On this page:

• What we found: Treatment costs vary, a lot
• Is your vet overcharging?
• Does your pet need all those vaccinations?
• Do you really need premium pet food?
• How much will pet insurance help?
• 11 tips to save on vet bills
• Using VetPay, Afterpay or Zip to pay for vet bills

In Australia, we love our pets – almost seven in 10 (69%) of us own at least one. In fact, more households have a pet than dependent children, and COVID-19 has only seen an increase in dog and cat adoptions as people spend more time at home.

Pets are also important members of our families – we spend an estimated $13 billion on their care every year, with about 20% of ongoing costs associated with vet care. According to Ibis World, the Australian veterinary industry generated about $3.7 billion in revenue in 2019, mostly from tending to household pets.

But with advances in pet medicine, more treatments on offer and some individual veterinary practices being more profit-driven than others, how do you know if you’re paying too much or receiving unnecessary treatments? Will pet insurance save you money? And how can you keep costs down if you’re on a budget?

ÌÇÐÄVlog shadow shop

We decided to investigate pricing a little further. In July 2021, we conducted a small shadow shop of vets in NSW, where we compared prices for a general consultation, and for feline F3 and F5 and canine C5 and C7 vaccines.Ìý

We also asked for the starting cost for a grade 1 dental scale and clean, and a dental X-ray. We did this by randomly selecting vets from urban and rural areas and giving them a call.

What we found: Treatment costs vary, a lot

Unlike with human medicine, there are no Medicare subsidies when it comes to vet care. Owners are on the hook for the cost of their pet’s medical expenses.

It doesn’t help that there are no standard fees for standard services either, and the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) does not provide recommended fee schedules.

Dr Melanie Latter from the AVA says individual vets set prices in line with their overhead costs, and that such costs “are determined on a case by case basis”.

General consultation and vaccinations

• There was some variation in prices for all surveyed procedures, with differences up to $60 for some vaccines.Ìý
• Rural vets were slightly cheaper than their urban counterparts.Ìý
• Vets in upmarket Sydney suburbs were the most expensive, so it may pay to shop around outside your postcode if you’re on a budget.
• The general check-up cost was the same for cats and dogs for all vets we surveyed.Ìý
• Vaccinations for dogs were slightly more expensive than for cats.
• Some vets offered a discount on consultations if you took in multiple pets at the same time.

Dental costs

Things got a bit trickier when we asked about dental costs:

• Quotes ranged from an estimated $300 all the way up to $2000 for a grade 1 scale and clean.Ìý
• Some vets wouldn’t give out a starting price for a dental procedure without having seen the animal’s teeth first.Ìý
• Dental X-rays started at $50 for a single exposure on a quadrant of the mouth, and were up to $450 for a set.

Differences in costs at a glance

The table below shows how much a vet visit costs, based on our shadow shop:

Dental prices difficult to get upfront

All vets were able to disclose prices for a general consultation and vaccinations, but many wouldn’t give prices for dental work.

This is partly a result of a lack of standard pricing regulation, which makes it challenging for pet owners to shop around if their pet needs more complicated care.Ìý

Being required to take the animal in for a consultation before a quote can be given also adds to costs if you want to shop around or get a second opinion, and it adds barriers to competition.

But the reason given for not disclosing prices was due to the varying conditions the animal’s teeth could be in, with procedures for bad teeth being more complicated (and thus more expensive). So not giving a quote over the phone was probably an exercise in caution, rather than any attempt to hoodwink us.

Some veterinary practices also offered us free dental health checks where they could assess the teeth in person and give a more accurate quote. This is a great option if you want to shop around or get a second opinion.

Is your vet overcharging?

According to the AVA 2018 workforce survey, there were about 13,000 registered vets working in Australia and more than 8500 (70%) of these are also registered with the AVA. Vets who register with the AVA are also bound by its code of conduct.Ìý

It is up to individual vets to set prices, prescribe treatments and monitor care based on an animal’s particular circumstances. Practices also have to keep up with equipment and technology advances, as well as rents and other overheads.

“The costs of providing veterinary services can be very high, given that veterinarians have to maintain a fully-equipped and staffed hospital, and there is no equivalent of Medicare in the veterinary sector,” says Dr Latter.Ìý

“Due to the high overheads, treatments can be expensive to provide.”

