How Much Does Dog ACL/TPLO Surgery Cost in 2026?
If your veterinarian just quoted you $3,500, $5,000, or even $6,000+ to stabilize your dog’s knee, you might be wondering how a torn ligament could cost that much, and whether the number in front of you is typical.
Pet parents often hear this surgery described as ACL surgery, CCL surgery, or TPLO. Those labels are related, but they are not interchangeable on an invoice. In people, the ligament is usually called the ACL. In dogs, veterinarians more often call it the cranial cruciate ligament, or CCL. TPLO (tibial plateau leveling osteotomy) is one of the operations used to stabilize a knee after that ligament is damaged.
The short answer is that a TPLO quote is rarely “just surgery.” Anesthesia, implants, X-rays, bloodwork, hospitalization, pain control, and follow-up visits can be bundled into a flat package at one hospital and itemized at another. Two estimates that sound like the same procedure can include very different things.
This national 2026 planning guide explains published U.S. averages, shows real clinic price examples, and outlines the questions that help you compare a big orthopedic estimate by what is included, not only by the number at the bottom.
How Much Does Dog TPLO Surgery Cost in 2026?
There is no single national price for TPLO surgery. A useful starting point is the national average published by CareCredit, plus examples of clinics that post their current package prices.
What the figure describes | Published figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
CCL TPLO surgery, national average, per knee (dogs) | $3,525 | |
Unilateral (one-knee) TPLO package, Mission, Kansas / Kansas City metro | $3,500, plus a $200 initial surgery consultation | Mission Veterinary Emergency & Specialty, read November 6, 2026 |
Bilateral TPLO (both knees during the same surgery), same hospital | $6,000 | |
One-knee TPLO package by weight | $3,100 (under 90 lb) to $3,500 (over 150 lb) | Twin Peaks Veterinary Clinic, read November 6, 2026 |
Both-knees package, same clinic | $5,100 to $5,900, depending on weight | |
Single-leg TPLO with a staff surgeon, Petaluma, California | $6,000, plus a $250 initial consultation; post-operative rechecks billed separately | TruVet Specialty & Emergency Hospital, read November 6, 2026 |
Double-leg TPLO performed sequentially, same hospital | $9,000 |
These are planning figures and dated clinic examples, not guaranteed prices. CareCredit reports an average of $3,525 per knee and notes that actual cost varies by geography, provider, and other variables, and that in-office visit fees may be charged in addition to procedure costs.
The clinic examples above show why a single average is not the whole story. One specialty hospital in the Kansas City area publishes a flat $3,500 one-knee package. A California specialty hospital publishes $6,000 for a single-leg TPLO, with rechecks extra. A general-practice clinic that posts weight-based packages lists one-knee prices from $3,100 to $3,500. Those numbers can all be “real” at the same time.
[NEEDS FAREVET DATA: FareVet observed TPLO / CCL surgery ranges and how often quotes cluster near the CareCredit average vs. higher specialty packages.]
Pre-surgery diagnostics may also sit outside the surgical number. CareCredit lists a national average of $172 for canine X-rays (two to three views). FareVet’s vet X-ray cost guide can help you think about imaging as its own line item when it is not bundled.
Want to Know What TPLO or ACL Surgery Costs Near You?
National averages help you plan, but what matters most is what surgical teams near you charge and what their estimates include. Use FareVet to research and compare available veterinary cost information in your area before you book.
Why Quotes for the “Same” Knee Surgery Differ
A TPLO estimate is a bundle of decisions: who performs the surgery, where it is done, what imaging and lab work are included, whether your dog stays overnight, which implants are used, and which rechecks are part of the package.
Mission Veterinary Emergency & Specialty, for example, says its $3,500 unilateral price includes the procedure performed by a team led by a board-certified veterinary surgeon, routine pre- and post-operative bloodwork, anesthesia overseen by a board-certified veterinary anesthesiologist, pre- and post-operative radiographs, implants, hospitalization, 24/7 ICU monitoring, and multimodal pain management. It also states that pricing does not change with the dog’s size.
