Should I get pet insurance for my French Bulldog? You should always get your French bulldog insured. They are one of the most expensive dog breeds to buy and are the third most stolen dog breed in the UK. They also come with health problems which many pet insurance policies will help offset veterinary costs against.

Is pet insurance worth it for a French Bulldog?

As a Frenchie owner, I am perfectly placed to explain why pet insurance is worth it for a French Bulldog. Over the last 6 months we’ve had to go to the vets 3 or 4 times with our own boy Claude. He keeps hurting his back which had led to check-ups, painkillers, and some x-rays being performed to get to the bottom of his pain. If we didn’t have pet insurance, we could be nearly £700 (around $1,000) out of pocket…

As we’re paying around £400 ($550) a year in pet insurance, it’s very worth it for us. We anticipate we will have more bills this year, so the insurance more than pays for itself.

3 reasons to buy French Bulldog pet insurance

French bulldogs are expensive. You could be paying up between £650 and £3,000 for a puppy so why wouldn’t you insure that cost?

You wouldn’t spend that much money on a car and then not have it insured, so don’t take the risk with what in effect is one of your family members.

By having adequate pet insurance in place for your Frenchie you can guard against vet bills and theft.

Yes, you heard that right, theft.

1. Insuring against theft

According to a study by Direct Line, they are the third most stolen dog breed in the UK. In fact, in 2017 the thefts of Frenchies increased by 27% on the previous year.

If you have the right type of insurance cover for your Frenchie, you can help to pay for a variety of items should he get stolen. That policy could include coverage for:

• Advertising costs of up to £1,000 to help get your dog back
• Help with paying for a reward for the safe return of the dog
• Consolation payments should your French Bulldog not return

2. Insuring against health problems

And what about their health?

It’s widely documented that French Bulldogs come with a range of health problems due to the way in which they have been bred as a brachycephalic dog with a short head and snout.

What this means is that they are more susceptible than other dog breeds for health conditions such as:

• Respiratory problems
• Spinal disorders
• Eye disease
• Heart disease
• Joint disease
• Skin infections (see the full list of French Bulldog skin problems)
• Epilepsy
• Colitis
• Blood clotting

It’s a sad fact of life that these loveable and good-natured dogs are deliberately bred in a way that products structural deformities resulting in health problems.

Did you know? A recent study listed the most common health issues faced by Frenchies and how prevalent they are in the breed. To see what those health problems are and what symptoms to look out for, read this guide.

3. Insuring against accidents

And did I mention that they are accident prone?

If yours is anything like mine, then he is bound to be a bit of clown. That’s all part of their lovability and character.

But this part of their nature also means they can be accident prone.

When my Frenchie was a puppy he took a lot longer to train compared to other breeds and it’s only now that he’s two years old that he recalls properly.

For the first year and a half of his life he would run from me with no understanding of danger. I lost count of the amount of times he bolted from the front door and ran into the road.

Luckily nothing bad ever happened, but he had a few close scrapes with cars where things could have been a lot worse.

I do have pet insurance for my French Bulldog, but thankfully I have never had to use it due to an accident, but there were some very close calls.

What’s the best pet insurance for a French Bulldog?

For this breed, it’s important to find a pet insurer that offers theft coverage as part of the standard policy, and one that gives lifetime coverage against the dog’s health.

How much is French Bulldog insurance?

Insuring a French Bulldog is essential, and you would mad not to do it based on what we know about this particular breed.

I would advise that you take out what’s called a lifetime insurance policy, as this will mean your Frenchie is covered for his entire life.

You could be looking at spending between £30 and £35 per month, with those costs coming down slightly if you decide to pay for 12 months upfront.

Annual insurance costs for a French Bulldog could therefore come in at between £350 and £400 pounds each year.

Based on that level of cover, you could get as much as £15,000 pounds worth of vet fees paid for each year.

What you will find when requesting pet insurance quotes is that the insurance company will want to know about any pre-existing medical conditions, whether the dog is chipped, neutered, and their sex.

Your best off insuring the French Bulldog puppy as soon as you get him.

If you wait until a problem does occur, that will make getting insurance a lot harder, and more expensive as insurance companies won’t cover pre-existing conditions.

I would also recommend that you never just choose the cheapest pet insurance deal. The more comprehensive cover you can get the better when it comes to French Bulldogs.

Conclusion

Responsible pet owners will need to protect their French Bulldog as best they can against heatstroke and other health issues that are listed above that could affect their quality of life.

As well as your own care for your Frenchie, you will need to get pet insurance to cover any eventuality that could pop up due to the nature of this breed.

There’s every chance that you will have higher than average visits to the vet as a French Bulldog owner, so having the peace of mind you have the best insurance cover is essential.

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My wife and I would never consider not insuring our dog, no matter what their age. But is pet insurance worth it for older dogs?

