--- title: "Best Pet Insurance for Bulldogs" canonical: "https://www.simplyinsurance.com/best-pet-insurance-for-bulldogs/" description: "How to pick the best pet insurance for bulldogs - why they're costly to insure, which breathing, joint and skin conditions to cover, and when to enroll." silo: "pet" published: "2026-07-08" author: "sa-el" source: "Simply Insurance" --- **The best [pet insurance](/pet-insurance/) for a bulldog is a plan with no breed exclusion that covers brachycephalic (breathing) conditions, hip and joint issues, and skin problems — the exact things bulldogs are prone to.** Look for comprehensive illness and accident coverage, and enroll while your bulldog is young to avoid pre-existing condition denials. Quotes vary by age, location, and provider. --- ## Why Bulldogs Are Expensive to Insure Bulldogs cost more to insure because their anatomy and genetics, shaped by breeding for looks, leave your dog prone to many medical problems. Bulldogs are wonderful dogs — loyal, low-energy, and endlessly charming. They're also one of the most expensive breeds to keep healthy. That's not a secret. Veterinarians, breeders, and pet insurers all know it. The reason premiums run higher for English Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, and American Bulldogs comes down to anatomy and genetics. Their bodies were selectively bred for a look that, unfortunately, creates a long list of medical vulnerabilities. The good news is that insurance exists precisely for this situation. The tricky part is finding a plan that actually covers what your bulldog is likely to need — and that means understanding the risks first. ### Brachycephalic Breathing Risks "Brachycephalic" is the medical term for flat-faced. Bulldogs, along with pugs and Boston terriers, have skulls that compress the nasal passages, elongate the soft palate, and narrow the trachea. Together, these features are called Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS). BOAS isn't just a nuisance. Dogs with severe cases struggle to breathe during exercise or heat. Surgery — which can involve widening the nostrils, shortening the soft palate, or both — can cost anywhere from $1,000 to over $4,000 depending on how many procedures are needed and where you live. That's a real claim, not a hypothetical, and it's one of the top reasons bulldog owners file with pet insurance providers. Because this condition is so strongly tied to the breed, some insurers either exclude it outright or flag it as a pre-existing condition if any breathing symptoms were noted before enrollment. That makes it critical to choose a plan that specifically covers hereditary and congenital conditions. ### Skin, Joint, and Eye Conditions Breathing isn't the only concern. Bulldogs are also prone to: - **Skin fold dermatitis** — The deep wrinkles around a bulldog's face and tail pocket trap moisture and bacteria, leading to painful infections. Regular treatment and occasional vet visits for severe cases add up fast. - **Hip dysplasia** — A malformed hip joint that causes arthritis and lameness. Surgery can exceed $3,500 per hip in serious cases. - **Interdigital cysts** — Painful growths between the toes that bulldogs develop far more often than other breeds. - **Cherry eye** — A prolapsed tear gland that gives the appearance of a red mass in the corner of the eye. Surgical correction typically runs $300–$800 per eye. - **Elbow dysplasia** — Similar to hip dysplasia but affecting the front legs, another hereditary joint condition common in bulldogs. None of these conditions are freak accidents. They're patterns. And insurers price bulldog policies accordingly, which is why you'll often see higher monthly premiums than you might for a mixed-breed dog of similar size and age. --- ## What Bulldog Coverage Should Include Skip accident-only plans and make sure the policy covers chronic, ongoing conditions, because those are where a bulldog's biggest health risks actually sit. Not all pet insurance plans are created equal, and a basic accident-only plan won't do much for a breed whose biggest risks are chronic conditions. When you're shopping for a bulldog insurance quote, here's what to make sure is actually in the policy. ### Breathing and Airway Surgery Any plan worth having for a bulldog needs to cover hereditary and congenital conditions — and that coverage needs to explicitly include BOAS or brachycephalic syndrome. Some policies cover hereditary conditions broadly; others carve them out or only cover them if the dog was enrolled before any symptoms appeared. Ask directly or read the policy language carefully. The phrases to look for: - "Hereditary conditions covered" - "Congenital conditions covered" - "No breed-specific exclusions" If a policy excludes any condition "common to the breed," that's a serious red flag for bulldog owners. It's effectively a way to deny the claims you're most likely to file. Airway surgery can be a one-time fix for many bulldogs, but post-operative care, follow-up visits, and anesthesia fees are all part of the bill. Make sure your annual coverage limit is high enough — plans with $5,000 annual limits may run out fast after a major surgery plus a skin infection plus routine follow-ups in the same policy year. A policy with an unlimited or high annual limit ($10,000+) gives you more room to breathe (pun intended). ### Hip and Joint Conditions Hip dysplasia coverage is another must-have. Some plans treat it as a hereditary condition and cover it under that umbrella. Others require a rider or a higher-tier plan. A few exclude it entirely if there's any evidence the dog was showing symptoms — even subtle stiffness — before enrollment. The earlier you enroll, the cleaner your dog's medical record looks at the time of enrollment, and the less likely an insurer is to classify hip or joint issues as pre-existing. If your bulldog is a puppy and their hips haven't started causing problems yet, locking in coverage now is the single best move you can make. Also check whether the plan covers: - Orthopedic surgery - Physical therapy or rehabilitation - Prescription joint medications (like Galliprant or Rimadyl) - Specialist visits to a veterinary orthopedic surgeon Some plans cover all of these; others only cover the surgery itself. The ongoing management of hip dysplasia often costs more over time than the surgery, so rehabilitation and medication coverage matters. --- ## What's Not Covered for Bulldogs Understanding