Brachycephalic conditions (BOAS, dental, eye)

both

Pugs, French Bulldogs, English Bulldogs, Persians (cats), and other short-skulled breeds have well-documented structural conditions: brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS), early-onset dental crowding, corneal ulcers, eye protrusion.

Why this matters: Brachycephalic breeds are one of the highest-risk insurance categories. Some insurers maintain breed-specific exclusions; some cover with carve-outs.

9 of 11 indexed products have on-file cover language for this condition. 2 are pending wording ingest.

Snapshot 2026-05-18T08:27:31.134Z. Machine-readable: matrix.json · summary.md

AA Pet Insurance

AA Pet Insurance Policy

Wording v2025-04-05 · confidence: verified · key: hereditary_congenital_rules

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Hereditary conditions and congenital conditions will not be considered a pre-existing condition if they have not shown noticeable signs, symptoms or an abnormality at any time before the commencement date of the first policy period or during any applicable waiting period.

Other on-file fact keys (1)
  • exclusions: Pre-existing conditions and a related condition or a bilateral condition of a pre-existing condition; Food (regular or prescription), vitamins/nutraceuticals/supplements, vaccinations, microchipping, flea/tick/worm control, grooming and bat…

Cove Pet Insurance

Cove Pet Insurance

Wording v2026-05-18 · confidence: verified · key: hereditary_congenital_rules

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Hereditary conditions and congenital conditions will not be considered a pre-existing condition if they have not shown noticeable signs, symptoms or an abnormality at any time before the commencement date of the first policy period or within an applicable waiting period.

Other on-file fact keys (1)
  • exclusions: Pre-existing conditions, a related condition or a condition arising before the first policy period you are insured with us or within the applicable waiting period; Bilateral conditions treated as a single condition for benefit limit or excl…

Petcover (Petplan NZ)

Petcover Catastrophe Plan

Wording v2026-05-17 · confidence: verified · key: hereditary_congenital_rules

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Not explicitly described as a named category of exclusion or inclusion. Select Breeds (a defined list of large/giant and brachycephalic-related breeds) are eligible for cover only from age 8 weeks and before their 5th birthday. Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) and related conditions are excluded for the first 365 days of cover. Cruciate ligament, patella luxation, hip dysplasia and OCD are explicitly stated not to be considered Accidents and have a 180-day waiting period with sub-limits.

Other on-file fact keys (1)
  • exclusions: A Condition specifically excluded on Your Certificate of Insurance; Any animal less than eight (8) weeks old at the time of commencement of the period of insurance; Any costs of treatment throughout the lifetime of Your Pet for any Injury o…

Southern Cross Pet Insurance

AcciPet (Accident-only)

Wording v2023-12-01 · confidence: verified · key: exclusions

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Pre-existing conditions; Transport and boarding (such as in a kennel or cattery); Cages, equipment, and devices, except dog or cat cones (Elizabethan collars); Voluntary euthanasia of your pet (where you choose to have your pet put down for non-medical reasons or due to behavioural or psychological conditions), or euthanasia due to any pandemic disease; Disposal, post-mortem, burial or cremation; Alternative treatment (acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic manipulation, massage therapy, osteopathy or treatments of a similar nature); Behavioural or psychological conditions (anxiety disorders, depression, aggression, excessive barking) and related treatment; Complications from treatment we don't cover; Vet consultation fees (unless consult care extra is added); Cosmetic treatment (tail docking, ear cropping, tattooing, dewclaw removal except where required due to accidental injury); Degenerative injuries, such as injuries caused by arthritis or osteoporosis; Dental care (except where caused by accidental injury, and excluding dental injury from eating or chewing an object); Extended hospitalisation beyond what is medically necessary; Extra vet fees for policy administration, information, postage or couriers; Failure to protect your pet from accidental injury or worsening of a treated accidental injury; Fighting costs if your pet has a history of fighting before the policy start date; Illness, sickness or disease, including degenerative disease; International treatment (treatment received outside New Zealand); Medication covering a period more than 40 days after your policy ends; Parasites inside or outside your pet (worms, ticks, fleas, skin mites); Prescription pet foods and supplements; Organ transplant surgery; Joint replacements; Cell replacement therapies, including stem-cell therapy; Artificial limbs, implants, and prosthetics; Treatment provided by the owner (unless the owner is a vet or registered vet nurse); Treatment of an undiagnosed health condition that is similar to an excluded health condition where treatment is consistent with typical treatment of an excluded condition; Pig hunting dogs; Cruciate ligament and patella luxation accidental injuries occurring within the 90-day stand down period