Twin Peaks Veterinary Clinic says its flat-rate packages include bloodwork, a pain-management injection, and medications to go home, and that other services before, after, or in addition to the surgery are billed at regular clinic prices. It also describes planned rechecks at about 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 10 to 12 weeks, with X-rays at the final appointment, and estimates that full recovery takes approximately three months.
TruVet Specialty & Emergency Hospital in Petaluma, California, publishes $6,000 for a single-leg TPLO performed by its staff surgeon and says the initial consultation is $250 and post-operative rechecks are billed separately.
None of those approaches is automatically “the right price.” They are different ways of packaging a major orthopedic procedure. The useful comparison is: what is included, who is performing the surgery, and what could still be billed later?
What Usually Happens Before the Surgery Quote Becomes Final
Many families do not start with a TPLO invoice. They start with a limp.
Diagnosis often includes an exam and X-rays, and sometimes additional imaging or a surgical consult. FareVet’s guide Why Is My Dog Limping? What It Costs to Find Out is a helpful companion at that earlier stage, when you are still trying to understand the workup.
By the time a surgeon recommends TPLO, you may already have paid for a consult, radiographs, and bloodwork, or those items may be credited toward a package if you proceed. Mission lists a $200 initial surgery consultation. TruVet lists $250. Ask whether that consult fee is separate, credited, or included if you book surgery.
If both knees are affected, ask whether the estimate is for one knee or two, and whether both would be addressed in one anesthetic event or in staged surgeries. The published examples above show how large that difference can be: $6,000 for both knees in one surgery at Mission, versus $9,000 for sequential double-leg TPLO at TruVet.
Why the Final Bill Can Be Higher Than the Surgery Headline
Even a “flat-rate” TPLO quote can leave items outside the package. Depending on the hospital, extras may include:
The initial consultation
Additional diagnostics beyond routine pre-operative bloodwork and X-rays
Nonstandard implants
Extra hospitalization or ICU time
Post-operative recheck exams and follow-up radiographs
Rehabilitation or physical therapy
Medications prescribed before or after the included take-home set
Twin Peaks is explicit that medications and services beyond the listed package are billed separately. TruVet is explicit that rechecks are billed separately. Those notes are not red flags by themselves. They are a reminder to read the estimate as a list of included services, not as a promise that nothing else will appear.
Imagine you hear “TPLO is about $3,500.” That is close to CareCredit’s national average of $3,525 per knee. Then the written estimate is $4,800 because the consult, extra radiographs, or staged follow-up imaging were not in the headline number. You are not necessarily paying $4,800 for a different surgery. You may be paying for the surgery plus the surrounding care required to plan it and recover from it.
That distinction matters before you decide a higher quote is automatically unreasonable, or a lower quote is automatically a better value.
Questions to Ask Before You Approve a TPLO Estimate
Is this quote for one knee or both?
Who will perform the surgery, and what is their training or specialty certification?
What is included: bloodwork, X-rays, implants, anesthesia and monitoring, hospitalization, pain control, take-home medications?
Are follow-up visits and follow-up X-rays included?
What is the consultation fee, and is it credited if we proceed?
What could raise the total after surgery (extra hospitalization, additional imaging, rehabilitation)?
If this is not an immediate emergency, can I take a written estimate and compare it with another surgical team?
Is a Higher TPLO Quote Automatically Worse Care or Better?
Not necessarily either. A higher estimate may reflect board-certified surgical and anesthesia staffing, 24/7 ICU recovery, more complete imaging, or a high-cost metro market. A lower advertised package may be a carefully bundled flat rate, or it may leave consults, rechecks, and imaging out.
Price alone does not tell you whether care is appropriate. What you want is transparency: a clear estimate, a clear explanation of who is operating and what happens if complications or extra recovery time occur, and enough information to compare value.
