About the French Bulldog
The French Bulldog is a companion breed of both British and French origin, recognized by the Kennel Club in 1906 and bred down from the smaller Bulldogs carried to Normandy by Nottingham lacemakers. It is now the most registered breed in the United States and has been the fastest-growing breed of the past two decades: in UK veterinary records, French Bulldog puppies rose from 0.02% of the annual birth cohort in 2003 to 1.46% in 2013, a rate of growth without precedent in any single breed.
That popularity is the context for everything on this page. The breed is small, affectionate, quiet indoors and needs little exercise, which suits apartment living and explains a great deal of the demand. It is also brachycephalic, and the flat face, narrow airway, prominent eyes, facial folds and screw tail that define the look are the same features that generate most of its recorded health problems. A measured median lifespan of 9.8 years sits well below the 12.5 years for dogs generally.
The figures below come mostly from a study of 2,228 French Bulldogs in UK veterinary practice. Because the breed grew so fast, that population was young, with a median age of 1.3 years, and the authors are explicit that disorder rates will rise as those dogs age. Read the numbers here as a floor rather than a ceiling.
How long French Bulldogs actually live
The measured median age at death is 9.8 years, from 11,821 dogs of this breed. Breed standards usually quote 10 to 12 years, which describes the standard rather than what was recorded. 10
Every cost figure on this page is calculated across 9.8 years, so lifespan is the most load-bearing number here. It was measured in a UK population, and the American comparison sits below.
US life expectancy at birth for medium purebred dogs was 12.7 years, from 13.3 million dogs at Banfield hospitals. That study grouped dogs by adult body size and states that differences between breeds within a size group were not captured, so this is not a US figure for french bulldogs specifically. It is the American number for dogs of this size, set beside the British number for this breed.
9.8 years, measured
Not a breed-standard range. This is the median age at death recorded across 11,821 French Bulldogs in the largest study of canine longevity yet published.
Short enough that the expensive years arrive sooner than most owners expect.
Delayed bleeding after surgery. The French Bulldog was one of only four non-sighthound breeds found to carry the SERPINF2 variant linked to delayed postoperative hemorrhage at a notable rate. Carrying one copy is a lower risk than two, and no case has been reported in this breed, but the study authors flag it as a breed where the risk has not been ruled out. Worth mentioning before elective surgery. 15
Bone cancer. No case of osteosarcoma was recorded in any French Bulldog among 905,552 UK dogs studied across a year. That is not proof the breed cannot get it, and a single year is a short window for a disease diagnosed at a median age of 9.64 years. It does mean the breed is not among those the study could measure risk in. 15
Airway. A study of 453,548 insured Swedish dogs across 327 breeds found this breed at significantly raised risk of upper respiratory disease. The study reports incidence per dog-year rather than a prevalence, so it does not appear as a percentage above. Its authors note that owners and vets often accept the signs of airway obstruction until they are severe, so the true rate is higher than recorded. The same study found French Bulldogs with an upper respiratory diagnosis died at a median of 3.61 years, against 7.81 years for dogs of all other breeds with the same kind of diagnosis. That is the starkest single figure on this page. 15
Swedish insurance records are a separate population from the British clinical records and American owner reports elsewhere on this page. A claims threshold means minor problems never appear at all.
Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome
BOAS was recorded in 2.4% of 2,228 French Bulldogs in UK primary-care practice during one year. That figure is low, and the reason matters: the dogs were young, with a median age of 1.3 years, because the breed had grown so fast that most of the population were puppies. The same study found 2.2% in dogs under two years against 2.9% at or above two, and its authors state that the UK population is likely to show substantially higher levels as the cohort ages.4
What it costs in years. BOAS is an obstruction, not an infection, so it does not resolve. It restricts exercise, disturbs sleep, and sharply raises the risk of heatstroke and of complications under anaesthesia. Corrective surgery to the soft palate and nostrils improves airflow but does not make the dog normocephalic.
What you can do. Ask to see the parents move and breathe, not just stand. Open nostrils, a visible muzzle and quiet breathing after exercise are the things to look for. Respiratory function grading schemes exist in the UK and Finland and are worth asking about. Treat noisy breathing as a clinical sign rather than a breed trait.
