Does Pet Insurance Cover TPLO Surgery?

Dogs are not exactly Olympic athletes when it comes to grace. They are more like parkour enthusiasts with zero sense of risk assessment. They’ll leap off the couch like action heroes, and the next thing you see is your dog limping because of a torn ligament. 

If you observe a dog’s knees from the side, you’ll see that it’s constantly at an angle of around 110 degrees. Because of this bending, the ACL inside the knee joint is always under tension and, hence, more prone to injuries. These daredevil behaviors make it worse and can often lead to an injured or torn ligament. 

Dogs with a torn CCL won’t be able to walk normally and will go through a lot of pain. Surgery like a TPLO is often needed to fix it. The good thing is that pet insurance plans can help cover the TPLO surgery cost, as long as it is not a pre-existing condition and the accident happened after the waiting period. 

Read More: Does Pet Insurance Cover ACL Surgery?
Before getting into the details of it, we feel it is important for us to tell you more about the surgery, its cost, and how much of it you can potentially get reimbursed with pet insurance.

How much of TPLO surgery cost does Pet Insurance cover? 

With pet insurance, you can save up to 90% of the costs related to a TPLO surgery. It should not be a pre-existing condition, and the waiting period of the policy should be over before the injury occurs in order for pet insurance to be able to cover it. 

With Spot Pet Insurance, you can get reimbursed up to 90% of the eligible costs related to blood work, pre-operative tests, prescription diets, alternative therapies like hydrotherapy, and much more. 

Read More: Does Pet Insurance Cover Cherry Eye Surgery?

What is TPLO Surgery?

We’ve heard about a ligament tear (some of you may have even experienced it). The same injury can happen to dogs and cats. Basically, there are 2 two cruciate ligaments inside the knee: the cranial cruciate ligament and the caudal cruciate ligament. Both of them cross each other inside the middle of the knee. 

It is when this cranial cruciate ligament, or CCL, as popularly known, is injured or torn, a TPLO surgery may be recommended. The instability also probably damages the cartilage and surrounding bones, which can lead to osteoarthritis.  ⁽¹⁾

TPLO or Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy, was developed by Dr Barclay Slocum around 20 years back. It is not the only option to fix an injured or torn ligament, but it has become one of the most popular surgeries on dogs with a torn CCL. It aims at changing the dynamics of the dog’s/cat’s knee altogether so that the torn ligament becomes irrelevant to the stability of the knee itself. ⁽¹⁾

We could go into full detail about how the surgery is performed as well, but we know that you’re not here for that. And there’s a reason you didn’t choose to be a vet, right?  

Is TPLO surgery done in Cats as well?

Yes, TPLO surgery can be performed on cats with an injured or torn CCL as well. But it is not as commonly done in cats as it is in dogs. Instead, a prosthetic ligament substitute is preferred as there is more evidence of success in it. ⁽³⁾

What is the Cost of TPLO Surgery?

The average cost of TPLO surgery ranges between $3500-$5500. ⁽³⁾ It can vary depending on the complexity of the case, your location, the type of facility you choose and the vet’s experience. The total cost will also include things like pre-surgery blood work, anesthesia, anesthesia monitoring, and pain medications. ⁽³⁾

What are the alternatives to a TPLO Surgery?

While TPLO has gained popularity, it is not the only option to cure a torn ligament in dogs. The vet may recommend other options like a Traditional Extracapsular Lateral Suture Technique, Tightrope Technique or Tibial Tuberosity Advancement (TTA Surgery). ⁽²⁾

The feasibility of the procedure depends on several factors as follows – 

And of course, your budget. 

What is the aftercare needed after TPLO?

A good aftercare post-surgery ensures better and faster recovery in dogs. It generally includes – ⁽⁴⁾

Week 1-2

Week 2-5

Week 6-8

Week 9-12

While you can perform some of the above at home, you may need professional services for others. It is also important to keep reevaluating with the vet to check the progress. 

More About Spot Pet Insurance

Spot accident and illness plans can be used with any licensed vet in Canada or the U.S. Whether you are home, or traveling to the U.S., veterinary services your pet receives for the diagnosis, treatment, or management of covered conditions can be eligible for reimbursement. Spot’s accident and illness plans can help cover a variety of conditions including broken bones, lacerations, aggression, kidney disease, diabetes, and more. With the addition of Wellness Riders for an extra cost, you can also receive reimbursements for wellness exams, certain vaccinations, dental cleanings, and more.

Learn more about dog insurance or get a free quote!