When it comes to our dogs, we Americans spare no cost in making sure they’re happy and healthy.
In 2023 alone, consumers spent $38.3 billion in vet care costs and products according to the APPA, meaning our four-legged family members are top priority in our households. To live a happy healthy life though your dog needs more than just love and routine trips to the vet, but where in America is best for Dog health?
To find out, our team looked at a number of factors that impact a dog’s ability to have a healthy life including access to dog-friendly parks/green spaces, the average cost of a vet appointment, and how many vets there are per 100,000 people. We looked at a number of factors for each state and gave each data point a weighted score out of 100, resulting in a dog health score out of 400. We then ranked the states from highest total scores to lowest.
Overall, Vermont was ranked as the best state for dog health with a dog health score of 237 out of 400. Boasting 51 vets for every 100,000 people and a modest cost of a vet appointment of just $73.54, dog owners in Vermont look best placed for access to medical care should their lovable pooch need it.
Despite a low number of vets per 100,000 people, California came in second in the list of the best states for dog health with a dog health score of 216, thanks in part to a whopping 580 dog-friendly parks in the state and a cheaper than average cost of a vet appointment cost of just $71.45.
Also joining Vermont and California in the top 20 list of best states for dog health is Michigan with a dog health score of 184 out of 400. The Upper Midwest state placed 15th in the rankings but does have the cheapest average cost of a vet appointment in the US at $52.78.
A new study has revealed the best states for dog health with Vermont being named as the best state for a healthy life for your four-legged friend.
The research, carried out by Puppies.com, ranked US states on four factors: access to medical care, cost of medical care, access to dog-friendly parks and green spaces, and dog ownership rates among households. Each data point was given a weighted score out of 100 and states were ranked out of a total score of 400.
The full top 20 can be found below.
The Top 20 Best States for Dog Health
On the other end of the table, some states are falling behind in their access to doggy essentials for a healthy pooch.
Mississippi is the state ranked as the worst for dog health with a dog health score of just 84 out of 400. The Southeastern state has just 17 vets per 100,000 people and just 36 dog-friendly parks/green spaces for its beloved pups.
It’s joined on the list by Arkansas in second, with a dog health score of 90 out of 400. Despite over 52% of households owning a dog in the state and being known for its abundant parks and wilderness, just 41 of those parks are dog-friendly. It’s also falling behind in its provision of vets with just 18 vets for every 100,000 residents.
The Top 20 Worst States for Dog Health
We analyzed a number of factors that impact a dog’s ability to have a healthy life including access to dog-friendly parks/green spaces, the percentage of households that own dogs (the more dogs in a state, the greater the competition for vet appointments), the average cost of a vet appointment, and how many vets there are per 100,000 people. Each data point was given a weighted score out of 100, resulting in a dog health score out of 400. We then ranked the states from highest total scores to lowest.
Note: Alaska and Hawaii were omitted from the study due to insufficient data available
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