Insurance data point to a growing behavioural-health cost conversation for pet owners and veterinary teams.

Behavioural health is becoming a more visible part of the companion-animal care economy. New data from pet insurer Trupanion show that anxiety-related claims among its insured pets rose by more than 98% between 2020 and 2025, bringing a previously diffuse welfare issue into sharper focus for owners, veterinary teams and insurance providers.

Trupanion published the analysis on 24 August, drawing on its claims data. It reported that anxiety-related claims increased from just over 11,600 in 2020 to more than 45,200 in 2025. Its data scientists found increases as high as 236% in some locations over the same period. South Carolina and Nova Scotia recorded the largest increases in the companys respective United States and Canadian data, while Australian Cattle Dogs and Siamese cats had the highest reported rates among breeds.

Claims are not a direct measure of disease prevalence across all pets, and Trupanions insured population is not the entire companion-animal market. Still, the trend is relevant to the economics of care. A higher volume of anxiety-related claims can translate into more consultations, diagnostics, behaviour-management plans and follow-up support. It can also make cost conversations more prominent for households that are deciding how to pursue care over time.

The figures also show why veterinary business discussions increasingly extend beyond acute illness. Anxiety can influence the way animals present in clinics, tolerate handling and live with other pets or people. When owners seek support, the care pathway may involve clinical assessment, environmental management, training or referral, depending on the case. That places a premium on clear communication and on systems that make the financial implications understandable before choices become urgent.

For insurers, a sustained increase in claims tests pricing, reserving and the service experience around behavioural-health care. For clinics, it points to demand that is both clinical and relational: owners are looking for help with a condition that can affect daily household life. The Trupanion data do not establish a single cause, but they support closer attention to the link between animal welfare, access to care and the costs carried by pet families.

For more information: Trupanion