Unnecessary treatments?

Some treatments, preventative care, or a holistic approach may seem unnecessary to some pet owners. And although over-servicing can happen, “the line between over-servicing and high quality servicing is not actually a line, it is a very fuzzy region,” says Dr Peter Radvan, a veterinary surgeon.Ìý

“What one practice might consider unnecessary, another practice might consider normal procedure, and both could be right!”

According to Dr Radvan, most vets have the animal’s (and owner’s) best interests at heart.Ìý

“As vets, we spend a lot of our time trying to do the best we can for people’s pets, within the constraints of their budgets,” he says. “A client failing to appreciate how expensive good pet care can be is far more likely to happen than over-servicing.

“Part of the problem is that more and more pet owners have higher and higher expectations of the quality of care their pets receive, without thinking about what this means in costs.Ìý

“As an example, a vet hospital might charge $50 a night to keep an animal in. But if an owner wants that animal to be checked on regularly through the night, the same 24-hour stay could cost $500 to $800.”

Does your pet need all those vaccinations?

The AVA doesn’t conduct regular surveillance of the industry to determine if vets are providing unnecessary services or over-vaccinating (which can be a health risk to your pet).Ìý

It says it hasn’t been given any reason to believe vets aren’t following the guidelines. The AVA position statement for cat and dog vaccinations states that “for some adult animals, boosters for ‘core’ vaccines will be given every three years rather than annually. The core vaccines are distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus in dogs and herpes, parvovirus and calicivirus in cats”.

According to Dr Radvan, “recommended vaccination schedules are something that vet organisations have spent years discussing and thrashing out, and this information is quite readily available”.

When you might need more frequent vaccinations

Under some circumstances, such as if an animal didn’t receive their full course of puppy or kitten vaccinations, or if they live in high-risk and pet-dense areas, vaccinations may need to be given more often.Ìý

Boarding services, daycare facilities, group training and pet insurance may also have their own requirements for how often – and which – vaccinations need to be given to use their services or receive cover. If you’re unsure about your pet’s vaccination schedule, talk to your vet.

Do you really need premium pet food?

Most vet practices will directly sell some premium foods and pet care products. Some of these product offerings may be targeted to pets facing oral health, food sensitivity and weight control challenges, and could seem unnecessarily niche to some animal lovers.Ìý

Yet some prescription diets may also be especially formulated for animals with more serious health conditions such as kidney disease and may be necessary to maintain your pet’s health.Ìý

Your vet recommending one of these diets is unlikely to be ‘upselling’ in most cases, and if they were trying to coerce you into buying a product, that would be a breach of their code of conduct. You are also under no obligation to buy these diets directly from a vet – you may find the same diet cheaper elsewhere.

According to Dr Radvan “some vets are more keen on prescription diets than others, but profit margins on those are very small, so even if a vet sells lots of them, the return is marginal at best”.

How much will pet insurance help?

Unexpected accidents can happen and insurance can give you peace of mind. Pet insurance can save you from making a tough decision if you can’t afford costly treatments.

But pet insurance may not cover you for routine or preventative care such as vaccinations, many pre-existing conditions and dental.Ìý

Premiums can be costly and vary depending on the provider, the age and breed of your pet, and the level of cover. For example, a Staffordshire terrier will be cheaper than a French bulldog, and cats can often be cheaper than dogs.

Some brands will also only cover a portion of the cost of care, such as 75%, leaving you to pay a gap of 25%. They may also charge an excess, have low limits or sublimits on certain treatments, and increase premiums as the pet ages or after you’ve made a claim.

However, pet insurance can definitely save you money in case of a serious accident or illness, says Uta Mihm, ÌÇÐÄVlog insurance expert.

“Talk to your vet about the accidents or illnesses your pet is likely to have and how much the treatment would cost, then shop around for a policy that covers those,” says Mihm.

11 tips to save on vet bills

1. Be upfront about your budget

Have a frank discussion with your vet about your budget and what treatments you can afford. There may be some options that are ‘nice to have’ but may not be strictly necessary, and some treatments may be able to be delayed temporarily. Make sure you ask lots of questions and raise any concerns.

2. Get costs upfront for routine treatments

If you’re unsure about how much routine treatments will cost, call your vet in advance so you can budget for them and reduce the risk of ‘bill shock’.

