when your dog is diagnosed with a CCL tear. You probably have more questions than answers at first, and you are worried about what the future holds for your furry friend.

Through some internet searching, or perhaps at the advice of a friend, you might come across the idea of using a brace to deal with this injury. The idea seems good enough – the brace claims it supports the injured knee and cuts down on the pain that is experienced with each step.

But do braces actually work for CCL injuries? This page will take a closer look. Be sure to read through the content below as a starting point, and before you use any brace or any other type of at-home treatment, connect with Austin Canine Rehab to talk through the situation with our professional team.

What Are Dog Braces for CCL Tears?

The cranial cruciate ligament, or CCL, is similar to the ACL in humans. This is a stabilizing ligament that prevents the tibia in your dog’s leg from sliding forward under the femur. A tear in this ligament is troublesome for many reasons, including the pain that it causes and the instability seen in the joint after injury. 

A quality dog brace for a CCL tear, as you might imagine, is meant to bring stability back to the joint. The brace offers external support, and ideally, keeps everything where it is supposed to be. Basically, the brace will aim to achieve from the outside what the ligament is supposed to be doing on the inside. Braces can be purchased over the counter, or they can be ordered in custom shapes and sizes to fit your dog perfectly.

Why We Rarely Recommend Braces – A Rehab Therapist’s Perspective

From our perspective, braces are very rarely the best choice as a first treatment option for a dog with a CCL injury. This comes from the experience of having worked with many dogs after owners have tried to treat a CCL injury with a brace, only to have no luck.

Braces purchased over the counter rarely have any impact, and in many cases, can make the situation worse by limiting proper joint movement. We understand the appeal of thinking that a brace will offer a “quick fix” to this situation, but that just isn’t how it works out in the real world.

The Problem with Over-the-Counter and Ill-Fitting Braces

As you might imagine, over-the-counter braces rarely fit dogs properly. Such a brace is designed to generally fit as many dogs as possible, which means they don’t really fit any dogs precisely. 

A brace that doesn’t fit well is likely to lead to pressure sores and skin wounds. Those will be painful for the dog and could potentially get infected. There is also the problem of delaying proper treatment while hoping the brace is going to help. Most likely, the brace will lead to no benefit – and perhaps even do harm – and you’ll still be where you started weeks or months later. 

When a Brace Might Be Considered – And Only After Evaluation

We don’t generally recommend braces for dogs with a CCL tear. There are some limited situations, however, where they may be appropriate. 

As a starting point, a proper assessment of the dog’s condition is needed before a brace should be considered. This includes doing a gait analysis, manual muscle testing, and incorporating data points like the dog’s size and activity level. We would also want to look at any existing skin or joint issues that might be made worse through the use of a brace.

It’s possible that a brace may be included in an overall treatment plan after this kind of analysis. The brace alone will never be the entire plan, however, and would only play a supporting role.

Why Traditional Rehab (or Surgery) Is Often the Better Path

Excellent outcomes can be achieved when targeted canine rehab is used for dogs with a torn CCL. This type of therapy makes it possible for the dog to build muscle and better support the injured joint. 

It is often the case that surgery followed by a custom rehab program leads to the best results. But even for dogs that aren’t a candidate for surgery, rehab can still be very beneficial. The right rehab therapy provided by a trained and experienced professional is an ideal way to work toward the life you want for your dog. 

Final Thoughts: Ask a Rehab Professional Before Buying a Brace

Don’t decide on your own to apply a brace to your dog with the goal of addressing a torn CCL. Is it possible that the addition of a brace will work? Sure, it’s possible, but you’ll be playing a guessing game and it’s never a good idea to take such chances with the health of your pet. 

Instead, schedule a consultation with the team here at Austin Canine Rehab. We can determine if a brace is actually appropriate in this situation, or whether rehab – or even surgery – might be a better alternative. Our team takes pride in offering support for older dogs with mobility issues, but we can help dogs of any age. We take care in customizing our treatment approach to the needs of each individual dog, so let’s connect today and get started.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can a dog brace heal a CCL tear without surgery or rehab?

  A brace alone is not going to heal a torn CCL. While it’s possible that the brace could provide some relief in certain situations – but not always – the ligamentous instability itself will not be repaired without surgery. Also, rehab can be used to strengthen the surrounding muscles and stabilize the joint.

• My dog isn’t a good surgical candidate – is a brace my only option?

  A brace should not be the only treatment used for a torn CCL. Even if a brace is recommended, it should be paired with something like a custom canine rehab program that focuses on manual therapy and strengthening exercises.

• What’s the risk of using a brace without professional guidance?

  Putting a brace on your dog without professional guidance can lead to a number of problems. Those issues include skin wounds, compensation injuries, improper joint movement, and a delayed timeline to receive proper treatment for the condition.

• Aren’t custom braces safe since they’re tailored to the dog?

  A custom brace can be better than a generic model purchased over the counter, but they aren’t perfect solutions. Your dog may still have trouble with improper support and skin sores, especially if the use of the brace is not monitored by a rehab professional.

• How can I tell if my dog is a good candidate for a brace?

  It’s important to have a rehab evaluation completed to determine if a brace is a good idea. This assessment will review factors like the dog’s current gait, their level of muscle strength, and the severity of the injury.

• What are signs that a brace isn’t working for my dog?

  Always pay close attention to your dog’s condition after starting to use a brace. Watch for irritation of the skin, increased limping, or significant changes in gait. These are indicators that the brace is not providing the right support, or even doing harm.

• What should I do before buying a brace for my dog?

  Always consult with a certified canine rehabilitation therapist before you purchase any type of brace for your dog. This will allow you to get a personalized recommendation for rehabilitation for joint injuries that is far more likely to serve your dog well.