The Dog and Cat Breeds With the Highest Vet Bills

We probably all know somebody who would do anything for a beloved pet. Some of us are that person.

And pet insurance is designed so that we don’t go bankrupt protecting them from health issues. But say you don’t have a pet right now or you’re planning to get another — would you want to know what breeds have the costliest care and possibly more health issues than others?

A new Forbes Advisor analysis of three years of pet insurance claims data could help with that. By looking at claims data filed with state insurance departments from July 2017 to June 2020, Forbes figured out the average pet insurance claim for many breeds of dogs and cats. The claim amounts reflect how much an insurer paid, which was typically 70% to 100% of the total bill, not including deductible, according to Forbes.

Based on their findings, the following is a look at which breeds of cats and dogs have the highest and lowest veterinarian bills.

Cat breeds with the highest vet bills

• Siberian Forest Cat: $457 (average pet insurance claim amount)
• Bengal: $404
• Mixed-Breed Medium-Haired Cat: $403
• Mixed Breed Long-Haired Cat: $397
• Ragdoll: $381

Dog breeds with the highest vet bills

• Greater Swiss Mountain Dog: $425 (average pet insurance claim amount)
• Rottweiler: $401
• Dogue de Bordeaux: $395
• Cane Corso: $386
• American Bulldog: $376

Cat breeds with the lowest vet bills

• Burmese: $216 (average pet insurance claim amount)
• Himalayan: $287
• Persian: $317
• Domestic Short-Haired Cat: $319
• Sphynx: $326

Dog breeds with the lowest vet bills

• Australian Labradoodle: $226 (average pet insurance claim amount)
• Miniature Goldendoodle: $230
• Shichon: $241
• Collie-Rough: $243
• Dalmatian: $255
• Lhasa Apso: $255