9 BILLS TRACKED
TPLO / cruciate (ACL) surgery
One of the priciest routine operations in US vet care. A specialist and a general practice can be thousands apart for the same knee.
Every price we track (hover a dot)
The gap: advertised vs actually paid (medians)
People reported paying 9% more than the advertised list price for tplo / cruciate.
List prices are advertised prices; paid figures are what people reported, often for different cases and from a small sample so far. Treat the gap as a signal, not a quote.
| Year | Region | Practice | What it was | List | Paid | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Colorado | Unknown | ACL (cruciate) tear surgeryMetLife real claim example, Bernese mountain dog. Bill described as 'more than $1,900' - used as floor figure. Article published July 2024. | — | $1,900 | source |
| 2023 | Montana | Unknown | TPLO surgery for torn CCL/ACLMetLife-published real customer claim example (Dollie), based on internal MetLife claims data from Sept 2023; insurer labels it 'illustrative' but figures are drawn from an actual paid vet bill, not a hypothetical. | — | $2,900 | source |
| 2026 | South Carolina | Unknown | TPLO surgeryPublished fixed all-inclusive price (exam through follow-up) at CVETS, a 24/7 emergency & specialty hospital in Columbia, SC; extra for nonstandard implants/anesthesia screening. | $4,000 | — | source |
| 2026 | National | Unknown | TPLO surgeryMedian of $3,694-$4,330 stated as derived from real vet invoices in the site's database. | $4,026survey avg | — | source |
| 2025 | Colorado | Unknown | ACL tear surgerySpot Pet Insurance customer review/testimonial, Colorado, dog with torn ACL; customer noted single claim covered 13 years of premiums. | — | $4,800 | source |
| 2023 | Alabama | Unknown | Cruciate ligament tear surgery (TPLO/ECLS)Real MetLife customer claim, mixed-breed dog, based on internal claims data from Dec 2023; no pet name given. | — | $5,000 | source |
| 2026 | Colorado | Unknown | TPLO surgeryPublished range $4,800-$5,200 depending on patient size at Animal Emergency & Specialty Center, Parker, CO; midpoint used. Includes x-rays, anesthesia, arthroscopy, hospitalization, recheck. | $5,000 | — | source |
| 2023 | Oregon | Unknown | TPLO surgery (quote for a torn ACL)Owner's fundraiser for a Portland, OR dog referred to a specialty surgical practice for TPLO on a torn ACL; figure is midpoint of the exact quote range given. | — | $5,842 | source |
| 2024 | US unspecified | Unknown | Emergency ACL tear surgeryMetLife real claim example, 10-year-old dog named Ophie, emergency surgery. No location/date given on page. | — | $6,900 | source |
Common questions
How much does tplo / cruciate cost in the US?
Across 9 real prices US pet owners actually paid, the median is $4,800, running from $1,900 to $6,900. These are real prices people reported, not clinic estimates.
Why do tplo / cruciate prices vary so much?
US vet prices are not published or regulated, so the same procedure swings with the clinic, the city and the state. Corporate-owned hospitals often charge more than independents, and an emergency room visit costs a multiple of a day practice.
Is tplo / cruciate cheaper at an independent vet?
Often, yes. Independent and nonprofit clinics tend to run below the big corporate chains for comparable work. Since prices are rarely posted, calling two or three nearby is worth it.
Related free guides
- How Much Does TPLO Surgery Cost for a Dog? →
- TPLO vs Lateral Suture: Which Cruciate Repair Costs Less? →
- Is Pet Insurance Worth It Before a Dog's ACL Surgery? →
- How Much Do Dog and Cat Vaccinations Cost? →
- Where Can You Get Low-Cost Pet Vaccinations? →
- What Does a Puppy or Kitten's First Year of Vaccines Cost? →
Methodology: prices here are bills people reported in public posts or crowdsourced invoice databases, or submitted directly. Each row links to its source where one exists. We never estimate and no sponsor can touch a number. Spot an error? Tell us and we will fix or remove it fast.