the exclusions is just as important as understanding what's covered. Pet insurance is useful precisely because it pays when things go wrong — but every policy has limits, and bulldogs run into those limits more than most breeds. ### Pre-Existing Conditions Every pet insurer excludes pre-existing conditions. Full stop. That means any illness or injury that showed up (or was documented in veterinary records) before your policy's effective date won't be covered for that specific issue. Here's where bulldog owners get into trouble: some conditions look pre-existing even when they feel like new problems. A vet note from a routine checkup that says "minor skin fold irritation" could be used to deny future skin fold dermatitis claims. A comment about your dog's noisy breathing could be flagged as evidence of pre-existing BOAS. This isn't the insurer being dishonest — it's the policy doing what policies do. The defense is enrollment. The earlier you insure your bulldog, the fewer records exist that could be used to classify something as pre-existing. Many insurers recommend enrolling puppies as young as 8 weeks old. If you're adopting an adult bulldog, all hope isn't lost. Some insurers offer "curable pre-existing condition" coverage — if a condition resolves and your dog goes 12 months symptom-free, it may become eligible for coverage again. Ask about this when you're comparing plans. ### Breed Exclusions to Watch Some insurers won't cover certain breeds at all, or will cover them but exclude conditions they're statistically prone to. For bulldogs, the conditions most likely to be singled out include: | Condition | Why It's Commonly Excluded | | --- | --- | | Brachycephalic syndrome | Strongly breed-linked | | Hip dysplasia | High incidence in bulldogs | | Skin fold dermatitis | Considered predictable/preventable | | Cherry eye | Hereditary in brachycephalic breeds | Not every insurer applies these exclusions — many cover all of the above with no breed carve-outs. But you have to verify this before you enroll, not after a claim is denied. Other standard exclusions that apply across most pet insurance policies, regardless of breed: - **Routine and preventive care** — Vaccines, annual wellness exams, flea/tick prevention, and dental cleanings are typically not covered by base illness-and-accident plans. Some companies offer a separate wellness rider that adds these. - **Elective procedures** — Cosmetic surgeries or anything done by owner choice rather than medical necessity. - **Breeding costs** — Pregnancy, whelping, and related care. - **Dental illness** — Many policies exclude dental disease (as opposed to dental accidents like a broken tooth). This matters for bulldogs, who are prone to dental crowding. Read the fine print before you commit. A 15-minute policy review before enrollment is worth far more than a frustrating phone call after a denied claim. --- ## How to Get the Best Rate for Your Bulldog Bulldog premiums are going to run higher than average — that's just the math of insuring a breed with documented health risks. But there are ways to manage the cost without gutting your coverage. - **Enroll young.** A bulldog puppy with no health history will get better rates and cleaner coverage than a 4-year-old with vet records showing skin issues and occasional snoring. - **Compare deductible options.** A higher annual deductible lowers your monthly premium. If your bulldog stays relatively healthy one year, you save. If they need surgery, your deductible kicks in, but the insurer covers the rest up to your limit. - **Choose a high annual limit.** For a breed like a bulldog, skimping on the annual limit to save $10/month can cost you thousands in an expensive claim year. - **Look for multi-pet discounts** if you have more than one animal. If you're ready to start comparing, getting a bulldog insurance quote is a smart first move before your dog's next birthday (insurance rates go up with age). --- ## Frequently Asked Questions ## What dog breed is most expensive to insure? English Bulldogs, French Bulldogs and Pugs top the list: their flat faces often mean breathing surgery, plus joint, skin and eye problems. Brachycephalic breeds — particularly English Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, and Pugs — consistently rank among the most expensive dogs to insure. Their flat faces create breathing problems that often require surgery, and they're also prone to joint, skin, and eye conditions. Combined, these risks drive premiums noticeably higher than most other breeds of similar size. ## What breeds are not covered by insurance? None: you can insure any breed, but policies may exclude conditions common to it, like brachycephalic syndrome in Bulldogs or hip dysplasia in Labs. No reputable pet insurer completely refuses to cover a breed, but some policies exclude conditions common to specific breeds. Bulldogs, Pugs, and other flat-faced breeds may find brachycephalic syndrome excluded. Large breeds like German Shepherds or Labs may see hip dysplasia carved out. Always read the exclusions section and ask your insurer directly before enrolling. ## What is usually not covered by pet insurance? Pre-existing conditions top the list, followed by routine care like vaccines and wellness exams, elective procedures, breeding costs, and sometimes dental or hereditary illness. Most standard pet insurance policies exclude pre-existing conditions, routine preventive care (vaccines, wellness exams, flea prevention), elective procedures, breeding costs, and — depending on the plan — dental illness. Some policies also exclude hereditary conditions unless you specifically choose a comprehensive plan that includes them. Wellness riders can add preventive coverage for an additional monthly cost. ## What dog breeds make insurance go up? Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, Pugs and other flat-faced breeds raise premiums most, along with big dogs prone to hip dysplasia like Great Danes and Rottweilers. Breeds with known hereditary health risks tend to carry higher premiums. Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, Pugs, and other brachycephalic breeds are among the most expensive due to breathing-related surgeries. Large and giant breeds prone to hip dysplasia — like Great Danes, Saint Bernards, and Rottweilers — also tend to see higher rates. Mixed-breed dogs often get lower premiums because their genetic risk is spread across multiple bloodlines.