GP's at $200k, surely you jest. I am an internist and make less than my wife, a Nurse Practitioner (and she doesn't take call, or the liability, work weekends, work late, on and on). I have often though of alternative careers, and we already run every form revenue generation in our practice. I'd be a pharmacist in a skinny minute if I could make 80-100 and work 40 hrs. Then I could volunteer my services as a physician 20 hours/wk, which would continue my true love, and would still be less total hours than I work now.
And, from what I've heard, admission to vet schools is more competitive than into med school! Whne my wife does get through pharmacy school, she'll easily make double what I made when I finished my PhD!
I'd always seen numbers that suggest there are regional differences in reimbursement, and I know a couple of MD's who've left this area saying they could make more elsewhere. GUess it's true A few of those specialists will make that kind of money in this region, but most will not.
I thought veterinarians made more than that. I know ours does and we aren't far from you (Arkansas). He has his own business. I don't think he does large animals any longer, just small animals, which may be why he makes more since traveling to a large animal would take up time he could spend on seeing another small animal (does that make sense?). I know that he is certainly appreciated by my family. I had to call him early one morning and he met us at the office. He called back twice the next day to check on our animal also. I don't know what I would have done had I not had him to call. We also board our animals with him when we are out of town and know they will be well cared for. Peace of mind is invaluable.
We also have several friends who are vets. One lives in Hot Springs, AR and he has a fantastic business working on the animals they use in their parks.
A close friend, who was a vet, died a few years back during a vet convention (I think in Colorado) with a heart attack, while standing in front of the ski lodge. We miss him dearly. He was such a fantastic person. You may have known him. His name was Eddie Horn.