Bulldog insurance can be worth it, because bulldogs can sometimes cost you a lot in vet bills.
Before you buy a policy, it helps to compare the main pet insurers that cover bulldogs.
If you own or plan to buy a bulldog, it is worth looking at insurance early, because most policies exclude conditions that already exist when the policy starts.
Vet bills for bulldog-type breeds can climb quickly, because many of them are prone to joint, skin, breathing and eye problems. Pet insurance is one way to spread that cost. Whether it is worth it depends on your budget, your dog’s age and health, and where you live.
Anything can happen to any dog, and bulldogs have more health risks than many breeds. That is why it is worth comparing insurance before you need it.
This guide is about the United States: the three pet insurance companies below sell policies there. If you live elsewhere, prices, rules and even whether pet insurance is sold differ. In the UK, for example, Petplan UK policies are only available to residents of the UK, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. Check which insurers are licensed in your country, and where a policy applies, before comparing.
So you may have questions like do you really need bulldog insurance? Or what will bulldog insurance cost you? What will the bulldog insurance cover? And so on.
Why Do You Need Bulldog Insurance?
Pet insurance is becoming more common. Talking about bulldog insurance, bulldogs are a very sensitive breed with many health problems.
So while looking for the best bulldog insurance company, first find out the reason for getting bulldog insurance. Related reading: health issues.
Bulldogs are majorly known for developing many health issues. As they grow old, the risk of those issues increases and can be challenging to handle.
You don’t know when an emergency can arise. Emergency and specialist vet bills can reach hundreds or thousands of dollars (or the equivalent in your currency) for a single problem, depending on the country and the treatment. Ask your vet for an estimate before treatment so you know what you are facing.
Even when there is no emergency, bulldogs are known for getting various health problems.
Diagnosis and treatment can add up quickly. Insurers do not cover all of it: they usually reimburse a percentage of the bill after a deductible. Fetch, for example, advertises reimbursement of up to 90%.
Some plans cover hereditary and congenital conditions, but usually only if they first show up after the policy starts and any waiting period has passed. Read the exclusions before you buy.
Whether to insure is your decision. This page is general information, not financial or veterinary advice; your vet can tell you which conditions your dog’s breed is prone to.
What Are The Recommendations By The Bulldog Breeders?
Some breeders and kennel clubs offer or suggest a particular insurer, and what is available differs from country to country. Ask your breeder what they recommend and compare it with the options below.
Three Pet Insurance Companies For Bulldogs (US)
- Embrace
- Fetch (formerly Petplan in the US and Canada)
- Healthy Paws
These are well-known US pet insurers. We have not tested them, and this is not a ranking: compare current quotes and read each policy’s terms.
1. Embrace
Embrace sells dog and cat insurance in the US. Its site describes accident and illness cover with optional extras, including a preventative care plan for routine treatments, and says coverage “may not be available for all risks or in all states”. Reimbursement levels, deductibles, annual limits and waiting periods depend on the plan and your state, and we could not confirm current figures, so we do not quote any. Before you buy, ask: is there a longer waiting period for orthopedic problems such as hips and knees? Are conditions common in bulldogs excluded? Is there a cap on what it pays? What happens to the premium as your dog ages?
2. Fetch (formerly Petplan in the US and Canada)
Petplan’s North American business rebranded as Fetch by The Dodo in March 2022, according to Insurance Business Canada, and now trades as Fetch. Fetch sells dog and cat insurance in the US and Canada; its site advertises reimbursement of up to 90% and a waiting period of up to 15 days for accident and illness cover. Deductibles and annual limits depend on the plan you choose. Petplan in the UK is a separate company, and its policies are only available to residents of the UK, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.
3. Healthy Paws
Healthy Paws is a US-based pet insurance business. Chubb agreed in April 2024 to acquire it and described it as serving more than 500,000 dogs and cats in the US. We could not confirm current plan terms from its site, so we do not quote any. Ask about the vet exam it may require when you enrol, waiting periods (including for hip problems), age limits, and whether it pays the vet directly or reimburses you.
Before You Go
It is tough to choose, so you will have to do proper research on it.
Many bulldogs develop health problems as they age. Choose a plan that fits your dog’s needs, and ask your vet what conditions are common for your dog’s breed.
This guide covered three US pet insurers: Embrace, Fetch (formerly Petplan in the US and Canada) and Healthy Paws. None is right for every dog. Compare current quotes for your dog’s age and location, and read the exclusions and waiting periods in the policy itself.
Use the list above as a starting point, not a verdict.