3. Get a cost breakdown

“If a specialist gives you a very large estimate, ask for a full breakdown of what they plan to do, and be prepared to go through it carefully, asking about items to see if there are things that can be reasonably safely left off the treatment,” says Dr Radvan.

4. Shop around!

While not all of the vets in our shadow shop gave out prices for all treatments, many did, so it’s worth picking up the phone and checking. Where appropriate, get a second opinion before agreeing to any expensive or invasive products or procedures for your pet.

5. Ask about a multiple pet discount

Some vets offer discounts if you bring in multiple pets at the same time – it may work out cheaper to take Fido and Mr Fluff Fluff in together.

6. Ask about free dental checks

If your pet’s teeth need some care, see if your vet offers free dental checks for a quote on work first. This is also a great option if you’re looking for a second opinion.

7. Ask for generic medicines

As medications for pets aren’t subsidised on Medicare, their cost can add up. Generic medicines will offer the same benefits to your pet while also being lighter on your hip pocket.

8. Shop around for products

If your pet is prescribed a particular vet diet or parasite control, you don’t have to buy this directly from your vet. Instead, you can shop around for the best price. There are online stores such as or that sell many of these products at discount.

9. Review your pet insurance

If you have pet insurance for your pet, make sure you’re getting value out of it and getting cover for the things your pet needs. You may be better off putting the money aside yourself in a savings account for future use at the vet. Also, make sure you’re meeting all of the minimum requirements for cover (such as recommended check-ups and vaccinations) so that if you need to claim on your policy, you’re not denied cover.

10. Payment plans, financial help and subsidised treatment

Many clinics may offer payment plans for people experiencing financial difficulties or on low incomes. It’s worth asking upfront before you take your pet in. The RSPCA, some local councils, and charities such asÌýÌýin Victoria andÌýÌýalso offer subsidised treatments, desexing or financial assistance to cover some vet bills for people experiencing financial hardship.

11. Prevention is often cheaper than cure

Keeping your pet fit, happy and in the best possible health can help reduce health problems. Giving your dog or cat raw bones or dental biscuits can also help keep their teeth clean, reducing their risk of major dental issues. Ask your vet about preventative measures and care options that are within your budget.

Using VetPay, Afterpay or Zip to pay for vet bills

VetPay

Many clinics offer payment plans if you can’t pay for the whole bill upfront. This is a line of credit specific to costs you may incur at the vet and it lets you pay off the bill in instalments over a set period of time. It functions in a similar way to a credit card, not a buy now, pay later (BNPL) service like Afterpay.

How does it work?

VetPay performs a background credit check to help determine if you can afford the repayments, and you may not be approved if you have low income or a low credit score. You can apply to VetPay in advance or at your vet. VetPay claims to respond within 15 minutes.

If approved, you then pay a 10% deposit to your vet and the remaining balance is debited by VetPay from your bank account in fortnightly repayments. You also pay a $49 yearly fee, a $2.50 fee per fortnightly repayment and 18.4% interest, which is high. All this does add up, so this may not be the best option.

For example, if your vet treatment cost $500, you’d pay a $50 deposit, borrowing $450. VetPay’s repayment calculator says the minimum fortnightly repayment over 12 months is $23.42, which would total $608.92 over 12 months – this amount includes the yearly fee of $49, plus 26 x $2.50 payment fees and interest. That’s an extra $158.92, or 31%, above the original vet cost.

Terms and conditions

VetPay is also less than transparent about its terms and conditions. They are not available online and you won’t receive them until you apply and receive your contract. This limits your ability to fully understand the product, especially if you’ve applied while waiting at your vet.

Buy now, pay later (BNPL)

Some vets also offer BNPLs such as Openpay, Zip and Afterpay as payment options.Ìý

Be aware that BNPLs are not regulated in the same way as other lines of credit and don’t fall under safe lending laws. This means they generally don’t conduct a proper background check on your ability to pay. They often have high fees instead of interest, and weak hardship policies if something does go wrong. For these reasons we think people should avoid using BNPL wherever possible.

Make sure you do your research before using any BNPL or VetPay to cover your vet expenses. Don’t just sign up for them on the spot at your vet. Do your research first to make sure that they’re the best option for you and that you can afford them.

