Petsmart Vet plans
 

I'm sure that this has been discussed on this forum before, but I couldn't find where when I searched! I just got a 10wk old Yorkie yesterday from a breeder (who sold her as a teacup-she should have known better!) but I need to take my Lily to a vet within 3 days as part of the bill of sale that I signed. I went to Petsmart to buy some things, and a friend of mine suggested that I look into their Vet plan that they contract through Banfield Pet Hospital with. While I was at Petsmart, I ran into someone who herself owns 2 Yorkies, and she suggested this site, but also told me to stay away from Petsmart's Vets. Anyone else have any experiences with them in Jacksonville, FL???

I personally do not care for them at all. IF possible I would find your self a private Vet.


Welcome to YT, glad to have you here.

Wouldn't do Petsmart vets cause I would be afraid they wouldn't stay there for long and I want a vet I can rely on to be there for years. I just got Petplan insurance for my baby and think I will be quite happy with it.

Petplan Pet Insurance - The Best Pet Health Insurance Plans for Unexpected Veterinary Bills - Get a Free Quote!

There are others out there that I am sure other people will recommend.

I do not care for them personally, they want to do too many tests all the time, I would find a private vet

Van field might be OK for routine stuff, but would not consider for on going vet treatment. Best to find a good vet!

I do not like Banfield and have heard some very bad horror stories of dogs dying there which scared me away. There is a review site called yelp maybe you could find a vet in your area on there that has some good reviews.

Welcome to YT!

I do one of their wellness plans with Banfield and it comes out cheaper for the check-ups, even his dentals as they use the anesthesia protocols I agree with, do pre-op labs, etc., and they have a lady vet I really respect & trust that does his dentals plus if I'm worried about Tibbe and not sure about something and want him looked at, assessed by a professional, I take him in for a looksee or x-ray, quick blood draw for a lot less money than other vets nearby would charge item by item. Money is a concern as I am still disabled and not working. But when Tibbe is sick, I take him to the ER vet near to us and they will even see him during the day time when normally they are closed for all but emergencies.

And here's the groomer website for you :)

Bark Boutique in Jacksonville Florida - Pet Store - Grooming - Doggie Day Care - Boarding

Oh and the dog food website too ;)

Dry Dog Food Reviews | Dog Food Advisor

Hi and welcome to YT! I've never used the Petsmart Vet care but I have heard bad things about Banfield. With that said, my sister in law takes her shih tzu to them here in my home town and thinks they are great (she's never had an emergency situation though). Also, I've never heard any complaints about them in my town.

It might just depend where you are..might want to ask some of their patrons there in your town.

Congrats on your new one! Would love to see pics of Lily :D

She did.. I am the crazy Yorkie lady she ran into today that invited her to come join us crazy Yorkie people :D:p

Banfield Pet Hospital Jacksonville, FL, 32256 - YP.com

Banfield Pet Hospital in Jacksonville | Banfield Pet Hospital (904) 363-3395 & 8801 Southside Blvd, Ste 3, Jacksonville, FL 32256 | <Professional Services/Animals & Pets/Veterinary Medicine> - Yahoo! US Local

And just reading comments on their FB page speaks volumes
Banfield Pet Hospital in Jacksonville | Banfield Pet Hospital (904) 363-3395 & 8801 Southside Blvd, Ste 3, Jacksonville, FL 32256 | <Professional Services/Animals & Pets/Veterinary Medicine> - Yahoo! US Local

I agree...I wouldn't go to Banfield. Definitely check out private vets! :)

Welcome!!

We have the optimum wellness plan here in Idaho. I love Gracie's vet so much that I dumped our private vet for her! It is great to be able to run her down anytime I am concerned for no charge! The vet is awesome and seems to really care about Gracie. However, I'm sure quality varies by state/location.

So I am enrolled in the Banfield Vet Plan. For routine care it has been beneficial. I do like to schedule our appointments surrounding one particular vet. When something is wrong so to speak, I go to a different family vet. I think it's your decision and your location.

When I first got Troy my family vet did all the shots and stuff like that. So it just depends. Look into it.

In my experience and seeing the treatment plans on sick dogs from there I wouldn't go there for sickie visits. However, vaccines and wellness stuff... Vaccines are Vaccines... however there are different brands which most people wouldn't know unless they asked the brand.

