Cruciate Ligament Injuries
Pet Insurance
A cruciate ligament injury (ACL) is more than a sore knee. It can mean surgery, specialist care and months of careful rehabilitation. For many pet parents, the cost of treating a damaged ACL can feel overwhelming. Pet Insurance including cover for cruciate ligament through Pet Insurance Australia may help with eligible surgical expenses under our Accidental Injury and Illness cover. By adding the optional Booster Care13 benefit, you can also claim eligible post-operative therapies, such as hydrotherapy and physiotherapy, to help your dog get back on their paws.
Support for Cruciate
Ligament Conditions
If your dog is diagnosed with a cruciate ligament injury, it’s natural to wonder whether surgery will be covered. Many pet parents researching insurance that covers cruciate ligaments for dogs are looking for clarity. Under our Accidental Injury and Illness policy, eligible cruciate ligament conditions may be claimed once waiting periods have been served, and policy terms are met.
Surgery is often only part of the recovery. Dogs commonly need structured rehabilitation to safely rebuild strength and return to normal movement. That’s where our optional Booster Care13 benefit can help. Booster Care13 provides up to $2,500 per year for eligible therapies such as physiotherapy and hydrotherapy, in addition to your annual benefit limit.
With annual options of $15,000, $25,000 and $35,000, your policy is designed to support both treatment and recovery without a single orthopaedic claim exhausting your cover for the rest of the year.
How to Secure Cover that includes Cruciate Ligament
If you’re looking for pet insurance with cruciate ligament cover, start by selecting an Accidental Injury and Illness policy through our online quote tool. From there, you can choose your annual limit ($15,000, $25,000 $35,000), benefit percentage (70%, 80% or 90%), and excess ($0, $100, $300 or $600) that you’re comfortable with and that matches your family’s needs.
A 6-month waiting period applies to cruciate ligament conditions, so cover needs to be in place before any signs of limping or joint problems appear. In some cases, this waiting period may be waived following a vet check confirming there are no pre-existing issues.
Adding Booster Care13 at the quote stage means eligible post-surgical rehab therapies can also be claimed if surgery is ever needed.
How Our Plans Could Help with Knee Surgeries
Cruciate ligament surgery, including procedures such as TPLO or TTA, typically costs between $3,000 and $8.000 per leg, depending on your dog’s size and the treating specialist. For many families, that’s a significant and unexpected expense.
With benefit percentages of 70%, 80% or 90%, eligible surgical costs may be reimbursed based on your selected cover and excess. For example, if an eligible $5,000 surgery is covered at 90% with a $100 excess, you may be reimbursed up to $4,400.
Having coverage in place can help ease some of the pressure that comes with major vet bills, so you can focus on your dog’s recovery, their comfort, and a little extra cuddle time while they heal.
More Than Just Knee Care
If you started looking for pet insurance that includes cover for cruciate ligament injuries, it’s likely because you know knee injuries can be costly and disruptive. The bonus of having a Accidental Injury and Illness policy is that it doesn’t stop at one condition. It may also help with eligible emergency treatments, unexpected illnesses and certain hereditary conditions, subject to policy terms.
That means the same cover supporting your dog through knee surgery can also assist with other health surprises throughout the year. Because real life rarely sticks to just one issue.
You also have flexibility when building your policy. With annual excess options between $0, $100, $300 and $600 ($600 is not eligible on 70% reimbursement percentage), and benefit percentages of 70%, 80% or 90%, you can create a cover to suit the needs of you and your dog.
What Else Can You Include?
In addition to your pet insurance policy including cruciate ligament cover, optional add-ons allow you to build broader protection.
Routine Care7 provides up to $200 for preventative items such as vaccinations, health checks and worming treatments. Booster Care13 not only supports rehab following surgery, but also provides cover for specialised dental conditions and specialised therapies, including physio and behavioural consults, up to $2,500 per year (in addition to your annual benefit limit).
Together, these options let you shape your policy around how your dog lives, whether that means active weekends, breed-specific risks, or simply staying on top of their routine care.
Don’t Wait for a Cruciate Ligament Injury to Happen
Cruciate ligament injuries can happen during an enthusiastic park sprint or develop gradually as wear and tear builds up over the years. Because a 6-month waiting period applies, pet insurance including cruciate ligament cover needs to be in place before any signs or symptoms appear for the condition to be eligible.
It’s also worth knowing that if one knee is injured before cover begins, the other knee may not be eligible under standard policy rules, as the condition will be considered bilateral.
Taking out cover early means you’re covering the condition in both legs before problems arise, so if an injury does occur down the track, your dog has access to the full level of support available under your policy.