How to make a complaint about a vet

Each state and territory has its own acts, regulations and government veterinary body that oversees the registration, licensing and monitoring of vets.Ìý

If you’re unhappy with the treatment your pet has received from a vet, you should first try resolving the matter directly with the treating veterinarian or practice.Ìý

If you’re unsatisfied with this process, or you don’t feel comfortable trying to resolve the matter with them directly, your next step is to contact the Veterinary Board in your state or territory.

If you have concerns about the costs of your pet’s care, contact your state’s Fair Trading Office.

The post Vet costs: What to expect, and how to save appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

Dr Bronwyn Orr, scientific officer for Companion Animals at RSPCA Australia, says: “There are inherent costs associated with responsible pet ownership, including providing appropriate food, shelter, enrichment and vet care.Ìý

“These are unavoidable, and should be considered prior to bringing a new pet into the home.”ÌýÌý

Here are ten important and potentially unexpected costs associated with pet ownership.

1. Pet ‘housing’

It’s essential for your pet’s health and wellbeing that you provide them with a safe, comfortable and pet-appropriate space to sleep.Ìý

“Providing comfortable and clean shelter for your pet, including a resting place where they can easily lie down, get up and move around is very important to their welfare,” says Orr.

While this may not appear to be an ‘unexpected cost’, depending on the animal and their requirements, your pet’s sleeping space may prove a considerable expense.Ìý

For indoor cats, a warm, comfy spot on the couch or at the end of your bed might suffice but outdoor cats may require a cat enclosure. For pet birds, an appropriately sized cage or a secure outdoor aviary may be necessary.

For certain varieties of fish and reptiles, a large and sometimes heated tank may be called for. Sheep, goats and cows must be fenced securely with a shaded area to protect them from the weather and ample space to roam and graze.Ìý

A horse’s needs are similar and owners may need to pay board for them to live in a stable if the family home doesn’t have the appropriate facilities. This can be a considerable expense.

2. Desexing

It’s a legal requirement to desex your dog or cat in South Australia and the ACT, and cats over six months old in Tasmania and Western Australia. For other states, the RSPCA highly recommends all pet owners desex their companion animal.Ìý

“The RSPCA receives over 125,000 animals every year and many of these unwanted animals are the result of unplanned breeding,” Orr explains.

Desexing ensures cats and dogs can’t produce any unwanted or unplanned litters, reducing the number of animals entering shelters and pounds and helping to reduce high euthanasia rates. There are also other benefits to desexing your pet:Ìý

“Desexed animals are generally less likely to get diseases and certain illnesses, such as mammary cancer and uterine infections in females and prostate problems in males,” says Orr.Ìý

“Desexing commonly reduces behavioural issues such as roaming, aggression and urine marking in males. In females it prevents mating behaviour and false pregnancy. Reducing the desire to roam also reduces the risk of being in fights or a traumatic accident such as being hit by a car.”

You might also get a discount on your pet’s registration with your local council if your pet is desexed.

3. Annual vet check-ups, vaccinations and flea, tick and worming treatments

Just like us, our pets require regular physical check-ups to ensure they remain healthy throughout their lives and to prevent serious illness from developing. But you’re likely to pay more for your pet’s than your own check-up.

Average annual vet expenses (excluding emergency visits and medications) are estimated to cost:

• $397 for dogs
• $273 for cats.

“It’s important not to fall into the trap of comparing human health care with veterinary health care,” Orr says. “Human health care is heavily subsidised by the government and Medicare, meaning we only pay a very small portion of the total cost.Ìý

“Veterinary health care is not subsidised in any manner, and is delivered by a veterinary clinic run as a small business.”

Cats and dogs are also susceptible to fleas, ticks and worms, which can cause serious health issues if untreated. Vets can advise on the best preventative medications for your pet, which you can buy from clinics, pet stores and even supermarkets.Ìý

On average, a year’s preventative medication will cost:

• $248 for dogs
• $159 for cats.

4. Grooming

Depending on the type of pet, there may also be considerable ongoing grooming expenses. While some short-haired animals have coats that are relatively easy to maintain, others may require regular grooming – not just to look their best, but to maintain good health and wellbeing.

