dogears | 10-10-2008 02:36 PM | Banfield Here is the thing about Banfield: They are a chain, true there are some vets that actually own their Banfield, but they are still a chain. Meaning those wellness plans are over priced. Their services are so much higher than a private vet office and they tend to try and get you to pay for stuff you don't need. Don't get me wrong if money is an issue they are great for being able to get basic services for your baby and being able to pay a little bit each month. Here a few examples of what I have had to deal with:
1. They over vaccinate-this is a list of everything they vaccinate for when on a wellness plan: Rabies, Distemper/Parvo (1 yr then a 3 yr), Lepto, Giardia, Lyme, Corona and Bordatella(given nasally and every 6 months). And they have no problem lumping the vaccines together, which can be too much for smaller dogs. Most private vets after all puppy shots stick to just the basics-rabies, distemper/parvo-3yr, bordatella (shot good for 1yr).
2. Seeing that they over vaccinate I requested that they DO NOT give my dog giardia, lyme, and corona. Well when I picked her up they had given them to her anyways.
3. You must leave your dog to sit for 8 hrs or more for their comprehensive exams. Drop off is an hr before a Dr. even shows up. Your pet is seen in between surgery schedules and appts.
4. My dog was having a gastritis episode (I didn't know what was going on at the time) they told me to come in drop her off. This is the service you receive when on a wellness plan and do not have to pay for office visit. It took them 6-7 hrs of her sitting in a kennel before she was seen by the doctor only to tell me here are your two choices take the meds for $30 and they should help or pay over $200 for bloodwork before we can give any injections. I paid $30, gave her the meds (she was doing much better) and got an appt with a private vet. The private vet said the amount of meds given by Banfield was too low. He increased the meds and gave her an injection (without bloodwork, that Banfield said I so very much needed)-she was back to 100% in 24 hrs.
Also if you are going to use Banfield, ask about wellness hrs. You go in on a particular day and time to get vaccinated and don't have to pay the office visit cost (save $30-$40) as long as your pet is healthy. Healthy is the key word. Its 1st come 1st serve so you may have to wait up to 1 hr.
So as you can see I could go on and on about Banfield, needless to say my Wellness plan expires next month and I can't wait.:bravo:
:secret: I was an insider, thats where most of my knowledge comes from. |