Study Ranks Delaware Last In U.S. For Pet Healthcare

The study cited a lack of substantial emergency clinics among other details leading to Delaware’s last-place ranking for pet healthcare. (Photo by DjelicS/iStock Getty Images)

A new nationwide study reveals significant disparities in pet healthcare across the United States, with Colorado emerging as the best state for veterinary care and Delaware ranking last.

The analysis, conducted by Your Service Animal, underscores how factors such as emergency clinic access, veterinarian availability, and care costs vary dramatically depending on location — with real consequences for pets and their owners.

The report evaluated all 50 states using a composite Pet Healthcare Quality Score, which combined metrics including the number of licensed veterinarians per 100,000 residents, availability of 24/7 emergency clinics, average costs of care, and pet insurance rates.

Colorado secured the top spot thanks to a balanced combination of high vet availability, robust emergency services, and above-average insurance coverage.

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Delaware’s pet healthcare ranking

Delaware received a score of 0.00 — the lowest possible — due to a severe lack of emergency clinics, a low number of vets, and minimal pet insurance coverage among residents.

“Pet owners often don’t realize how much their location affects their ability to get quality care for their animals until it’s too late,” says Nick Jordan, Founder of Your Service Animal. “Understanding these disparities helps families make better decisions about their pets’ health needs.”

Delaware’s shortcomings are especially stark.

The state has no 24/7 emergency veterinary clinics, only 38.11 veterinarians per 100,000 residents, and a pet insurance rate of just 0.4%. Combined with relatively high routine care costs ($78.95), the situation forces many pet owners to travel out of state for urgent treatment, creating potentially life-threatening delays.

The study also challenges assumptions about urban-rural divides.

“Delaware’s situation highlights how geographic factors can create healthcare deserts even in smaller states,” Jordan said. “Pet owners there often need to cross state lines for emergency care, creating dangerous delays in treatment.”

While rural areas are often associated with limited access to services, states like Wyoming and Vermont performed well, largely due to their high number of veterinarians per capita. Wyoming, for instance, has no emergency clinics but leads the nation with 130.95 veterinarians per 100,000 residents.

The relationship between cost and care quality also proved inconsistent.

States like New York and Illinois rank near the bottom despite high veterinary costs, whereas Nebraska, with lower average costs, ranked seventh overall.

“Our findings reveal how drastically pet healthcare quality varies across America,” Jordan said. “When pets lack access to timely care, preventable conditions often become emergencies, which results in higher costs and worse outcomes. For those in low-ranking states, I advise establishing a relationship with a primary vet before emergencies occur, researching the nearest 24/7 facilities (even across state lines), building an emergency fund, and considering pet insurance to manage costs.”

As more Americans welcome pets into their homes, the study highlights the importance of equitable access to veterinary care — and the need for pet owners to understand the unique challenges their state might present.

Some animal groups in Delaware question the study and its data, specifically pointing to the fact that there are 24/7 emergency vets.

“The Brandywine Valley SPCA is committed to providing quality affordable vet care to the pet families of Delaware,” the group said in a statement. “In fact, BVSPCA has Animal Health Centers located in each county of Delaware, open to the public for basic veterinary needs. These clinics also work to provide care to pets of local rescue organizations, as well as community cats.”

The Brandywine Valley SPCA also works closely and values our relationships with specialty and emergency vets in the state, and in neighboring states, to help pets in need above the level of care we can provide as an animal health center.

“All adopters of Brandywine Valley SPCA are provided the opportunity to register for pet insurance, and are encouraged to visit a BVSPCA Animal Health Center for ongoing wellness care of their pets,” the organization stated.

Raised in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Jarek earned a B.A. in journalism and a B.A. in political science from Temple University in 2021. After running CNN’s Michael Smerconish’s YouTube channel, Jarek became a reporter for the Bucks County Herald before joining Delaware LIVE News.

Jarek can be reached by email at [email protected] or by phone at (215) 450-9982. Follow him on Twitter @jarekrutz and on LinkedIn.