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Top 9 Pet Insurance Plans For Boston Terriers (2024)

By: Kelli Brinegar
For more than five years, Kelli Brinegar has been using her ability to write and her passion for research to tell the tale of what cats are thinking and why. She has provided care to more than 30 cats in her lifetime.Read more
| January 3, 2024
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Always dressed in their tuxedo best, Boston Terriers are happy little pups who love to run and play but also enjoy their lazy cuddle time on the couch. And while they’re gentle spirits, these black and white cuties can be a little stubborn. No matter how much you try to tell your Boston Terrier it’s for their own good, that stubborn streak probably likes to show itself at the vet’s office!

Beyond poking and prodding, your pup may get stressed about the vet because they worry about bills just like you do. While you’ll never quite tame your Boston Terrier’s obstinate ways, there might be a way to soothe their money worries. A quality pet insurance plan for Boston Terriers could give your pup less to stress about, as you’ll be spending less on medical care and more on treats! While your dog bestie is happy about more food money in the budget, you can worry less about an emergency or sudden illness draining your bank account when you’ve got the right plan in place. To help you find the best pet insurance plan for your Boston Terrier, we’ve created a free and easy-to-use quote comparison tool to simplify the insurance hunt.

Compare The Top 9 Pet Insurance Plans for Your Boston Terrier Using our Free No-Obligation Quote Tool below

The simplest way to compare pet insurance prices is to use our tool below. The comparison tool will show you quotes from the top 9 pet insurance carriers, including Trupanion, Pets Best, Lemonade, ManyPets, FIGO, HealthyPaws, Prudent Pet, Spot, and Embrace pet insurance.

How Much Does Pet Insurance for a Boston Terrier Cost?

Below are some sample pet insurance plans for a 1-year-old male Boston Terrier using the zip code 75001 (Texas) as an example.

Ultimately, your plan’s premium will depend on several factors, including your dog’s age, size, and breed, as well as where you live. You also want to know what type of coverage your plan has and if it will help with Boston Terrier-specific health problems. Let’s get more into those medical conditions and how much you can expect to pay to treat them.

pet insurance for Boston terriers

Common Health Problems Associated With Boston Terriers

Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS)

Because Boston Terriers have flatter faces, they can struggle with extreme breathing difficulties due to narrow nostrils, nasal bone deformities, an oversized soft palate, and even a narrow esophagus. If your Boston Terrier breathes loudly, loses its breath while eating, or doesn’t have any stamina, it could be suffering from BOAS. Severe obstruction to the airways can cause dogs to collapse from over-exertion or overheating.

Eye Problems

Boston Terriers are prone to painful eye problems that require treatment, or your dog runs the risk of permeant damage that could cause blindness. Some of the common eye problems in Boston Terriers are:

  • Glaucoma – occurs when fluid in the eyeball increases, causing pressure and discomfort
  • Hereditary Juvenile Cataracts – a genetic form of cataracts that presents in puppies and younger dogs
  • Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (dry eye) – a condition in which the eye does not produce enough moisture or tears
  • Entropion – occurs when the eyelid rolls inward, causing eyelashes to rub against the eye
  • Cherry Eye – inflammation of the eyelid that causes it to swell and bulge from the corner of the eye
  • Distichiasis – abnormal growth of eyelashes that can cause lashes to poke and scratch the eye
  • Corneal Ulcers – a painful erosion of the cornea typically caused by trauma to the eye

Epilepsy

Boston Terriers are genetically prone to idiopathic epilepsy, meaning they suffer from seizures with no known cause. This condition requires lifelong management by a veterinary team and a dedicated dog parent. As seizures with unknown roots plague many breeds, the University of Missouri’s Veterinary Health Center is currently involved in research to shed light on epilepsy in dogs. It should also be mentioned that Bostons are susceptible to brain tumors, which can also cause seizures.

Cushing’s Disease

Cushing’s Disease occurs in dogs when the body produces too much cortisol because of a tumor in the pituitary gland. A smaller number of cases involve tumors on the adrenal glands. The hallmark symptoms are increased thirst, urination, appetite, and changes to the skin and fur. This disease can cause high blood pressure, diabetes, and kidney infections and even elevate your dog’s risk of blood clots when left untreated.

Cancer

Some dog breeds are more likely to develop cancer, and the Boston Terrier is one of them. The two types of cancer most commonly seen in Bostons are:

Typical Costs Of Treating Health Issues In Boston Terriers and How Pet Insurance Can Help

Taking your dog to the vet for annual visits is a bill you expect. But when the vet discovers a problem or an emergency strikes, medical bills can stack up fast. With the right pet insurance plan for your Boston Terrier, you’ll be financially ready to deal with any bills, leaving you to concentrate on your best friend’s recovery.

