Custom Dog Hock Brace for Ankle and Achilles Injuries

The hock — your dog's ankle joint — is a complex structure that bears tremendous force with every step. When injury, degeneration, or neurological conditions compromise this joint, your dog may struggle to walk, stand, or maintain a normal posture. At SoCal Pet Brace, we build custom hock braces designed and fabricated by a board-certified Certified Prosthetist-Orthotist (CPO) right here in Southern California.

Every brace starts with an in-person evaluation and hands-on casting. Unlike mail-order providers that ship DIY casting kits, we control every step of the process to ensure your dog gets a device that fits precisely and functions correctly from day one.

Understanding Your Dog's Hock Joint

The hock (tarsus) is the joint on your dog's hind leg that bends backward — it's the equivalent of the human ankle. This joint connects the lower leg bones (tibia and fibula) to the bones of the rear paw and is supported by a network of ligaments and the Achilles tendon.

Dogs are digitigrade animals, meaning they walk on their toes with their “heel” raised off the ground. The Achilles tendon is what holds the hock in this raised position. When the tendon or supporting structures are damaged, the hock drops toward the ground — a condition called plantigrade stance — and your dog essentially walks flat-footed on the back of their ankle.

Common Hock Conditions We Treat

Achilles tendon rupture or tear — Partial or complete tears cause the hock to drop, resulting in a flat-footed or crouched stance. This is one of the most common reasons dogs need a hock brace.

Tarsal hyperextension — The hock joint collapses beyond its normal range of motion, often due to ligament damage, trauma, or degeneration.

Ligament sprains and instability — Damage to the collateral ligaments causes medial or lateral instability in the joint.

Degenerative myelopathy (DM) support — Dogs with DM progressively lose hind limb function. A hock brace can help maintain a functional standing position as the condition progresses.

Post-surgical stabilization — After Achilles tendon repair or other hock surgeries, bracing protects the repair during the critical healing window.

Arthritis and degenerative joint disease — Chronic inflammation in the hock benefits from the support and controlled motion a brace provides.

Knuckling — Some dogs curl their toes under and walk on the top of their paw. A hock brace with a paw segment can correct this and restore normal foot placement.

Signs Your Dog May Need a Hock Brace

A dropped hock — the ankle sinking toward or touching the ground
Walking flat-footed on the rear legs (plantigrade stance)
Limping or lameness on one or both hind legs
Swelling around the ankle or Achilles tendon area
Knuckling — curling toes under and dragging the top of the paw
Difficulty standing or rising from a lying position
A crouched posture in the hind end

If your dog is showing any of these signs, talk to your veterinarian about whether a custom hock brace could help.

When Is a Custom Hock Brace the Right Choice?

Your veterinarian is the best guide for your dog's treatment plan. Surgical repair is often recommended for acute Achilles tendon ruptures, and we fully support that recommendation when surgery is the best path forward.

A custom hock brace can be an excellent option in several scenarios, often as part of a broader treatment plan recommended by your veterinarian:

When surgery isn't an option

Dogs with advanced age, underlying health conditions, or other factors that make surgery too risky can benefit from bracing as a primary treatment.

Partial Achilles tears

Conservative management with bracing, controlled activity, and rehabilitation may help partial tears heal without surgical intervention. Your vet can help determine whether this approach is appropriate.

Post-surgical protection

After Achilles repair, a brace stabilizes the joint during recovery and protects the surgical site from reinjury.

Chronic or degenerative conditions

For arthritis, degenerative myelopathy, or age-related hock instability, a brace provides long-term support to maintain mobility and quality of life.

Knuckling correction

A hock brace with an integrated paw segment holds the foot in proper position, preventing your dog from dragging their toes.

How Our Custom Hock Braces Work

A hock brace must manage forces in multiple directions — preventing the ankle from collapsing while still allowing your dog to walk with a functional gait. This is why precise fit matters more here than almost any other joint.

In-Person Consultation and Evaluation

Your dog's journey starts with a hands-on evaluation. Dave Kou, CPO, personally assesses the injury, joint stability, range of motion, gait pattern, and the degree of hock drop. This assessment allows us to determine the exact brace design your dog needs — including whether a paw segment, specific hinge type, or particular range-of-motion control is required.

Precision Casting

We take a physical mold of your dog's hind leg using the same clinical casting techniques used in human orthotics. Hock braces are especially sensitive to cast accuracy because even small errors in ankle positioning can affect how the brace controls the joint. By casting in person, we control limb positioning and joint alignment — eliminating the guesswork of at-home kits.

Custom Fabrication

Each brace is built to your dog's exact anatomy. The rigid shell applies a controlled three-point force system: forces are distributed to counteract the weight of the body pushing the ankle down, while ground reaction force through the paw segment (when included) provides the base of support. Depending on the condition, your dog's brace may include articulating hinges that allow controlled flexion and extension, or a fixed design that immobilizes the joint to allow healing.