At the Emergency Vet clinic where I take Tibbe when he is sick, one of the very excellent vets there said he used to work at the Banfields where I take Tibbe. I asked if he thought they were really trustworthy for the kinds of things Tibbe was having done there and he said something like Honestly? I really do. At that particular one I can say they have an excellent staff and in particular, Dr. So and So and that they were safe for dentals with anesthesia as any regular vet's clinic. So I don't know if he was just being nice, or professional where they never say a bad word about a confederate but he said more than I would have thought he would if he'd known they were quack vets. I'd have thought he'd say they were "fine" kind of abruptly with a bit of a look you know right into your eyes as they kind of pursed and twisted his lips or kind of rolled his eyes or something different than all of that. I love that there is no charge for all of the vet visits when I had to take Tibbe in a lot last June when his GI tract was upset for so long. They kept me sane during that time checking him when I was worried. It was $300.00 saved probably right there in just vet visits, not to mention the others through the year.

But I would be very cautious in using them with a very sick dog unless you know that Banfield vet or know his or her credentials or something like that. The other vet at Banfield misdiagnosed Tibbe when he had pneumonia in February but he did refer me right away to the ER vet clinic for overnight IH care for which I was grateful. He looked at the x-ray and saw an enlarged heart and the ER vet redid the films an hour later and saw early, focal pneumonia but, of course, to be sure, did a cardiac Doppler, which their cardiologist read as completely normal. Tibbe's labs and physical exam also confirmed pneumonia and nothing with the heart, the cardiologist said. But he did say that it the Banfield x-ray could have been read by any vet as an enlarged heart and the ER female internist vet there agreed. I wondered if they were just being professional and not wanting to say anything bad about the Banfield vet. But anyway, that is all I know about Banfield from here. Hope it helped some.

I know the vet I worked for would never say anything about another vet to a client but to us behind scenes was a diff story.

I know they rarely comment on other vets inadequacies but I did think since he went into some detail about his job there and such and didn't give me any high signs, just maybe the vets there were alright for a well dog. I would think if there were a real problem, he would have said "Well, I really can't comment....." or "You know, I really don't know any of the vet over there......" or something to indicate that I shouldn't take Tibbe there when I actually asked him if they were safe for how I was using them. I sure hope he'd be honest enough to alert me somehow in answer to a direct question. Now I'm worried about this. Ann, you know vets - do you think they outright lie when they know better but their creed just prevents them even answering a direct question honestly? Did your vet? If a worried owner asked about another vet your employer knew was awful, would he just tell her he was good anyway to her face?

I wasn't saying it to make you scared, just aware I guess. I worked for this vet for 2 1/2 years and never ever heard her say anything to a client either way. I would house sit for her and she even told me what drs at the er to "not" take her pets to if something came up.

But do you think her creed so strong she would have lied to a pet owner if asked directly whether or not a particular vet was safe or a good vet?

I'm know really sure. :/ and haven't worked for another vet so have no comparison. I think for her it was just bad business in doing so.


If you feel like your vet is honest and thorough than I would prob stick with them. Something I like in a vet is if they don't have an answer that they are able to send you somewhere that will and can help like a specialist.

I steer clear of that outfit. I do not like their anesthesia practices and there were a multitude of other issues I encountered with them that didnt gel well with me. I am not a vet, but I have been a vet tech and I have worked with Yorkies since 1978, so I am not a complete idiot on what Yorkies can and cannot tolerate.....and I did not appreciate their bed side manner....as well as some information they gave me that I KNEW was way wrong!

I'm sorry that I didn't reply to all of your helpful responses. I did end up going last Monday to get the Puppy Plan with Banfield after a co-worker told me that she had her puppy their and loved it. The vet at Banfield found Hookworms and gave me medicine for my pup. Then, around 630am Wednesday I almost lost my baby girl. Of course Banfield is t open that early, but they had several places to call and luckily one was 10 mins away. Turns out not only did she have Hookworms, she had Tapeworms also, and had become anemic, and went I to a Hypoglycemic shock Wednesday when I found her. I was just able to bring her home last night! I'm still nervous because she's not eating very well, and I even bought new food hoping that would help, but no luck so far! At any rate, thank you all for the information and support! Oh, and my sweet baby girl's name has been changed from Lily to Nola.