“Regular grooming is important, particularly for long-haired breeds,” Orr says. “Grooming removes dust, dead skin, loose hairs, grass seeds and tangles, and reduces the amount of fur shed during the autumn and spring moult.”

Without regular grooming, long-haired breeds can be susceptible to hair matting, which can cause considerable pain and discomfort. While there are cheaper ways of grooming if you learn how to do it yourself at home, there are also plenty of pet grooming services available at a cost.

5. Corrective surgery

Depending on the pet and/or the breed you choose, your animal may suffer from an inherited defect that requires treatment to improve its quality of life.Ìý

For example, ‘pedigree’ and ‘designer’ breeds that have been bred for aesthetics, such as British and French bulldogs and Persian and Himalayan cats – otherwise known as brachycephalic animals – can suffer from breathing difficulties, while others may experience breed-specific eye trauma, disease susceptibility, and skin, back and hip problems.

The cost of necessary corrective surgery can put a real dent in your wallet. Certain breeds have expensive needs, so do your research and consider very carefully whether you’re prepared to pay additional costs towards corrective surgery for your pet.

6. Microchipping and council registration

Microchipping and registration for dogs and cats that are three or six months of age and over is mandatory in most Australian states and territories except for the Northern Territory.

• In the ACT and Tasmania, only dog registrations are mandatory.Ìý
• In South Australia and Queensland only some council areas require cats to be registered in this way, but it varies so you will need to check.Ìý

Microchips are commonly implanted by breeders, suppliers or vets, but registration, for which a microchip number is essential, must be completed and paid for by the owner through their local council. Failure to do so can result in a fine.

“It’s very important to ensure your pet cat or dog is microchipped because if it becomes lost, you’re far more likely to be reunited,” says Orr.Ìý

“Council pounds will often have lower ‘release’ fees for animals that are registered and desexed, meaning it’s cheaper if you ever have to pick up your pet from the pound.”

Reptiles and native animals are registered with state environment departments and owner responsibilities and laws are different again. You should only have a native animal if you have a licence and penalties for breaching these laws can be extremely high.

7. Training

With a little patience, most pets can be trained using positive reinforcement.Ìý

Dogs in particular can benefit tremendously from early training as it helps to reinforce positive behaviours, prevents problematic behaviours and establishes boundaries and expectations essential to the happiness and welfare of the dog.

If you’re considering welcoming a dog into your home, it’s important to factor in the costs associated with training it from a young age.Ìý

“Puppies have a ‘critical socialisation period’ between about three and 17 weeks of age,” says Orr. “Puppy preschool is highly recommended as a starting point.”

8. Boarding your pets

For pet owners planning holidays it’s essential you arrange appropriate care for your animals while you’re away. And unless you’re lucky enough to have a trusted, reliable pet sitter on hand, you’ll need to pay someone for the service.Ìý

There are myriad ways you can go about this, but one of the more common and convenient is pet boarding at kennels, catteries and veterinary clinics, which can be expensive and put a real strain on your holiday budget.

“Alternatives to boarding facilities include pet sitters and pet friendly accommodation,” Orr says.Ìý

“There are a range of apps now that connect pet sitters with pet owners, with many experienced and knowledgeable pet sitters available. Pet friendly accommodation (and bringing your dog with you) is another alternative that could prove to be quite affordable.”

9. ‘Premium’ pet foods

The cost of pet food may come as a shock, particularly if your pet has special requirements. Of the estimated $12.2 billion Australian households spent on pet products in 2016, more than a third was on pet food (35%).

Our pets need nutritionally balanced diets to maintain an ideal weight and to fuel their bodies for the activity they require to maintain health and vitality.Ìý

Nutritional requirements will vary from pet to pet, depending on sex, species, breed, age and activity level, but generally speaking, an animal’s diet must consist of a combination of proteins, fats, minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates and plenty of fresh water.

There’s a plethora of pet food options out there, and when we’ve reviewed premium pet food in the past, we discovered that some were certainly better than others.Ìý

Premium pet food brands make claims about the high-quality, often human-grade ingredients, having a high meat content, being grain-free and including ‘superfoods’. But there’s not enough definitive information to say whether premium foods are any better for your pet than regular pet food.Ìý

Anecdotally, however, some pets will do better on a premium diet and this is something you should discuss with your vet.

