Top 9 Pet Insurance Plans For Bull Terriers (2024)

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With both the strength of a bully breed and the lively energy of a Terrier, the pointy-eared, cone-faced Bull Terrier makes an excellent companion. It’s not just Spuds Mackenzie that made this type of dog popular.

Unfortunately, the Bull Terrier breed is predisposed to certain medical conditions. While these health issues can be expensive to treat, you may be able to cover the high costs if you invest in pet insurance for your dog early.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when it comes to choosing the right pet insurance plan for your beloved Bull Terrier. This guide will help you select a plan that covers everything you want it to, so you can be there for your dog when they need you most.

Compare The Top 9 Pet Insurance Plans for Your Bull Terrier Using our Free No-Obligation Quote Tool below

The simplest way to compare pet insurance prices is to use our tool below. The comparison tool will show you quotes from the top 9 pet insurance carriers, including Trupanion, Pets Best, Lemonade, ManyPets, FIGO, HealthyPaws, Prudent Pet, Spot, and Embrace pet insurance.

How Much Does Pet Insurance for a Bull Terrier Cost?

Below are some sample pet insurance plans for a 1-year-old male Bull Terrier using the zip code 75001 (Texas) as an example.

• Pets Best – $47.24 per month
• Embrace – $51.24 per month
• Healthy Paws – $37.41 per month
• ManyPets – $43.20 per month

Ultimately, your plan’s premium will depend on several factors, including your dog’s age, size, and breed, as well as where you live. You also want to know what type of coverage your plan has and if it will help with Bull Terrier-specific health problems. Let’s get more into those medical conditions and how much you can expect to pay to treat them.

Common Health Problems Associated With Bull Terriers

Patellar Luxation in Bull Terriers

Patellar luxation occurs when a dog’s knee becomes dislocated. Some affected dogs will have a minor limp, while others may become immobile. Untreated, patellar luxation can lead to arthritis later in your Bull Terrier’s life.

Surgery may not be necessary depending on the degree of dislocation, but the condition can worsen if your dog continues to walk on his injured knee.

Polycystic Kidney Disease in Bull Terriers

An inherited condition, polycystic kidney disease is more common in cats than dogs, but it is often seen in Bull Terriers. Dogs with this condition will develop multiple small cysts on both kidneys at a young age, but the condition won’t be symptomatic that soon. Some pet insurance plans cover kidney testing.

As the affected dog gets older, the cysts start to increase in size and number. Too many cysts can replace normal, functioning kidney tissue.

Signs of this health condition may not be very overt at first. You may notice your dog drinks more water and urinates more often. They also might experience sudden weight loss. The buildup of toxins could make dogs nauseous and cause vomiting.

Aortic Stenosis in Bull Terriers

This heart condition is often seen in Bull Terriers. When an abnormal ridge of tissue forms underneath the heart’s aortic valve, it leads to a blockage of blood flow. This abnormality that forces the heart to work harder to pump blood can, in turn, create a heart murmur.

If not treated, sub-aortic stenosis could progress and even lead to sudden death. Your vet can prescribe medication for your dog to manage the condition.

Compulsive Tail Chasing (“Spinning”) in Bull Terriers

Dogs often chase their tails for fun when they’re younger. In some cases, and particularly often for Bull Terriers, this tail-chasing can actually be a compulsion.

The source of the problem is likely neurological, and it’s especially common in the Bull Terrier breed. Male Bull Terriers are at a slightly higher risk than females for developing this condition.

Certain drugs and therapies have helped dogs suffering from obsessive behaviors. While it isn’t necessarily dangerous on its own, the frequency of spinning can result in injuries.

Typical Costs Of Treating Health Issues In Bull Terriers and How Pet Insurance Can Help

If left untreated, certain conditions can result in long-term consequences, which ultimately make them more expensive to manage and treat. Knowing the signs and symptoms of these conditions common in Bull Terriers can help you catch them early. When in doubt, take your dog to the vet to have them diagnosed.

Many of the health issues listed above can be very costly to treat, especially when surgery is required. Here are just some sample veterinary expenses:

• Patellar Luxation Costs: Treatment for patellar luxation depends on the “grade” of dislocation. If it’s Grade 2 and above, surgery may be needed to correct the issue. That orthopedic surgery could cost thousands of dollars. Again, you want to treat it, or it may lead to arthritis or other complications.
• Polycystic Kidney Disease Costs: First, there’s the testing aspect: the vet will want to take blood tests (including a complete blood cell count) and do a urinalysis to see kidney function. X-rays can detect cysts to diagnose the type of kidney disease. In addition to these costs (~$200-$800), long-term management of chronic kidney disease might cost $100-$300 per month.
• Aortic Stenosis Costs: Diagnosing this condition will require one or all of these tests: chest radiographs (X-rays), electrocardiography (ECG), and an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). These each cost hundreds of dollars. Medication will be less pricey but necessary indefinitely.
• Compulsive Tail Chasing Costs: In addition to behavior modification, there are several treatments that might help. The vet may prescribe anti-epileptics, anxiolytics, opioid antagonists, and/or antidepressants. This medication could cost hundreds of dollars every month.

Knowing the signs and symptoms of these conditions common in Bull Terriers can help you catch them early, saving your dog and your money. When in doubt, take your pup to the vet to have them diagnosed.

What Is Pet Health Insurance And Why Do I Need It For My Bull Terrier?

Pet health insurance works very similarly to human health insurance. Your policy quote will range in monthly price, depending on your dog’s breed, age, and where you live. Typically, you’ll spend around $15-$103 per month as a pet parent.

Pet insurance is mainly about peace of mind, knowing you won’t be totally overwhelmed in case of an emergency. Enrolling even when your dog is young and healthy will ensure you have plenty of coverage when they need expensive medical care later. If you choose a plan more suited to your dog’s particular breed, you’ll be more prepared when something happens later on in their life.

Some plans cover accidents and illnesses, while others only cover accidents. Certain plans do cover breed-specific illnesses, and others do not. It all depends on what type of coverage you choose. With our free pet insurance comparison tool, you can get quotes from multiple insurance companies with no obligation to commit.

Whatever plan you choose, you’ll feel better knowing you can take care of your dog when they need you most. Plus, you won’t have to suddenly shell out thousands of dollars. Learn more about how pet insurance works here.

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