In a true emergency, the right hospital is the one that can treat your dog safely and promptly. For a planned orthopedic surgery, taking time to understand the estimate is usually possible. FareVet’s role is helping you understand cost structure and local pricing context, not pushing the lowest sticker price.
If the number feels overwhelming, FareVet also has guides on whether a vet bill looks high and what to do when an estimate reaches several thousand dollars. Those articles are about clarity and options, not about talking you out of recommended care.
Already Have a TPLO or ACL Surgery Estimate?
If you already have a written estimate, compare line items, not only totals. Use FareVet to explore local cost context before you decide.
FAQ: Dog TPLO and ACL Surgery Costs
Is TPLO the same as ACL surgery?
People often use “ACL surgery” as shorthand. In dogs, the ligament is typically called the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL). TPLO is one surgical method used to stabilize the knee after that ligament is damaged. Ask your veterinarian which procedure they are recommending and why.
Does a lower package price mean corners are being cut?
Not automatically. Some clinics publish flat packages that include a great deal of surrounding care. Others publish a higher headline price for the same reason. Compare inclusions, surgeon training, and follow-up before you compare totals.
Does pet insurance cover TPLO?
Coverage varies widely by policy. Some accident-and-illness plans may help with cruciate surgery after waiting periods and subject to exclusions, deductibles, and limits. Pre-existing lameness is a common sticking point. Check your policy language and, if needed, ask the insurer how a CCL injury would be reviewed before you assume reimbursement.
How long is recovery?
It depends on the dog and the surgical plan. Twin Peaks Veterinary Clinic tells clients that full recovery from TPLO takes approximately three months and describes rechecks at about 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 10 to 12 weeks, with X-rays at the final visit. Your own surgeon should give you a recovery plan for your dog.
Should I get a second opinion?
If your dog is stable and the surgery is not an immediate emergency, many pet parents request a second estimate. Bring the first written estimate, radiographs, and medical records so the next team can see what was recommended. Comparing included services matters more than comparing headline prices.
Compare TPLO and ACL Surgery Costs Before You Book
If TPLO has been recommended but is not an absolute emergency, taking time to understand what different surgical teams include can reduce surprise later.
Use FareVet to research available veterinary cost information near you, compare what estimates cover, and walk into the consultation with clearer expectations.
This guide is for planning and price transparency only. It is not veterinary medical advice. Always discuss your dog’s individual orthopedic needs with a licensed veterinarian or veterinary surgeon.
Sources
CareCredit / Synchrony. “Veterinary Exam and Procedure Costs.” Figures from the 2025–2026 Synchrony Average Procedural Cost Study for Veterinary Practices Across the United States, conducted by ASQ360° Market Research. https://www.carecredit.com/vetmed/costs/
Mission Veterinary Emergency & Specialty. “Explore TPLO Pricing + Procedure Details.” https://www.missionveterinaryspecialists.com/explore-tplo (read November 6, 2026)
Twin Peaks Veterinary Clinic. “TPLO Surgery.” https://www.twinpeaksvetclinic.com/services/tplo-surgery (read November 6, 2026)
TruVet Specialty & Emergency Hospital. “TPLO Surgery.” https://www.truvetspecialty.com/services/pets/pet-tplo-surgery (read November 6, 2026)
FareVet. “Why Is My Dog Limping? What It Costs to Find Out.” https://www.farevet.com/post/why-is-my-dog-limping-what-it-costs-to-find-out
FareVet. “How Much Does a Vet X-Ray Cost in 2026?” https://www.farevet.com/post/how-much-does-a-vet-x-ray-cost-in-2026
FareVet. “Is My Vet Bill Too High? How to Tell in 2026.” https://www.farevet.com/post/is-my-vet-bill-too-high-how-to-tell-in-2026
FareVet. “The Vet Bill Is $5,000: What Are Your Options Before You Make a Decision?” https://www.farevet.com/post/the-vet-bill-is-5-000-what-are-your-options-before-you-make-a-decision
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