CostByBreedCondition guide
Pet insurance for cruciate ligament tears
Cruciate surgery is generally covered once the policy orthopedic waiting period has passed, which is often far longer than the standard illness waiting period. Many policies also apply a bilateral rule, so a tear in the second knee may be treated as part of the same condition or excluded if the first tear predates the policy.
What it is
The cruciate ligament is a band inside the knee that keeps the joint stable, and in dogs it usually weakens gradually before it tears rather than snapping in a single accident. Owners often visit a vet because a dog suddenly limps on a back leg or stops putting weight on it.
What treatment typically costs
Surgery to repair one knee typically runs $4,000 to $7,000
Source: CareCredit and Synchrony, Average Procedural Cost Study, 2023 to 2024, 2023 to 2024. A range this wide reflects how much the bill depends on the treatment chosen and where you live.
How policies treat it
Cruciate surgery is generally covered once the policy orthopedic waiting period has passed, which is often far longer than the standard illness waiting period. Many policies also apply a bilateral rule, so a tear in the second knee may be treated as part of the same condition or excluded if the first tear predates the policy.
Embrace: 6 months for orthopedic conditions for dogs in the V5 sample policy, reducible on review of a vet orthopedic exam to 2 days for accidents or 14 days for illnesses, or the exam date, whichever is later. State pages vary: some states have a 30 day period for IVDD, cruciate, patellar luxation and hip dysplasia, with other orthopedic conditions at 14 days, and cats at 14 days.
Fetch (Fetch by The Dodo): 6 months exclusionary period before injuries of the hips and knees can be covered. The 6 month period for knee conditions and disorders can be waived if a vet examines the pet in the first 30 days of the policy and documents that there are no relevant pre-existing knee conditions.
Lemonade: 30 days for orthopedic conditions in Lemonade's current waiting-period guide and vet guide. Note: Lemonade's main pet page FAQ and its older sample policy say 6 months for cruciate ligament events, which conflicts with the current guide's 30 day orthopedic period.
What a claim would pay
A worked example
- The bill for treating cruciate ligament tears comes to $5,500.
- The yearly deductible takes off $500, leaving $5,000.
- The policy reimburses 80 percent of $5,000, which is $4,000.00.
The policy pays $4,000.00 and you pay $1,500.00.
Example terms only: a $500 yearly deductible and 80 percent reimbursement, with the deductible not yet met this year. Your own policy terms decide a real claim.
Breeds most associated with cruciate ligament tears
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Frequently asked questions
Does pet insurance cover cruciate ligament tears?
Cruciate surgery is generally covered once the policy orthopedic waiting period has passed, which is often far longer than the standard illness waiting period. Many policies also apply a bilateral rule, so a tear in the second knee may be treated as part of the same condition or excluded if the first tear predates the policy.
What does cruciate ligament tears treatment cost?
Surgery to repair one knee typically runs $4,000 to $7,000. Source: CareCredit and Synchrony, Average Procedural Cost Study, 2023 to 2024, 2023 to 2024.
Is cruciate ligament tears hereditary?
For the breeds on this page it is one of the conditions breed registries and studies track, which is why hereditary coverage in a policy matters. The breed pages list the evidence breed by breed.
What waiting period applies to cruciate ligament tears?
Illness waiting periods are commonly 14 days, and orthopedic conditions carry longer waits at some insurers, up to six months, sometimes reducible with a vet exam. The policy treatment section above names the insurers whose documents say so.
Treatment costs: CareCredit and Synchrony, Average Procedural Cost Study, 2023 to 2024, 2023 to 2024. Policy treatment: the insurers' own published policy documents and term pages, captured October 27, 2026. Premium benchmark: North American Pet Health Insurance Association, State of the Industry Report, 2026 edition, reporting 2025 data. See the methodology page for how every source is used.