Clinical records capture what a vet diagnosed and coded during one year, so mild cases an owner has accepted as normal will not appear. Owner surveys and referral populations report far higher rates, and a German owner survey found 22% of French Bulldogs had undergone or were scheduled for BOAS surgery. The true rate lies well above 2.4%. Surgical correction varies too widely by what is done, from nostril widening alone to multi-level airway surgery, for a single representative price to be honest.
Food, grooming and boarding are no longer typed in per breed. Food comes from the veterinary Resting Energy Requirement for a 20 to 28 pound dog, priced at 2026 US kibble rates with a 20% allowance for treats.14 Grooming assumes a short coat on a small dog at national average prices. Boarding assumes eight nights a year, which is the most assumption-heavy figure here and will be wrong for anyone who travels a lot or never travels at all.
Figures on this page were last checked against their sources on August 16, 2026. Every one carries its study and the population it was measured in. How we calculate.
Health problems and what they cost
Every price here is American. Health figures lead with a US study wherever one exists, with British research alongside it, because several of the largest disorder studies in veterinary medicine are UK work and no US equivalent has been published. Where both appear, the American figure comes first. Why American data is so scarce.
Each row shows the figure exactly as the study measured it. We do not convert one kind of measurement into another, because a screening result, an owner survey and a clinical record answer different questions.
- Clinical records One-year prevalence in veterinary records for this breed. The strongest evidence available.
- Owner reported Prevalence among living surveyed dogs at one point in time. Undercounts what owners do not notice, and is not lifetime risk.
- Lifetime, owner reported The share of owners who report the dog has ever had it. Counts everything across a life, so it runs higher than a one-year rate and is not comparable with one.
- Followed cohort A group of dogs enrolled young and followed for life, with diagnoses confirmed by a vet. Cumulative and still accruing, so surviving dogs remain at risk and the figure is a floor.
- Screened dogs The share of dogs submitted to the OFA registry that evaluated abnormal. Submission is voluntary and skewed toward good stock, and a radiographic finding is not the same as needing treatment.
- All dogs Measured across the whole dog population, not this breed. Context only.
Health data from 7 peer-reviewed sources. Prices from 2 US sources. Full list below.
Organ-system context. These are broad categories that already contain the specific conditions below. They are shown for scale and added to no total, because that would count the same disease twice.
- Skin disease18%
- Digestive disease17%
- Ear disease16%
- Musculoskeletal disease15%
- Upper respiratory disease13%
- Eye disease11%
Hip dysplasia
Radiographic hip evaluation. OFA grades submitted films; the figure below is the share graded dysplastic. 33.1% of 5,145 evaluated French Bulldogs were graded abnormal. Dogs are submitted voluntarily, mostly by breeders screening good stock, so the true rate in the breed is higher. Priced as a femoral head ostectomy, the usual choice for a dog this size. Femoral head ostectomy. Removes the femoral head and lets a false joint form. Usual choice for dogs under roughly 50 lb. Not every dysplastic dog needs surgery, and both hips roughly doubles it.
Periodontal disease
Not measured in this breed. 22.0% of US dogs in the medium-small size category, which is where a French Bulldog falls at about 11 kg, were diagnosed over five years. Size is the strongest predictor in this study: dogs under 6.5 kg were up to five times more likely to be diagnosed than dogs over 25 kg.
Ear infection (otitis externa)
The most commonly recorded disorder in the breed. Ear canal inflammation, which in a breed with narrow canals tends to recur rather than resolve. Recorded in 312 of 2,228 dogs. No treatment-cost source matches this condition, so it is not priced.
Intervertebral disc disease
Second highest of any breed measured, behind the Dachshund. French Bulldogs also had the earliest age at diagnosis of any breed, 4.6 years, so this tends to arrive while the dog is still young.
Elbow dysplasia
Often bilateral, which doubles the surgical cost. 7.5% of 2,120 evaluated French Bulldogs were graded abnormal. Dogs are submitted voluntarily, mostly by breeders screening good stock, so the true rate in the breed is higher. Arthroscopic treatment of elbow dysplasia. Often bilateral, which roughly doubles it.
Diarrhea
Second most common. Mostly recorded in younger dogs: 9.6% of those under two years against 3.4% of those older. Recorded in 167 of 2,228 dogs. No treatment-cost source matches this condition, so it is not priced.
