If your dog has been having trouble walking or is favouring one leg, it might be a cruciate ligament condition. This guide provides more information on what cruciate ligament is, how it is treated, and what is covered by different pet insurance brands, so you're not out of pocket for thousands of dollars.
| Pet Fund | Policy Name | Annual Limit | Waiting Period | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Australian Seniors | Top Accident and Illness Cover | $2,600 | 6 Months | Get quote |
| Essential Accident and Illness Cover | $2,600 | 6 Months | Get quote | |
| Basic Accident & Illness Cover | $2,000 | 6 Months | Get quote | |
 Bow Wow Meow | Accident plus | $2,600 | 6 Months | More info |
| Peace of Mind | $2,600 | 6 Months | More info | |
| Ultimate Care | $3,200 | 6 Months | More info | |
 Coles | Premium Cover | $3,500 | 6 Months | Get quote |
| Basic Cover | $3,000 | 6 Months | Get quote | |
 Guardian | Bronze | $2,000 | 6 Months | Get quote |
| Gold | $2,600 | 6 Months | Get quote | |
| Platinum | $2,600 | 6 Months | Get quote | |
 Guide Dogs | Premium Care | $3,200 | 6 Months | More info |
| Comprehensive Care | $3,200 | 6 Months | More info | |
| Basic Care | $3,200 | 6 Months | More info | |
 Knose | Pet Insurance | $25,000 | 6 Months | Get quote |
 Pet Insurance Australia | Comprehensive Cover | $2,600 | 6 Months | Get quote |
| Major Medical Cover | $2,600 | 6 Months | Get quote | |
 Petsy | Top Cover | $25,000 | 6 Months | Get quote |
 Prime Pet Insurance | Sovereign Accident and Illness Cover | $2,600 | 6 Months | More info |
| Imperial Accident and Illness Cover | $2,600 | 6 Months | More info | |
| Regal Accident and Illness Cover | $2,000 | 6 Months | More info | |
 Real | Premium Accident & Illness Cover | $2,600 | 6 Months | Get quote |
| Standard Accident & Illness Cover | $2,600 | 6 Months | Get quote | |
| Classic Accident & Illness Cover | $2,000 | 6 Months | Get quote | |
 RSPCA | RSPCA Ultimate Plus Accident & Illness Cover | Up to $20,000 | 6 Months | Get quote |
| RSPCA Ultimate Accident & Illness Cover | $2,600 | 6 Months | Get quote | |
| RSPCA Economy Accident & Illness Cover | $2,600 | 6 Months | Get quote | |
| RSPCA General Accident & Illness Cover | $2,000 | 6 Months | Get quote | |
 Vets Choice | Pro | $3,300 | 6 Months | Get quote |
| Elite | $3,300 | 6 Months | Get quote | |
 Everyday | Basic Cover | $1,500 | 6 Months | Get quote |
| Standard Cover | $2,600 | 6 Months | Get quote | |
| Comprehensive Cover | $2,600 | 6 Months | Get quote | |
 Budget Direct | Pet Insurance | $2,600 | 6 Months | Get quote |
 Kogan | Pet Luxury Cover | $2,600 | 6 Months | More info |
| Pet Primary Cover | $2,600 | 6 Months | More info | |
| Pet Value Cover | $2,600 | 6 Months | ||
 Trupanion | Pet Insurance | Unlimited | Not stated | More info |
The cruciate ligament is the name for two bands of fibrous tissue that connect the femur and tibia together in your dog's knee joint. It's vital for the proper functioning of your dog's leg, but unfortunately injuries to the cruciate ligament are extremely common and can occur due to sudden movement or from a slow degradation over time from diseases like arthritis or inflammation. In the latter case, the ligament may rupture from even gentle motion thanks to this gradual weakening.
Symptoms that your dog may be suffering from an anterior or cranial cruciate ligament or tear include:
How prone your dog is to a cruciate ligament injury depends on age, genetics and previous trauma. Certain breeds are also known to be far more at risk from this kind of injury, for example Labradors, Staffies (Staffordshire Bull Terriers) and Rottweilers.
Once the problem has been diagnosed, a veterinary surgeon will generally perform one of three types of surgery on your dog:
After surgery, it is likely your dog will be able to support its weight after a few weeks and should be back to its normal range of motion after 3 or 4 months. It's recommended you restrict your pup's exercise for these few months to assist in its recovery.
As with any surgery or treatment, the price depends heavily on what sort of surgery is being conducted, the particulars of your dog's condition, as well as the breed and age of your dog. However, you should expect to pay about $1,000 - $2,500 for the procedure, with a less complicated surgery like extracapsular repair costing less than the other, more complicated procedures. The average claim paid out for cruciate ligament surgery by the Hollard Insurance company (which underwrites a number of pet insurance brands) was $2,530 in 2016/17, so that should give you a rough idea.
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In the majority of dogs, surgery is highly recommended when a cruciate ligament injury has been sustained. Without surgery, your dog will likely eventually recover and start walking around within a few weeks, but with a damaged ligament the bones in their knees will rub together when they walk. This can lead to bone spurs and other nasty side effects that will put your pup in great pain. It's also very likely that the dog will sustain a ligament rupture in their other leg if they've already suffered one.
For very small dogs, it's possible to treat them with painkillers, bed rest and reduced exercise for four to six weeks. Make sure you seek a vet's opinion, though - an untreated or improperly cared-for cruciate ligament injury can cause long-term damage to your dog, and prevent your buddy from being able to walk again.
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