French Bulldog owners, the most expensive breed, claim an average of $1,641 each year for healthcare costs.
That's 57% more than the overall average ($1,047) and an extra $870 per year compared to Border Collies, the breed with the lowest annual healthcare costs, according to PetSUre's annual Health Monitor report, which analyses data from the policies of more than 700,000 pets.
Over an average lifespan of about 11 years (per the National Institute of Health) that means French Bulldogs on average accumulate more than $18,000 in total medical expenses, compared to $8,480 for Border Collies.
Dr Simone Maher, PetSure’s Chief Veterinary Officer, explained the characteristic flat faces of Bulldogs are the root of a lot of these problems.
"[French Bulldogs] often require surgical correction for respiratory problems," she told the Savings Tip Jar podcast.
"[This research] is a really good illustration of why it's so important if you're thinking about adopting a dog, you really need to do your research."
Dog breeds with the most expensive healthcare
Breed Average Annual Claim French Bulldog $1,641 Beagle $1,428 Rottweiler $1,341 Miniature Schnauzer $1,296 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel $1,259 Based on PetSure research
How pet insurance works
Like any other type of insurance, pet insurance means making regular payments so when you take your pet to the vet, you can often claim some of the bill back.
The extent of coverage varies between policies - for example, CommBank distributes two different PetSure insurance polices, Classic Cover (where you can get up to 70% or 80% back on eligible bills, up to $15,000 per year) and Plus Cover (up to 80% or 90% and limited to $30,000).
Premium costs can vary depending on the breed and your pets health, but according to another insurer (Pets on Me), Australian pet owners can expect to pay between $60 and $120 each month.
Dr Maher says that since it can be hard to predict the extent of treatment costs, pet insurance can give owners important peace of mind.
"When you do go into the clinic, it's one less thing that you need to worry about," she told the podcast.
"You can just focus on working with the vet to get the best outcome for your pet."
Dog breeds with the cheapest healthcare
Breed Average Annual Claim Border Collie $771 Cavoodle $776 Kelpie $793 Dachshund $795 Groodle $813 Based on PetSure research
How to save money on pet insurance
As you'd expect given this data, pet insurers sometimes discriminate on premiums based on the breed - Border Collie owners can expect significantly lower premiums than French Bulldog owners, all else being equal.
Health is another important consideration in calculating premiums though, and Dr Maher said there are plenty of preventative measures any pet owner can take to help keep their fur baby healthy.
"Early intervention almost always will be more straightforward to resolve than if you keep delaying it thinking, 'Oh I'll just see how it goes, I'll just see if the lump gets any bigger," she told the podcast.
"Just like with humans, healthy diet, making sure [your pet] is meeting all of their nutritional needs, excercise as well.
"One of the things that people underestimate the impact of in terms of their pet's health is obesity, that really can contribute to a lot of different, sometimes unexpected medical conditions.
"Particularly if its a dog, making sure they're getting regular exercise and keeping them at a lean, normal bodyweight is really important."
Dr Maher also recommended finding a vet telehealth service to call with any issues before rushing to the vet, especially after hours.
Picture from Joe Caione on Unsplash
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