How Much Does ACL Surgery for a Dog Cost? (2024)

Using pet insurance claims data from Trupanion, Embrace and Lemonade, we determined the average cost for CCL surgery ranges from $2,000 to $6,000 per knee.

Factors that Affect the Cost of CCL Surgery

Several factors affect the cost of CCL surgery. Those include:

• Where you live: Surgery costs are higher in areas with a high cost of living.
• Surgery type: Multiple surgical techniques are used to repair CCL tears, including lateral suture, tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) and tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA).
• Who performs the surgery: A general veterinarian usually charges less than a board-certified veterinary surgeon but may not offer the surgery type your dog needs.
• Dog size, age and activity level: The surgery type your surgeon uses depends on your dog’s size, age, and activity level. Lateral suture techniques are often less expensive because they don’t require plates, screws, or bone cutting. But they are more likely to fail in large dogs, who can need more expensive techniques.

Veterinary hospitals differ, but the cost for dog CCL surgery includes services provided the day of surgery and some follow-up care. From start to finish, the commonly covered services include:

• Pre- and post-surgery X-rays
• Preoperative sedation
• General anesthesia with intravenous (IV) catheter, fluids, and monitoring
• Injectable pain medications and antibiotics
• Post-op recovery
• Go-home medications
• Follow-up bandage removal/change and suture removal visits
• At-home recovery, mobility, and exercise instructions

What’s Not Included in the Cost of CCL Surgery for Dogs?

The price of surgery isn’t the only expense associated with CCL repair in dogs. Initial diagnosis and long-term post-operative care are charged separately and may add several hundred to several thousand dollars, but a pet insurance policy will typically cover these extra costs. Non-surgical expenses for CCL surgery include:

• The price of examination, X-rays, and pain medications at initial diagnosis
• Expenses associated with surgical complications, such as an incision infection
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation
• Joint health supplements, alternative therapies, and medications to manage arthritis in the affected knee(s)

Most pet insurance policies cover CCL surgery and other expenses associated with your pet’s knee injury. These are common and expensive injuries, many insurance companies impose strict rules related to their coverage.

Provided your pet’s injury was not pre-existing, your provider will reimburse you for the CCL surgery up to the percentage and maximum coverage limit outlined in your policy. That’s after you meet your deductible. Alternative therapies and rehabilitation may not fall within your main policy but are likely available as add-ons.

Pet insurance won’t pay for your pet’s CCL surgery if the injury occurs during the policy waiting period. That can be up to six months or a year after you purchase your policy. Some providers let you waive the waiting period if you have a veterinarian examine your pet’s hips and knees within 30 days of your policy’s start date.

Many policies have a “bilateral conditions” exclusion. If your pet injures one knee before your policy starts or during the waiting period, the company will not cover an injury to the other knee because it will be considered pre-existing.

Breeds that have a higher risk for CCL injuries include:

• Akita
• Chesapeake Bay retriever
• Labrador retriever
• Mastiff
• Newfoundland
• Rottweiler
• Saint Bernard
• Staffordshire terrier

Surgery is the most effective treatment for dogs with CCL injuries, but other options exist. Surgery alternatives are best suited for small breeds and older, less active dogs who do not place heavy demands on their joints. Surgery alternatives include:

• Medical management: A torn ligament won’t heal, but the knee can form scar tissue that stabilizes the joint over time. Medical management focuses on activity restriction and pain control at first, and then shifts to strategies, such as rehabilitation and joint supplements, to manage chronic lameness and pain.
• Bracing: Custom knee braces help stabilize the joint during medical therapy. You can use them on your pet during therapy or while you wait for a surgical appointment.

Each dog is different — your veterinarian or veterinary surgeon can recommend treatments for your pet. Ask about non-surgical treatments that could result in a good outcome. Vets and surgeons can brief you on surgery pros and cons, expected success rates, and potential complications.

CCL disease leading to ligament rupture is common in dogs and can occur in dogs of any age, breed or size. Costs to repair CCL injury and long-term joint health management can add up quickly and cost more than $6,000.

Purchasing a pet insurance policy before your pet is injured can help ensure you’re financially prepared, but you should read the fine print before choosing a plan. For the most comprehensive care, look for policies that offer short orthopedic waiting periods, options to waive the waiting period, and alternative physical and rehabilitation therapies.