Some pets will require special diets for any specific health conditions they might have,” Orr says. “In some circumstances, special food is actually the cheapest way of preventing certain diseases and illnesses.”

10. Death and cremation

Amidst the grief of losing a beloved pet, owners must consider what to do with their bodies after they die which, depending on the animal and the circumstances of its passing, can carry considerable expense.

While there are some small domestic animals whose remains can be respectfully buried in a back garden without cost, the remains of larger animals will need to be disposed of appropriately for health and safety reasons.Ìý

If a pet dies at a veterinary clinic, vets will usually offer to dispose of the animal’s body for a fee. You can also choose to have your pet’s remains cremated and their ashes returned to you. A burial at a pet cemetery may also be an option, depending on where you live. The costs of pet cremation and burial packages vary widely between providers.

Some local councils offer a pick-up service for deceased pets and accept dead domestic animals at council waste facilities for a fee. Please check with your local council for further information. Owners must also inform their local council of their registered pet’s death and, if you have pet insurance, you should cancel the policy.

High cost of ownership

Australians love their pets. In fact, we have one of the highest household rates of pet ownership in the world. Around 5.7 million of Australia’s 9.2 million households – or 62% – home at least one pet.

Unsurprisingly, dogs (38.5%) and cats (29.2%) are our most popular animal companions, but fish (11.8%) and birds (11.8%) are also common pets, followed by small mammals (3.1%) such as rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, mice and rats.Ìý

Reptiles or amphibians (2.7%) like snakes, turtles and tortoises, lizards and frogs are also favourites, and other pets (2.8%), like horses, goats, sheep and hermit crabs, aren’t uncommon either.

According to a survey by Animal Medicines Australia, Australians spent a whopping $12.6 billion on pet products and services in 2016.

The average yearly costs were:

• $1475 for dogs
• $1029 for cats
• $115 for birds
• $50 for fish.

These averages cover food, vet care, health products, grooming and boarding (where appropriate).

Over the course of your pet’s lifetime, these expenses can add up to a significant investment. However, it’s important to consider that these are averages only and actual costs are entirely dependent on the animal’s age, breed and size. They also don’t take into account any possible accidents or illnesses.

The post Ten unexpected costs of owning a pet appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• Short face, big health problems
• Designer dog deformities
• The costs of common surgeries
• Don't get sold a pup

When Sue Revitt bought her puppy five years ago, little did she know she was also buying into a relationship with an animal plagued by health problems so severe that she’d spend thousands of dollars on vet bills within months of him arriving.

Like many Australians, Sue fell in love with the flat face and pointed ears of the French bulldog. “Frenchies”, along with the bug-eyed, squishy-faced pug and burly British bulldog, are part of what are known as brachycephalic breeds, which are growing in popularity as the “it” dog to own right now.

Short face, big health problems

Brachycephalic means “short headed” and is the result of breeding for specific and distinctive physical traits. Apart from certain bulldogs, other common brachycephalic dog breeds include:

• pugs
• Boston terriers
• Shih tzus
• boxers
• King Charles spaniels
• Pekingese.

Some cat breeds, including the Himalayan, Persian and British shorthair, are also brachycephalic.

In dog terms, brachycephalic breeds tend to have wide skulls, squashed muzzles, short coats and stocky builds, which give them their distinctive look, but also mean they can suffer from breathing difficulties. In many cases these health problems affect the dog’s quality of life, and can cost unsuspecting owners thousands of dollars in corrective surgery.

Sue says she had “no idea” there were so many potential problems with the French bulldog breed when she paid $3000 for her pet. She found out the hard way with her puppy needing $4000 worth of surgery urgently to correct his soft palate, and is now looking at an estimated further $6000 for surgery to allow him to breathe properly.

And she’s not alone. Many pet owners are paying top dollar for dogs they have no idea are plagued by health issues that cause distress to the dogs and cost serious money to fix.

Pugs and Frenchies: so hot right now

You don’t have to go far online or in real life to see how popular pugs and Frenchies are at the moment. Instagram feeds like Manny the French bulldog and Doug the Pug have millions of followers and celebrities like Hugh Jackman and Leonardo DiCaprio regularly appear in public cuddling their Frenchies.

