“Oodles” were officially Australia’s favourite dogs in 2024 – but Border Collies had the lowest vet bills*.
PetSure, Australia’s leading pet health insurer, has released its 2025 Pet Health Monitor. The comprehensive white paper features breed-specific insights – and broader findings on pet health trends – drawn from the country’s largest pet healthcare dataset.
Key highlights
- Poodle crossbreeds (Oodles) were Australia’s most popular dogs in 2024, with Cavoodles topping the list.
- Cavoodles had the second-lowest average annual healthcare claims, behind Border Collies.
- Other breeds with below-average healthcare costs included Kelpies, Dachshunds, and another Oodle, the Groodle (Golden Doodle).
- French Bulldogs had the highest average vet costs of any breed in 2024, at $1,641.
- Other brachycephalic (flat-faced) dog breeds, including Pugs, also recorded above-average healthcare costs.
- Among non-brachycephalic breeds, Beagles, Rottweilers and Miniature Schnauzers cost the most in vet bills.
These findings are based on PetSure’s insurance claims data and other insights featured in the 2025 Pet Health Monitor. The report is Australia’s largest and most comprehensive annual analysis of insured pet health, drawing on data from 700,000 pets.
Standout findings* from the 2025 Pet Health Monitor report include:
- While “Luna” was again the most popular name for both female dogs and cats last year, there are fresh trends for male pets. Milo was the top choice of name for male cats born in 2024, and Teddy was the favourite for male dogs.
- Skin conditions were the leading reason dogs visited the vet, followed by gastrointestinal issues and ear infections.
- The most expensive dog health claims were for lymphoma (with one case exceeding $61,000) and tick paralysis (with a top claim over $57,000).
- Feline obesity continues to rise, affecting a significant share of domestic cats.
Dog healthcare costs
In 2024, insured dog owners submitted an average of $1,047 in vet-related claims across all breeds. The average claims rose as pets aged.
Top five breeds for lowest average annual healthcare costs (claims):
| # | Breed | Avg. annual claim |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Border Collie | $771 |
| 2 | Cavoodle | $776 |
| 3 | Kelpie | $793 |
| 4 | Dachshund | $795 |
| 5 | Groodle (Golden Doodle) | $813 |
| ALL BREEDS | $1,047 |
At the other end of the spectrum, French Bulldogs (Frenchies) were the most expensive breed for healthcare costs, with average yearly claims of $1,641. As a brachycephalic (flat-faced) breed, Frenchies are prone to respiratory issues and often need surgery to open up their airways. Nevertheless, they were the fifth-most popular dog breed in Australia in 2024 according to the Pet Health Monitor.
While not in the top five, Pugs averaged $1,235 and were in sixth place.
Top five breeds for highest average annual healthcare costs (claims):
| # | Breed | Avg. annual claim |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | French Bulldog | $1,641 |
| 2 | Beagle | $1,428 |
| 3 | Rottweiler | $1,341 |
| 4 | Miniature Schnauzer | $1,296 |
| 5 | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | $1,259 |
| ALL BREEDS | $1,047 |
“It’s interesting to see that two of the five lowest‑claiming breeds, Border Collies and Kelpies, are active working dogs traditionally bred for herding livestock on farms,” says veterinarian Dr Simone Maher, PetSure’s Chief Veterinary Officer.
“These breeds have a high need for physical activity and mental stimulation. Ideally, their owners understand this and ensure they get the exercise they need – that regular activity may reduce the risk of obesity‑related conditions, which can have a positive impact on long‑term health,” Dr Maher says.
Caution with large and flat-faced dog breeds
Dr Maher highlights the high healthcare cost claims of brachycephalic dogs like Frenchies (the fifth most popular dog in 2024) that are bred for their characteristic flat faces.
“Brachycephalic breeds are clearly overrepresented in our highest-claim categories, suggesting that some of the appearance traits that have become popular are not always conducive to a pet’s health and wellbeing.’
French Bulldogs are prone to Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS), a breathing disorder resulting from compressed airways. Many of these dogs require surgeries on their airways and soft palates to ensure they get enough oxygen, especially in warm weather.
“The Pet Health Monitor report shows the average cost to treat BOAS is over $3,100, assuming the procedure is uncomplicated. Treatment can, however, cost nearly $30,000,” Dr Maher says.
Explore the full 2025 Pet Health Monitor for data-driven breed and health condition rankings, treatment costs, in-depth disease studies, veterinary care insights and helpful tips here.
*Based on PetSure claims data, 2024
ABOUT PETSURE:
PetSure (Australia) Pty Ltd (“PetSure”) is Australia’s leading pet insurer. For over 20 years, PetSure has been the market leader in both size and innovation. PetSure issues and administers the pet insurance policies of over 20 partner brands.
As the category leader, and in close collaboration with members of the veterinary industry, PetSure continually seeks to extend coverage, keep pace with modern veterinary practices, and provide pet insurance policies that are transparent and operate with the highest levels of integrity.
In March 2023, PetSure obtained its own APRA general insurance license, making it the first general insurer in Australia that’s fully dedicated to pet insurance. PetSure is committed to the long-term growth and sustainability of the pet insurance category.
Disclaimer:
Unless otherwise specified, the data referenced in this article is drawn from PetSure claims data for the year 2024.
High and low risk breeds were based on PetSure Australia 2024 claims data. Claims experience was normalised against the number of pets for each breed to determine the average cost per pet per year. Only breeds with more than 5,000 pets were considered to ensure reasonableness of the data trends.
Insurance products are issued by The Hollard Insurance Company Pty Ltd ABN 78 090 584 473, AFSL 241436 (Hollard) and/or PetSure (Australia) Pty Ltd ABN 95 075 949 923, AFSL 420183 (PetSure) (from 8th May 2023 only), administered by PetSure and promoted and distributed through their authorised representatives and distribution partners. Any advice provided is general only and does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. Cover is subject to the policy terms and conditions. You should consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to decide if a product is right for you. PDS and Target Market Determination are available from the relevant partner’s website.
