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How much does TPLO (cruciate ligament) surgery cost?
TPLO — the structural knee surgery most often recommended for larger, active dogs — is published at $3,500–$5,000 by Pawlicy Advisor, with cruciate surgery overall spanning $1,500–$6,000 by technique. CareCredit/Synchrony's 2025 study corroborates the scale from claims data: CCL (TPLO) surgery averages $3,525, range $2,793–$6,417. Those are surgery figures; the published add-on stack below is where the total is decided.
| Cruciate surgery by technique (Pawlicy Advisor) | Figure |
|---|---|
| TPLO (tibial plateau leveling osteotomy) | $3,500–$5,000 |
| TTA (tibial tuberosity advancement) | $3,000–$4,500 |
| Lateral suture / extracapsular repair | $1,000–$2,500 |
| Conservative (non-surgical) management | $500–$1,500 |
| CCL surgery average — CareCredit 2025 study | $3,525 (range $2,793–$6,417) |
The add-on stack (published separately by Pawlicy)
| On top of the surgery figure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Diagnostics (imaging, workup) | $200–$500 |
| Anesthesia | $200–$500 |
| Hospitalization | $300–$1,000 |
| Post-op medications | $50–$200 |
| Follow-up visits | $100–$300 |
| Physical therapy / hydrotherapy | $50–$100 / $40–$80 per session |
What drives the price
Location is published with unusual precision: Pawlicy puts TPLO at $2,500–$3,500 in the rural Midwest against $4,000–$6,000 in major cities — 25% to 50% higher in big cities. Dog size matters because larger dogs need stronger implants and longer surgery. Board-certified surgeons charge more than a general practice. And the bilateral risk is a budgeting fact, not a sales line: Pawlicy notes 40–60% of dogs that tear one cruciate tear the other within two years — a second, separate procedure.
Which technique suits a given dog is a veterinary decision that turns on size, activity, and the tear — this page prices the techniques; it does not recommend one. Recovery runs 6–10 weeks for TPLO/TTA and 8–12 weeks for lateral suture on Pawlicy's figures, with strict activity restriction throughout.
Cruciate diagnosis starts with imaging — the imaging guide has the published X-ray ranges.
Read the imaging cost guideSources: Pawlicy Advisor — How Much Does Cranial Cruciate Ligament Surgery for Dogs Cost? · CareCredit / Synchrony — CCL surgery cost summary (2025 study), via the Dog MRI Cost guide. Researched October 2026 — prices change; confirm with your clinic.