10 Best (and Worst) States for Your Pet’s Health

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Plenty of top 10 lists abound that celebrate (and trash) the best and worst states for your health, but what about that of your furry four-legged friends? You’re in luck, animal lovers: Care.com just released a ranking of the best and worst states for your pet’s health.

To determine how each state stacked up, researchers looked at data in four categories:

1. Prevalence of illness (diabetes, heartworm, fleas, ticks, etc.)
2. Access to vet care
3. Environment (percentage of protected land, air quality, number of parks, walkability)
4. Total pet spending (non-vet spending, number of pet businesses, and average monthly pet insurance cost)

So which state topped the list? Montana, followed by Nebraska, Colorado, and New Mexico. Apparently, all that Midwest mountain air is great for pets as well as people!

And the worst? Mississippi, followed by a slew of Southern states, including Alabama, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Arkansas.

Why pets thrive in certain places and not others

Interestingly, there’s a high correlation between the worst states for humans and the worst states for pets.

“If you look at rankings of healthiest states for people, you will find that the Southern states rank lower even for human health,” says Jessica Lockhart, an animal behaviorist from Dallas. “Part of this is due to the overall air quality in states with refineries—offshore drilling is very close to Texas and Louisiana—and the lack of pedestrian-friendly areas.”

Meanwhile, Montana is known for its vast acreage of preserved wilderness.

“Colorado and Idaho boast outdoor living, skiing, and other nature-based activities,” says Lockhart. All the more room to play fetch with your pooch, or to let your cats roam freely—and all that activity helps keep them trim and in top shape.

Economics plays a role, too, of course. Sally Morgan, a holistic physical therapist for pets and people, says the economy in Southern states like Mississippi is a factor in people’s ability to spend money on their pets.

“Often people don’t have enough money to feed themselves well, or access to whole, fresh foods that are affordable, and so their pets will suffer the same fate,” she says.

Plus, veterinarians tend to open practices in areas where people can afford veterinary care.

“You will find high concentrations of veterinary practices near more affluent areas and thinner densities in areas with moderate to low socioeconomic status,” says Lockhart. Unfortunately, she notes, the people who are the most likely to need vet care are less likely to get it because they can’t afford it.

But geography and the local climate can also make or break an animal’s health.

“The Southeastern states rank lower because of the high prevalence of parasitic diseases that are related to the hot, humid weather,” says Dr. Judy Morgan, a veterinarian in New Jersey. “Heartworm disease is much more prevalent in humid climates. Intestinal parasites and fleas are also worse, as there is no freezing weather to break the life cycle of the parasites.”

But regardless of where you live, the take-home lesson is that you can overcome your surroundings by being vigilant about your pet’s health. For instance, “animals in the South should be maintained on year-round preventative medicine,” Lockhart says.

The only catch, again, is that it can be costly. “My dog weighs about 60 pounds, and his yearly heartworm, flea, and tick treatment is upward of $200,” she adds.

Still, aren’t our furry family members worth it?

Best states for your pet’s health

1. Montana
2. Nebraska
3. Colorado
4. New Mexico
5. New Hampshire
6. Idaho
7. South Dakota
8. Wyoming
9. North Dakota
10. Kansas

Worst states for your pet’s health

1. Mississippi
2. Alabama
3. Louisiana
4. South Carolina
5. Arkansas
6. Tennessee
7. Texas
8. Georgia
9. Ohio
10. North Carolina

The post 10 Best (and Worst) States for Your Pet’s Health appeared first on Real Estate News & Advice | realtor.com®.

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