FWIW: I wonder if you are in an urban area? When I compare the cost of vet services with my friends in an urban setting relative to what we pay here in rural, small-town America, I'm shocked at the difference. We have a university about a two hour drive away with a noted vet hospital - even their services were priced better than those I've heard anecdotally on the other (more urbanized) side of the state.
I'm guessing vets take advantage of the ever growing tendency to consider pets as family members to inflate the price. Especially since (from very anecdotal evidences) it seems to be mostly middle/upper class people who are so invested into their pets.
In the countryside people tend to have a more utilitarian view of animals and would simply get a new one rather than wasting money keeping a sick animal alive.