These cute little dogs have also become a staple image in advertising, featuring on everything from mugs and T-shirts to other pop culture paraphernalia. In the UK the breeds are so popular the British Veterinarian Association issued a press release before Valentine’s Day calling for greeting card manufacturers to stop using images of the dogs as it was driving their popularity.

As a result, these dogs are on plenty of people’s wish lists. Groups like the RSPCA and the Australian Veterinarian Association (AVA) are concerned about the implications of their growing popularity and what it means for both the owners and the dogs themselves.

Designer dog deformities

Several hundred years ago, breeds like the pug and bulldog looked very different to how they look now. A Thomas Gainsborough painting from the 1700s depicts the pug as a robust little dog with a decent sized snout. But over the years, certain traits that have been promoted as being specific and desirable to these breeds (as set out by the strict breed standards) have been exaggerated to the point of deformity.

The current breeding standard for British bulldogs as per the Australian Kennel Club states,Ìý“The skull should be very large – the larger the better”. And, “The face, measured from the front of the cheekbone to the nose, should be as short as possible, and its skin should be deeply and closely wrinkled.”Ìý

But what wins a pedigree dog a ribbon in the show ring doesn’t necessarily work in real life. It’s been estimated that more than 80% of British bulldog births now have to be delivered by caesarean due to their large heads. And according to Dr Bronwyn Orr, scientific officer at RSPCA Australia, breeds with exaggerated features can have very poor quality of life. “If they get too hot, or walk too far, they can struggle to breathe or even suffer heat stroke. Basically, they can’t behave like a normal dog, thanks to all their physical limitations and health issues.”

Some of the more common problems experienced with these extreme features include:

Difficulty breathing

With short muzzles and flat faces, brachycephalic dogs are often snuffling and snorting. While many may write this off as a cute quirk, it’s the sound of an animal struggling to breathe. Some animals will faint or collapse from a lack of oxygen and can have trouble sleeping. This complaint is called Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome, or BOAS.

Heat stroke

Not being able to breathe affects a dog’s ability to regulate its body temperature, and some dogs collapse from heat exhaustion (sometimes fatally).

Eye trauma

Bug eyes in flat faces mean the eyes are vulnerable to injuries and ulcers and can even pop out of their sockets. Loose and wrinkly skin can also cause problems that require eye lift surgery.

Birthing pains

Because they’ve been bred to have large heads, broad shoulders and narrow pelvises, pugs and bulldogs (both British and French) have trouble giving birth and generally require veterinary assistance and a caesarean section.

Back and hip problems

Many breeds can suffer from hip dysplasia where the hip socket fails to develop properly and deteriorates over time. Some brachycephalic dogs are also at an increased risk of intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) which can lead to spinal instability.

The RSPCA and AVA recently launched the Love is Blind campaign calling for urgent changes to breed standards, so that exaggerated features are no longer required or considered desirable, and health and welfare are given more importance.

The costs of common surgeries

Can you sue a dog breeder?

With some dog owners shelling out upwards of $6000 for their new puppy, is it fair to expect that the animal should be of good health? And who is liable once the vet bills start rolling in?

According to Sarah Agar, ÌÇÐÄVlog head of campaigns and policy, “If you buy a pet from someone who is in the business of breeding and selling, then you will have the same consumer rights that apply when you buy any other product.”

However, she does concede that the area is a lot more complicated than, say, buying a washing machine. “I think the guarantees might provide some consumers with remedies for sick pets in certain circumstances. I am inclined to believe that if you buy a pug and it then develops common pug issues, this is unlikely to be considered a defect unless you specifically sought a promise from the breeder that your pug would not have these problems.”

Anastasia Smietanka, co-founder of the Animal Law Institute, says that while the Australian Consumer Law has various avenues that a person may rely on to successfully sue a breeder – including the consumer guarantees, misleading and deceptive conduct and unconscionable conduct – each separate avenue is complicated and can lead to a different remedy.

She says that you could argue that a pet with a certain medical condition or problem is not of ‘acceptable quality’ because a reasonable consumer would expect it would not have this condition, but as far as she is aware no tribunal or court in Australia has considered whether the consumer guarantees would protect a person who bought a brachycephalic dog like a pug or bulldog.

