The Reality of Owning a Bulldog
Nobody tells you how expensive these dogs can be until you're staring at a vet bill.
The first time Diesel couldn't catch his breath after playing fetch, I panicked. He was only 2 years old. Shouldn't he be able to run around without gasping?
Breathing Problems Start Early
I kept making excuses for Diesel's breathing. He's just out of shape. It's hot outside. He's excited.
But when he started turning blue around the gums during a walk, I finally admitted something was wrong.
The vet explained brachycephalic syndrome like I was an idiot. Which I guess I was. Flat faces mean breathing problems. Pretty simple.
Surgery to fix his airways was going to cost $3,500. For one dog. To breathe normally.
My neighbor went through the same thing with her Bulldog, Meatball. She said the surgery changed his whole personality. He could actually play without collapsing after five minutes.
I started researching insurance that night.
Hip Problems Hit Young
Just when I thought we had the breathing thing figured out, Diesel started limping.
He was only 3. Still acted like a puppy most days. But getting up from his bed started taking forever.
The X-rays showed hip dysplasia. In both hips.
The vet showed me the pictures, pointing at bones that didn't fit together right. She kept saying how common it is in Bulldogs. Great timing for that information.
Surgery for both hips was going to be around $8,000. Without complications.
That's when I really understood why people get pet insurance. Not for the little stuff, but for the big scary bills that come out of nowhere.
Skin Issues Never End
If it's not one thing, it's another with Bulldogs.
Diesel started getting these weird rashes between his wrinkles. The vet said it was just allergies. Just allergies that required special shampoo, prescription food, and monthly shots.
The monthly bills started adding up. $200 here, $150 there. It doesn't sound like much until you realize it's every single month.
My friend Lisa has a Bulldog with worse skin problems. She spends about $300 a month just keeping her dog comfortable. That's more than some people's car payments.
What I Learned About Bulldog Insurance
After spending thousands on Diesel, I finally got smart about insurance. Wish I'd started sooner.
Not All Policies Cover Breathing Problems
Here's something that caught me off guard. Some insurance companies won't cover breathing issues in flat-faced dogs. They call it a breed-specific condition.
So they'll happily take your money every month, but when your Bulldog needs the most common surgery for their breed, suddenly it's not covered.
I called around to different companies asking specifically about brachycephalic syndrome coverage. Most customer service people had no idea what I was talking about.
Finally found a policy that specifically lists breathing surgeries as covered. Costs more, but at least I know what I'm getting.
Pre-Existing Conditions Are Tricky
This one's frustrating. If your Bulldog already shows signs of breathing problems, most companies will call that pre-existing.
But here's the thing. Most Bulldogs show some breathing issues as puppies. So when exactly are you supposed to get insurance?
I got lucky because Diesel's breathing hadn't been officially diagnosed yet. The vet had mentioned it but never put it in his file as a problem.
If you're thinking about getting a Bulldog, get insurance before you even pick up the puppy. Seriously.
Emergency Coverage Matters More Than You Think
Bulldogs overheat fast. Like, scary fast.
Last summer, Diesel had a heat stroke episode at the dog park. We rushed him to the emergency clinic at 10 PM on a Saturday.
Emergency visits cost double. Triple on weekends. The bill was $1,200 just to cool him down and monitor him overnight.
Thank god I had insurance by then. Still had to pay the deductible, but it could have been so much worse.
Now I keep the emergency clinic number saved in my phone. And I don't take Diesel out when it's above 75 degrees. Maybe I'm being paranoid, but one heat stroke was enough.