Top 9 Pet Insurance Plans For Bullmastiffs (2022)

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A dog bred to prowl the wooded estates of aristocrats and hunt down poachers, the Bullmastiff came to be known as “The Gamekeeper’s Night Dog.” The nickname indeed captures the spirit of the breed, with these tough guard dogs being the bane of intruders. But when it comes to their families, the Bullmastiff is a big ol’ lovebug. With a sweet little pout on such a big dog, there’s just no resisting this pup.

And because your brave buddy rules your heart, you’ll do anything to protect them. Part of that protection involves guarding their health with regular veterinary checkups and staying on top of any issues that arise. While Bullmastiffs are hearty dogs, they still deal with health concerns just like any other dog breed. The common health problems in Bullmastiffs, like hip dysplasia, bloat, hypothyroidism, heart problems, and cancer, tend to create big vet bills that can leave you reeling. Or even force you to make difficult choices.

But pet insurance might just save your dog’s life while protecting your finances from unexpected bills. And while finding the best pet insurance plan for your Bullmastiff used to be a confusing process, our plan comparison tool makes getting an easy-to-understand and detailed quote as easy as clicking and scrolling!

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

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

• Pets Best – $89.17 per month
• Embrace – $76.60 per month
• Healthy Paws – $81.34 per month
• ManyPets – $81.53 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 Bullmastiff-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 Bullmastiffs

Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia occurs when the ball-and-socket joint in a dog’s hip doesn’t form correctly, leaving the joint to dislocate or the femur head to sit wrong in the socket. The issue eventually leads to pain and decreased mobility. This Bullmastiff health problem plagues many large breeds, and once diagnosed, the genetic condition will require lifelong care and management by a veterinarian. Bullmastiffs are also prone to dysplasia issues in their elbows and shoulders.

RELATED: What You Need To Know About Hip Dysplasia

Bloat

The Bullmastiff is a big dog with a deep chest, making the breed more susceptible to Gastric dilatation-volvulus. Known more commonly as “bloat,” Gastric dilatation-volvulus happens when food, gas, and liquid painfully distend a dog’s belly and then twist the stomach. This twisting traps the stomach contents and compresses the abdomen’s blood vessels. Gastric dilatation-volvulus is a life-threatening situation for dogs and must be treated immediately.

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is another common health problem in Bullmastiffs and occurs when the thyroid doesn’t produce enough hormones to regulate metabolism. This condition often presents with fatigue, weight gain, coat problems, and flaky skin. Left untreated, your dog’s entire quality of life will decline.

Heart Problems 

Heart problems can be a problem for Bullmastiffs, with Dilated cardiomyopathy and Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis being the more prevalent issues. Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a heart disease that causes cardiac muscles to dilate and thin, leading to pumping and blood flow problems. Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis (SAS), also known as subaortic stenosis, is a congenital heart defect in which the aortic valve is too narrow to pump blood effectively. For many dogs, the defect will not affect their quality of life. But those afflicted with more severe cases may experience lethargy, exercise intolerance, shortness of breath, and fainting. Extreme cases of either issue could lead to heart failure.

Cancer

No matter the breed, cancer is one of the leading causes of death in dogs, with one in four dogs likely to be diagnosed with some form of the disease. With every year that passes in your pup’s life, the risk increases as senior dogs are more likely to develop cancer than younger ones. Unfortunately, some breeds are more likely to develop cancer, and the Bullmastiff is one, with these four cancers afflicting the breed more than other types:

• Hemangiosarcoma – cancer of the blood vessels
• Osteosarcoma – cancer of the bone usually seen near knees, shoulders, and wrist joints
• Lymphoma – cancer that begins in the lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell
• Mast Cell Tumor – cancer of the skin that forms from the immune system’s mast cells

RELATED: 10 Signs Of Canine Cancer Every Dog Owner Should Know

Typical Costs Of Treating Health Issues In Bullmastiffs 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 emergency strikes, medical bills can stack up fast. With the right pet insurance plan for your Bullmastiff, 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 Bullmastiff health problems mentioned above:

• Hip Dysplasia Costs: Severe cases of hip dysplasia could require expensive surgery with costs ranging between $2,000 – $7,000. And even if your Bullmastiff doesn’t need surgery, treatment could involve oral medications, injections, and even physical therapy, which can create bills of $500 or more yearly. Treating hip dysplasia can wear away at your wallet, but pet insurance offers financial protection against the high costs of orthopedic problems in dogs by helping with vet bills and prescription medications.
• Bloat Costs: The only way to correct GDV is an emergency surgery in which the stomach is corrected and tacked to the abdominal wall. The estimated surgery costs to repair GDV average between $2,000 and $5,000, but complications could inflate bills further. And dogs who experience bloat once run a higher risk of having it happen again. With the right pet insurance plan for your Bullmastiff, you’ll be saved from the sudden and staggering bills bloat can create and never be forced to make heartbreaking choices because you can’t afford care.
• Hypothyroidism Costs: Hypothyroidism is typically treated with medication and monitoring. Depending on the severity of the issue, you’re looking at $20 – $50 a month to fill your Bullmastiff’s script. That might not sound like much to start, but month after month, year after year, prescriptions for hypothyroidism can add up over time. An insurance plan that offers drug coverage or discounts can help offset costs.
• Heart Problems Costs: To diagnose heart disease in dogs, vets will turn to X-rays, electrocardiograms, and echocardiograms, and this cardiac examination could cost an estimated $1,000. And though DCM in dogs can lead to eventual heart failure, heart medications can help slow deterioration. Your vet might prescribe quite the cocktail of medicines to manage heart disease, including ACE inhibitors, diuretics, nitroglycerin, vasodilators, and beta-blockers. These vital heart medications could run anywhere from $50 to $200 per month. In the most severe instances of SAS, a balloon catheterization surgery to reduce the restriction is available, but not many vets are equipped to perform the procedure. The surgery cost begins at $5,000 and can climb depending on where you live. Pet insurance can’t stop heart problems in Bullmastiffs, but it can save you from an unexpected blow to your bank account if your dog needs surgery or lifelong medications to help their heart.
• Cancer Costs: When cancer is suspected, diagnostic costs for bloodwork, scans, and exploratory surgery can range from $200 to more than $1,500. Once the diagnosis comes, the treatment begins, and costs start mounting with surgery that averages $1,500, radiation prices of $2,000-$6,000, and chemotherapy costs that can climb to $5,000 depending on severity. Additional prescriptions can average $50 monthly, but the best pet insurance plans for your Bullmastiff will reduce cancer costs significantly.

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

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-$163 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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