Pet Insurance Cost by Breed

The average monthly premium for an 80%/$250 accident-and-illness plan across all 50 breeds we cover. Sort by price, filter by type, then click into any breed for the full guide.

Methodology: national-average quotes from 12 carriers for a 1-year-old pet. Your actual premium varies by zip code, age, and plan choices.

Showing 50 of 50 breeds

Type:Risk:

	Type			Top Health Risks
Newfoundland dog	dog	Very High	$70–$130/mo	Subaortic Stenosis (SAS), Dilated Cardiomyopathy, Hip Dysplasia	Guide
Bulldog (English) dog	dog	Very High	$60–$100/mo	Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome, Hip Dysplasia, Cherry Eye	Guide
French Bulldog dog	dog	Very High	$55–$95/mo	Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome, Hip Dysplasia, Allergies	Guide
Great Dane dog	dog	Very High	$50–$95/mo	Bloat (GDV), Heart Disease (DCM), Hip Dysplasia	Guide
Bernese Mountain Dog dog	dog	Very High	$50–$90/mo	Cancer (Histiocytic Sarcoma), Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia	Guide
Rottweiler dog	dog	High	$45–$85/mo	Cancer (Osteosarcoma), Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia	Guide
Cane Corso dog	dog	High	$45–$85/mo	Hip Dysplasia, Bloat (GDV), Cherry Eye	Guide
German Shepherd dog	dog	High	$40–$80/mo	Hip Dysplasia, Degenerative Myelopathy, Bloat (GDV)	Guide
Weimaraner dog	dog	High	$45–$80/mo	GDV/Bloat, Hip Dysplasia, Hypothyroidism	Guide
Golden Retriever dog	dog	High	$40–$75/mo	Cancer, Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia	Guide
Boxer dog	dog	High	$40–$75/mo	Cancer, Heart Disease (Cardiomyopathy), Hip Dysplasia	Guide
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dog	dog	Very High	$40–$75/mo	Mitral Valve Disease, Syringomyelia, Hip Dysplasia	Guide
Doberman Pinscher dog	dog	High	$40–$75/mo	Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM), Von Willebrand's Disease, Hip Dysplasia	Guide
Irish Setter dog	dog	Moderate	$35–$70/mo	GDV/Bloat, Hip Dysplasia, Hypothyroidism	Guide
Labrador Retriever dog	dog	Moderate	$35–$65/mo	Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia, Obesity	Guide
German Shorthaired Pointer dog	dog	Moderate	$35–$65/mo	Hip Dysplasia, GDV/Bloat, Lymphedema	Guide
Poodle (Standard) dog	dog	Moderate	$35–$60/mo	Hip Dysplasia, Addison's Disease, Bloat (GDV)	Guide
Dachshund dog	dog	High	$30–$60/mo	Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD), Obesity, Dental Disease	Guide
Cocker Spaniel dog	dog	High	$30–$60/mo	Ear Infections, Eye Conditions (Cataracts, Glaucoma), Hip Dysplasia	Guide
Pembroke Welsh Corgi dog	dog	High	$30–$60/mo	Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD), Hip Dysplasia, Degenerative Myelopathy	Guide
Goldendoodle dog	dog	Moderate	$28–$60/mo	Hip Dysplasia, Ear Infections, Skin Allergies	Guide
Sphynx cat	cat	High	$30–$60/mo	Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), Skin Conditions, Respiratory Infections	Guide
Beagle dog	dog	Moderate	$30–$55/mo	Epilepsy, Hypothyroidism, Cherry Eye	Guide
Siberian Husky dog	dog	Moderate	$30–$55/mo	Hip Dysplasia, Eye Conditions (Cataracts, PRA), Hypothyroidism	Guide
Australian Shepherd dog	dog	Moderate	$30–$55/mo	Hip Dysplasia, Epilepsy, Eye Conditions (Cataracts, CEA)	Guide
American Pit Bull Terrier dog	dog	Moderate	$30–$55/mo	Skin Allergies, Hip Dysplasia, ACL/CCL Tears	Guide
Border Collie dog	dog	Moderate	$28–$55/mo	Hip Dysplasia, Epilepsy, Collie Eye Anomaly	Guide
English Springer Spaniel dog	dog	Moderate	$28–$55/mo	Ear Infections, Hip Dysplasia, Eye Conditions (PRA)	Guide
Persian Cat cat	cat	High	$25–$55/mo	Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome, Eye Conditions	Guide
Scottish Fold cat	cat	High	$28–$55/mo	Osteochondrodysplasia, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, Polycystic Kidney Disease	Guide
Exotic Shorthair cat	cat	High	$30–$55/mo	Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome, Polycystic Kidney Disease, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy	Guide
Yorkshire Terrier dog	dog	Moderate	$25–$50/mo	Dental Disease, Luxating Patella, Collapsed Trachea	Guide
Shih Tzu dog	dog	Moderate	$25–$50/mo	Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome, Eye Problems, Dental Disease	Guide
Miniature Schnauzer dog	dog	Moderate	$25–$50/mo	Pancreatitis, Urinary Stones, Cataracts	Guide
Maine Coon cat	cat	Moderate	$25–$50/mo	Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), Hip Dysplasia, Spinal Muscular Atrophy	Guide
Bengal Cat cat	cat	Moderate	$25–$50/mo	Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), Patellar Luxation	Guide
Bichon Frise dog	dog	Moderate	$25–$50/mo	Atopic Dermatitis (Allergies), Patellar Luxation, Bladder Stones	Guide
Havanese dog	dog	Moderate	$25–$50/mo	Patellar Luxation, Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease, Cataracts	Guide
Devon Rex cat	cat	High	$25–$50/mo	Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, Devon Rex Myopathy, Patellar Luxation	Guide
Pomeranian dog	dog	Moderate	$22–$45/mo	Luxating Patella, Collapsed Trachea, Alopecia X	Guide
Siamese Cat cat	cat	Moderate	$20–$45/mo	Amyloidosis, Asthma, Dental Disease	Guide
Ragdoll Cat cat	cat	Moderate	$25–$45/mo	Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), Bladder Stones, Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)	Guide
British Shorthair cat	cat	Moderate	$22–$45/mo	Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), Polycystic Kidney Disease, Obesity	Guide
Abyssinian cat	cat	Moderate	$22–$45/mo	Renal Amyloidosis, Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency, Progressive Retinal Atrophy	Guide
Norwegian Forest Cat cat	cat	Moderate	$22–$45/mo	Glycogen Storage Disease Type IV (GSD-IV), Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, Hip Dysplasia	Guide
Burmese cat	cat	Moderate	$22–$45/mo	Diabetes Mellitus, Hypokalemia, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy	Guide
Birman cat	cat	Moderate	$22–$45/mo	Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, Congenital Hypotrichosis, Corneal Dermoid	Guide
Chihuahua dog	dog	Moderate	$20–$40/mo	Dental Disease, Luxating Patella, Heart Disease	Guide
Maltese dog	dog	Moderate	$20–$40/mo	Dental Disease, Luxating Patella, Liver Shunts	Guide
Russian Blue cat	cat	Low	$18–$35/mo	Obesity, Urinary Tract Issues, Dental Disease	Guide

