Willetton resident Judy was left with a $13,000 vet bill after her golden retriever puppy, Harvey, was diagnosed with a luxating patella, a rare condition for large breeds. New research from CoverMyPet reveals that golden retrievers are among the breeds most likely to generate costly vet claims, along with Staffordshire Bull Terriers and cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
Condition and Treatment
Judy first noticed Harvey's intermittent lameness in his back left leg when he was just over a year old. Luxating patella, where the kneecap moves out of place, required urgent surgery to prevent cruciate ligament damage. The costs quickly piled up, including scans, medication, and months of follow-up treatment. Fortunately, pet insurance covered 80% of the bill, including diagnostic scans, hydrotherapy, physiotherapy, and sedation meds.
“It was a massive relief to have it covered, it wasn’t just the surgery, they covered the diagnostic scans, all of his rehab, so after the 8 weeks of rest he had to have 8 weeks of hydrotherapy and physio, they covered 80 per cent of that and 80 per cent of all of his sedation meds which were about $400,” Judy said.
Breed-Specific Risks
CoverMyPet's analysis of claims over the past six months shows retrievers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, and cavalier King Charles Spaniels are in the top five for dog breeds with the most insurance claims. For cats, Ragdolls, Burmese, British Shorthair, and Bengal breeds are among the top five after domestic cats. Judy's Ragdoll cat Lily also required a $1000 vet visit.
“Australians can’t get enough of these breeds but often don’t realise the vet costs they could be in for, as a result of their genetics,” said CoverMyPet General Manager Grant Pugh. “It’s surprising more of the increasingly popular designer breeds didn’t make the top five as they can inherit health challenges from both parent breeds, leading to costly vet visits.”
Owner's Perspective
Despite the high costs, Judy said she would still choose a golden retriever again, noting that the condition is rare in the breed. She emphasized the importance of ethical breeding: “Before getting a puppy, do your research and find a good breeder, find an ethical breeder because it can help prevent hereditary conditions.”
WA pet owners are the third most likely in Australia to make an insurance claim, reflecting the rising cost of pet healthcare.
