This perhaps emphasizes what some of us have been saying about avoiding or minimizing debt.
I just did a quick Google search that said that the average debt for all recent DVM graduates was $147,258, but the average debt for those recent DVM graduates who have debt is $179,505. If I did the math right, this would suggest that 82% of recent DVM graduates have debt. This does roughly agree with what my daughter has been saying. I think that the 18% without debt have found a good career that will pay well enough and be relatively recession free. However, I would be nervous for any recent or soon-to-be graduate whose total debt exceeds their starting salary.
I have also been leery of a DVM going into private practice. I think that there are just too many legal and regulatory ways to make this difficult.