Anal sac impaction
Third most common. Cheap per visit, frequent enough to add up over a lifetime.
Allergic skin disease
Reported in 4.85% of French Bulldogs in a survey of 43,005 UK dogs across 192 breeds (95% CI 3.01 to 7.73%). Owner-reported, so it understates conditions owners do not recognize.
Otitis media
Reported in 3.64% of French Bulldogs in a survey of 43,005 UK dogs across 192 breeds (95% CI 2.09 to 6.25%). Owner-reported, so it understates conditions owners do not recognize.
Patellar luxation
Reported in 2.73% of French Bulldogs in a survey of 43,005 UK dogs across 192 breeds (95% CI 1.44 to 5.1%). Owner-reported, so it understates conditions owners do not recognize. Per knee. A grade I in a small dog can be under $2,000; a grade IV in a large breed with both knees affected can exceed $6,000.
Food Allergy
Reported in 2.73% of French Bulldogs in a survey of 43,005 UK dogs across 192 breeds (95% CI 1.44 to 5.1%). Owner-reported, so it understates conditions owners do not recognize.
Chronic itching
Reported in 2.42% of French Bulldogs in a survey of 43,005 UK dogs across 192 breeds (95% CI 1.23 to 4.71%). Owner-reported, so it understates conditions owners do not recognize.
Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome
Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome. The figure is low because the dogs were young, median age 1.3 years. The paper found 2.2% under two years against 2.9% at or above two, and states that the UK population is likely to show substantially higher levels as this cohort ages. Recorded in 53 of 2,228 dogs.
Hypothyroidism
Cheap to treat, lifelong. Daily medication plus periodic bloodwork. 0.4% of 893 evaluated French Bulldogs were graded abnormal. Dogs are submitted voluntarily, mostly by breeders screening good stock, so the true rate in the breed is higher.
Also recorded in this breed, with a measured rate but no matching treatment-cost source.
- Degenerative myelopathy 4% Dogs voluntarily submitted to the OFA registry, predominantly breeding stock
- Conjunctivitis 3% 2,228 French Bulldogs under UK primary veterinary care during 2013
- Persistent vomiting 3% Live UK Kennel Club registered dogs, owner reported
- Skin fold dermatitis 3% 2,228 French Bulldogs under UK primary veterinary care during 2013
- Stenotic nares 2% 2,228 French Bulldogs under UK primary veterinary care during 2013
What you will actually pay
$29,367Across 9.8 years. About $2,371 a year after the first, which carries the purchase price and setup.
71% of that comes from measured prices. The rest is the puppy and retail assumptions you can adjust.
Where the money goes
The cost of owning the dog, year by year. Health spending is not included here: it is uncertain by nature and is set out separately above.
What makes up the total
- Puppy and setup$5,624
- Routine care$23,743
What to ask the breeder
Ask this breeder for certificates on hip dysplasia (33% of screened dogs abnormal), elbow dysplasia (8% of screened dogs abnormal), patellar luxation (7% of screened dogs abnormal). Those are the screenings where French Bulldogs score worst in the OFA registry, so they are the ones worth seeing paperwork for. A breeder who has done the testing will produce it without being pushed; one who has not will talk about how healthy their line is instead.
Where you live changes the number
Veterinary prices vary by more than half across the country. Everything above is a national average. Pick your state to see what it means for you.
What a French Bulldog costs where you live
Average dog vet visit, $57 in West Virginia to $127 in Hawaii. Tap a state.