How we built this table

Each row reflects the published premium range that VETX collected from all 12 carriers we review for a 1-year-old pet on a standard 80% reimbursement plan with a $250 annual deductible. The low end of the range is the cheapest carrier in our national sample; the high end is the most expensive.

Risk level is independent of price. It reflects the breed's underlying claim profile — hereditary disease prevalence, expected claim severity, and lifespan — based on data we cite in each breed's individual guide. Carriers price risk into premiums but they don't price it identically, which is why two Very High risk breeds can have meaningfully different cost ranges.

The table is a discovery tool, not a quote. For a personalized estimate that accounts for your zip code, your pet's age, and your deductible/reimbursement preferences, use the calculator below.

Get your personalized estimate Or browse all 50 breed guides →

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the average pet insurance cost calculated for each breed?

VETX surveys premium quotes from all 12 major US carriers (Healthy Paws, Lemonade, Embrace, Trupanion, Spot, Nationwide, ASPCA, Pets Best, Figo, MetLife, Pumpkin, Prudent Pet) across a national sample of zip codes for a 1-year-old pet on a standard 80% reimbursement / $250 deductible plan. The published low-to-high range reflects realistic premium variance, not best-case marketing quotes.

Why do some breeds cost so much more to insure than others?

Three factors drive breed-specific pricing: hereditary disease prevalence (e.g. brachycephalic breeds have airway and spinal risk priced in), expected claim severity (large breeds have higher orthopedic surgery costs), and lifespan (longer-lived breeds accumulate more lifetime claims). Carriers price these risks based on their own claims data, which is why French Bulldogs and English Bulldogs sit at the top of the table while mixed breeds and short-lived breeds tend toward the bottom.

Will I actually pay the listed cost?

The range is a national reference, not a quote. Your real premium also depends on zip code (urban areas with higher vet costs run 15–35% above the national average), age at enrollment (every birthday adds 5–15%), deductible/reimbursement choices, and any wellness add-ons. For a personalized estimate use the cost calculator linked at the bottom of this page.

Does breed matter more than zip code for pricing?

For high-risk breeds (Very High and High risk levels) breed dominates — a French Bulldog in rural Alabama still costs more than a Beagle in Manhattan. For Low and Moderate risk breeds, zip code typically matters more than breed. The table is a useful first filter; the personalized calculator handles the geography.

Should I get pet insurance for a high-risk breed?

Yes — the breeds at the top of this table (Very High risk) are exactly the breeds where insurance pays for itself. A single brachycephalic airway surgery for a French Bulldog ($3,000–$8,000) or an IVDD spinal procedure ($6,000–$15,000) typically exceeds 5+ years of premiums. The breeds at the bottom of the table are still worth insuring, but the math is closer to break-even and depends on claim luck.