Fitting and Adjustment

When the brace is ready, your dog returns for an in-person fitting. We verify the fit, assess gait with the brace on, and make any adjustments needed. Because we fit in person, we can fine-tune the brace immediately rather than requiring multiple rounds of shipping back and forth.

Follow-Up Support

As your dog adjusts to the brace, we're here to monitor progress and make modifications. Custom orthotics sometimes need minor adjustments as swelling changes or as your dog rebuilds muscle. Being local means you can come back quickly for any fine-tuning.

Why a Certified Prosthetist-Orthotist (CPO) Matters

Most pet brace providers are not certified orthotists. Dave Kou holds national board certification as a Certified Prosthetist-Orthotist (CPO) — the same credential required to build orthotic devices for humans in clinical settings. This means your dog's brace is designed with the same biomechanical principles, material science, and clinical rigor applied in human orthopedic care.

Correct hinge prescription — A CPO knows how to select and configure the right hinge system for your dog's specific condition, whether that's a free-motion hinge, a locked hinge, or a tethered range-of-motion control.

Pressure distribution expertise — Improper pressure distribution can cause skin breakdown. A CPO understands how to design the brace to distribute forces safely across the limb.

Problem-solving experience — Every dog presents differently. A CPO has the training to adapt designs to unusual anatomy, bilateral conditions, or complex cases involving multiple joints.

When you work with SoCal Pet Brace, you're getting the same level of clinical expertise that goes into human medical orthotics — applied to your dog's specific needs.

Custom vs. Off-the-Shelf Hock Braces

Off-the-shelf hock wraps and supports are widely available online and may provide mild compression and warmth. However, they are fundamentally different from a custom orthotic device:

Custom Hock Braces

Molded from a cast of your dog's leg, built with medical-grade rigid materials, and designed to apply specific corrective forces to the joint. They include features like articulating hinges, tethered range-of-motion control, and integrated paw segments that off-the-shelf products cannot replicate.

Off-the-Shelf Wraps

Provide compression but lack the rigid support needed to control a dropping hock or stabilize a torn Achilles tendon. They come in a limited range of sizes and cannot account for your dog's unique anatomy.

For mild sprains or general joint soreness, an off-the-shelf wrap may provide temporary comfort. For Achilles tears, significant instability, or conditions requiring biomechanical correction, a custom device is typically what your veterinarian will recommend.

What's Included

Every custom hock brace from SoCal Pet Brace includes the full service from start to finish:

In-person evaluation with a board-certified CPO
Clinical casting of your dog's hind leg
Custom fabrication using medical-grade materials
In-person fitting with real-time adjustments
Follow-up appointments for modifications as needed

There are no hidden fees for casting kits or shipping. Everything happens locally, in person, with your dog's comfort and outcomes as the priority. Contact us for pricing specific to your dog's case.

Frequently Asked Questions

What conditions can a dog hock brace treat?

A custom hock brace can provide support for Achilles tendon tears (partial and complete), tarsal hyperextension, collateral ligament injuries, degenerative myelopathy, hock arthritis, knuckling, and post-surgical stabilization. Your veterinarian can help determine whether bracing is appropriate for your dog's specific condition.

Does my dog need a paw segment on the hock brace?

It depends on the condition. Dogs with Achilles tendon injuries and knuckling typically benefit from a paw segment, which provides a stable base of support and prevents the toes from curling under. Dogs with isolated ligament sprains or arthritis may not need a paw segment. We assess this during the in-person evaluation.

How long does it take to get a custom hock brace?

From initial consultation to brace delivery, the typical timeline is two to three weeks. This includes casting, custom fabrication, and fitting. Expedited timelines may be available for urgent cases.

Can my dog walk and swim while wearing a hock brace?

Yes. Custom hock braces are waterproof and designed for active use. Your dog can walk, play, and participate in hydrotherapy sessions while wearing the brace. We'll provide a specific break-in schedule to help your dog adjust comfortably.

How much does a custom dog hock brace cost?

Contact us for pricing specific to your dog's case. The cost includes consultation, casting, fabrication, fitting, and follow-up adjustments — no hidden fees for casting kits or shipping.

What areas does SoCal Pet Brace serve?

We serve pet owners throughout Southern California, including Los Angeles, Long Beach, Manhattan Beach, Orange County, San Diego, and the Inland Empire. All consultations and fittings take place in person.

Schedule Your Dog's Free Consultation

If your dog has been diagnosed with an Achilles tendon injury, hock instability, or any condition affecting the ankle joint, schedule a free consultation to discuss whether a custom hock brace is right for your pet. We work closely with your veterinarian to ensure the brace supports your dog's overall treatment plan.

We serve pet owners throughout Los Angeles, Long Beach, Orange County, San Diego, and all of Southern California. Call us directly at (562) 257-8389 or learn more about our full range of orthotic services.

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