Vet bills become more common and costly as your dog gets older. Research shows that dog owners are three times as likely to use pet insurance than car insurance due to the frequency it’s needed. If you love your dog, pet insurance is definitely worth it.

Why you should insure an older dog

Whilst pet insurance might not sound like one of life’s essentials, if you own a dog, love him or her, and want to be protected against large vet bills, it’s critical you have a good policy.

In fact, recent research by Saga found that their customers are more likely to claim on a pet insurance policy than they are on their motor insurance.

The research also found that people aged fifty and over are more likely to be a dog owner, but actually less likely to have it properly insured. Only 1 in 3 of their correspondents are currently insuring their dog.

That’s a really unwise decision, as vet bills are rising year on year. For older dogs, visits to the vet are going to be far more regular.

Vet costs are increasing year on year

Here’s are some statistics from the Society for Practising Veterinary Surgeons who surveyed vet practices in the UK to see how costs have increased in the last 12 months:

• 76% of vet practices have increased their fees
• Routine procedure costs have increased by 3.3%
• Dental treatment costs in older dogs and cats have increased by 17.5%

To back this research up, we also found that The Association of British Insurers published data suggesting that the average pet insurance claim was also rising to £679.

The most simple and routine procedures which your older dog might need could run into the hundreds of pounds.

What vet treatment could cost

If your older dog isn’t insured and they need vet treatment, then it’s something that you will have to pay for from your own pocket. The unthinkable alternative would be to have your pet put down. But even that will have a cost attached to it.

Here are some typical vet costs that an older dog might incur (Source: MoreThan, 2015 claims figures):

• Eye injury – £291
• Gastrointestinal – £358
• Head injuries – £669
• Hip dysplasia – £4,000
• Joint injuries – £452
• Skin conditions – £204
• Spinal injuries – £686
• Tumours – £433
• Urinary – £280

And older dogs are also susceptible to cancers, just like we are as we get older. It’s not unusual for cancer treatment to cost in excess of £10,000 as vets will need to administer chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery.

Current UK estimates show that 1 in 3 dogs will develop cancer at some point in their lives, most likely as they get older. And in fact, some breeds are more prone to developing cancers than others (which we recently blogged about).

You can insure an older dog against cancer, but as long as it’s a pre-existing condition.

Can you get pet insurance for older dogs?

Yes, you can get pet insurance for older dogs.

But there are some pet insurance companies who won’t offer a policy on dogs that are older than 7 years old.

The reason being; they know that an older dog is more likely to cost them in terms of vet bills for illness and accident.

There are some pet insurance companies who are better than others when it comes to older dogs. You might have to pay more in premiums, but for the money that you are likely to incur in vet bills, it’s a policy worth having.

What is the best pet insurance for an older dog?

We have reviewed and rated the best pet insurance companies suitable for older dogs. You can see who we recommend elsewhere on our website, plus our reasons for doing so.

If you want to make your own mind up, then here are a few things that we recommend you look out for when buying dog insurance.

Accident only cover

As you would expect, this will only cover your dog if it is involved in an accident. It’s the cheapest dog insurance possible but won’t cover you for the illnesses and conditions that are more common as your dog gets older.

Annual cover only

This will give you coverage for illness and accidents but means the insurance company will only pay for 12 months maximum of treatment.

Once the 12 months is over, any illness treated in the previous year will now become known as a “pre-existing” condition.

That is really not worth having if your dog is older. For example, let’s say he developed a cancer in year one of your policy, when it moves into year two after renewal, the cancer will then be viewed as pre-existing, meaning your dog’s cancer treatment won’t be covered!

Another aspect which dog owners sometimes fail to understand with annual cover is that it can sometimes have a maximum payout amount during the 12 months, leaving you with a potential shortfall to pay for in vet bills.

Individual condition cover

With this type of insurance policy, you will be set limits on the amount that will payout for each type of illness and condition (here’s a list of possible health conditions).

Some policies will also have terms and conditions around the excess charges for each condition. That means should you also be claiming against the condition in the second year, you could have to pay another excess charge.

Lifetime cover

By far the most sensible, albeit costly dog insurance, is lifetime cover.

For older dogs it will offer continuous coverage over the lifetime of your pet, with maximum annual limits on claims being reset with each policy term renewal.

It’s our recommendation as the most worthwhile pet insurance for older dogs, and you can see which companies we currently recommend in our comparison tables.

The last word

By insuring your older dog you can mitigate a lot of vet bills that are more likely than not to occur as your four-legged friend reaches his or her later years.

Be prepared to pay more though, as insurance company premiums are increased the older your pet dog gets.

Also, be aware that if you do claim, your policy renewal will probably more expensive due to the claims you have historically made.

But, if you love your dog and he’s part of your family, pet insurance is definitely worth it.

