How Much For That Deformed Dog in the Window?

How much for that intentionally deformed dog in the window?

If it's a Boston Terrier, perhaps quite a lot. From the Embrace Pet Insurance web site:

Bostons are also among the flat-faced, or brachycephalic, dog breeds. While endearing, flat faces bring with them many health problems, some minor such as snoring and snuffling, and some major, including life-threatening breathing difficulties that may require surgery to correct, if they can be corrected at all.

The flat face is associated with a condition known as hemivertebrae, a malformation of the bones of the spine. Symptoms start in puppyhood and include limping, staggering and a lack of coordination. The puppy can end up paralyzed, and surgery is often the only treatment.

The flat face of the Boston Terrier also puts his eyes at risk of a number of injuries and diseases. There are 20 eye disorders that are known to occur in the Boston, and they're the number one reported health problem in the breed. Also, a small but significant number of Bostons are deaf in one ear, and some are completely deaf. It's important to discover this when the dog is as young as possible, because it will affect his training and socialization at a critical age.

Finally, Boston Terriers do share one problem with the many other small breeds: kneecaps that can easily slip out of place, a condition known as luxating patellas, which requires surgery to repair.

Condition - Risk Profile - Cost to Diagnose and Treat

• Patellar Luxation - Medium - $1,500-$3,000
• Craniomandibular Osteopathy - High - $500-$2,000
• Mitral Valve Disease - Medium - $500-$2,000
• Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease - Medium - $1,000-$3,000
• Cataracts - High - $1,500-$5,000
• Cushing's Disease - High - $3,000-$10,000

Pet insurance for Boston Terriers costs more than for mixed breed dogs. This is because Boston Terrier are much more likely than mixed breed dogs to make claims for hereditary conditions that are expensive to treat.

Embrace pet insurance plans offer full coverage for all breed-specific conditions (excluding those that are pre-existing) to which Boston Terriers are susceptible. The best time to get pet insurance for your Boston Terrier is when he’s a healthy puppy. You can’t predict what will happen in the future, and pet insurance is the one thing you can’t get when you need it the most.