Pets Face Higher Health Risks

Preventive pet care is more critical than ever as new report highlights rising threats.

Embrace Pet Insurance’s Q2 2025 claims data reveals a significant rise in pet health issues, notably due to a surge in parasite-related illnesses. Tick bites increased by 210%, leading to a 143% rise in anaplasmosis cases. Other notable upticks include hookworm infections (140%), allergic conjunctivitis (138%), and fractures (142%). These trends suggest a heightened risk environment for pets, emphasizing the importance of preventive care.

There are likely multiple factors involved in the significant increases in certain claims and diagnoses over Q2, said Dr. Liza Cahn, veterinarian at Embrace Pet Insurance.

Higher risk and exposure

• Tick bites and anaplasmosis. Changes in weather patterns, including milder winters and warm, wet springs, can increase tick survival. “Not only does this allow ticks to be active for a longer period of time in higher numbers, but it has also resulted in the expansion of their geographic territories,” she said. “Nice weather also correlates with dogs spending more time outdoors.” As anaplasmosis is a tick-borne disease, the increase in diagnosis makes sense if more dogs are experiencing tick bites and seeking veterinary care for follow-up testing.
• Hookworms. Warmer weather is also likely at play here, with an increase in outdoor activities and dog-to-dog contact leading to increased exposure to hookworm larvae. “There has also been growing concern about anthelmintic resistance, which can contribute to persistent or recurrent hookworm infections.”
• Allergic conjunctivitis. “Per the EPA, warmer spring temperatures cause some plants to start producing pollen earlier, lengthening the allergy season.” More dogs are also outdoors due to the nice weather.

There is also increased awareness and reporting. With tick-borne disease now present in most states, the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) has reiterated the importance of year-round tick prevention for all dogs and yearly testing for tick-borne disease. “Increased routine testing may identify mild or subclinical cases that would otherwise go unnoticed,” Dr. Cahn said.

Fortunately, attentive pet owners are noticing concerning symptoms and seeking veterinary care. “Allergies or parasitic reinfection/resistance can also result in ongoing issues, with pets returning for rechecks multiple times during the season.” More specific coding (for example, allergic conjunctivitis instead of conjunctivitis or red eye) could also contribute to increased clarity in our data.

“As more pet owners insure their pets, veterinary care is becoming more financially accessible, leading to increased owner compliance with recommended diagnostics and treatments across the board,” Dr. Cahn said.

Financial relief

With inflation remaining a primary concern for many Americans, pet insurance can sometimes serve as a safety net for veterinary services. Only 55% of Americans report being able to cover three months of expenses in an emergency, highlighting the value of such insurance in mitigating unexpected veterinary costs.

“We routinely hear from pet parents that having pet insurance gives them financial peace of mind to move forward with treatments they might have otherwise delayed or declined,” Dr. Cahn said. In one example, when David Lippman’s dog Sadie needed heart surgery, it could have easily cost him more than $60,000. “All in all, we have incurred total costs of about $62,500 and have been reimbursed by Embrace (for a significant portion of that),” Lippman said. “The Embrace policy definitely made this possible for us to do.” Sadie was one of the first dogs in the U.S. to undergo the mitral valve repair surgery at the University of Florida.

Other common examples include:

• Diagnostics, like advanced bloodwork, x-rays, or ultrasounds.
• Emergency surgeries, such as foreign body removals.
• Ongoing therapies for chronic conditions like diabetes, allergies, or arthritis.
• Specialty care such as oncology or orthopedic surgery.

In 2024, Embrace surveyed over 12,000 of its members. Some highlights of the survey responses include:

• 67% of respondents have faced veterinary bills so high they would have struggled financially without pet insurance.
• 91% believe that pet insurance enables them to provide better care for their pets, potentially extending their pets’ lives.
• 66% said that having pet insurance allowed them to get their pets the care they needed, that they otherwise might have had to decline due to cost.

“Behind every claim is a family doing everything they can for the pet they love,” said Laura Dunn, senior manager of strategic communications at Embrace. “These numbers reflect the growing role of pets in our lives, and the very real financial relief insurance provides.”

More empowered pet owners

Embrace’s Wellness Rewards program is designed as a flexible budgeting tool to help pet parents stay on top of routine, preventative care – like annual exams, vaccines, dental cleanings, and grooming. “While we know that preventative care can help catch potential issues early and support pet’s overall health, we don’t have longitudinal claims data to demonstrate a direct correlation to lower emergent claim costs,” said Dr. Cahn. “However, what we do see is that pet parents enrolled in Wellness Rewards often feel more empowered to pursue recommended preventive care, which contributes to peace of mind and may encourage earlier intervention when health issues arise.”

Photo credits:

istockphoto.com/bluecinema

istockphoto.com/Vesnaandjic