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French bulldog pet insurance

Here's what you need to know about getting pet insurance for your French bulldog, including common health problems and average costs.

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By

Ronny Lavie

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How much does it cost to insure a French bulldog in the UK?

With their small size and adorable bat-like ears, it’s easy to see why so many people find French bulldogs irresistible.

We ran a number of quotes from a range of well-known pet insurance companies through our partner Confused.com. The results indicate that if you were to insure your French bulldog under a lifetime policy, then you’re looking at an average monthly premium of around £82 a month, or an annual premium of around £975. We ran these quotes using the following criteria:

  • Female
  • 3-year-old
  • Chipped
  • Bought for £650
  • Neutered
  • Vaccinations up to date
  • No pre-existing conditions
  • Non aggressive

The cheapest quote we found was the Super policy from Animal Friends, which came in at £24.39 per month, or £292.68 annually. The most expensive was Asda Money with their Lifetime 10,000 policy – £170.70 per month, or £2,047.63 annually.

Remember that cheapest doesn’t mean best and you might miss out on important cover if you simply go for the cheapest option. Make sure to shop around and compare policies to find the one that works best for your four legged darling.

What type of insurance is best for a French bulldog?

In the realm of pet insurance, there are four main types of pet insurance policy.

  • Accident only insurance. As the name might suggest, an accident only policy offers payment for issues that are genuine accidental medical emergencies, rather than long-term conditions. This is often the cheapest standard insurance rate, but can leave you out of pocket if your pet develops a long term condition.
  • Time-limited insurance. A time limited policy pays out for a specific condition up to a time limit, most commonly a twelve-month period. After this time, the condition is likely to be excluded from cover, so this might not be suitable if your French bulldog suffers from longterm health issues.
  • Maximum benefit insurance. A Maximum benefit policy is similar to the time limitation cap, with the difference that the cap refers to an insured amount per condition, not a time period. When this limit is reached, the insurance policy stops paying out for the specific condition.
  • Lifetime insurance. The most comprehensive and expensive type of insurance available on the market, lifetime insurance does what it says on the tin. As French bulldogs are at risk of developing several types of health issues, this kind of policy might be the best option, as your Frenchie could be insured for every condition that it develops in later life. As long as the policy is renewed, cover for all your pet’s conditions could continue year after year.

Common health issues for a French bulldog

It may upset you to think about the health issues your French bulldog may be more prone to, but arming yourself with the knowledge now could help ease any unnecessary suffering later and allow you to access treatment faster. Common health problems that French bulldogs may be more susceptible to include:

  • Breathing difficulties. Due to the French bulldog’s distinctive flat-faced facial structure and folds, they are often plagued by severe respiratory problems. Narrower nostrils and an elongated soft palette can create louder snoring or wheezing, or difficulty in breathing. Many of these symptoms may require regular medical treatments.
  • Bone disorders. French bulldogs are prone to hip joints developing abnormally (hip dysplasia), which could result in arthritis. Their kneecaps can also slip out of place and require surgery before arthritis sets in. Spinal discs that protect and cushion backbones may also develop abnormally.
  • Eye issues. As well as inward turning eyelids (Entropion), which would require surgery, French bulldogs can also suffer from a condition where small eyelashes grow inward on the edge of their eyelid, which can rub and irritate the eyes.
  • Bladder stones. Irritation or inflammation in the bladder wall can cause stones in the urine. The treatment is typically surgery if these stones cause an obstruction.
  • Heat sensitivity. Heatstroke can be more common in French bulldogs as they struggle to lower their core temperature with panting, due to smaller airways.
  • Heart disease. French bulldogs are known to be at risk of heart disease and heart murmurs.
  • Allergies and skin conditions. Many food allergies can cause upset stomachs and diarrhoea. And environmental allergies from dust mites, grass or pollen can cause legions on paws, which can lead to infection if constantly scratched or bitten.

Average treatment costs for French bulldogs

Owning a French bulldog prone to regular medical treatment is expensive, and common and recurring illnesses are important to consider when selecting the right pet insurance plan. The best policy can limit the likelihood of having to shell out hundreds of pounds to cover the below treatment costs:

Health ProblemAverage treatment cost
Hip dysplasia£1,200
Respiratory issues£200
Entropian surgery£350

Fun facts about the French bulldog

  • The origins of the French bulldog can be traced back to the historical lace industry, as workers – often female – desired a smaller, compact breed of dog to use as a lap warmer and companion while they worked.
  • There was a French bulldog on board the Titanic when it sank in April 1912. Some survivors have noted that they saw a similar dog swimming in the sea in the aftermath of the sinking.
  • Celebrities including Hugh Jackman, Leornardo di Caprio and Victoria and David Beckham all own French bulldogs.
  • French Bulldogs can sometimes be confused with Boston terriers, another small breed. To tell them apart, look for the French bulldog’s short, chunky and muscular body, as well as those adorable “bat” ears.

Bottom line

French bulldogs do unfortunately suffer from increased respiratory problems, as a result of selective breeding. This, coupled with a range of other potential health conditions, makes them higher risk dogs to insure, which can increase insurance premiums.

Do your research on dog insurance and compare the deals on offer. Check out our pet insurance provider reviews and our guides to other dog breeds.

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2 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    MichaelJuly 13, 2018

    What would be the average cost of insurance for my French bulldog and what cover should I look for ?

    Reply
      Avatarfinder Customer Care
      joelmarceloJuly 18, 2018Staff

      Hi Michael,

      Thanks for leaving a question on finder.

      We ran a number of quotes from a range of well-known pet insurance companies. The results indicate that you may expect to be set back an average of £30.36 a month / £352.90 a year if you were to insure your French Bulldog under a maximum benefit policy. If you were to insure them under a lifetime policy then you’re looking at £33.28 a month / £390.51 a year.

      We ran these quotes using the following criteria:

      – Female
      – 3-year-old
      – Chipped
      – Bought for £650
      – Neutered
      – Vaccinations up to date
      – No pre-existing conditions
      – Non aggressive

      Please check out the insurers above and see if you can find the right pet insurance policy for your French bulldog.

      Cheers,
      Joel

      Reply
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