LSU Vet school money pit

You do realize they have the machine that goes “PING!”


Yeah, that ain’t cheap.

Mississippi State vet school is the same with the outrageous costs.
I find that a state institution using public funds and educating new students should not charge such exorbitant rates.

So to run expensive tests and use expensive equipment on peoples animals , it should be paid for by the taxpayers instead of the pet owner? Genius logic.

Sorry about the OPs cat.

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find that a state institution using public funds and educating new students should not charge such exorbitant rates.

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Veterinary medical costs aren’t cheaper because they’re at a university. And just because it’s state funded doesn’t mean overhead is lower. These aren’t “charity” hospitals or universal healthcare facilities. I agree LSUSVM is expensive, but you’re there because your regular vet who is more price competitive couldn’t help. It’s like going to any other specialist- it’s going to cost more. Why should the price be lower simply because the tax payer funds it?

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Took a very sick cat there as a last resort in an effort to save his life. He's been there for 2 days now.

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If the cat is as sick as you suspect, they’ve managed to keep it alive while trying to determine what’s going wrong with it. Vet care isn’t cheap and it can be tricky since the patients aren’t able to communicate verbally with the veterinarians. If they are mentioning costs at every point of the care at least they are being up front with you and are just handing your a giant bill at the need of treatment. You’re able to tell them no to anything they do but if you brought it there for an emergency life saving situation it’s not ridiculous for them to assume you want whatever it takes to treat the cat. $210/night isn’t expensive for round the clock medical care. Look at local boarding facilities and see what they charge for what’s essentially just keeping your animal overnight in a crate under the supervision of an average person with no DVM on staff.

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Yes to several vets and different results, was told how good LSU vet school is and they could find out what's wrong with him.

I'm just venting a little.

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Understandable and I’m sorry about your cat. But trying to diagnose an animals disease can be difficult and costly. That’s medicine be it a human or an animal.

Worse yet, you may still lose your pet. I know it’s tough, but you need to assess the cost versus the eventual outcome and make a decision. Animals, like people, die sometimes and no amount of effort or money will save them. But don’t be made at those trying to help. Especially if you didn’t specify a cut off point financially.

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Yes to several vets and different results, was told how good LSU vet school is and they could find out what's wrong with him.

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Cats are fricking weird, unpredictable, sensitive animals. Mine’ll vomit if he doesn’t like his food. Nothing wrong with him. Supply problems and we have had to change foods a few times so that guy will barf until he barfs a little blood. Vet checked and he’s fine. Going on a wild goose chase with a cat will be costly. Especially at an institution like a vet school. Where are you located?

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They nickel and dime you to death.

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Sounds like they're Jackson and Franklin'ing that cat to death.

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But the University isn’t trying to run a for profit clinic right? They are just covering their costs and many of those costs are covered by tax payers? So outside of government bureaucracy waste it should be lower cost?

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You are dead wrong on this. They are trying to be profitable in order to improve their facilities and programs. which the state legislature will not pay for. They do not offer their services or turn the lights on with the intention of breaking even or not being profitable. I know that for a fact. It’s not because they are greedy. It’s because they cannot afford to operate if they don’t charge for their services and supplies. Again, the fact that they are publicly funded doesn’t mean they are a non profit no charge facility. They aren’t setting margins as a private business would. But they are trying to cover expenses. And “state run anything” is expensive.