Lyme Disease Risk in Dogs in Canada

Lyme disease dogs Canada risk varies by region, with higher seroprevalence reported in areas closer to the United States.

The highest seroprevalence of B. burgdorferi in dogs was observed in Nova Scotia (15.7%) and Eastern Ontario (5.1%), with surrounding areas showing moderate to low rates, according to Herrin and colleagues.

Additional regional findings included:

3.7% in New Brunswick
2.8% in Quebec
2.8% in Manitoba
0.09% in the rest of Ontario
0.5% in Saskatchewan

There were insufficient tick samples from western provinces such as Alberta and British Columbia to determine seroprevalence in those regions.

How Lyme Disease Is Spreading in Canada

The spread of Lyme disease dogs Canada may be influenced by environmental and ecological factors.

Ogden from the Public Health Agency of Canada estimates that migratory birds disperse millions of I. scapularis ticks across Canada each spring.

A single bird can transport ticks up to 1,000 kilometers in a matter of days, contributing to the geographic expansion of tick populations.

Why Dogs Matter for Lyme Disease Surveillance

Canine serology may serve as an early indicator of Lyme disease risk for both animals and humans.

Monitoring infection rates in dogs can help track the spread of tick-borne diseases and identify emerging risk areas.

This supports broader public health efforts to understand and respond to vector-borne infections.

Learn more about using dogs to map Lyme disease and the role of coinfections in tick-borne illness.

Clinical Perspective

Lyme disease dogs Canada reflects a broader trend of expanding tick habitats and increasing exposure risk.

Veterinarians and physicians may benefit from shared surveillance data when assessing risk in endemic regions.

Clinical Takeaway

Lyme disease dogs Canada highlights regional variation and ongoing geographic spread of tick-borne infections.

Monitoring canine infection rates may help identify emerging risks for both pets and humans.

References

Herrin BH, Peregrine AS, Goring J, Beall MJ, Little SE. Parasit Vectors. 2017;10(1):244.
Ogden NH, et al. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2008.
Ogden NH, et al. Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2015.

Dr. Daniel Cameron, MD, MPH
Lyme disease clinician with over 30 years of experience and past president of ILADS.

Symptoms • Testing • Coinfections • Recovery • Pediatric • Prevention