Trend 1: The Rise in Veterinary Student Debt

A study put out last year indicated that the average veterinary student graduating today is in debt to the tune of over $150,000. That's crazy!  Economics dictates that they've got to pay that back somehow. Some go into private practice and set their fee schedules accordingly. Others go on to become specialists so that they can command even higher fees.  Either way, your costs go up.

The question is: Do we blame the veterinarian or should we blame the cost of the veterinary education? I'm inclined to blame the latter. For example, there's a crisis today in food animal medicine because nobody wants to go into it (how can they possibly pay back that kind of debt load by establishing a practice in a rural community?). There's also a shortage of government vets for the same reason.

I've heard the argument, "Well, if the number of small animal veterinarians increases, then  competition will drive down prices". I disagree. The competition will eventually self-correct with more and more vets closing their practice doors or selling to big corporations. Then just watch and see what happens to veterinary fees. It won't be pretty.

So what's the answer? Lower the cost of a veterinary education for these young men and women. What can you do? Contact your state senators and representatives via letter, e-mail, or phone and express your concern about this "trend". Believe me, as a pet owner, doing so will be in your best interest.

In this day and age of fancy and pricey non-steroid anti-inflammatory pet medications (NSAIDs) such as Rimadyl and Deramaxx (a month's worth of these medications for a large dog can run more than $80 to $100 per month), cost-conscious consumers often inquire about using aspirin instead of these more expensive veterinary NSAIDs for chronic arthritic conditions. In some cases, aspirin alone will provide enough anti-inflammatory relief from arthritic conditions to significantly improve a dog's quality of life. Aspirin can also be used in dogs to reduce fever associated with inflammation. The canine dose is one adult strength aspirin (325 mg) per 60 pounds of body weight or one children's aspirin (81 mg) per 15 pounds of body weight. 

Like its more expensive counterparts, aspirin can sometimes upset the stomach and cause vomiting. Using buffered aspirin may help. Also, giving aspirin with food can help reduce these side effects, as can using an acid reducer (such as Pepcid) while your dog is on aspirin therapy. Obviously,if your dog shows any adverse reactions to the aspirin, stop immediately and consult your veterinarian.

Anytime an NSAID like aspirin is used long-term, periodic blood tests (at least annually) should be performed to ensure the liver and kidneys are functioning properly. Aspirin should not be used in dogs suffering from asthma or respiratory illness without your veterinarian's consent. And it should never be given to pregnant dogs, dogs with anemia or bleeding disorders, or to those pets due to undergo surgery due to its inhibitory effects on blood clotting.

You never want to give your dog more than one type of NSAID at a time or mix an NSAID with a steroid anti-inflammatory (prednisone, dexamethasone, Vetalog, DepoMedrol, etc.). As a result, if you are giving your dog aspirin and you take him/her in to your veterinarian for an injury or illness, be sure you let your veterinarian know that your dog is taking aspirin.

Note: Aspirin should never be used in cats unless prescribed by a veterinarian (where it is sometimes used to prevent blood clots in cats with heart disease). Cats lack the enzyme necessary to metabolize aspirin, so even small amounts can be toxic.

While aspirin may be safe for dogs, ibuprofen, naproxen, and the other over-the-counter NSAIDs designed for human use are not. Also, acetaminophen (Tylenol) is not metabolized very well by dogs and should not be used unless specifically prescribed by your veterinarian. In these instances, it is often prescribed in combination with codeine for pain control. Finally, like aspirin, acetaminophen can be deadly to cats and should never be used in this species.