See all 51 in a table
| State | Avg visit | vs national | Lifetime here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $127 | +81% | $40,718 |
| Massachusetts | $99 | +41% | $35,127 |
| District of Columbia | $97 | +38% | $34,727 |
| California | $94 | +34% | $34,128 |
| Alaska | $84 | +20% | $32,131 |
| New York | $83 | +18% | $31,931 |
| Maryland | $79 | +13% | $31,133 |
| Vermont | $78 | +11% | $30,933 |
| New Jersey | $77 | +10% | $30,733 |
| Washington | $77 | +10% | $30,733 |
| Connecticut | $76 | +8% | $30,533 |
| New Hampshire | $76 | +8% | $30,533 |
| Rhode Island | $76 | +8% | $30,533 |
| Oregon | $75 | +7% | $30,334 |
| Maine | $74 | +5% | $30,134 |
| Arizona | $73 | +4% | $29,934 |
| Colorado | $72 | +3% | $29,735 |
| Florida | $70 | 0% | $29,335 |
| Montana | $70 | 0% | $29,335 |
| Utah | $70 | 0% | $29,335 |
| Delaware | $69 | -2% | $29,136 |
| Idaho | $69 | -2% | $29,136 |
| Nevada | $69 | -2% | $29,136 |
| Virginia | $69 | -2% | $29,136 |
| North Carolina | $66 | -6% | $28,536 |
| South Carolina | $66 | -6% | $28,536 |
| Wisconsin | $66 | -6% | $28,536 |
| Wyoming | $65 | -7% | $28,337 |
| Illinois | $64 | -9% | $28,137 |
| Minnesota | $64 | -9% | $28,137 |
| Nebraska | $64 | -9% | $28,137 |
| Ohio | $64 | -9% | $28,137 |
| Pennsylvania | $64 | -9% | $28,137 |
| Kentucky | $63 | -10% | $27,937 |
| Louisiana | $63 | -10% | $27,937 |
| New Mexico | $63 | -10% | $27,937 |
| South Dakota | $63 | -10% | $27,937 |
| Texas | $63 | -10% | $27,937 |
| Georgia | $62 | -12% | $27,738 |
| Indiana | $62 | -12% | $27,738 |
| North Dakota | $62 | -12% | $27,738 |
| Tennessee | $62 | -12% | $27,738 |
| Iowa | $61 | -13% | $27,538 |
| Michigan | $61 | -13% | $27,538 |
| Missouri | $60 | -14% | $27,338 |
| Alabama | $59 | -16% | $27,139 |
| Arkansas | $58 | -17% | $26,939 |
| Kansas | $58 | -17% | $26,939 |
| Oklahoma | $58 | -17% | $26,939 |
| Mississippi | $57 | -19% | $26,739 |
| West Virginia | $57 | -19% | $26,739 |
Source: 2025-2026 Synchrony Average Procedural Cost Study, ASQ360 Market Research, all 50 states and DC. We apply each state's index only to the veterinary share of the total. Food, grooming, boarding and the puppy price stay at the national figure, because a state's vet pricing says nothing about what a breeder or a bag of kibble costs there.
The number most owners get wrong
$598is what dog owners actually spend on veterinary care in a year, measured by the AVMA. Following the recommended schedule costs $1,301.
The gap is care that does not happen. Only 14% of dogs receive dental care at a vet's office, and 80% have periodontal disease by age three.
What veterinary care actually costs
Two measured figures that disagree, and the gap is the point.
The $703 gap is care that does not happen. We show the higher figure in the total for this breed, because it is what the recommended schedule costs. If you expect to spend closer to the average, the real total for a French Bulldog is nearer $21,970.
Where the gap comes from
This is not owners being careless. It is the single largest difference between what veterinary medicine recommends and what actually happens, and dental care is most of it.
- 14%of dogs receive dental care at a veterinary office, in an AVMA owner survey, against a guideline of a cleaning under anaesthesia every year for small breeds and every one to two years for larger ones.
- Two thirdsof pet owners do not provide the dental care their veterinarian recommends, according to the AAHA.
- 80%of dogs have some periodontal disease by age three. It is the most commonly diagnosed condition in adult dogs, and most of it sits below the gumline where an owner cannot see it.
- Roughly a quarterof dog owners reported skipping veterinary visits altogether in the year the AVMA last measured it.
This matters for budgeting in an uncomfortable way. The lower figure is what people spend, not what a dog needs. A dental cleaning deferred is often a set of extractions later, which costs several times more and is not preventive care any insurer will cover.
How much of the total is sourced
71% of the $29,367 figure comes from measured prices: veterinary care from a 50-state cost study, and the lifespan it is spread over from a study of 584,734 dogs. The remaining 29%, about $8,398, is an observed market range for the puppy plus retail assumptions for supplies, a training course and boarding. Those are the numbers to adjust if your situation differs: plenty of people never board a dog.
Dental and visit statistics from the AVMA and the AAHA, 2026. Recommended care priced from the 2025-2026 Synchrony/CareCredit procedural cost study. Actual spending from the AVMA 2025 Pet Ownership and Demographic Sourcebook, self-reported by owners.