The post Is Pet Insurance Worth it for Older Dogs & Can You Get It? appeared first on French Bulldog Owner.

With that in mind, it might be tempting to think that by having two dog insurance policies, you could put yourself in a very good position should the worst happen.

But is it possible to insure your dog twice, so you have the peace of mind in knowing you can pay for whatever vet bills might come your way?

Yes, you can insure your dog twice. But you are only allowed to claim on one policy should you need to recoup or pay for vet fees against accident, illness, theft, loss, or any other related aspect that requires an insurance pay out.  If you claim with two insurers, that’s fraud. 

How dog insurance works when making a claim

For example, if and when you need to make a claim, there will typically be a question on the claim form from the insurer asking if you have any other policies that provide cover. 

If you do have two policies and respond no to this question, you are actually providing fraudulent information to the insurance company. And that could invalidate your current claim and any future ones you may need to make. 

There’s no problem in you having insured your dog twice, as long as you don’t try to claim money for the same thing with both insurance companies.

Is it illegal to have 2 pet insurance policies?

No, not all.

Don’t worry, the police aren’t going to come knocking.

Having two policies is entirely up to you, but it’s not something that we recommend you do.

Doubling up on your dog insurance is not only costly but could cause problems when you come to the time to having to claim.

Why pay for two policies, when you can only claim once?

One claim is all you need to make, so don’t make it more complex by having different policies.

Don’t forget to cancel your existing policy if switching

If you do decide to switch to a dog insurance policy that is more suitable to your pet, then don’t forget to cancel your existing policy.

Just like any insurance, it can be easy to forget one insurance policy you have, or even miss the cancellation or renewal process completely.

We always advice then when you take out a new dog insurance policy that you place a note in your calendar to remind you 30 days before it renews.

That way as the renewal time approaches you are giving yourself plenty of time to review the best dog insurance policy. That could be based on price, customer service, the type of terms you now need, or the health of your dog currently.

By using our recommended partners you can be sure of not just getting a great deal, but also finding the policy that is best suited to you, and more importantly, your four-legged friend.

Did you know? I recently published a comprehensive guide to French Bulldog health issues, all of which should be covered by insurance providing they are not a pre-existing condition.

Conclusion

Save yourself money and please don’t insure your dog twice.

Choose a one comprehensive insurance policy, even if it does cost a bit more than standard insurance cover.

With vet’s fees rising year on year, a typical pet insurance claim can cost on average around £650.

By having adequate cover in place with just one good insurer, you know you should be covered for most, if not all eventualities.

The post Can You Insure a Dog Twice and Have 2 Policies? appeared first on French Bulldog Owner.

However, in older dogs they can lead to health problems and a reduced life expectancy. For pet owners it’s important to know whether you can insure a dog with a heart murmur. Here’s our short answer.

You can’t insure a dog with a pre-existing condition such as a heart murmur. No insurer will offer coverage if your pet has already been diagnosed with this problem by a vet. However, some policies will cover this condition, providing the policy is taken out before diagnosis.

Does pet insurance cover heart murmur treatment?

As described above, in order to be covered for this condition you will need to have a pet insurance policy in place before your dog has developed a condition and been diagnosed.

It’s also very common for young puppies to have minor murmurs before they reach 4 months old, and those will disappear in most cases.

In cases such as this, providing your older dog’s current heart murmur condition is un-related to any issues it had as a puppy, you should be covered by pet insurance.

However, not all pet insurance policies are the same.

If you are taking out an insurance policy on your dog, which you should by default, then please check the terms and conditions to make sure it covers heart conditions.

If you have an existing pet insurance policy that doesn’t cover heart disease and related conditions, you cannot buy a new policy to then pay for diagnostics and treatment once the murmur has been discovered.

Our advice is to always make sure that you have the very best coverage for your dog, and you can see which ones we currently rate and recommend on our pet insurance comparison pages.

To conclude, it won’t be possible for you to take out a pet insurance policy in the UK to treat a pre-existing condition.

Dog heart murmur treatment costs

Treating a dog with a heart murmur can be very expensive, and without adequate pet insurance, the costs will soon mount up if you are having to pay from your own pocket.

The tests and treatments involved, with predicted 2018 costs, can include: 

• Blood test – £90
• Heartworm test – £80
• Chest x-ray – £400
• Electrocardiogram (ECG) – £300
• Echocardiogram (ultrasound exam) – £300
• Blood pressure tests – £60
• Heart murmur drugs – dependent on drug

Please note, costs will vary depending on the size of your dog, where you live, and who your vet is. The costs above were estimated by calling 3 vets in the south of England in 2018 for a large Labrador and taking averages. 

Dog heart murmur symptoms and causes

There are a number of conditions that can lead to a heart murmur, all which create turbulence all the blood flow through your dog’s heart. 

