Giant Breeds Have Giant Problems
Nobody warns you that Saint Bernards are basically medical disasters waiting to happen. They're sweet, gentle giants with the worst genetics imaginable.
Hip Dysplasia Hits Early and Hard
Baxter's hip X-rays looked like a car accident. Both hip joints were malformed, with bone grinding against bone.
The orthopedic surgeon explained that Saint Bernards grow so fast their joints can't keep up. Puppies gain 100 pounds in their first year. Their hips just can't handle that growth rate.
Surgery was the only option. Total hip replacement on both sides. $7,000 per hip.
But here's the kicker: we had to wait six months between surgeries. Baxter couldn't handle anesthesia for both hips at once. Too risky.
So for six months, he limped around on one good hip and one destroyed hip. Pain medication helped, but I could see him struggling every day.
The second surgery went fine, but recovery was brutal. Twelve weeks of restricted activity for a dog who just wanted to play in the snow.
Total cost: $14,000 for both hips. Plus physical therapy, pain medication, and follow-up visits.
Bloat Risk Comes With The Barrel Chest
Six months after the hip surgeries, Baxter started acting restless after dinner. Pacing around, trying to vomit but nothing came up.
I'd learned about bloat from other Saint Bernard owners. Deep-chested breeds are prone to gastric torsion.
Emergency vet visit at 10 PM. Thankfully it was just gas, not full torsion. But the vet warned that Baxter was at high risk.
She recommended prophylactic gastropexy. Basically tacking his stomach to his ribs so it can't twist. Cost: $2,500.
I asked if it was really necessary. She said Saint Bernards have a 20% lifetime risk of bloat. Without surgery, bloat is usually fatal.
So we scheduled another surgery. More anesthesia, more recovery time, more money.
But now I sleep better knowing Baxter's stomach can't twist. Bloat would have killed him in a few hours.
Breathing Problems and Heat Sensitivity
Baxter has always been a loud breather. Snoring, wheezing, making weird noises. I thought it was normal for the breed.
But during a routine check-up, the vet noticed his breathing was getting worse. His soft palate was too long, partially blocking his airway.
Brachycephalic airway syndrome. Even though Saint Bernards aren't as flat-faced as bulldogs, they still get breathing problems.
Surgery to trim his soft palate was $3,000. But without it, he'd eventually struggle to breathe normally.
The recovery was miserable. Baxter couldn't exercise for weeks. He had to eat soft food and take special precautions in hot weather.
Now he breathes better, but he still overheats easily. Air conditioning bills in summer are brutal. Baxter basically lives in front of the AC from June through September.
Saint Bernard Insurance is Non-Negotiable
Baxter's medical bills taught me that Saint Bernard insurance isn't optional. These dogs have too many expensive problems to risk going without coverage.
Orthopedic Coverage Needs High Limits
My original insurance policy had a $10,000 annual limit. Baxter's hip surgeries cost $14,000. Not even close to enough.
Joint problems are basically guaranteed with Saint Bernards. Hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, cruciate ligament tears. All expensive to fix.
I switched to a policy with $50,000 annual limits. Sounds like overkill until you're facing multiple orthopedic surgeries.
Some policies have separate limits for different types of surgery. But with Saint Bernards, everything is connected. Hip problems lead to knee problems. Knee problems lead to back problems.
Find a policy with one high overall limit instead of multiple small limits by condition.
Hereditary Conditions Must Be Covered
A lot of insurance companies exclude hereditary conditions. But Saint Bernard health problems are almost all genetic.
Hip dysplasia: hereditary. Bloat risk: hereditary. Breathing problems: hereditary.
What's the point of insurance that doesn't cover the breed's most common problems?
I specifically looked for policies that cover hereditary conditions without exclusions. Costs more, but it's the only way to get meaningful coverage.
Make sure the policy covers conditions that develop after enrollment, not just conditions present at birth. Most problems show up later in life.
Emergency Surgery Coverage is Critical
Saint Bernards have a lot of surgical emergencies. Bloat, cruciate ligament tears, breathing crises.
Emergency surgery costs whatever the hospital wants to charge. No negotiating, no shopping around.
Baxter's gastropexy was considered elective, but if he'd had actual bloat, emergency surgery would have been $8,000-12,000.
Some policies have lower limits for emergency care. But emergency surgery is often the most expensive kind.
Look for policies with the same high limits for emergency and elective procedures. You don't want to be calculating costs when your dog is dying.