Bernese Mountain Dog Pet Insurance
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Dr. Pippa Elliott BVMS, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr Pippa Elliott BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in companion animal practice. In 1987 she graduated from the University of Glasgow, with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She works at Blythwood Vets and the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA). Pippa is an advocate of Fear-Free Practice, an animal addict, and a veterinary writer. She is also w...
Veterinarian
UPDATED: Nov 17, 2020
Pet Insurance U receives compensation from the third parties included on this site. This includes payment for clicks from our site to insurance providers’ sites and quote requests generated. Our rankings and reviews are not affected by payments from the insurance companies. The compensation we receive allows the site to be free and regularly updated. Our goal is to review every pet insurance provider, but not all companies are listed on the site.
And many of the companies we review do not pay us anything. We simply rate, compare and review their plan because we feel it will be valuable to you. Our reviews are guaranteed to be unbiased, professional and advertising compensation does not influence rankings.
We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about pet insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything pet insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by pet insurance experts.
UPDATED: Nov 17, 2020
Pet Insurance U receives compensation from the third parties included on this site. This includes payment for clicks from our site to insurance providers’ sites and quote requests generated. Our rankings and reviews are not affected by payments from the insurance companies. The compensation we receive allows the site to be free and regularly updated. Our goal is to review every pet insurance provider, but not all companies are listed on the site.
And many of the companies we review do not pay us anything. We simply rate, compare and review their plan because we feel it will be valuable to you. Our reviews are guaranteed to be unbiased, professional and advertising compensation does not influence rankings.
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The Bernese Mountain Dog is large, averaging 90 pounds (41 kg), with mid-length black, brown and white fur.
The breed takes its name from Switzerland’s capital city; it was developed in the region as a work dog suited to the high elevations and rugged terrain of the Alps.
Bernese are calm and friendly dogs that interact well with people and other pets, though they require a great deal of exercise and lots of space to play outside.
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Despite their great size, Bernese are somewhat delicate and tend to live only around 8 years. They are at risk for a number of health problems:
- Addison’s disease: this condition results when the adrenal gland produces too little adrenaline; affected dogs are lethargic and suffer gastrointestinal problems. Blood analysis is required to diagnose the disease, which can be difficult to distinguish from other ailments. Treatment involves lifetime administration of drugs that compensate for the defective gland.
- Hip dysplasia: these dogs may inherit a condition where the hipbone fails to fit correctly into the pelvis. Over time, wear and tear can cause these joints to become inflamed, resulting in pain and restricted movement. The condition can often be reversed with surgery. Owners are urged to ask breeders for confirmation that the hips of the parents are not affected, though this does not guarantee that puppies will not develop dysplasia.
Related: 10 Things You Must Know Before You Buy Pet Insurance
- Histiocytic sarcoma: this highly aggressive form of cancer can attack any number of tissues, in particular, the spleen, lungs, marrow, lymph nodes and joints. The symptoms, including loss of appetite and lethargy, are not specific to the disease, making diagnosis difficult. Treatment can involve chemotherapy, radiation and/or surgery.
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA): as the name suggests, this disease occurs when the cells of a dog’s retinas degenerate. A single gene mutation is responsible for the problem, though as yet no genetic test has been developed. It is therefore imperative to know the breeding history before acquiring a puppy in order to ensure that none of its ancestors has gone blind. There is no treatment for PRA, though affected dogs can almost always live full lives if kept indoors (a lot of space would, however, be required for a Miniature Pinscher).
The sad fact is that Bernese are susceptible to a variety of illnesses and that they are likely to develop a life-threatening condition by age 7 or 8.
Armed with this knowledge, owners can plan for these eventualities by purchasing the right pet health care plan, so that they can concentrate on caring for their dogs rather than worrying about how to afford treatment.
For other types of dogs, check out our full list of dog breeds.
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How do you choose a dog breed? There are so many awesome options! We have compiled a complete database about all the dog breeds, their mannerisms, care, and who they do best with. Statistically, some purebreds experience more health issues than mixed breeds. There are many pet insurance companies out there and we have put together a great article about the best puppy and dog pet insurance companies in the US.
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Dr. Pippa Elliott BVMS, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr Pippa Elliott BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in companion animal practice. In 1987 she graduated from the University of Glasgow, with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She works at Blythwood Vets and the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA). Pippa is an advocate of Fear-Free Practice, an animal addict, and a veterinary writer. She is also w...
Veterinarian
We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about pet insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything pet insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by pet insurance experts.
This summer I stayed with a friend who had a Bernese Mountain Dog and I have to say that I immediately fell in love with it. It was so cute and cuddly, and even though he was really big I still treated him like a puppy. It’s sad to read that they are susceptible to so many serious illnesses. I will let my friend know and also recommend that he buys insurance because I believe that he would feel safer knowing that he won’t have to worry about taking his cutie-pie to the vet if anything were to happen. 🙂 Thanks