Rural Pet Owners Have A Tougher Time Seeing A Vet, Study Says

Key Takeaways

Rural residents have a harder time accessing veterinary care

Folks had to wait longer and drive farther for a vet appointment for a new dog

They also were less likely to land an apppointment

THURSDAY, Nov. 6, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Pet owners in rural areas might find it harder to get a vet appointment for their sick cat or ailing pooch, a new study says.

They also are more likely to wait longer and travel farther for a scheduled appointment, researchers reported recently in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association .

“Access to veterinary care appears to be generally pretty good and the wait times aren’t too long, particularly if you compare it to how long people often have to wait to establish primary care, but there’s clearly room for improvemen