The French Bulldog Health Reality Check
I picked Biscuit because he was cute and small. Perfect apartment dog, right? Nobody mentioned the medical bills.
The first sign of trouble was his breathing. He sounded like Darth Vader after walking up one flight of stairs. I thought it was funny.
Breathing Problems Are No Joke
Biscuit's snoring was adorable until it wasn't.
He started turning blue during our morning walks. Just from walking. Not running, not playing. Walking.
The emergency vet explained that his airways were basically collapsing. French Bulldogs have tiny airways stuffed into flat faces. It's like trying to breathe through a cocktail straw.
Surgery to fix it was $4,200. The vet showed me before and after pictures of other dogs' airways. The difference was incredible.
My coworker's Frenchie had the same surgery last year. She said it was like getting a new dog. He could actually play fetch without collapsing.
But here's the thing. Even after surgery, Biscuit still can't handle heat. We live in Texas. Good luck with that.
Spinal Problems Come Out of Nowhere
I thought back problems were for old dogs. Biscuit was only 18 months old when it happened.
He jumped off the couch like he had a thousand times before. This time he landed wrong and started screaming.
I've never heard a dog scream before. It's horrifying.
The neurologist said it was IVDD. Intervertebral disc disease. Basically, the discs in his spine are defective. Like a genetic time bomb.
Emergency surgery was $12,000. Without surgery, he'd be paralyzed from the waist down.
The recovery was brutal. Two months of crate rest. No jumping, no stairs, no playing. Try explaining that to a puppy.
Even now, two years later, I watch him like a hawk. Every jump makes me nervous.
Skin Allergies Never Stop
As if breathing and spine problems weren't enough, Biscuit started getting rashes.
His face wrinkles turned red and gross. The smell was awful. I thought he just needed a bath.
Turns out French Bulldogs are allergic to everything. Food, grass, dust, you name it.
The dermatologist put him on special food, medicated shampoo, and allergy shots. The monthly cost is about $200. Every month. Forever.
My neighbor has a Frenchie with worse allergies. She spends more on her dog's skincare than I spend on my own.
The vet said some French Bulldogs need allergy testing. That's another $800 just to figure out what they're allergic to.
What I Learned About French Bulldog Insurance
After spending $15,000 in one year, I got serious about insurance research.
Most Policies Exclude Breed-Specific Problems
Here's the fun part. A lot of insurance companies won't cover the exact problems French Bulldogs are famous for.
Breathing issues? Breed-specific exclusion. Spinal problems? Sometimes covered, sometimes not. Depends on how they word it.
I called one company asking about IVDD coverage. The agent said, 'We don't cover genetic conditions.' When I asked what they DO cover in French Bulldogs, there was a long pause.
Finally found a policy that specifically covers brachycephalic syndrome and spinal surgery. Costs 40% more than basic coverage, but what's the point of cheap insurance that doesn't cover anything?
Get Insurance Before You Need It
This sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised how many people wait.
I got insurance after Biscuit's first breathing episode. Too late. That was already considered a pre-existing condition.
So when he needed surgery, I was on my own.
The moral of the story? Get insurance the day you bring your puppy home. Before any symptoms show up. Before any vet visits mention potential problems.
My friend got lucky. Her Frenchie's insurance was active for six months before his back problems started. They covered the whole $8,000 surgery minus the deductible.
Emergency Coverage Is Essential
French Bulldogs have emergencies. It's just a fact of life.
Heat stroke, breathing crises, sudden paralysis. These things happen at 2 AM on weekends when emergency vets charge triple.
When Biscuit hurt his back, the emergency clinic wanted $2,000 just to see him. Before any treatment. Just to look at him and confirm he needed surgery.
Make sure your policy covers emergency visits without a bunch of restrictions. Some policies only cover 'true emergencies' but won't tell you how they define that.
I learned to ask specific questions. What if my dog can't breathe? What if he's suddenly paralyzed? What if it's 3 AM on Christmas?
The answers tell you everything about whether the policy is worth anything.