Southern Cross Pet Insurance

FreeCover (Trial)

Wording v2025-09-01 · confidence: verified · key: hereditary_congenital_rules

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We don't cover congenital conditions. A congenital condition is an anomaly or developmental defect that is present in your pet at birth, even though signs or symptoms may not appear until later in life. Common congenital conditions for puppies and kittens are things like: brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome, cleft palates, neurological defects such as wobbler syndrome, spina bifida, umbilical hernias, undescended testes.

Other on-file fact keys (1)
  • exclusions: Congenital conditions; Pre-existing conditions; Bilateral conditions where the same health condition exists on the other side of a paired body part; Grooming and bathing costs including medicated baths and shampoos; Transport and boarding (…

Southern Cross Pet Insurance

PetCare (Comprehensive)

Wording v2023-12-01 · confidence: verified · key: hereditary_congenital_rules

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Congenital conditions are excluded. A congenital condition is an anomaly or developmental defect that is present in your pet at birth, even though signs or symptoms may not appear until later in life. We maintain a list of conditions that we consider to be congenital conditions. However, this is not a complete list of all congenital conditions.

Other on-file fact keys (1)
  • exclusions: Pre-existing conditions; Congenital conditions; Behavioural or psychological conditions (anxiety disorders, depression, aggression, excessive barking, and related treatments); Dental care (illness-related) — unless dental care extra is adde…

SPCA Pet Insurance

Big Stuff Cover

Wording v2026-05-17 · confidence: verified · key: hereditary_congenital_rules

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Hereditary Conditions and congenital Conditions will not be considered a Pre-existing Condition if they have not shown noticeable signs, symptoms or an abnormality at any time before the Commencement Date of the first Policy Period or during any applicable Waiting Period. They are listed as examples of Illnesses Covered under Illness Cover (excluding those hereditary and congenital Conditions that fall within the definition of a Pre-existing Condition).

Other on-file fact keys (1)
  • exclusions: Pre-existing Conditions; Food (regular or prescription), vitamins/nutraceuticals/supplements, vaccinations, health checks, routine Consultations, microchipping, flea/tick/worm control, grooming and bathing of your Pet, and nonmedicated groo…

SPCA Pet Insurance

The Works (Comprehensive)

Wording v2026-05-17 · confidence: verified · key: hereditary_congenital_rules

Provider →

Hereditary Conditions and congenital Conditions will not be considered a Pre-existing Condition if they have not shown noticeable signs, symptoms or an abnormality at any time before the Commencement Date of the first Policy Period or during any applicable Waiting Period. Hereditary and congenital Conditions are listed as examples of Illnesses Covered under Illness Cover, excluding those hereditary and congenital Conditions that fall within the definition of a Pre-existing Condition.

Other on-file fact keys (1)
  • exclusions: Pre-existing Conditions; Related Conditions and Bilateral Conditions of a Pre-existing Condition; Conditions arising within the applicable Waiting Period; Any declared widespread epidemic or pandemic disease that affects dogs or cats; Food …

Tower Pet Insurance

Pet Comprehensive + Essentials

Wording v2026-05-18 · confidence: verified · key: hereditary_congenital_rules

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Hereditary conditions which first manifest before your pet's 2nd birthday are excluded. Congenital conditions are excluded entirely. Hereditary condition means a genetic condition which is passed down through your pet's bloodline, and which is commonly breed specific. Congenital condition means a congenital anomaly or developmental defect which is present at birth but may not manifest until later in your pet's life.

Other on-file fact keys (1)
  • exclusions: Pre-existing conditions; Any condition which first presented its signs or symptoms or which was first diagnosed during any claims waiting period; Any condition where the diagnosis is inconclusive, but where the customary treatment is simila…
2 products with no on-file value for this condition
  • PD Insurance — PD Pet Insurance (PDS) (wording pending ingest)
  • PetNSur — PetNSur Rhodium / Standard (wording pending ingest)

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Not personalised veterinary or financial advice. Each clause shown is a verbatim excerpt from the cited insurer wording PDF. For the authoritative answer in any specific case, refer to the source PDF.