How Much Does Dog ACL/CCL Surgery Cost?

If your dog develops a sudden limp or lameness, these could be signs of an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear. If your dog has a torn ACL, surgery can cost anywhere from $1,000 – $7,500, while the total cost of treatment could reach upwards of $8,000.¹

Let’s discuss cost factors, injury details, treatment options, recovery, and how a dog insurance policy could help you manage the vet bills.

How Much Does an ACL Surgery for Dogs Cost?

Dog ACL surgery for one knee could cost $1,000 – $7,500 on average, with costs increasing if both knees require surgery.¹

The cost of treating an ACL injury depends on several factors, like the type of surgery required, where you live, and the practice your dog receives care at. You may find yourself being referred to a veterinary specialist, so be sure to get an estimate to assess the cost.²

Some of the items that may be included in your dog’s ACL treatment plan could include:^1,2,3

• Diagnostics (exam, X-rays, sedation, and pre-surgery blood work): additional $300 – $900
• Post-operative care like antibiotics, pain meds, and follow-up exams: additional $300
• Surgery and surgery-related costs like anesthesia and IV fluids
• Plates and screws
• Sutures and surgical supplies
• Physical therapy or other forms of recovery: additional $1,000 or more

This isn’t an exhaustive list, and your dog may need additional support during their surgery and recovery — which could further increase cost.

Dog ACL surgery cost with insurance

MetLife Pet Insurance offers coverage for surgery expenses — including dog ACL surgery. Along with the diagnostics, other treatment, and recovery, you could get reimbursed up to 90% of covered costs.⁴ This could significantly reduce the out-of-pocket price of a high-cost surgery.

Stella, a Bernese mountain dog, tore her ACL while exploring the great outdoors of Colorado. Thanks to their dog insurance from MetLife Pet, Stella’s parents were reimbursed nearly $1,800 for the exam and treatment that cost over $1,900.⁵

What Is an ACL?

An ACL is a ligament that connects the knee joint to the femur and tibia — the bones above and below the knee joint. In dogs, this is more accurately described as the cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL or CCL).³ Your vet will likely use this term, but we’ll continue using the term ACL to keep things simple.

How do dog ACL injuries happen and what are the symptoms?

Dogs can damage their ACL over time due to wear and tear or trauma; a tear to the ACL can be very painful and cause a lack of mobility. Some contributing factors that can lead to an ACL injury include obesity, aging, and genetics. Common signs of an ACL tear are lameness, limping, difficulty with sitting and jumping, muscle atrophy and stiffness, pain, and lethargy.³

Dog ACL Operations

Once you get a diagnosis from your vet, surgical treatment options are presented to you based on factors like your dog’s activity level, age, and current condition, as well as the severity of the injury. Surgical options commonly include:^1,2,3

• Extra-Capsular Suture Stabilization (ELSS): ($1,000 – $3,500) The surgical team will put heavy sutures in place of the torn ligament while the body forms scar tissue around it to stabilize the knee. This option tends to work best on inactive, smaller, or older dogs.
• Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO): ($2,500 – $7,500) The shin bone will be cut and rotated to a predetermined angle and then secured with a plate and screws. TPLO surgery offers superior stabilization for dogs that are active, large, or in generally good health.
• Tibial Tuberosity Advancement (TTA): ($2,500 – $7,000) TTA surgery involves a cut to the shin bone to position it forward and provide knee stability. Plates, screws, and a wedge are used to keep everything in place.

Can a dog’s ACL heal on its own?

ACL surgery may not be necessary based on the severity of the tear and your dog’s size. However, surgery is the only way to more permanently re-stabilize the knee, reduce the chances of reinjury, and more effectively manage long-term pain associated with the injury.³

A non-surgical route could require physical therapy in combination with joint supplements and/or anti-inflammatory and pain medications. Your dog’s activity will need to be restricted and monitored while scar tissue forms around the injury, but there’s a higher likelihood of reinjury and the development of severe arthritis than if surgical treatment is used.^2,3

Recovering From Dog ACL Surgery

If you take the surgical route, expect to limit your dog’s activity for 6 – 8 weeks after surgery to reduce the likelihood of healing complications. Lifestyle and diet adjustments can help ensure the health of their joints and mobility post-surgery. Physical therapy may be suggested to speed up recovery and strengthen the muscles around the knee, and your pup will usually need follow-up exams to check healing progress.^2,3

Consider investing in a rear-leg harness, extra towels, and dog pads — your best friend will likely need help relieving themselves for a while.

One important thing to note is that ACL injuries are often considered bilateral conditions, with 40% – 60% of dogs that had an ACL injury in one knee experiencing a similar injury in the other.³ This could be a motivating factor to get pet insurance before your dog is diagnosed with one ACL injury since potential future vet bills related to the other knee would typically be excluded from coverage.

MetLife Pet Insurance Can Help You With Dog ACL Surgery Costs

A torn ACL can be expensive and make life difficult for your pup if left untreated. While they’re among the most common types of dog injuries, surgical treatment often leads to a good outcome for 85% – 90% of dogs.³

MetLife Pet’s dog insurance can help you with ACL-related costs like diagnostics, medications, surgery, recovery, and prescribed supplements. Leaving you to focus more on helping your dog recover than the bill. Get started by fetching a free quote and customizing your policy.