# How good and/or expensive is veterinary medicine in other countries? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 4, 2020, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-and-or-expensive-is-veterinary-medicine-in-other-countries/845947 "2020-01-04T21:55:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2020, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-and-or-expensive-is-veterinary-medicine-in-other-countries/845947/21 "2020-01-06T23:09:10Z")
> [@Kiwi\_Fruit](#): > > I have two dogs, so I’m familiar with vet practices for small animals. A previous dog I had required TTO (triple tibial ostetomy, i think) where her tibia had a small section removed to realign her “knee” joint. The surgery and post-operative care cost just under NZD4000. For comparison’s sake, my dog just had the same thing (called TPLO here in the States…or maybe not, but it’s basically the same thing) here in the US and it cost exactly the same, a hair under $4000USD. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2020, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-and-or-expensive-is-veterinary-medicine-in-other-countries/845947/22 "2020-01-06T23:34:01Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > Oh, I should add, it takes a 3 year bachelor’s degree in a biological science then a four year post-grad degree in Veterinary Medicine to qualify in the UK. Longer than it take to become a doctor. The Vet School at Edinburgh Uni offers a five-year undergraduate programme. It’s wildly competitive to get into though, and by reputation a very, very tough course. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2020, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-and-or-expensive-is-veterinary-medicine-in-other-countries/845947/23 "2020-01-06T23:36:12Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > We don’t have a stray problem in the UK so it’s kinda moot. I’ve seen vets giving their services free to homeless people with dogs though. There’s a few charities that assist with the cost of spaying/neutering for people on low incomes. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2020, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-and-or-expensive-is-veterinary-medicine-in-other-countries/845947/24 "2020-01-06T23:38:31Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > My cousin was able to enroll in a 7-year BS/DVM program right out of high school, but that won’t work for most people. The 5-year course at Edinburgh I mentioned results in the equivalent to the US DVM. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2020, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-and-or-expensive-is-veterinary-medicine-in-other-countries/845947/25 "2020-01-07T00:00:53Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > The Vet School at Edinburgh Uni offers a five-year undergraduate programme. It’s wildly competitive to get into though, and by reputation a very, very tough course. I frequently hear that veterinary school in the US is much harder to get into than medical school. Not sure if that is true or just an urban myth. There are around 30 accredited veterinary schools in the US vs. about 180 accredited medical schools, so it may be just a numbers thing… ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2020, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-and-or-expensive-is-veterinary-medicine-in-other-countries/845947/26 "2020-01-07T02:37:07Z")
Also 5 years or 3+3 in Aus. Reasons for choosing the 3+3 path: you don’t want to go out of state: you didn’t get into a 5 year program: you completed 3 years with good results and realized there is no work for generic bio-med graduates: The 3+3 program also accepts people with just a liberal arts degree and enough money (3+4), and some people start with a 4 year degree (4+3 or 4+4) There aren’t a lot of vet schools in aus, but I’ve never heard that there’s enough of a shortage to make veterinarians as well off as plumbers. It’s difficult and expensive to start a new vet school, and they are also expensive to run, which keeps supply and demand in balance. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2020, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-and-or-expensive-is-veterinary-medicine-in-other-countries/845947/27 "2020-01-07T05:18:39Z")
> [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > I frequently hear that veterinary school in the US is much harder to get into than medical school. Not sure if that is true or just an urban myth. There are around 30 accredited veterinary schools in the US vs. about 180 accredited medical schools, so it may be just a numbers thing… No, it’s not an urban legend. It’s 100% true, at least nowadays. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2020, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-and-or-expensive-is-veterinary-medicine-in-other-countries/845947/28 "2020-01-07T05:23:04Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > There’s a few charities that assist with the cost of spaying/neutering for people on low incomes. That’s also true in the States, and many shelters do it at no cost to the adopter if they are adopting a pet from their shelter (if it didn’t arrive already fixed). There are also some charities, mostly local, that provide subsidized veterinary care, or reimburse bills, for people who quality. A thrift store in my region exists to raise money for this exact purpose. > **[Donate, Shop, Pets Benefit - Rescued | Silvis, Illinois](https://www.shoprescued.com/)** > > Our mission at Rescued is to support animal welfare in the Quad Cities by donating our profits to local pets in need. We are a high-end, non-profit resale shop located in Silvis, IL. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2020, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-and-or-expensive-is-veterinary-medicine-in-other-countries/845947/29 "2020-01-07T08:13:39Z")
> [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > I frequently hear that veterinary school in the US is much harder to get into than medical school. Not sure if that is true or just an urban myth. There are around 30 accredited veterinary schools in the US vs. about 180 accredited medical schools, so it may be just a numbers thing… What I’ve heard is that veterinary school is harder to get _through_ than medical. You gotta learn the ins & outs of various species, not just the one Homo sapiens. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-and-or-expensive-is-veterinary-medicine-in-other-countries/845947.md?page=1)