Vermont has second highest rate of pet disease

Ranking reveals riskiest states

• Vermont has the second highest rate of pet disease in America, with 6.17% of all tests proving positive for diseases and parasites.
• Maine has the highest rates overall, with 6.95% of all tests proving positive.
• All six New England states ranked within the top ten for highest rates of pet disease.
• Giardia is the most prevalent parasite among dogs in America and was detected in 6.99% of tests.

Vermont Business Magazine Forbes Advisor analyzed 2022 figures from the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC), to find the rates of common parasites and diseases among cats and dogs in each state. This included the rate of positive tests for common pet problems such as heartworms, intestinal parasites, tick-borne diseases and viruses.

Vermont was found to have the second highest rate of infection for cats and dogs on average, with 6.17% of all tests proving positive for disease or parasites. The Mountain State was found to have 29,752 positive cases of disease and parasites out of a total of 482,041 tests. The most common issues among dogs are the tick-borne diseases anaplasmosis and Lyme disease, at rates of 21.06% and 12.63% respectively, while roundworm was most common in cats at a rate of 5.58%.

Maine is the nation’s pet disease hotspot, with the highest rates of disease among cats and dogs. Maine pets have an average infection rate of 6.95% across 15 biomarkers of disease among cats and dogs. The state’s biggest culprit is the tick-borne disease, anaplasmosis, which was present in a staggering 21.65% of dogs tested, the equivalent of 31,834 cases out of a total 147,028 tests. The disease, which is caused by the bacteria Anaplasma phagocytophilum, is frequently transmitted by ticks and can cause fever, lethargy and lack of appetite in dogs.

New Hampshire has the third highest rate of infection among cats and dogs, and is also the third New England state to feature in the top ten. Here, 5.1% of all tests are positive for disease. Again, anaplasmosis in dogs accounts for the largest percentage of positive cases, at 16.79% or 23,815 confirmed cases out of 141,822 total tests.

West Virginia has the fourth highest rate of disease at 5.02%, while Connecticut ranks fifth with 4.80% of all tests proving positive.

Mississippi has the highest prevalence of disease among cats at 4.53%, the equivalent of 1,144 positive results out of a total of 25,232 tests. Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) was found to be the most common disease in cats across the state, with 6.47% of tests proving positive (605 out of a total 9,356).

South Dakota has the lowest rate of pet disease overall with just 1.53% of tests being positive, or 1,939 positive cases out of a total 126,432 tests.

Giardia is the most prevalent parasite among dogs overall, having been detected in 809,452 out of 11.6 million tests, with 6.99% of all tests proving positive. The parasite, which is often found in standing water, soil and feces, can lead to diarrhea, abdominal pain and nausea in pets.

Cats are most likely to test positive for roundworm, at a rate of 4.70%, or 81,553 positive tests out of 1.7 million in total. Roundworms, which live and lay eggs in the large intestine, are typically only harmful in large numbers, but can be life-threatening for kittens and older cats.

A spokesperson for Forbes Advisor commented:

“The data suggests that states in New England are some of the most at-risk when it comes to pet disease. All six states ranked in the top 10 overall, given their high percentage of positive cases, as well as having the highest rates of the tick-borne disease, anaplasmosis.

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that anaplasmosis most frequently occurs in upper Midwestern and Northwestern states, which correspond to the geographic distribution of the blacklegged tick.

“While pets are exposed to ticks year-round, it is the warmer months of April through September that ticks tend to be the most active. Grassy, bushy or wooded areas are common hiding spots, so it's important to regularly examine your pet if they are spending a lot of time outdoors.”

U.S. states ranked by percentage of positive cases for pet disease

Pet diseases ranked by rate of positive cases in America