Top 10 States with the Highest Demand for Veterinarians and Animal Hospitals

USA flag, Cat, 4k, cute
  • Analysis reveals Colorado has the highest demand for veterinarians and animal hospitals in America.
  • Michigan and West Virginia are in second and third place, respectively.
  • Hawaii is the state where vets are least in demand, with around 6,395 monthly Google searches, or just 444 searches per 100,000 residents.

A new study has revealed Colorado as the state where veterinarians are most in demand.

The analysis, undertaken by canine supplementation experts PetLab, looked at the number of Google searches for the ten most common search terms relating to animal hospitals and veterinarian care.

They then looked at the number of monthly searches in each state and compared it to population size in order to determine how many searches were made per 100,000 residents.

The results show that Colorado is the state where veterinarians are most in demand, with an average of 75,927 monthly vet-related searches, or the equivalent of 1,300 searches per 100,000 citizens.

Luckily, pet owners in The Centennial State don’t have to look far for vet care. According to a recent employment data report released in April by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 2,340 veterinarians employed in the state. That’s 40 vets for every 100,000 residents and the third-highest number of veterinarians in the nation.

Michigan ranks second as the state where veterinary services are most highly sought after. On average, 130,099 veterinarian-related searches are made per month in Michigan, equating to 1,297 searches per 100,000. According to recent BLS data, Michigan has 19 employed vets per 100,000 citizens.

Ranked third is West Virginia. The state’s 22,713 monthly Google searches means that for every 100,000 people living in The Mountain State, there are around 1,280 monthly vet-related searches.

Despite having a smaller population than the majority of states in the top ten, its residents demonstrate a substantial need for veterinary services. This finding may reflect the state’s rural nature and the critical role that both pets and working animals play in the lives of West Virginians.

North Carolina comes in fourth place, with 133,550 average monthly searches dedicated to veterinarian services, this is the equivalent of 1,248 searches per 100,000 people. The Old North State also had the highest number of searches out of the top ten for the term “vet near me.”

The state’s lush parks, extensive hiking trails, and dog-friendly beaches make it ideal for active pets and their owners. The high rate of veterinary service-related searches could be attributed to this active lifestyle and the integral role pets play in the lives of North Carolinians.

Arizona ranked fifth as the state where veterinarians are most in demand. Arizona sees around 91,063 Google searches for vets each month, which is around 1,237 searches per 100,000 people.

As a state known for its warm climate and outdoor lifestyle, pets are integral members of many Arizonan families. Cities like Sedona, Scottsdale, and Phoenix are well-regarded for their dog-friendly parks, hiking trails, pet-friendly restaurants, and businesses. This increased frequency of dog-friendly destinations could explain Arizona’s high demand for veterinary services.

Following the top five is Washington in sixth as the state where veterinary services are highly sought after, with 93,766 monthly Google searches on average, equating to 1,204 vet-related searches relative to 100,000 residents. Next on the list is Maine, ranking seventh with around 16,575 searches on average (1,197 searches per 100,000 people). Maine also had the highest searches in the top ten states for “emergency vet near me.”

Florida came eighth with 262,373 Google searches per month on average, or 1,180 people per 100,000 searching for vets each month.

Claiming the ninth spot is Utah, with 1,179 searches among 100,000 residents, and rounding out the top ten is South Carolina, with 1,154 searches per 100,000 residents.

States where vets are most in demand – table only available directly on katzenworld.co.uk

Rank State Monthly veterinary care related searches Monthly veterinary care searches per 100,000 people
1. Colorado 75,927 1,300 
2. Michigan 130,098 1,297 
3. West Virginia 22,713 1,280 
4. North Carolina 133,550 1,248 
5. Arizona 91,063 1,237 
6. Washington 93,766 1,204 
7. Maine 16,575 1,197 
8. Florida 262,373 1,180 
9. Utah 39,856 1,179 
10. South Carolina 60,936 1,154 
11. Tennessee 80,470 1,141 
12. Virginia 97,132 1,119 
13. Pennsylvania 143,537 1,107 
14. Delaware 10,840 1,064 
15. Indiana 72,729 1,064 
16. Ohio 124,048 1,055 
17. Oregon 44,683 1,054 
18. New Hampshire 14,588 1,046 
19. Georgia 112,760 1,033 
20. Missouri 63,302 1,025 
21. New Mexico 20,961 992 
22. Illinois 122,742 976 
23. Arkansas 28,923 950 
24. Oklahoma 37,547 934 
25. Alabama 47,340 933 
26. Nevada 29,575 931 
27. Wisconsin 54,724 929 
28. Kentucky 41,239 914 
29. Idaho 17,711 913 
30. Maryland 56,163 911 
31. Texas 273,304 910 
32. Rhode Island 9,938 909 
33. Vermont 5,704 882 
34. Minnesota 48,870 855 
35. California 321,492 824 
36. Kansas 23,378 796 
37. Massachusetts 53,766 770 
38. New York 151,148 768 
39. New Jersey 70,173 758 
40. Connecticut 26,423 729 
41. Louisiana 32,476 708 
42. Mississippi 20,468 696 
43. Iowa 21,353 667 
44. Nebraska 12,490 635 
45. Wyoming 3,634 625 
46. Montana 6,937 618 
47. North Dakota 4,032 517 
48. South Dakota 4,479 492 
49. Alaska 3,608 492 
50. Hawaii 6,395 444 

Christopher Masanto, co-founder and CEO of PetLab commented:

“This study has unveiled interesting trends about the veterinary demand across different US states. The high number of searches in states like Colorado and Michigan underscores that there is a greater demand for veterinarian services here than in other states.

“These findings highlight not only the pivotal role of vets but also the reliance on digital means in finding pet care.”

Don't miss out!
Subscribe To Newsletter

Receive top cat news, competitions, tips and more!

Invalid email address
Give it a try. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Why not meow a comment to fellow readers?

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.