The most common reasons for a heart murmur to develop can include: 

• Weakened heart muscle walls (dilated cardiomyopathy)
• Heart wall defects
• Blockages in the heart’s valves
• Heartworm disease
• Infection in the heart valves (endocarditis)
• Tumours

It won’t always be obvious that your dog has a heart problem, and in many cases the diagnosis will be made when they are a puppy.

It could mean your puppy has a congenital heart problem or could be something that will disappear by the time they reach 4 months old.

If the heart murmur hasn’t resolved by that age, then your vet will recommend more testing followed by a program of treatment.

There are symptoms you should look out for as these could lead to health problems (here’s a larger list).

• Frequent and prolonged coughing
• Breathing difficulties
• Rapid or noisy breathing
• Lack of desire for exercise
• Lethargy and tiredness
• Losing consciousness and fainting
• Grey or blue gums
• Bloated belly

If at any point your dog displays any of these symptoms you should book an appointment with your vet immediately for a thorough examination. 

Are heart murmurs in dogs serious?

Not always.

Whilst they might sound serious, in some cases it can simply be what’s called an innocent heart murmur.

Do heart murmurs in dogs go away?

Innocent heart murmurs will resolve themselves over time and are more common in younger dogs being graded between 1 and 3 in seriousness (view all grades lower down the page).

In fact, a study in 2015 of several thousand dogs found that only 0.13% of dogs evaluated actually had a congenital heart defect.

However, with louder murmurs graded between 4 to 6 should always be properly evaluated by a vet, in most cases requiring heart scans and chest x-rays.

Louder and more serious murmurs are not easily treated and will often lead to more serious heart problems.

Does a heart murmur always lead to death?

If your vet has diagnosed a heart murmur it doesn’t always mean that it will lead to death.

Some dogs can live perfectly happy lives without developing any serious problems. But that won’t always be the case, and life expectancy will depend on the cause of the murmur.

The most serious cases can lead onto heart failure, with a lot of coughing and a reluctance or inability to exercise properly.

Even with these symptoms, it might still be possible for your dog to have a long life, but it’s different for each animal on a case by case basis.

In the majority of cases though, a heart murmur will prove fatal in most dogs if it hasn’t disappeared by the age of 4 months.

How long can a dog live with a heart murmur?

Thankfully there are certain drugs which can help prolong the life of your dog, but it will need to be diagnosed and administered early on in their lives. 

There are different heart murmur grades depending on the severity of the condition, which have varying degrees of life expectancy attached to them.

Your vet will be able to quickly grade the seriousness of the murmur by listening to your dog’s heart using a stethoscope.

Vets will be listening for noises which are caused by turbulent blood flow. The noise is sometimes described “lub-swish-dub” sound, rather than the typical “whooshing” or “lub-dub” when heard through a stethoscope. 

• Grade 1: This is a very soft and quiet murmur that is almost undetectable.
• Grade 2: This is a soft murmur that can be easily heard by a vet.
• Grade 3: This is a low to moderate noise.
• Grade 4: This is a moderate to loud noise.
• Grade 5: This will be loud enough to make your dog’s chest vibrate.
• Grade 6: This can be heard without listening directly on the chest wall. 

If your dog falls into the 1 to 2 grades you don’t need to worry at the moment as it’s unlikely they have a serious heart problem and can live just like any normal dog should.

However, your vet will still recommend testing them every year to check for any changes in severity. 

At grade 3, your dog will still look and behave outwardly fit and well but could be at risk of becoming ill very soon. At this point it’s likely that your vet will recommend a heart scan, which can be very expensive without adequate pet insurance.

The heart scan will let your vet measure the size of your dog’s heart, allowing for the correct drugs and treatment to be prescribed before possible heart failure.

The higher grades of murmur will almost certainly mean that your dog’s life expectancy is dramatically reduced.

However, there are special drugs available which can reduce heart failure risk by up to 30% and sometime lead to an increased life expectancy of another year at least. 

In terms of life expectancy, it will vary from dog to dog, and it’s something that your vet will be able to advise on once your pet has been fully checked and diagnosed.

Are certain breeds more susceptible to heart problems?

A study conducted in 2017 looked at congenital heart defects in dogs, with the aim of finding out whether any particular breeds were more at risk.

The retrospective study conducted in Poland examined medical records of dogs who had undergone a cardiological examination and found the following breeds to be the most affected:

• Bull Terriers – 10%
• Boxers – 9%
• German Shepherds – 6%
• Yorkshire Terriers – 6%
• French Bulldogs – 5%

There’s no doubt that early recognition of a congenital heart defect is important for receiving effective treatment and care.

If you do own any of the breeds above, it would be sensible to look at finding pet insurance that will cover heart conditions and defects.

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