Cruciate ligament rupture (CCL / ACL)

dog

Tear of the cranial cruciate ligament — most common orthopaedic emergency in dogs. ~50% of dogs that rupture one side rupture the other within 12-24 months.

Why this matters: The bilateral-conditions rule is the single highest-stakes clause. If side A is claimed, is side B then pre-existing? That decides whether the second TPLO is covered.

9 of 11 indexed products have on-file cover language for this condition. 2 are pending wording ingest.

Snapshot 2026-05-18T08:27:31.134Z. Machine-readable: matrix.json · summary.md

AA Pet Insurance

AA Pet Insurance Policy

Wording v2025-04-05 · confidence: verified · key: bilateral_conditions_rule

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When applying a benefit limit or exclusion, a bilateral condition will be considered a single condition. Example 1: If your pet has had elbow dysplasia in the left elbow prior to the commencement date of the first policy period you are insured with us or during the applicable waiting period, which falls within the definition of pre-existing condition, subsequent elbow dysplasia in the right elbow will still be considered a pre-existing condition. A cruciate ligament condition is considered a single condition irrespective of whether one or both legs are affected.

Other on-file fact keys (1)
  • hereditary_congenital_rules: Hereditary conditions and congenital conditions will not be considered a pre-existing condition if they have not shown noticeable signs, symptoms or an abnormality at any time before the commencement date of the first policy period or durin…

Cove Pet Insurance

Cove Pet Insurance

Wording v2026-05-18 · confidence: verified · key: bilateral_conditions_rule

Provider →

When applying a benefit limit or exclusion, a bilateral condition will be considered a single condition. Example 1: If your pet has had cruciate ligament problems in the left knee prior to the commencement date of the first policy period you are insured with us or during the applicable waiting period, which falls within the definition of pre-existing condition, subsequent cruciate ligament issues in the right knee will still be considered a pre-existing condition. Example 2: If your pet suffers from a patella luxation in its left hind leg and arthritis in its right hind leg, this is not a bilateral condition, as patella luxation and arthritis are not the same condition.

Other on-file fact keys (1)
  • hereditary_congenital_rules: Hereditary conditions and congenital conditions will not be considered a pre-existing condition if they have not shown noticeable signs, symptoms or an abnormality at any time before the commencement date of the first policy period or withi…

Petcover (Petplan NZ)

Petcover Catastrophe Plan

Wording v2026-05-17 · confidence: verified · key: bilateral_conditions_rule

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For the avoidance of doubt when referring to Pre-Existing Conditions, and Conditions affecting a part of Your Pet's body of which it has two, will be deemed to be a Bilateral Condition and both will be excluded from cover.

Other on-file fact keys (1)
  • hereditary_congenital_rules: Not explicitly described as a named category of exclusion or inclusion. Select Breeds (a defined list of large/giant and brachycephalic-related breeds) are eligible for cover only from age 8 weeks and before their 5th birthday. Brachycephal…

Southern Cross Pet Insurance

AcciPet (Accident-only)

Wording v2023-12-01 · confidence: verified · key: bilateral_conditions_rule

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We'll treat a health condition that affects more than one of the same body part as a pre-existing condition. This applies if your pet has a pre-existing condition that affects a body part that it has more than one of, like a leg, and it increases the risk of the other body part being injured. If the other body part has the same accidental injury, we'll treat it as a pre-existing condition and exclude it from cover under your policy. We'll do this even if the condition occurs in the other body part after the policy start date. This exclusion only applies if the pre-existing health condition increases the risk of another injury in future. It does not apply to accidental injuries that are isolated incidents and which don't increase the risk of the same injury occurring in another body part.

Southern Cross Pet Insurance

FreeCover (Trial)

Wording v2025-09-01 · confidence: verified · key: bilateral_conditions_rule

Provider →

We'll treat a health condition that affects more than one of the same body part as a pre-existing condition. This applies if your pet has a pre-existing condition that affects a body part that it has more than one of, like a leg or an eye. If the same health condition occurs in the other body part, we'll treat it as a pre-existing condition and exclude it from cover under your policy. We'll do this even if the condition occurs in the other body part after the policy start date.

