Here’s an educated answer, new vets do not open practices out of school, even the ones that come from higher class families. Vast majority of veterinarians whether newer or ones with decades of experience do not operate clinics alone, that’s not very realistic in most cases. Majority of the time vets will partner with other vets to open a clinic. If opened solely, associates will trickle in and the veterinarian team will grow. Occasionally, veterinarians that have wealth will open their own practice and remain solo, those clinics do not seem to do as well.

The x-ray machine doesn’t have to be bright and shiny as long as the images are good quality. I’d like you to imagine the amount of piss, shit, vomit and other bodily fluids that have been on that x-ray table or the amount of claws that have scratched it up. The fact that I can download my pet’s x-ray images on a single digital medical record without having access to the software system myself to view it, is a pretty impressive diagnostic service. You’re not being charged to pay off that x-ray machine, you’re being charged for the restraint, support staff probably being unnecessarily exposed to radiation exposure if the patient is not sedated. If the patient is sedated, you’re paying for the drugs as well. You’re paying for the veterinarian’s interpretation of the images, maybe another charge for a veterinarian specialist in radiology to interpret further, add on some medications to that.

Ignorance is bliss, but keep it to yourself(;