Dogs With an Increased Risk of Having CCL Tears
The leading cause of CCL tears is thought to be genetic. However, some recent studies are reporting that spaying and neutering too early could be a contributor. Dogs with other knee problems (like medical patellar luxation) or previous trauma are at an increased risk of CCL breakdown.
There are also certain breeds that have a higher danger of tearing their CCL. Below are the breeds with a predisposition to CCL tears:
Additionally, older pets are more apt to tear their CCL. However, younger pets are not exempt.
A dog cruciate ligament tear is typically treated with surgery followed by medication, rehab, and weight management. There are a few common surgical techniques used to repair the cruciate ligament in dogs.
What’s Included in the Cost of ACL Surgery for Dogs?
At the pet hospital that took care of Millie, many aspects of the surgery were included in our overall cost. We paid a separate $150 fee for the consultation prior to surgery, but everything else required for surgery and follow-up appointments was included in the $6,500 fee we paid.
Depending on your particular vet, not all aspects of the surgery and post-surgical care will be included. Make sure to ask for an itemized list of whats included in the hospitals cost for ACL surgery to avoid any surprises.
The overall cost of surgery and whats included will vary across vet offices, but for my dogs procedure, the following was included:
My dog absolutely hated wearing the cone, so we spent an additional $15 on an inflatable doughnut collar—the best decision we made! Spah also recommends using a full-body dog mobility harness to help hold up your dogs back legs as she recovers from surgery and gets used to the new positioning of her knee. He says a towel looped around the lower belly can also be used. Personally, we went the towel route because the harnesses can be pricey, and we felt comfortable with our ability to lift her up without a handle.
Your vet may also recommend veterinary physical rehabilitation, a process similar to physical therapy in humans. This will incur additional costs, but it can speed up your dogs recovery by increasing mobility and reducing discomfort.
What If I Can’t Afford ACL Surgery for My Dog?
Most vets will require payment at the time of surgery, so be prepared with a financial plan before scheduling a surgery date. Always talk with your vet about any financial assistance or programs they offer.
If you have pet insurance, check with your provider to see how much of the surgery it will cover and determine your out-of-pocket costs. Some insurance companies may even pay the hospital directly, making the process even easier. If you cant afford the surgery, some vets will take CareCredit, a form of financing available in human and veterinary medicine. The BluePearl Pet Hospital in Des Moines says they accept assistance through Frankies Friends, and pet parents can also look into assistance through other charity organizations.
Can a Dog Live with a Torn ACL – Surgery Cost & Euthanize Options
Not all owners can afford the expensive surgery that cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) repair surgery typically requires. There is quite a range in prices depending on what procedure is recommended by your veterinarian for your dog’s knee repair and where you live. For example, a traditional repair can cost anywhere from $1000-2000+, whereas a TPLO surgery usually begins in the $2000 range.
There are some organizations that offer to provide financial assistance for dogs needing cruciate ligament repair, and they are mentioned below. Also, there are a variety of other, more creative options for financing CCL ligament repair surgery including holding your own fundraisers, negotiating with your veterinarian or choosing the (typically) lower cost services of a veterinary university hospital.
If proceeding with surgical correction for your dog is not an option, be aware that there are conservative management techniques that will assist your dog in recovering from cranial cruciate ligament damage.
Some veterinary clinics will offer payment plans (unfortunately, these seem to be few and far between). However, many veterinary offices will give you the option of applying for Care Credit. CareCredit is a personal line of credit for healthcare treatments and procedures for your entire family, including your pets. This is probably your best option for paying for your dog’s treatment if your veterinary clinic is unwilling to work with you on payments and you are able to qualify. It works like a credit card but it has two advantages – it can only be used for healthcare services, and you can get no interest (make sure to read the fine print on this) financing every time you use it. If you pay your minimum monthly payment and pay off the entire balance by the end of your promotional period and you pay no interest. If you need more time to pay for your procedure, you can take advantage of their extended payment plans with fixed interest rates.
Veterinary offices do not typically advertise the availability of payment plans. This is usually true because they are willing to work with clients on a case-by-case basis depending on your history with their clinic and financial need/life circumstances. If you have an established history at your veterinary office with past on-time payments, odds are that your veterinarian will be willing to work out a payment plan that will allow you to pay on a weekly or monthly schedule, negating the need to pay for the entire cost of surgical care upfront. Don’t expect to receive this same treatment as a new client at a new veterinary practice – in this economy not many clinics are willing to take the risk of an unpaid bill, especially for a procedure as costly as a cruciate ligament repair.
If a payment plan isn’t an option – try bartering! Does your veterinarian need assistance walking pets, filing charts or catching up on other tasks? If you offer your assistance you just may be surprised what could things may come.
There’s no harm in getting a second opinion, especially when faced with an expensive, time intensive procedure. Get a second opinion. Yes, you will need to pay a fee to be see initially by another veterinarian, but based on their surgical costs, you could end up saving in the end.
Costs for TPLO, TTA, TightRope and Traditional Extracapsular surgeries differ state-by-state and also depending on your region – whether you are located within a city center or more rural. Veterinarians in smaller towns tend to charge less as they have lower costs for overhead, i.e office space, advertising, etc.
Many veterinary schools offer low cost clinics and provide options for pet owners with limited incomes or financial hardship. The American Veterinary Medical Association’s website and has a list of veterinary schools by state.
The use of Conservative Management is a topic which is covered extensively on this site. I have successfully rehabilitated my dog’s (Tucker) torn cruciate ligament using CM. There are also stories from many other owners who’ve had similar success without surgery.
Weight loss, arthritis medications and nutraceutical supplementation (glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate) can have a significant, positive impact on your canine’s comfort level. Knee braces and harness devices can also prove useful as you undergo CM – after reading some of the stories on this site you will have a better idea of the items you may need and will be able to prepare adequately.
Though in general this “conservative” approach is considered much less effective than surgical intervention, it does provide owners who can’t afford this surgery the opportunity to take responsible action. In fact, for most bigger patients, it seems that weight loss plays a major role in the recovery process for both dogs going through CM (conservative management) and those that have undergone traditional, extracapsular imbrication repairs.
Remember, there are many dogs that do well with just conservative management, and the smaller your dog, the more likely it is that they will have a successful recovery with CM in lieu of surgery. CM is not just a second resort for people unable to afford surgery, there are many owners that are unwilling or unable to put their dog through surgery, and they have recovered quite nicely with the use of CM alone. No surgical procedure will ever bring your dog’s leg function back to 100%, or pre-injury levels, so as long as your dog is healthy, happy and comfortable, you are making the right choice as an owner.