“Because the statistics of pugs and bulldogs having difficulty breathing are so high (some studies quote 50%), there is argument that a reasonable consumer could expect that a pug or bulldog is likely to have breathing issues so a dog with breathing problems is not of unacceptable quality. It is an untested argument.”

Pet insurance for pugs, Frenchies and other brachycephalic dogs

If you have your heart set on a ‘brachy’ dog, you’ll want to take out pet insurance as soon as you get your puppy and while it’s under three months old, according to the RSPCA’s Orr.

As all insurance companies won’t pay out future claims for ‘pre-existing conditions’, she says it’s essential to get insurance when the dogs are really young. “The clinical signs of BOAS [Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome] start to appear around six to 12 months old if severe, and 18 months old if mild, worsening with age,” she says.

She adds that if a veterinarian writes in an animal’s history, before a policy has been taken out, that the dog was ‘snuffling’, ‘snorting’ or breathing ‘typical for breed’, insurers can refuse claims related to future respiratory disease.

An emotional investment and a consumer win

Tara Mackay and her partner were awarded almost $8000 in compensation from the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal after they were sold a puppy from a pet store that had a life-threatening genetic condition.

The $1200 cavoodle puppy (which isn’t a brachycephalic breed) started “screaming in pain” within weeks. After months of agony and exploratory surgery, he was finally diagnosed with an abnormality that stopped his blood being cleansed by the liver.

Mackay said she contacted the pet shop numerous times, trying to get more information about the dog’s parentage to diagnose the problem, but was ignored. Eventually, she says, the unsympathetic owners offered her a “replacement puppy”, which she declined.

“We have an emotional investment in this dog. We considered him part of our family we didn’t want another dog.” Having had no luck in dealing with the pet shop, Mackay decided to approach the issue with her puppy like any other consumer issue and took the matter to the tribunal.

She says the case got a lot of interest from the media and from law students as it was fairly unusual.Ìý

“I think usually people attack on an emotional level with pets but we decided to attack it as a consumer law issue instead.”

The result was the shop owners were required to compensate Mackay and her partner for the vet bills they had incurred. However, the couple had to agree that they would not seek any further compensation going forward as it was not reasonable to expect the shop to be liable for the dog’s health for life.

Mackay agreed as the operation had resolved the issues and her dog is now a happy and healthy five-year-old. She says that if the pet shop had been more helpful and responsible in the first place she may never have sought compensation. “Their poor actions spurred me on, we hadn’t just purchased a consumer product, we had purchased a life and they made it very clear they didn’t care about that life.”

The pugly truth

Joanna Herceg of Pug Rescue and Adoption Victoria says her volunteer organisation takes in about 70 surrendered pugs a year to rehabilitate and rehome. She says the rescue centre spends roughly $3000 in vet bills per dog to get them to a reasonable state of health, thanks to the breed’s many problems.

While Herceg says these issues are part of owning one of these dogs, many new pug owners are shocked to discover their expensive dog will keep costing money. “I see people all the time who have no problems spending a couple of thousand dollars in cash to buy a pug but then when it comes to paying the vet bills suddenly they are saying they can’t afford to pay anymore.”

She says pugs are not an easy breed. “These are high maintenance dogs and they aren’t for everyone. They have health problems, they can’t deal with the heat, they are stubborn, need training and they are emotionally needy.”

Despite this she says designer dogs are business is a multi-million dollar business with her beloved breed sitting front and centre. “They are so popular now, they are everywhere – from YouTube to T-shirts. It makes me so sad to see so many people who are making money out of them.”

Don’t get sold a pup

While there are many rescue dogs already waiting for homes, if you do have your heart set on one of the more extreme breeds, do some ground work before you buy – for your own sake and that of the dog.

• If your breeder has told you that your pet will be free of specific illnesses or breed-related problems, you can rely on that promise and seek a remedy if your fur buddy develops those problems or illnesses.
• Get these promises in writing, to make it easier to enforce your rights if something does go wrong.
• It’s reasonable that all animals might develop health problems from time to time. If your new pet gets sick and it’s not an illness that your breeder screened for and spoke to you about, then you may not be able to get a refund on your vet bills.
• A lot of breeders do care about their reputation, the animals and the happiness of their customers, so it’s always worth talking to them about possible remedies if a pet you buy develops a serious health problem.

If you are considering getting a dog the RSPCA has a .

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