The surgery quote is one line on a longer invoice. Imaging, medication, rehab and follow-ups all sit around it, and the second knee is more likely than most owners expect.
TPLO is the most common surgical repair for a torn cruciate ligament in dogs, and the quoted surgical fee is only part of the total. A realistic budget also covers the consultation and imaging that produce the diagnosis, post-operative medication, recheck appointments and radiographs, and eight to twelve weeks of restricted activity or formal rehabilitation. A significant share of dogs go on to injure the other knee.
A dog that suddenly holds up a back leg has usually done something to its cruciate ligament. It is the most common orthopaedic injury in dogs, and TPLO — a procedure that changes the angle of the top of the shin bone so the knee no longer needs the ligament — is the repair most surgeons recommend for medium and large dogs.
Owners are quoted for the surgery. The total also includes the consultation and the imaging that confirmed the diagnosis, pre-operative bloodwork, the anaesthetic, take-home pain relief and antibiotics, a cone or brace, at least two recheck visits, and usually follow-up radiographs to confirm the bone has healed. Ask whether the quote is surgery-only or all-in, because both are quoted in the market.
Local currency, before tax. Figures are the typical range in our index on 2026-09-06, not a quote from any one clinic.
| Country | Typical range | Currency | Highest city | Lowest city |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇦 Canada | $4,500–$8,000 | CAD | Vancouver $7,190 | Regina $5,440 |
| 🇺🇸 United States | $3,825–$6,800 | USD | San Francisco $7,440 | San Antonio $4,675 |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | £2,610–£4,640 | GBP | London £4,895 | Belfast £3,080 |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | A$4,275–A$7,600 | AUD | Sydney A$7,125 | Hobart A$5,460 |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | €2,790–€4,960 | EUR | Dublin €4,845 | Waterford €3,490 |
| 🇳🇿 New Zealand | NZ$3,690–NZ$6,560 | NZD | Auckland NZ$5,740 | Invercargill NZ$4,610 |
Same procedure, same country, eight Canadian cities. Rent, wages and how many clinics compete locally do most of the work.
Recovery is eight to twelve weeks of genuinely restricted activity: lead walks only, no stairs, no jumping, no play. Many owners add hydrotherapy or physiotherapy, which improves the outcome and adds to the bill. Some take unpaid time off, or pay for daytime supervision, and that is a real cost even though it never appears on a vet invoice.
Cruciate disease is often bilateral. A meaningful share of dogs that tear one ligament tear the other within a year or two, because the same conformation and the same forces are acting on both legs. When you are deciding between insuring, saving, or borrowing, plan against the possibility of two of these, not one.
TPLO is not the only option. Extracapsular suture repairs cost less and suit smaller, lighter dogs; TTA is a related bone-cut procedure. The right choice depends on the dog size, activity level and the surgeon experience, and price is a poor way to choose between them. Ask what the surgeon does most often and why they are recommending it for your dog specifically.
Is the quote all-in or surgery-only? How many of these do you do a month? Are follow-up radiographs included? What does your rehab plan look like, and do you refer or do it in house? What happens, and what does it cost, if there is a complication? Clear answers to those five questions are the difference between a budget and a guess.
Knee surgery has one of the widest price spreads of anything we track, both between countries and between cities in the same country. Look up your city on our index before you accept or reject a quote.
We build a national typical range from published clinic price lists, veterinary association fee surveys and real bills owners submit to us, then apply a city multiplier for local rent, wages and clinic density. Non-Canadian markets scale the same base by national price level. Figures are estimates in local currency before tax, never quotes. Once three verified bills exist for a city and procedure, the real bills replace the estimate.
Full method and correction policy: our methodology page. Spotted a price that is wrong? Send us the invoice and we will fix it.
A surgeon cuts and rotates the top of the shin bone and fixes it with a plate, so the knee is stable under load without the torn ligament. It is a bone surgery rather than a ligament repair.
It varies by clinic, which is why you should ask directly. Some quote surgery only; others include imaging, medication and rechecks. Compare like for like.
Typically eight to twelve weeks of restricted activity, with a gradual return to normal exercise after that. Cutting the restriction short is the most common cause of setbacks.
A significant proportion of dogs do, often within a year or two. Plan financially for the possibility rather than treating one surgery as the end of it.
Extracapsular suture repair costs less and works well in smaller, lighter dogs. TTA is another bone-cut option. Suitability depends on the dog, not the budget.
Accident-and-illness policies often do, but usually after a long waiting period, and never if any sign appeared before cover started. This is the classic pre-existing exclusion.
Most surgeons think structured rehab improves the speed and quality of recovery. At minimum, follow the restriction plan exactly, which costs nothing but discipline.
Conservative management is sometimes chosen for small or older dogs, with weight control, pain relief and restricted activity. It generally gives a poorer result in larger active dogs.
Surgeon experience, whether a board-certified specialist is involved, equipment, and local rent and wages. The spread between cities in the same country is wide.
Our own vet-cost index, city by city, in local currency before tax, rebuilt nightly and free to read and cite.
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