3DPets and Creality bring customized prosthetics to pets

There is significant coverage of how 3D printing is used to produce custom-fit prosthetic devices for humans, but there is a whole other user segment for prosthetics that is less widely discussed: pets.

It is not uncommon for our four-legged friends to face mobility issues. In fact, it is estimated that up to 120 million dogs globally are living with impaired mobility caused by injury or illness. In older dogs especially, conditions like osteoarthritis, which inhibit movement and quality of life, are very common.

For many years, the solution for helping dogs who suffered from limb loss or mobility issues was either having them learn to compensate for their specific condition or using standardized aids such as wheelchairs or braces. In many cases, however, these devices present challenges like poor fit and discomfort as well as the need to make numerous modifications. On top of that, conventional pet mobility devices tend to be made from materials like metal, leather or hard plastic, which contribute to discomfort and can actually inhibit mobility due to added weight.

In recognition of these challenges, New Jersey-based 3DPets set out to develop a more pet-friendly solution, leveraging 3D scanning and 3D printing to deliver custom pet mobility devices at scale. As the company states: “Our mission is to bring the latest advancements to pets in need, helping them achieve better outcomes while reducing stress and strain for both pets and their families.”

Since its founding, 3DPets has carved out a niche for itself in the design and production of full-limb canine prosthetics and carts. Its workflow relies on the use of advanced technologies like 3D scanning, design software, and 3D printing to deliver these custom devices. This enables it to create functional aids that are not only fitted to a dog’s specific anatomy and condition, but also are tailored to protect the animal’s joints and prevent further deterioration. 

For customers, ordering a custom mobility device for their pet is straight forward. First, they fill out a candidacy application that requests pet name and type, the type of device they need, when they were amputated, etc. Once the pet is qualified as a candidate, customers can capture their pet’s unique shape either using an at-home casting kit (shipped worldwide by 3DPets) or by 3D scanning them directly at 3DPets’ facility or one of its partner sites. In the case of the cast, 3DPets 3D scans the cast once it has been delivered using a smartphone equipped with LiDAR.

The next step is to upload the 3D scan data into 3DPets’ design software, which creates a custom jacket or orthotic that the device will be attached to. When the design is ready, the CAD file is sent to one of 3DPets’ Creality K2 Pro 3D printers, where it is extruded using a flexible yet robust TPU material. The Creality K2 Pro is a CoreXY desktop machine with multi-color capability. The system also features a large build volume of 300 x 300 x 300 mm, facilitating the production of devices for larger dogs. 

“The Creality K2 Pro has become an essential part of our production process,” said the 3DPets team. “Its reliability and precision allow us to confidently produce complex, long-duration prints while improving fit accuracy and turnaround time. This directly impacts the recovery experience for the pets we serve.”

Post-printing, the customized parts are finished by hand. Specifically, they are sanded to remove any surface imperfections and then assembled using high-quality, “human-grade” components. The resulting devices can be gently refined to ensure the optimal fit for each dog. The idea ultimately is to give each dog a bespoke device that establishes greater mobility as well as confidence and a higher quality of life.

In one case, adopted dog Mustard, who was born without his front legs, was given a custom wheelchair made by 3DPets. Prior to working with 3DPets, Mustard’s owners had tried out various wheels and assistive devices, but found that the dog hadn’t ever fully acclimated to any of them. “He never seemed 100% excited or comfortable in them, and over time his body kind of shifted and changed and he wasn’t really doing his walks,” his owner said. Within weeks of a consultation, Mustard received his custom wheelchair and reportedly took to it quickly. Not only that, his owners noticed his posture and strength improving over time. 

3DPets is also continually improving its own processes and workflow, refining printing parameters and designs to ensure that it can deliver optimally fitting devices in a rapid turnaround. Notably, these improvements have led the company to achieve a first-fit success rate upwards of 90% and to reduce rework by 40%, meaning that fewer adjustments are needed after the first fit.

Ultimately, the big benefit is improving the quality of life for people’s pets. As Creality says, “3D printing enables a shift from generalized solutions to truly individualized support—transforming mobility devices into precise extensions of each pet’s body. In doing so, it redefines rehabilitation not just as a technical process, but as a pathway to restoring comfort, dignity, and everyday joy for pets and their families.”