Most of the individuals I work with here at the MSU Veterinary Medical Center entered this field because of a love for and desire to help animals. As an owner of many animals including horses, I understand first-hand how unexpected expenses can derail the best budget plans. Truthfully, I do not enjoy having to talk about money and the costs of care with a client who is scared and anxious about his or her beloved pet. It is a hard conversation to have, and it would be much easier if all animals had Blue Cross Blue Shield or some other comprehensive insurance and money never needed to be discussed! But that is not the case, and at the end of the day, we must be able to generate enough income to continue to support our missions, which include service to our clients and their animals, education of veterinary students, and the continued effort to develop new and better ways to improve animal and human health.

So, let’s discuss the facts. What does it take to run a university veterinary referral hospital, and is it worth it to bring your animal here?

First off, our Hospital is staffed by experts in almost every field. Our doctors completed eight years of education and then, after graduating from veterinary school, went on to complete an internship (one year) followed by a residency (three years) in their specialty field. Many of them also completed a research degree and, as clinical researchers, are developing many of the new techniques and treatments that we use in veterinary medicine today.

Our technicians are licensed veterinary technicians (LVTs) and, in many instances, have undergone further training and examination to become members of specialist technician academies. Similar to registered nurses, they have completed a four-year degree and had to pass an examination before becoming an LVT. Through our residency-training programs and our DVM and LVT curriculum, we train the next generation of veterinarians, veterinary specialists, and LVTs, and are continually working to develop new and better methods to care for your animals.

Nearly every patient that is examined here at the Hospital is evaluated by a team that includes a senior veterinary specialist, a resident, a senior veterinary student, and a licensed veterinary technician. Whether in the small animal ICU, Pegasus Critical Care Center, or the large animal neonatal intensive care unit, patients are under the care of highly trained technicians, students, and doctors 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. If surgery is required, not only is it performed by a board-certified surgeon, but the anesthesia will be overseen and monitored by a board-certified anesthesiologist to ensure the best possible outcome. Should your horse need emergency care in the middle of the night or on a weekend, a board-certified specialist in emergency medicine and surgery, a surgery resident, senior veterinary students, and LVTs are always available to examine and treat your horse. If emergency surgery is required, specialists in anesthesia are waiting on-call to come in and assist. We are able to provide emergency surgery and intensive care whenever you need us. If your horse is sick and at high risk for laminitis, we have the capability to provide supportive care (IV fluids, plasma, and medications), as well as maintain them in continuous ice footbaths to minimize the risk of this horrible complication. If your foal is sick and unable to rise and nurse, our skilled staff are able to feed, treat, monitor, and care for them 24/7 to maximize their chance of a complete recovery and prevent secondary complications.

What about our facilities? Our facilities are maintained to the highest standards to prevent the spread of disease and minimize complications. Every ward is disinfected daily. Each stall in our Pegasus Critical Care Center is air conditioned and has its own separate air flow, as well as automatic disinfecting drains to help prevent the spread of infectious agents. In addition, each stall is equipped with a camera to allow our team to monitor each patient, whether they’re inside the stall or out. LVTs monitor patients within the large animal hospital and the Pegasus Critical Care Center 24/7 while working with doctors and veterinary students.

At Michigan State, we also have state-of-the-art diagnostics including a 1.5 Tesla MRI, CT, Fluoroscopy, and other diagnostic imaging as well as an onsite laboratory, allowing us the ability to ensure the highest quality in diagnostic and therapeutic options.

So, yes—there are costs that come with running a state-of-the-art facility staffed with highly trained and dedicated technicians, students, and doctors. While I agree it can be expensive to bring your horse to a tertiary-care facility like MSU, I believe you get what you pay for. But as a horse owner, there are a few ways you can try to minimize the overall cost of equine health care. 

Unfortunately, there is no easy way to get around the costs of health care, particularly when your horse is critically ill or needs emergency surgery. However, by planning ahead, knowing your options, and educating yourself about horse health, you can help minimize the expense and anxiety, should your horse need medical attention. Our doctors and staff are committed to helping both you and your horse, and are available 24/7 to consult with your primary veterinarian, should you need us to help ensure the best possible outcome.