Need to know
- Brachycephalic dogs are a popular choice for urban pets
- Dogs with flat faces are prone to numerous health conditions that are costly to treat
- We reveal the pet insurance policies that give good value for money for these snort-snouted snufflers
Flat-faced breeds are rising in popularity in Australia. In fact, in 2024, the French bulldog was the fifth most popular dog in Australia, and it's easy to see why. It's hard not to love their wide-eyed wrinkled faces, and cute little trot, not to mention their highly social nature and suitability as an urban companion.
But unfortunately, the sweet faces of pugs, Frenchies, Boston terriers and the like come with a predisposition for a swathe of health concerns. The most common being a difficulty breathing known as brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome, or BOAS; but also eye, skin, spinal, and gastrointestinal conditions.
In 2024, the French bulldog was the fifth most popular dog in Australia
And, as anyone with a pet can tell you, veterinary treatment does not come cheap. We explore the best way to financially manage the treatment of these costly companions, and crunch the numbers to reveal the best value pet insurance policies for brachycephalic dogs
On this page:
- What does brachycephalic mean?
- What problems do brachycephalic dogs have?
- Do you need pet insurance for a brachycephalic dog?
- How much does pet insurance for brachycephalic dogs cost?
- What is the best pet insurance for brachycephalic dogs?
What does brachycephalic mean?
Brachycephalic literally means short-skulled, and is the term given to dogs with a flat-faced, or snub-nose appearance like pugs, French bulldogs, British bulldogs, Shih Tzu, boxers and Boston terriers.
Over time these breeds have been selectively bred for their flat faces, and in some cases short curly tails.
What problems do brachycephalic dogs have?
BOAS
Selective breeding for extreme brachycephaly has resulted in a respiratory condition known as BOAS, caused by excess soft tissues in the respiratory tract and structural abnormalities. The average cost to treat BOAS in 2024 was $3174, with a maximum cost of $29,775, according to pet insurance underwriter Petsure.
Symptoms of BOAS include noisy, laboured breathing, snoring, exercise and heat intolerance, sleep disturbances, and even fainting in severe cases. It can also cause gastrointestinal issues such as gagging, regurgitation and vomiting.
Skin conditions
The wrinkles and skin folds of brachycephalic dogs can encourage bacterial and fungal growth, making them more susceptible to infections like skin fold dermatitis, particularly around the face and tail.
They're also predisposed to other skin conditions like allergies. In fact, flat-faced breeds are twice as likely as non-flat-faced breeds to suffer from skin allergies. In 2024, treatment for skin allergies cost $815, on average with a maximum of $16,935.
Eye conditions
The protruding eyes of flat-faced dogs can struggle to close completely and are at risk of developing corneal ulcers, pigmentary keratitis, and chronic dry eye – a collection of symptoms known as brachycephalic ocular syndrome, or BOS.
Brachycephalic dog owners are six times more likely to claim for corneal ulceration than owners of other breeds, the average treatment cost of which is over $1000, with a maximum claim of $19,420.
Spinal issues
Small brachycephalic dog breeds like the pug and French and English bulldogs suffer from a high prevalence of spinal malformations such as scoliosis and intervertebral disc disease, which are sometimes associated with neurological symptoms and can affect limb function.
Dental and gastrointestinal problems
The small jaws of flat-faced breeds often mean crowded teeth, which are harder to keep clean and therefore result in more dental issues than other breeds. The level of dental cover varies from policy to policy so make sure you read your policy disclosure statement (PDS) to understand what you are and aren't covered for.
These dogs are also more likely to swallow excess air which results in them being 20 times more likely to be treated for hiatal or diaphragmatic hernias than non-flat faced breeds at an average cost of over $5000. Symptoms of these hernias include vomiting, regurgitation and acid reflux.
Do you need pet insurance for a brachycephalic dog?
Given the likelihood of having to pay high treatment costs for a flat-faced dog, pet insurance is definitely worth considering.
The range of health conditions that extremely brachycephalic breeds are susceptible to means that keeping these flat-faced fur balls comfortable can be quite a costly experience. It follows, given the risk-based nature of insurance, that they can be pricier to insure as well. So, is pet insurance worth it?
Pet insurance should give you peace of mind in case your pet requires costly veterinary treatment. When you have a breed at high-risk of requiring costly treatment like these ones, it's very important to understand all the terms and conditions of your policy so you're not caught out when you need it most.
It's important to start paying for insurance when your pup is young, before they show symptoms of illness, otherwise that illness might be declared a pre-existing condition
It's also important to start paying for insurance when your pup is young, before they show symptoms of illness, otherwise that illness might be declared a pre-existing condition, for which cover is often limited or excluded. Read more about how to choose a pet insurance policy in our buying guide.
Be aware that often with pet insurance you need to pay upfront for treatment before claiming it back from your insurer. This means that you may need thousands of dollars handy if your pet requires complex treatment. If this is likely to be difficult for you, check with your vet to see whether they have agreements with any insurers that allow you to claim on the spot so you only have to pay the gap.
What about self-insurance?
Sometimes self insurance can work out cheaper in the long run – that's when you save up or invest what you would otherwise pay in insurance premiums and use this to fund your pet's treatment.
The beauty of self insurance is that there are zero restrictions on what you can spend these savings on. But this only works out cheaper when your treatment costs are lower than the balance of your savings account.
If you can afford to set aside a decent sum of money, probably a little more than standard pet insurance premiums, and you're reading the PDS and worried about the ins and outs of what they cover, self insurance could be for you.
How much does pet insurance for brachycephalic dogs cost?
On average, premiums for a three-month-old French bulldog are $173 per month, and $206 for a three-year-old. This is nearly three times what it costs to insure a cavoodle on the same policy.
We analysed 16 different pet insurance brands to find the policies that provide a good level of cover for brachycephalic breeds. We looked for over $20,000 of cover per annum with at least an 80% benefit. We then compared prices for a three-month-old and a three-year-old French bulldog with those for a cavoodle of the same age.
What is the best pet insurance for brachycephalic dogs?
Below, we reveal the best pet insurance policies for brachycephalic dogs.
These policies all include cover for BOAS, as well as some cover for skin conditions, dental illness, eye conditions and intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), and an annual benefit limit of at least $20,000, but make sure you read the PDS to understand the ins and outs of this cover before purchasing a policy.
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Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
