by John Edwardson

Created on: March 18, 2009

Vets were always too expensive. Our family could never afford such a luxury, and our pets were out of luck if they should fall ill. It's not a reflection of the vet charging too much, it's just that our low income family could not even consider it.

So it depends on your circumstances ... it's not that the vet charges too much, it's just that you can't or don't want to pay that much. After all, how much did that cat cost you! But, that scenario won't work either ... if you think how much you paid to acquire your children ... before any doctor's fees!

Where do veterinarians get off, - charging their high fees?

1. With six years of university, paying big bucks for the course, living expenses away from home, and no income, your vet has not only paid a sum of money that would buy a small house, but forfeited SIX years of income! ... Just for the ticket to ride.

2. After graduation, this same person with the student loans and personal debit acquired along with the D.V.M. (doctor of veterinary medicine) degree, must consider signing his life away for the tools of the trade. A building, equipped with x-ray machine, kennels, computers, laboratory equipment, etc.

3. Then, our new vet has to hire help. Office help. Veterinary assistants.

4. Now, we better send in enough drugs to start. Maybe an order of $25,000.00 or so will do for a starter. Drug stores don't usually carry most of the medications the vet will require. Oh, and if they don't get used up before the expiry date, just dispose of them properly, they can't just go in the garbage.

5. Maybe we forgot to include a crematorium, for the terminally sick and old pets. Many owners are ill equipped to take care of their pet after death. You can hardly take your pet home and bury it. Not in the winter anyway.

6. Don't forget to include money for continuing education. The public licensing boards require each vet to spend big bucks every year to keep up to date with new information. Usually this requires travel and lodging expenses, as well as big bucks for the lectures. Time off with no pay! Same with holidays ... time off with no pay. But, you still have to pay the salaries for your staff while you're away!

- These are just a few of the monetary hurdles facing today's veterinarian.

Having said all that, it is really a matter of perspective. If you don't have an adequate income yourself, then ... it's not the vet that is out of line with his prices, it's your income.

Reference: A lifetime of helping people and their pets - now looking at retirement, sometimes wondering why I didn't choose a profession that paid better! But, not really, I have no regrets! Life is definitely not about the big bucks! You have to enjoy life!

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