Hackles are up in NYC: Which specialists are best?
By Gina Spadafori
July 22, 2007
The Animal Medical Center in Manhattan is legendary, attracting the best veterinary minds in the world and offering the most cutting-edge of care. Landing a residency there is a plum on any veterinary specialist’s curriculum vitae, as I was dutifully informed when, for space, I started to remove it from the biography of my “Cats For Dummies” co-author Dr. Paul Pion.
Dr. Pion, a renowned veterinary cardiologist and head of the influential Veterinary Information Network, has done a great deal since his time at AMC — including establishing the link between taurine deficiency and often lethal dilated cardiomyopathy in cats — but don’t you dare take the AMC out of his bio. It’s that important.
But the storied animal hospital is getting some competition, according to the New York Times: NYC Veterinary Specialists. The competition for star power clients is what drives the NYT piece, but the competition speaks to the expansion of high-level veterinary care and the willingness of people to pay for it.
Heck, even in Sacramento, where the nearby University of California, Davis, Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital was always the place you went for top specialty care, not one but two specialty centers have opened in the last couple of years. I’ve toured both, and let me tell you, many a small town hasn’t a hospital for people half as nice.
I have to wonder: Are there really enough people who can afford tens of thousands of dollars for veterinary care to support these incredible facilities? Seems like veterinary pet insurance would be a good investment, both for your pets and your portfolio!
Here’s the piece.
I’ve heard that people in New York City are getting wealthier. You have to have some $$$ just to live there. From what I’ve seen just on this blog people will go to almost any lengths to save their precious pets. Certainly emergency care is extremely expensive no matter where you may live.
Don’t know about pet insurance - have heard too many negatives about it. Just as many hassles as with human health insurance!
Comment by Carol — July 22, 2007 @ 11:36 am
Just want to put a “plug” in for the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Michigan State University. Fortunately I live in the area so took CJ there when she developed ARF in November and again in May when she had bacterial peritonitis. They pulled her through both times and did a magnificent job! They just recently opened an Onocology Center and it seems to be doing a lot of business. (I’m not even going to say how much I’ve spent ~ thousands ~ but would do it again in a heartbeat!)
Comment by catmom5 — July 22, 2007 @ 1:27 pm
comment by catmom5
Eventhough you might be attacked for spending that much on a pet(so many hungry children in world etc),I bet that many thankful, especially affluent pet owners, even make a donation to vet. hospitals on top of their hefty bill. Not really that hefty if compared to human hospital bills for similar procedures anyway.
Besides , many cutting edge treatments in such vet. facilities dribble over to human medicine and end up saving human lives.
Comment by Serijna — July 22, 2007 @ 3:43 pm
Physicians are supposed to serve people. Likewise veterinarians. Not Corporations and lobbyists for the Pharm Companies.
The bottom line still remains the Pet Food Industry is AFRAID to debate us on the ISSUES we are raising. That goes for the FDA as well.
With a completely compromised food supply chain like we’ve suddenly discovered since March 16 forget it. We and our pets will be nothing more then a nation of SICKOS for the rest of our days and future generations.
Earned wealth is okay but unrestrained greed is the root cause of all the problems we are facing.
How many Americans have Rupert Murdochs bank account and can afford to have a Mayo Clinic Physician or a top flight private Veterinarian come to them for a sneeze or sore throat or pet who isn’t feeling well with money being no object?
Comment by Steve — July 22, 2007 @ 5:35 pm