New Data Shows Lyme Disease Claims in Dogs Rise by 231% as Tick Season Nears
As warmer weather draws Canadians and their pets outdoors, new data from Trupanion highlights the growing impact of tick-borne disease across the country.
According to an internal analysis of more than 7.5 million pet insurance claims, Lyme-disease-related claims for dogs increased by 231% since 2020. The data also showed that 3% of Lyme-related claims involved Lyme nephritis, a serious kidney complication associated with Lyme disease.
Other key findings include:
- Since 2020, the frequency of Lyme-disease-related claims for dogs has increased by 231%, totaling 4,539 claims overall.
- In 2025 alone, Trupanion saw 1,445 Lyme-related claims — the highest annual total in the dataset.
- The average claim cost for Lyme disease treatment was approximately $395. Claims involving Lyme nephritis and other complications were significantly higher due to hospitalization and ongoing treatment needs.
- Ontario and Nova Scotia saw the highest total number of Lyme-related claims, as well as the highest claim rates per 1,000 insured pets.
- Quebec and New Brunswick experienced the largest increases in claim rates since 2020, with increases of 859% and 553%, respectively.
- The two breeds with the highest number of Lyme-related claims were the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and Bernese Mountain Dog.
Lyme disease among dogs by province (ranked by claim count)
Provinces with larger pet populations, such as Ontario, recorded the highest total number of Lyme-related claims overall. However, claim rate per 1,000 insured pets provides additional context by showing how commonly Lyme disease claims occur relative to the insured pet population in that province.
For example, Nova Scotia recorded the highest claim rate despite having fewer total claims than Ontario, indicating a higher frequency of Lyme-related claims among insured dogs in the province. Meanwhile, provinces such as Quebec and New Brunswick showed the most significant percentage increases in claim rates since 2020.
Together, these metrics help illustrate both the current prevalence of Lyme disease claims and how claim activity has changed across different regions in recent years.
Province | Total claims | Claims rate (per 1,000 pets) | % Change in claim rate since 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
Ontario | 2,521 | 0.55 | 162% |
Nova Scotia | 1,365 | 1.53 | 83% |
Quebec | 289 | 0.40 | 859% |
New Brunswick | 149 | 0.30 | 553% |
British Columbia | 70 | 0.04 | 72% |
Alberta | 64 | 0.03 | 57% |
Manitoba | 32 | 0.23 | — |
Newfoundland and Labrador | 26 | 0.02 | — |
Saskatchewan | 7 | 0.03 | — |
Data note: The percentage change in claim rates for Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Saskatchewan were excluded in this study due to low claim counts.
High claiming breeds
The data also shows that certain breeds see higher claim rates than others.
The highest-claiming breeds, like the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, are traditionally bred for rugged aquatic work, potentially placing them in tick-heavy marshlands more often than urban breeds.
Breed | Claim rate (per 1,000 pets) |
|---|---|
Chesapeake Bay Retriever | 2.87 |
Bernese Mountain Dog | 1.40 |
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | 1.36 |
Puggle | 1.31 |
Great Pyrenees | 1.27 |
A notable case: Lyme disease leading to progressive Lyme nephropathy
Patient location: Ontario, Canada
Claim amount: $27,346.96
Sequential critical events
The dog initially presented for hind limb weakness and lethargy. Diagnostic testing confirmed Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi) with significant kidney involvement consistent with Lyme nephropathy.
A workup included bloodwork, urinalysis, abdominal ultrasound, radiographs, blood pressure monitoring, and specialized Lyme disease testing. The patient required prolonged hospitalization for management of progressive renal disease and severe protein loss through the kidneys.
Advanced medical itnervention
As the condition progressed, the medical team implemented intensive supportive and immunosuppressive therapy, including:
- Renal & supportive care: Intravenous fluids, phosphate binders, anti-nausea medications, appetite stimulants, probiotics, and pain management.
- Nutritional support: Feeding tube placement was required until appetite improved.
- Immune-mediated disease management: Antibiotics, steroids, and mycophenolate were prescribed due to concern for immune-mediated glomerulonephritis secondary to Lyme disease.
- Blood pressure & proteinuria control: Medications were initiated to manage hypertension and severe protein loss in the urine.
- Electrolyte stabilization: The patient developed dangerously elevated potassium levels requiring emergency intervention and long-term mineralocorticoid supplementation.
Although kidney values temporarily improved with hospitalization and treatment, persistent proteinuria indicated ongoing irreversible kidney damage.
Clinical takeaway
This case demonstrates how Lyme disease can progress into severe Lyme nephropathy, where immune-mediated injury causes progressive kidney failure and complex systemic complications. Despite aggressive medical management and specialty-level care, the patient ultimately succumbed to renal failure related to Lyme disease.
Lyme disease is not always resolved with antibiotics alone. When the kidneys become involved, treatment can require prolonged hospitalization, intensive monitoring, immunosuppressive therapy, nutritional support, and management of life-threatening electrolyte abnormalities.
For the veterinary team, the presence of Trupanion allowed access to advanced diagnostics and prolonged treatment without immediate financial limitations, helping ensure every available medical option could be pursued throughout the course of the disease.
Note on canine risks: While this case highlights a severe canine outcome, it underscores a broader trend with Lyme disease: symptoms are often hidden until a crisis occurs. Statistically, only 5% to 10% of infected dogs show outward signs of illness. Furthermore, approximately 1% to 5% of infected dogs develop Lyme nephritis.
Methodology
Trupanion analyzed the number of Lyme disease-related claims from January 2020 – December 2025. Claims are broken down by national and province levels. It is important to note that while claim counts and rates provide insight into insured pet activity, fluctuations may be influenced by evolving clinical diagnostic practices and environmental factors. Further investigation into environmental variables is warranted to confirm primary drivers behind these trends.
About Trupanion
Trupanion is a leader in medical insurance for cats and dogs throughout the United States, Canada, and certain countries in Continental Europe with over 1,000,000 pets currently enrolled. For over two decades, Trupanion has given pet owners peace of mind so they can focus on their pet's recovery, not financial stress. Trupanion is committed to providing pet parents with the highest value in pet medical insurance with unlimited payouts for the life of their pets. With its patented process, Trupanion is the only North American provider with the technology to pay veterinarians directly in seconds at the time of checkout. Trupanion is listed on NASDAQ under the symbol "TRUP". The company was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Seattle, WA. Trupanion policies are issued, in the United States, by its wholly-owned insurance entity American Pet Insurance Company and, in Canada, by Accelerant Insurance Company of Canada. Policies are sold and administered in Canada by Canada Pet Health Insurance Services, Inc. dba Trupanion 309-1277 Lynn Valley Road, North Vancouver, BC V7J 0A2 and in the United States by Trupanion Managers USA, Inc. (CA license No. 0G22803, NPN 9588590). Canada Pet Health Insurance Services, Inc. is a registered damage insurance agency and claims adjuster in Quebec #603927. For more information, please visit Trupanion.com.
