Costs involved in veterinary services

I'd like to respond to Sheila Ringer's letter [Feb. 5 letters] concerning the cost of veterinary services.

I am a semi-retired veterinarian. I have four degrees, all related to agriculture or veterinary medicine. I am also a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, which requires additional training and a series of examinations. The degrees represent 11 years of college at Texas A&M.

College is not cheap, and certainly not as economical as it was 40 years ago. Today, the average student loan debt of a recent graduate from veterinary school is a little over $94,000. In 1970-71, I had the type of veterinary practice I thought I had gone to college for in Lamesa -- about 70 percent cattle, 15 percent ranch horses, 15 percent small animals, a few hogs and one monkey. I had one employee. I was my own receptionist and bookkeeper. The practice at that time required around $100 a day to open the doors. I still remember my most financially rewarding day: I spent a very long day palpating 700 cows at $1 a head for a large Panhandle ranch.

I went back into the U.S. Army in 1971 because I had no time for myself or family. Seemed like I was working 24/7 by myself. Occasionally, I'd check into a local motel to watch a Dallas Cowboys game on a Sunday afternoon, but people would find me and knock on the door. Think about that a bit.

I spent 26 years in the Army, retired, moved to Lampasas County and joined two of my classmates in a three-practice group in Temple. I sold my practice last year. According to my accountant, I needed to make somewhere between $1,500 and $1,600 a day just to cover expenses, and that was before I made a buck. I earned more net income from my status as a retired colonel, disabled veteran and former POW than as a practicing veterinarian working 5 1/2 days a week.

My younger brother, also a veterinarian and former professor of veterinary physiology and pharmacy at A&M, had a mixed-animal practice in Austin. He quit full-time active practice in 1984. His clients were mostly under-achieving lawyers by day, cowmen by night and quick to sue any time. He never lost a case, but frivolous and unfounded lawsuits cost time and money.

My son, also a veterinarian, built a first-class veterinary hospital in San Antonio a couple of years ago. His loan to build and equip was for $1.5 million. His monthly expenses are between $80,000 and $90,000, and that is before he makes any money. He has one other veterinarian on staff. He has a lot more courage than I do.

Most costs of a veterinary practice are driven by rules and regulations of the Texas State Board of Veterinary Examiners and various federal agencies' regulations. These agencies and their regulations are there to protect the consumer to assure them they are receiving services of high quality and lawfully appropriate, but not inexpensive service.

My malpractice insurer requires that I keep adequate records to defend malpractice suits. For example, veterinarians must establish a patient, client and doctor relationship before treating an animal or dispensing drugs and maintain records that prove the animal was examined, diagnosed and treated with appropriate drugs. Many times, one can just go to a feed store or an online pharmacy and obtain the same drugs without any problem if they know what they are doing; however, if I give advice over the phone and someone goes to the feed store and buys what I suggested, I am not only open to libel, but I have broken a regulation and can be fined or receive other administrative justice. I also have a legal duty to refer difficult cases to veterinary specialists, just as a physician is required.

I wholeheartedly agree with Ms. Ringer, the costs of veterinary services are too high, but they are only going to go higher. Small, "country town" and "big city" are the same from a legal point of view. The American Veterinary Medical Association recognizes this problem and is working with various governmental agencies and Congress to solve it. There is no solution yet. I personally have enjoyed the practice of veterinary medicine and would do it all over again.

Tom Kyzar, DVM Col. (Retired) U.S. Army

Kempner