Dog breed
Boston Terrier insurance cost and health risks
Boston Terrier is a medium breed in the Non-Sporting group, with a lifespan of 11 to 13 years on the breed standard. Its best documented health risks are brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (boas) and patellar luxation.
Boston Terrier at a glance
| Figure | The standard |
|---|---|
| AKC group | Non-Sporting |
| Height | 15 to 17 inches |
| Weight | 12 to 25 pounds |
| Lifespan | 11 to 13 years |
| Coat | Short, smooth coat, light grooming |
| Energy | Moderate energy, playful in bursts |
Popularity: number 23 in the American Kennel Club registration rankings for 2025, published in 2026. The ranking counts registered purebred puppies, not every dog owned.
Health screening for this breed
The Canine Health Information Center, run with the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, sets this screening list for the breed. A breeder who follows the program runs these checks on the parents:
- Patella evaluation
- Eye examination
- BAER hearing test
- Juvenile hereditary cataract DNA test
Conditions Boston Terrier owners tend to claim for
Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS)
The short muzzle narrows the airways and makes breathing and heat tolerance harder.
Evidence: VetCompass study of UK primary care records.
Treatment typically runs $2,000 to $2,500. Source: Spot Pet Insurance, Pet Insurance and Surgeries: What is Covered and What is Not.
Patellar luxation
The kneecap slips out of its groove, causing intermittent lameness.
Evidence: CHIC screening program.
Treatment typically runs $2,000 to $3,000. Source: Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, quoted in DogWatch (Belvoir Media), When the kneecap slips out of place.
Glaucoma
Raised pressure inside the eye causes pain and can lead to blindness.
Evidence: Breed parent club health information, Boston Terrier Club of America.
Allergies
Skin allergies cause itching and repeated skin problems.
Evidence: VetCompass study of UK primary care records.
Treatment typically runs $600 to $2,000. Source: Embrace Pet Insurance, Dog Breed Library.
What a claim would pay
A worked example
- The bill for treating brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (boas) comes to $2,250.
- The yearly deductible takes off $500, leaving $1,750.
- The policy reimburses 80 percent of $1,750, which is $1,400.00.
The policy pays $1,400.00 and you pay $850.00.
Example terms only: a $500 yearly deductible and 80 percent reimbursement, with the deductible not yet met this year. Your own policy terms decide a real claim.
The bill is the middle of the published range for brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (boas), $2,000 to $2,500. Source: Spot Pet Insurance, Pet Insurance and Surgeries: What is Covered and What is Not.
The national average, for context
The national average premium
| Coverage | National average |
|---|---|
| Accident and illness, average for a dog | $836 a year |
| The same average as a monthly figure | $836 divided by 12 is $69.67 a month |
| Accident only, average for a dog | $190 a year |
These are averages across every breed and age in the country, from the North American Pet Health Insurance Association, State of the Industry Report, 2026 edition, reporting 2025 data. They are printed for scale. No source publishes an average premium for one breed, and this site does not present this figure as a price for any single dog.
Coverage notes for this breed
Orthopedic waiting periods. Embrace: 6 months for orthopedic conditions for dogs in the V5 sample policy, reducible on review of a vet orthopedic exam to 2 days for accidents or 14 days for illnesses, or the exam date, whichever is later. State pages vary: some states have a 30 day period for IVDD, cruciate, patellar luxation and hip dysplasia, with other orthopedic conditions at 14 days, and cats at 14 days. Captured from the insurer's published terms on October 27, 2026.
Orthopedic waiting periods. Lemonade: 30 days for orthopedic conditions in Lemonade's current waiting-period guide and vet guide. Note: Lemonade's main pet page FAQ and its older sample policy say 6 months for cruciate ligament events, which conflicts with the current guide's 30 day orthopedic period. Captured from the insurer's published terms on October 27, 2026.
Two sided conditions. Embrace: If a pet had clinical signs of a bilateral condition on one side of the body before the end of the waiting period, future occurrences of the same condition on the other side will not be covered. The V5 policy gives the example of a cruciate tear in the left leg before the end of the waiting period making a later cruciate tear in the right leg a pre-existing condition. Captured from the insurer's published terms on October 27, 2026.
Two sided conditions. Fetch (Fetch by The Dodo): Fetch's pre-existing conditions page says that with orthopedic bilateral conditions the pet runs a higher risk of the same condition on the other side, and future occurrences, such as a cruciate tear on the left side, would be a pre-existing condition and not covered, where the first occurrence was pre-existing. Captured from the insurer's published terms on October 27, 2026.
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Similar breeds to compare
The Boston Terrier Cost Cheat Sheet
One page on the Boston Terrier: the conditions Boston Terriers are prone to, what treatment for each one typically costs, and the national average premium for context, all from the same dataset as this page, gathered onto one sheet you can keep, print, or take to the vet. Tell us where to send it.
One welcome email with the sheet, then occasional cost updates. No spam, no selling your address.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to insure a Boston Terrier?
No source publishes an average premium for one breed, and any site showing one is showing its own quote sample. The national average for a dog is $836 a year for accident and illness cover, from the North American Pet Health Insurance Association, State of the Industry Report, 2026 edition, reporting 2025 data. What you actually pay depends on your dog's age, your state, and the deductible and reimbursement share you pick.
What health conditions does a Boston Terrier tend to get?
The best documented health risks for this breed are Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS), Patellar luxation, Glaucoma, Allergies. Each is listed on this page with the evidence behind it and the treatment cost where a source publishes one.
What does brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (boas) treatment cost?
Published ranges put it at $2,000 to $2,500. Source: Spot Pet Insurance, Pet Insurance and Surgeries: What is Covered and What is Not. The worked example on this page shows what a policy would pay toward a bill in the middle of that range.
When is the best time to enroll a Boston Terrier?
Before anything goes wrong. Conditions that show symptoms before a policy starts, or during its waiting periods, count as pre-existing and are not covered. Waiting periods run from the start date, so enrolling while your dog is healthy is what makes the policy worth having.
Does pet insurance cover hereditary conditions in a Boston Terrier?
Most current policies cover hereditary and congenital conditions, and the difference between brands is in the waiting periods and clauses attached. The coverage notes on this page record what the insurers' own published terms say, with the capture date.
Breed facts: American Kennel Club breed profile, with popularity from the AKC registration rankings for 2025, published in 2026. Health screening list: Canine Health Information Center program, Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. Condition evidence: VetCompass study of UK primary care records; CHIC screening program; Breed parent club health information, Boston Terrier Club of America. Premium benchmark: North American Pet Health Insurance Association, State of the Industry Report, 2026 edition, reporting 2025 data. Policy facts captured October 27, 2026 from each insurer's published terms. See the methodology page for how every source is used.