Other on-file fact keys (1)
  • hereditary_congenital_rules: We don't cover congenital conditions. A congenital condition is an anomaly or developmental defect that is present in your pet at birth, even though signs or symptoms may not appear until later in life. Common congenital conditions for pupp…

Southern Cross Pet Insurance

PetCare (Comprehensive)

Wording v2023-12-01 · confidence: verified · key: bilateral_conditions_rule

Provider →

We'll treat a health condition that affects more than one of the same body part as a pre-existing condition. This applies if your pet has a pre-existing condition that affects a body part that it has more than one of, like a leg or an eye. If the same health condition occurs in the other body part, we'll treat it as a pre-existing condition and exclude it from cover under your policy. We'll do this even if the condition occurs in the other body part after the policy start date.

Other on-file fact keys (1)
  • hereditary_congenital_rules: Congenital conditions are excluded. A congenital condition is an anomaly or developmental defect that is present in your pet at birth, even though signs or symptoms may not appear until later in life. We maintain a list of conditions that w…

SPCA Pet Insurance

Big Stuff Cover

Wording v2026-05-17 · confidence: verified · key: bilateral_conditions_rule

Provider →

Any Condition affecting body parts of which the Pet has at least two, one on each side of the body (e.g. ears, eyes, knees and elbows). When applying a Benefit Limit or exclusion, a Bilateral Condition will be considered a single Condition. Example: If your Pet has had elbow dysplasia in the left elbow prior to the Commencement Date of the first Policy Period you are insured with us or during the applicable Waiting Period, which falls within the definition of Pre-existing Condition, subsequent elbow dysplasia in the right elbow will still be considered a Pre-existing Condition.

Other on-file fact keys (1)
  • hereditary_congenital_rules: Hereditary Conditions and congenital Conditions will not be considered a Pre-existing Condition if they have not shown noticeable signs, symptoms or an abnormality at any time before the Commencement Date of the first Policy Period or durin…

SPCA Pet Insurance

The Works (Comprehensive)

Wording v2026-05-17 · confidence: verified · key: bilateral_conditions_rule

Provider →

Any Condition affecting body parts of which the Pet has at least two, one on each side of the body (e.g. ears, eyes, knees and elbows). When applying a Benefit Limit or exclusion, a Bilateral Condition will be considered a single Condition. Example: If Your Pet has had elbow dysplasia in the left elbow prior to the Commencement Date of the first Policy Period you are insured with us or during the applicable Waiting Period, which falls within the definition of Pre-existing Condition, subsequent elbow dysplasia in the right elbow will still be considered a Pre-existing Condition.

Other on-file fact keys (1)
  • hereditary_congenital_rules: Hereditary Conditions and congenital Conditions will not be considered a Pre-existing Condition if they have not shown noticeable signs, symptoms or an abnormality at any time before the Commencement Date of the first Policy Period or durin…

Tower Pet Insurance

Pet Comprehensive + Essentials

Wording v2026-05-18 · confidence: verified · key: bilateral_conditions_rule

Provider →

The policy defines 'Condition' as: any injury or illness suffered by your pet, and for the purpose of this definition, any presentation of an illness with the same diagnosis, signs or symptoms, or resulting from the same disease process, regardless of the number of incidents or areas of your pet's body affected shall be considered a single condition (e.g. all occurrences of otitis (ear infection) will be classified as the same condition). No explicit bilateral condition rule is stated, but this definition implies both sides of a bilateral condition are treated as a single condition.

Other on-file fact keys (1)
  • hereditary_congenital_rules: Hereditary conditions which first manifest before your pet's 2nd birthday are excluded. Congenital conditions are excluded entirely. Hereditary condition means a genetic condition which is passed down through your pet's bloodline, and which…
2 products with no on-file value for this condition
  • PD Insurance — PD Pet Insurance (PDS) (wording pending ingest)
  • PetNSur — PetNSur Rhodium / Standard (wording pending ingest)

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Not personalised veterinary or financial advice. Each clause shown is a verbatim excerpt from the cited insurer wording PDF. For the authoritative answer in any specific case, refer to the source PDF.