Insurance for a French Bulldog
Coverage is protection against an uncommon large bill. It is not a way to save money on the care you already know is coming.
The bills it exists for
Documented conditions in this breed where a single episode runs into the thousands. We are not telling you how likely these are, because the prevalence evidence is not strong enough to carry that claim.
- Intervertebral disc disease$3,776–$10,168
- Patellar luxationPer knee.$1,000–$5,000
- Elbow dysplasiaArthroscopic treatment of elbow dysplasia.$3,000–$5,000
- Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome$1,784–$4,802
- Hip dysplasiaPriced as a femoral head ostectomy, the usual choice for a dog this size.$1,200–$3,500
What the tiers actually buy
Average US premiums for a dog, for the year ended December 2025.
- Accident onlyInjuries, not illness. Cheap because it covers far less.$190 a year
- Accident and illnessThe standard policy and the one most figures refer to. Up 11.5% on last year.$836 a year
- With embedded wellnessAdds routine care. Compare it against what routine care actually costs before assuming it saves money.$1,414 a year
What actually decides whether a claim is paid
Not the breed, and usually not the premium. Carrier terms verified August 2026; they change, and they vary by state.
- Hereditary and congenital conditions are usually covered
- This is the most common misconception about pet insurance. Every major US carrier covers inherited and congenital conditions on a standard accident-and-illness policy, provided they are not pre-existing. Trupanion covers them with no payout limit. Embrace covers them with no per-condition or per-incident limit at no extra cost, and states that its policies fully cover breed-specific conditions. Healthy Paws covers them too. Nationwide makes hereditary and congenital a coverage option you select rather than an automatic inclusion. Cheaper and accident-only policies sometimes exclude them entirely, so it is worth confirming in writing.
- Most pre-existing conditions are excluded
- Anything your dog has shown signs of before coverage began, or during the waiting period, is normally excluded. This, not heredity, is what actually stops most claims being paid. The detail varies more than people expect: several carriers will cover a condition they classify as curable once the dog has been symptom-free and treatment-free for a set period, commonly twelve months, subject to state rules and the policy wording. It is also why enrolling a healthy puppy costs less and excludes less than insuring a dog that already has a history.
- Orthopedic waiting periods vary a lot
- The clearest example of why the carrier matters more than the breed. Healthy Paws applies a 12-month waiting period to anything related to hip dysplasia, and will not cover it at all if the dog was enrolled at six years or older. Trupanion applies its standard 30-day illness waiting period. Some carriers will waive an orthopedic wait after a vet exam. For any breed with joint risk, this single clause can matter more than the premium.
- Standard waiting periods
- Typically 2 to 30 days for illness and 2 to 5 days for accidents. Trupanion is 5 days for injury and 30 for illness. Embrace is 14 days for illness. Nothing that appears during the wait is covered.
- Bilateral condition rule
- If one side of a paired body part was affected before coverage, many carriers exclude the other side too. Relevant for hips, elbows, knees, eyes and ears.
- Age at enrollment
- Premiums rise with age, some carriers cap new enrollment, and some restrict specific conditions for older enrollees. Healthy Paws requires enrollment before the 14th birthday and drops hip dysplasia cover from age six.
Premium range from NAPHIA industry data. Coverage terms from published carrier policies and independent reviews, checked 16 August 2026. We are not an insurance agency, we do not sell policies, and we make no recommendation. Terms vary by carrier and policy, and the exclusions in your own policy govern.
First year breakdown
| Item | What it covers | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Puppy purchase | Observed market range, not an authoritative source | $4,250 |
| Vaccine series | Three rounds plus rabies | $235 |
| Spay or neuter | Includes anesthesia and monitoring | $471 |
| Supplies | Crate, harness, bedding, bowls | $420 |
| Food | About 1.8 cups daily at maturity, computed from body weight | $526 |
| Grooming | short coat, small dog | $184 |
| Boarding | Eight nights a year at an average rate | $360 |
| Preventatives | Flea, tick, heartworm | $708 |
| Training class | Six week group course | $200 |
| Microchip | One time | $48 |
| First year total | $7,995 | |
Worth knowing
Ask this breeder for certificates on hip dysplasia (33% of screened dogs abnormal), elbow dysplasia (8% of screened dogs abnormal), patellar luxation (7% of screened dogs abnormal). Those are the screenings where French Bulldogs score worst in the OFA registry, so they are the ones worth seeing paperwork for. A breeder who has done the testing will produce it without being pushed; one who has not will talk about how healthy their line is instead.
