How to Get Pet Insurance for a Bulldog

Almost 75 percent of pet insurance claims aren’t for accidents like swallowing a scruffy ball. They’re for serious illnesses such as cancer, eye or stomach operations--three things that many bulldogs are prone to suffer from. If you take into account a typical visit to the vet, the cost runs on average $30 to $100 for just the first visit. With follow-up care plus medication, the cost of health care for your bulldog can quickly add up. Insurance can save you a pretty penny, while giving you peace of mind.

Instructions

    • 1

      Talk with your vet to find out if he has any recommendations. Vets and their staff are likely to be able to give you reliable references, along with contact information.

    • 2

      Take into account the special health conditions unique to bulldogs, and shop for a policy that will cover these conditions. The unique shape of their faces and small windpipes make them more prone to respiratory and even heart problems. Their short hair makes them vulnerable to skin problems (from a few pimples to eczema), and their top-heavy bodies cause complications with their digestive systems.

    • 3

      Get price quotes and compare costs and benefits. The average insurance cost for a bulldog is between $25 and $50 per month, and some plans have a yearly deductible of $125. Bulldogs are usually slower to mature and quicker to age, and the costs can be a bit higher than other dogs. It also depends on their age and health when you sign up.

    • 4

      Search for an all-inclusive policy: preventative care, dental care, neutering or spaying, check-ups, and of course accidents and illnesses. Many offer several coverage packages allowing you to customize your bulldog's plan and add coverage for such things as cancer.

    • 5

      Carefully read through the exclusions. A lot of companies won’t cover pre-existing conditions. It is very common for the provider to exclude coverage for problems that are considered genetic or inherent in the particular breed (skin fold dermatitis in bulldogs, for example).

    • 6

      Take note of waiting periods in a policy. The waiting period can be from 3 weeks to over 6 months before the policy is activated, and a lot can happen to your bulldog in 6 months.

    • 7

      Remember that in any policy, you have to pay the vet up-front and send an invoice to the company for reimbursement after.