An animal back support apparatus includes a main back support, a chest harness and an optional lumbar support component. The main back support features relatively rigid stays placed over the spine and one on each side of the spine and foam inlays to conform to the pets back between the pets back and the rigid stays. The animal back support apparatus also includes a first side panel on one side of the main back support and a second side panel on an opposite side of the main back support where the first and second side panels extend towards the abdomen of the animal and interact with each other to encircle the torso of the animal. The chest harness attaches to the main support layer.