Mastiffs Are Walking Veterinary Bills
I thought bigger dogs meant fewer problems. Like, how could something that massive be fragile?
Turns out, giant breeds are basically held together with duct tape and prayers.
Bloat Hits Without Warning
Bruno's stomach had twisted completely around. The vet called it gastric torsion. Blood supply was cut off to most of his digestive system.
We had maybe two hours before he'd be dead. No warning, no gradual symptoms. Just sudden, life-threatening emergency.
Emergency surgery cost $9,000. That's the middle-of-the-night price for saving a Mastiff's life.
The surgeon had to untwist Bruno's stomach and tack it to his ribs so it couldn't happen again. Plus treat the tissue damage from lack of blood flow.
Three days in the hospital. IV fluids, pain medication, monitoring. The bill kept growing.
But here's what really got me: the vet said this was normal for the breed. Deep-chested dogs get bloat. It's not if, it's when.
I asked why nobody told me about this when I got Bruno. She said most people don't think about it until it happens.
Well, now I think about it every time Bruno eats dinner. Is he eating too fast? Drinking too much water? Going to exercise too soon?
Joint Problems Started Early
Six months after the bloat surgery, Bruno started walking like an old man. He was only four years old.
Hip dysplasia in both hips. Plus elbow dysplasia. Basically, all his major joints were wearing out.
The orthopedic surgeon said it's common in giant breeds. They grow so fast their joints can't keep up.
Surgery would be $6,000 per hip. Bruno needed both hips done, plus both elbows. We're talking $20,000 in joint surgery.
But there was a catch. Bruno's heart might not handle that much anesthesia. We'd have to space the surgeries months apart.
So Bruno suffered through months of pain and limited mobility while we waited between surgeries.
I started giving him joint supplements, pain medication, and doing physical therapy. The monthly costs added up fast.
By the time we finished all the joint surgeries, I'd spent more on Bruno's medical care than I spent on my car.
Heart Problems Come With The Size
During Bruno's pre-surgery workup, the cardiologist found an irregular heartbeat. Great. Another thing to worry about.
Mastiffs are prone to dilated cardiomyopathy. Their hearts get too big and stop pumping effectively.
Bruno's heart was enlarged but still functioning. We'd need to monitor it every six months to make sure it didn't get worse.
Each cardiac workup cost $800. EKG, echocardiogram, chest X-rays. Every six months for the rest of his life.
The cardiologist prescribed heart medication. $120 per month. Forever.
She said Bruno's heart condition might limit his lifespan. Giant breeds don't live as long anyway, but heart disease makes it worse.
I started calculating the lifetime cost of Bruno's medical care. Joint surgeries, heart monitoring, bloat prevention, emergency fund for the next crisis.
It was terrifying. But what choice did I have? Bruno was family.
What Mastiff Insurance Actually Covers
Bruno's medical bills taught me that Mastiff insurance is essential. These dogs have too many expensive problems to risk going without coverage.
Emergency Surgery Needs Unlimited Coverage
My first insurance policy had a $10,000 annual limit. Bruno's bloat surgery was $9,000. That left $1,000 for the rest of the year.
But Bruno's joint problems started right after the bloat surgery. Same year, more surgeries needed.
I burned through my annual limit in the first emergency. Everything else was out of pocket.
I switched to a policy with unlimited annual coverage. Costs more monthly, but one emergency can bankrupt you.
Make sure your policy doesn't have separate limits for different types of surgery. Bruno needed gastric surgery and orthopedic surgery in the same year.
Hereditary Conditions Can't Be Excluded
Lots of insurance companies won't cover hip dysplasia in Mastiffs because it's hereditary. But hip problems are almost guaranteed in giant breeds.
What's the point of insurance that excludes the most common problem?
I had to shop around to find a policy that covers hereditary conditions. It costs more, but it's the only way to get meaningful coverage.
Some policies cover hereditary conditions but only if they develop after enrollment. Others exclude them entirely.
Read the fine print carefully. Mastiff health problems are mostly genetic, so you need hereditary coverage.
Ongoing Monitoring Costs Add Up
Mastiffs need a lot of routine monitoring. Heart checks, joint X-rays, bloat prevention advice.
My vet wants to see Bruno every three months because of his multiple conditions. Each visit costs $300-500.
Some insurance policies only cover treatment after problems develop. They don't cover monitoring or prevention.
But with Mastiffs, you want to catch problems early. Bruno's heart condition was found during routine screening, before symptoms appeared.
Look for policies that cover diagnostic testing and routine monitoring. Prevention is cheaper than emergency treatment.