How much does dog ACL/CCL (cruciate) surgery cost?

Typical price range, what drives it, and what you'd pay with insurance.

Dog ACL/CCL (cruciate) surgery — typical cost

$3,500 – $5,000

National range for dog. Your price varies by clinic, region, and severity.

With 80% insurance (after a $250 deductible) you'd pay about

$900 – $1,200

If it's a covered, non-pre-existing condition. The insurer reimburses the rest.

What is it?

Repair of a torn cranial cruciate ligament in the knee — most often a TPLO. One of the most common costly orthopedic surgeries in dogs.

What affects the cost

Surgical technique (TPLO/TTA vs. lateral suture)
Your dog's size and weight
Board-certified surgeon vs. general practice
Pre- and post-op imaging and rehab
Whether the second knee later tears too

What you'd pay with pet insurance

Accident-and-illness pet insurance typically reimburses 70–90% of a covered bill after your deductible. For a $4,250 dog ACL/CCL (cruciate) surgery, an 80% plan with a $250 deductible would pay you back roughly $3,200 — as long as the condition isn't pre-existing. That's why enrolling before a problem appears matters so much.

Try next: Reimbursement calculator · Is pet insurance worth it? · Estimate another procedure

Cost ranges are national estimates compiled from veterinary teaching-hospital and pet-care financing references; individual prices vary widely. Not a quote or veterinary advice.

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Frequently asked questions

Dog ACL/CCL (cruciate) surgery typically runs $3,500–$5,000, depending on surgical technique (tplo/tta vs. lateral suture), your region, and the severity. Repair of a torn cranial cruciate ligament in the knee — most often a TPLO. One of the most common costly orthopedic surgeries in dogs.

Accident-and-illness insurance generally covers it when the condition is new (not pre-existing), reimbursing 70–90% after your deductible — roughly $900–$1,200 out of pocket on an 80% plan.

Get an itemized estimate, ask about general-practice vs. specialist pricing, consider care-financing options, and — before any problem starts — insure your pet so a future bill like this is largely reimbursed.