Feeding an adult
At 24 lb, roughly 671 kcal a day, about 1.8 cups at 380 kcal per cup.
Where French Bulldogs do better than other dogs
The same VetCompass study that documented this breed's problems examined 43 disorders in total, and found French Bulldogs at lower odds than other dogs for 11 of them. These are the six largest of those differences.
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Compare coverage for a French Bulldog
Premiums run $190 to $1,414 a year. Routine care of roughly $1,301 a year is not covered by any standard policy, so compare on what happens when something expensive and unexpected occurs.
French Bulldog vs other breeds
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The price
French Bulldogs are expensive to breed before they are expensive to own. Flat-faced breeds frequently need assisted mating and a planned cesarean section, because the puppies' heads are large relative to the mother's pelvis. Those costs are carried by a small litter and passed on in the purchase price. Expect $2,000 to $6,500 from a breeder who health tests. That figure is an observed market range rather than a sourced statistic, and it is the least reliable number on this page. Everything after the purchase is more predictable: about $2,371 a year in food, grooming, boarding, routine veterinary care, preventatives and dental.
The build
The shortened muzzle that defines the breed houses the same soft tissue a longer one would, with less room for it. That is why airway, skin fold and eye problems cluster in flat-faced dogs rather than appearing at random. Small breeds tend to live longer, which is the main reason their lifetime totals are not lower than they look. More years means more routine care, and crowded jaws make dental disease close to inevitable. On hips, 33% of French Bulldogs submitted to OFA were graded dysplastic, and 8% on elbows. Those are dogs a breeder chose to submit, so the rate across the breed is higher, and a radiographic grade is not the same as a dog that will need surgery.
Common questions
How much does a French Bulldog cost?
A French Bulldog puppy costs $2,000 to $6,500. The first year totals about $7,995 including vaccines, neutering and supplies, then roughly $2,371 a year after that. Across a median lifespan of 9.8 years that is about $29,367 to own. Health costs sit outside that figure and are listed separately, because the evidence is not strong enough to reduce them to one number.
What health problems do French Bulldogs have?
The largest measured figure is hip dysplasia: 33% of dogs screened by OFA evaluated abnormal. Treatment runs $1,200 to $3,500. Each figure on the page states the population it was measured in, because these are different kinds of measurement and are not interchangeable.
Is pet insurance worth it for a French Bulldog?
A standard accident-and-illness policy averaged $836 a year in the latest published industry figures. Held flat, that is about $8,193 across 9.8 years, though real premiums rise with age and vary by carrier, state, deductible and reimbursement level, so treat it as a benchmark rather than a quote. Accident-only cover is cheaper at about $190 a year but pays nothing toward illness, and policies with a wellness rider reach $1,414 while mostly prepaying routine care you would buy anyway. Routine care of about $1,301 a year is not covered by any standard policy. Coverage is protection against an uncommon large bill, not a way to save money on predictable care. What decides whether a claim is paid is usually the policy mechanics rather than the breed: pre-existing conditions, waiting periods and bilateral rules.
Why are French Bulldogs so expensive?
Most litters require artificial insemination and a planned cesarean section, and average only three puppies. High breeding cost plus sustained demand keeps prices elevated.
Does pet insurance cover BOAS surgery?
Often not. BOAS is congenital, and policies commonly exclude hereditary and congenital conditions. Some name brachycephalic syndrome specifically. Read the exclusions before assuming the breed's most likely surgery is covered.
Can French Bulldogs fly?
Most airlines refuse brachycephalic breeds in cargo and several restrict them in cabin. Assume ground transport for long distances.
Sources
Grade A is a peer-reviewed prevalence figure from a large primary-care population. Grade B needs a conversion or comes from a single market. Grade C and D are weaker and labeled wherever they appear.
