Top 9 Pet Insurance Plans For Bulldogs (2024)

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Bulldogs are one of the most recognizable breeds, thanks to those smushed faces and those adorable wrinkles. And let’s not forget that Bulldog underbite as it’s pretty precious too! But beyond their unique appearance, Bulldogs are courageous dogs who love with fierce hearts. Yet, they also know how to be the family clown. Simply put, Bulldogs make the best of buddies!

Because you love your Bulldog BFF, you give your pup everything they need plus anything they could ever want. And while your dog may not want to go to the vet for their annual checkups, you know they still need to go in order to keep healthy and fit. But no matter how diligent of a dog parent you are, illness and injury can still happen. Bulldogs are prone to respiratory problems, eye issues, and joint and skin conditions, and treating these can get expensive. With pet insurance, though, you can be financially prepared to fend off whatever comes. To help you find peace of mind and the best pet insurance plan for your Bulldog, we’ve created a free and easy-to-use comparison tool to simplify the insurance quest.

Compare The Top 9 Pet Insurance Plans for Your Bulldog 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 Bulldog Cost?

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

• Pets Best – $59.94 per month
• Embrace – $67.73 per month
• Healthy Paws – $81.34 per month
• ManyPets – $54.81 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 Bulldog-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 Bulldogs

Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS)

Because Bulldogs have such flat faces, they can struggle with extreme breathing difficulties due to narrow nostrils, nasal bone deformities, an oversized soft palate, and even a narrow esophagus. If your Bulldog breathes loudly, loses its breath while eating, or doesn’t have any stamina, it could be suffering from BOAS. Severe obstruction to the airways can cause dogs to collapse from over-exertion or overheating.

Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia occurs when the ball-and-socket joint in a dog’s hip doesn’t form correctly and eventually leads to pain and decreased mobility. This Bulldog health problem plagues many breeds, and once diagnosed, the genetic condition will require lifelong care and management by a veterinarian. 

Eye Problems

Bulldogs are prone to painful eye problems that must be treated, or your dog runs the risk of permeant damage that could cause blindness. Some of the common eye problems in Bulldogs are:

• Entropion – occurs when the eyelid rolls inward, causing eyelashes to rub against the eye
• Ectropion – severe drooping or outward roll of the eyelid that exposes delicate eye tissues, causing dryness, inflammation, and even infection
• Cherry Eye – inflammation of the eyelid that causes it to swell and bulge from the corner of the eye
• Distichiasis – abnormal growth of eyelashes that can cause lashes to poke and scratch the eye
• Corneal Ulcers – a painful erosion of the cornea typically caused by trauma to the eye

Skin Problems

Bulldog wrinkles are too darn cute, but that cuteness can cause skin problems because those skin folds can get dirty, itchy, and crusty. Skinfold dermatitis and bacterial skin infections can make wrinkly dogs quite uncomfortable. As can moist dermatitis, another skin problem in Bulldogs that causes painful ‘hot spots.’ Bulldogs are also known to suffer from food allergies, which can also cause itchy, flaky, and yeasty skin.

Heatstroke

Because they have those flat faces and troubled respiratory systems, Bulldogs have difficulty regulating their body temperatures. Because of this, they run a higher risk of overheating, which can lead to heatstroke. Heatstroke symptoms typically occur at temperatures of 103°F (39.4°C) and above and present with dry and sticky gums, abnormal gum coloring or bruising, lethargy, confusion, rapid breathing, and heavy panting. Seizures are possible as well. Heatstroke is a medical emergency and requires immediate vet attention.

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

Taking your dog to the vet for annual visits is a bill you expect. But when the vet discovers a problem or an emergency strikes, medical bills can stack up fast. With the right pet insurance plan for your Bulldog, you’ll be financially ready to deal with any bills, leaving you to concentrate on your best friend’s recovery.

Take a look at what it costs to treat the five common health problems in Bulldogs mentioned above:

• Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) Costs: Diagnostics for BOAS can involve expensive scans, with X-rays running around $200, CT scans averaging $1,000, and MRIs that can set you back up to $5000 depending on where you live. Once diagnosed, Bulldogs with severe BOAS often require surgery to reconstruct the soft palate and nasal deformities. Depending on the severity, these procedures can start at $200 and climb to almost $3,000.
• Hip Dysplasia Costs: Your pup may be prescribed medications to help with pain and degeneration to manage hip dysplasia in Bulldogs. The cost of these monthly medications can add up over years of managing hip dysplasia. However, certain pet insurance plans can help you find relief from monthly prescription costs. And once the hip or hips reach a certain point of degeneration, the right plan can soften the financial blow a $2,000 – $7,000 surgery will run.
• Eye Problem Costs: When eye problems reach severe levels, surgery will be needed to save the eye. The average cost for eye surgeries to fix issues like cherry eye, entropion, and distichiasis, can range from $400 to $2,000. The final price will depend on the severity of the eye problem and where you live. But, one thing is for sure, having pet insurance in place before an eye problem occurs will save your bank account from disaster.
• Skin Problem Costs: Visiting the vet for skin infections and hot spots can cost between $100 and $250 per instance. And since Bulldogs are prone to skin issues, your wrinkly-faced pup could be seeing the vet pretty often, making skin conditions an expensive problem in your home. Diagnosing allergies with vet-administered tests will run around $200 – $300, while treating them with allergy shots can cost $800 or more a year. Bottom line—Bulldog skin problems can inflame your monthly finances, but pet insurance plans that include coverage for prescription costs will offer your bank account some relief.
• Heat Stroke Costs: Heatstroke is an emergency that can get pricey fast. Depending on the severity, your dog may require IV fluids and other treatments, like oxygen or blood tests to monitor organ function. These emergency care costs can easily create a bill of $1,000 and likely more. Pet insurance can make an urgent situation cost much less, so you only have to worry about your pup’s health and not how you’re going to pay for the care.

What Is Pet Health Insurance, And Why Do I Need It For My Bulldog?

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-$129 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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