Before I owned French Bulldogs, I never gave pet insurance a second thought.

I’ve had dogs for more than 20 years, including Huskies and Chihuahuas, and not once did I feel like I needed it. Sure, we had routine vet visits and the occasional illness, but nothing that made me wish I had insurance. It felt like an expense that was completely unnecessary in the grand scheme of things and never ending bills.

That all changed with our Husky.

The Lesson Our Husky Taught Me

Later in life, our Husky was diagnosed with diabetes. Her insulin and supplies quickly became expensive, and that’s when I first started looking into pet insurance.

Unfortunately, I learned an important lesson.

Once a dog has a pre-existing condition, it’s generally too late to purchase insurance that will cover it.

I promised myself that the next puppy we brought home would have pet insurance from day one.

Looking back, it was one of the smartest decisions we’ve ever made.

Zeus’s Broken Leg

Just a few months after bringing Zeus home, he broke his leg in a freak accident.

As any pet owner knows, those phone calls from the veterinarian are terrifying enough without also worrying about how you’re going to pay the bill.

Zeus needed surgery.

The total cost came to around $10,000.

Thankfully, we had already enrolled him in pet insurance. While we still paid our deductible (about $1,000 at the time), the insurance covered the rest.

Without insurance, we would have faced a very difficult financial decision.

Instead, we focused on helping Zeus recover.

It Didn’t Stop There

Zeus’s broken leg wasn’t the only time our insurance came through for us.

Since then, we’ve also used it for:

• Electra’s Giardia treatment
• Zeus’s eye infection
• Spaying and neutering
• Other unexpected veterinary expenses

Every time we’ve needed it, I’ve been thankful we signed up before problems appeared.

Our Experience with Fetch and Pets Best

Over the years, we’ve used both Fetch and Pets Best for our French Bulldogs.

I had a great experience with Fetch. Filing claims was straightforward, customer service was excellent, and reimbursement arrived quickly.

We eventually switched to Pets Best because I receive a discount through my employer.

So far, I’ve been equally happy with the coverage and customer service.

One feature I especially appreciate is that Pets Best offers direct vet pay at participating veterinary clinics. Instead of paying the full bill yourself and waiting for reimbursement, the insurance company can pay the veterinarian directly when eligible.

That option can make a huge difference when you’re facing an expensive emergency.

Why French Bulldogs Make Pet Insurance Worth It

French Bulldogs are wonderful dogs, but they’re also known for needing more veterinary care than many other breeds.

Whether it’s injuries from their playful personalities, stomach issues, allergies, eye problems, or other health concerns, veterinary costs can add up quickly.

Of course, every dog is different, and no one can predict what medical care their pet will need.

However, if there’s one piece of advice I’d give to a new French Bulldog owner, it’s this:

Don’t wait until something happens.

Buy pet insurance while your puppy is healthy.

Once a condition is diagnosed, insurance typically won’t cover that pre-existing issue. Getting coverage early gives you the best chance of protecting both your dog and your budget.

My Final Thoughts

I never thought I’d be the person recommending pet insurance.

After more than 20 years of owning dogs without it, I assumed it was an unnecessary expense.

Now I can’t imagine owning a French Bulldog without it.

Our policies have saved us thousands of dollars, allowed us to make medical decisions based on what was best for our dogs instead of what we could afford, and given us peace of mind every time an unexpected health issue came up.

For our family, pet insurance hasn’t just paid for itself—it has been one of the best investments we’ve ever made for Zeus and Electra.