- 1OFAGrade CData 1974-2026Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, Disease Statistics by Breed. Cumulative evaluations submitted to the OFA registry.US. Voluntarily submitted screening evaluations, not a random population sampleView source
- 2Orthopedic price guides 2026Grade CData 2026Published US veterinary price guides and specialist clinic fee pages for hip, elbow and patellar surgery, cross-checked across MetLife Pet Insurance, Lemonade, Vety, PetPlanWise, SustainableVet and SurgiPet. Retrieved 16 August 2026.US, general and referral practiceView source
- 3Wallis 2021 by dog sizeGrade BData 2016-2021Wallis C, Saito EK, Salt C, Holcombe LJ, Desforges NG. Association of periodontal disease with breed size, breed, weight, and age in pure-bred client-owned dogs in the United States. The Veterinary Journal 2021;275:105717, Table 6.2,841,038 US dogs at Banfield hospitals over five years, grouped by breed sizeView source
- 4VetCompass 2018Grade AData 2016O'Neill DG, Baral L, Church DB, Brodbelt DC, Packer RMA. Demography and disorders of the French Bulldog population under primary veterinary care in the UK in 2013. Canine Genetics and Epidemiology. 2018;5:3.UK primary-care practicesView source
- 5VetCompass 2021Grade AData 2016O'Neill DG, James H, Brodbelt DC, Church DB, Pegram C. Prevalence of commonly diagnosed disorders in UK dogs under primary veterinary care: results and applications. BMC Veterinary Research. 2021;17:69.Random sample of 22,333 UK dogs from 784 clinics during 2016View source
- 6Synchrony/CareCredit 2026Grade BData 2025-20262025-2026 Synchrony Average Procedural Cost Study for Veterinary Practices Across the United States, conducted by ASQ360 Market Research. Published by CareCredit.All 50 US states and the District of ColumbiaView source
- 7VetCompass 2014Grade AData 2013O'Neill DG, Church DB, McGreevy PD, Thomson PC, Brodbelt DC. Prevalence of disorders recorded in dogs attending primary-care veterinary practices in England. PLOS ONE. 2014;9(3):e90501.148,741 dogs across 93 UK clinics; 3,884 records reviewed in detailView source
- 8Dog Aging Project 2025Grade BData 2019-2022Demographic and lifestyle characteristics impact lifetime prevalence of owner-reported intervertebral disc disease: 43,517 companion dogs in the United States. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 2025;263(5).43,517 US companion dogs enrolled in the Dog Aging ProjectView source
- 9KC survey 2017Grade CData 2014Wiles BM, Llewellyn-Zaidi AM, Evans KM, O'Neill DG, Lewis TW. Large-scale survey to estimate the prevalence of disorders for 192 Kennel Club registered breeds. Canine Genetics and Epidemiology. 2017;4:8.43,005 UK dogs across 192 Kennel Club breeds, owner-reportedView source
- 10McMillan 2024Grade AData 2016-2020McMillan KM, Bielby J, Williams CL, Upjohn MM, Casey RA, Christley RM. Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death. Scientific Reports. 2024;14:531.584,734 UK dogs including 284,734 deceased, across 155 breedsView source
- 11Dog Aging Project HLESGrade BData 2019-2025Dog Aging Project. Curated Data Summary Tables, Health and Life Experience Survey, 2025 release. Retrieved 17 August 2026.52,599 US dogs enrolled in the Dog Aging Project, owner reportedView source
- 12Banfield US life expectancyGrade AData 2013-2019Montoya M, Morrison JA, Arrignon F, Spofford N, Charles H, Hours M-A, Biourge V. Life expectancy tables for dogs and cats derived from clinical data. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 2023;10:1082102.13,292,929 unique dogs at 1,152 Banfield hospitals across the USAView source
- 13AKC 2025 registrationsGrade AData 2025American Kennel Club. Most Popular Dog Breeds of 2025, from AKC registration statistics covering 202 recognized breeds.AKC registration statistics for the 2025 calendar yearView source
- 14Care cost model 2026Grade CData 2026The Breed Report care cost model. Food is computed from the veterinary Resting Energy Requirement, RER = 70 x (kg^0.75), times a 1.6 maintenance factor for a neutered adult, divided by kibble caloric density, priced at 2026 US retail. Grooming and boarding are computed from 2026 US national average prices by body size and coat type. Inputs and assumptions are published in full.Computed per breed from measured weight and coat typeView source
Each figure is shown as the study measured it, with the population beside it. We do not convert one kind of measurement into another. See the full method. Not veterinary advice.