Take a look at what it costs to treat the common health problems in Boston Terriers mentioned above:

  • BOAS Costs: Diagnostics for BOAS can involve expensive scans, with X-rays running around $200, CT scans averaging $1,000, and MRIs that can set you back up to $5000 depending on where you live. Once diagnosed, Bulldogs with severe BOAS often require surgery to reconstruct the soft palate and nasal deformities. Depending on the severity, these procedures can start at $200 and climb to almost $3,000.
  • Eye Problem Costs: To relieve the dry eyes of Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca, the vet will prescribe eye drops to relieve symptoms. These drops will cost an average of $400 yearly and are a must to keep your Boston Terrier’s eyes feeling fine. Glaucoma can be treated with medications, too, but your Boston Terrier will need surgery to reduce the fluid when it reaches a certain point. Glaucoma surgery averages $1,500. Surgery for cataracts isn’t cheap either, costing somewhere between $3,000 and $4,000. The average cost for eye surgeries to fix issues like cherry eye, entropion, and distichiasis, can range from $400 to $2,000. Repairing corneal ulcers is another pricey procedure with a bill that can easily reach $1,000 and more. The final price of eye surgery will depend on the severity and location. But, one thing is sure, having pet insurance before an eye problem occurs is a smart foresight that will protect your finances from high vet bills.
  • Epilepsy Costs: Because epilepsy isn’t a cut-and-dry condition to diagnose, your vet might perform a full batch of tests like bloodwork, a CT scan, or even an MRI, which can cost anywhere from $2,500 to $5,000 depending on where you live. Once a treatment plan has been established, prescription meds can cost $200 to $5,000 a year. And while your Boston Terrier adjusts to their meds, you may be required to do blood tests every month before moving to a twice-yearly process. Between diagnosis, treatment, and vet maintenance, epilepsy is pretty pricey to treat. Pet insurance can help maintain your finances by cutting test and prescription costs when dealing with this tricky but common health problem in Boston Terriers.
  • Cushing’s Disease Costs: Diagnosing Cushing’s Disease in Boston Terriers is an expensive process that requires a host of bloodwork and other specific testing. An ultrasound may also be necessary, which brings the total for diagnosis to roughly $1,500. For tumors that prove operable, surgery costs can run anywhere from $2,500 to $10,000 as a board-certified specialist usually performs the procedure. Radiation also proves effective in shrinking tumors and costs an average of $5,000. Treating Cushing’s can also involve monthly meds that run between $50 and $200. Having pet insurance for your Boston Terrier when facing Cushing’s Disease can ease financial concerns and remove the need to make heartbreaking decisions when facing an impossibly high vet bill.
  • Cancer Costs: When cancer is suspected, diagnostic costs for bloodwork, scans, and exploratory surgery can range from $200 to more than $1,500. Once the diagnosis comes, the treatment begins, and costs start mounting with surgery that averages $1,500, radiation prices of $2,000-$6,000, and chemotherapy costs that can climb to $5,000 depending on severity. If your dog is diagnosed with brain cancer, these costs will be higher. Additional prescriptions to help with side effects of treatment can average $50 monthly, but quality pet insurance plans for Boston Terriers can reduce cancer costs significantly.

What Is Pet Health Insurance, And Why Do I Need It For My Boston Terrier?

Pet health insurance works very similarly to human health insurance. Your policy quote will range in monthly price, depending on your dog’s breed, age, and where you live. Typically, you’ll spend around $15-$66 per month as a pet parent.

Pet insurance is mainly about peace of mind, knowing you won’t be totally overwhelmed in case of an emergency. Enrolling even when your dog is young and healthy will ensure you have plenty of coverage when they need expensive medical care later. If you choose a plan more suited to your dog’s particular breed, you’ll be more prepared when something happens later on in their life.

pet insurance for Boston terriers

Some plans cover accidents and illnesses, while others only cover accidents. Certain plans do cover breed-specific illnesses, and others do not. It all depends on what type of coverage you choose. With our free pet insurance comparison tool, you can get quotes from multiple insurance companies with no obligation to commit.

Whatever plan you choose, you’ll feel better knowing you can take care of your dog when they need you most. Plus, you won’t have to suddenly shell out thousands of dollars. Learn more about how pet insurance works here.

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