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10-27-2004, 05:53 AM | #1 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 221
| Banfield Hospitals? We've been looking into what vet we should use for Luna and I was wondering if anyone on here goes to Banfield Hospital. They have a plan where you pay either a monthly or annual fee and everything is pretty much included. I wanted to know how their service was and if I should use it. Here's their website: www.banfield.net Although my breeder did recommend a vet, he is very far from my house. Banfield is located within 5 miles and it seems pretty professional. Suggestions?
__________________ Melissa |
Welcome Guest! | |
10-27-2004, 07:03 AM | #2 |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Florida
Posts: 852
| I have never lived near a Banfield Hospital, so I haven't got a really informed opinion of them. The IMPORTANT question to ask is whether they have treated a lot of small breeds, particularly Yorkies. You want a vet that really understands the needs, problems, and health risks of tiny dogs. Since you live in Miami, I am assuming that Banfield draws on a much larger population than where I am in Maine.....LOL.....and that is good. We tend to have more of the sporting/country type dogs up here in Maine, although tiny breeds are certainly growing in popularity. Pay a visit to Banfield and INTERVIEW them. We changed vets this year when we grew unhappy with the vet's office we had. (The vet was nice, but the office staff was just nasty.) So we asked around everywhere, and then we went and looked around and interviewed the vet's office we now have. Had them do some simple things like heartworm checks. We were impressed, and they have since done Higgins neutering, etc. We have a number of vets in the area, but the one we chose is the ONLY vet who has emergency hours and will cover on the weekend. The others make you go to an emergency clinic over an hour away! You might tell the breeder that you would like to go to a vet closer to your home and ask if she/he knows anything about Banfield. |
10-27-2004, 07:08 AM | #3 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 221
| Higgin's Mom, thank you for your reply. I was also thinking of calling the breeder to ask her about Banfield. She had suggested Dr.Wise because he does specialize in small dogs, especially teacup. We may go to him for the first visit, just to get the paper work and such. Then look around to find a closer vet. We'll see, I'm still doing my research in this department, so any suggestions or comments are warmly accepted!
__________________ Melissa |
10-27-2004, 10:01 AM | #4 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 34
| I take my baby to Banfield. They have been pretty good with him. But remember that it all depends on the office. There will be one or two vets for them. Not all are the same. Just ask a lot of questions, and if you ask too many ask another one. |
10-29-2004, 01:42 AM | #5 |
Donating YT 7000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alabama, etc.
Posts: 9,031
| The most important decision you will ever make for your little Luna is her vet! I drive 45 minutes each way to our Dr. Lucy, who raises and shows Yorkies! I have her on speed dial at her home and she doesn't mind being bothered after hours!! I just had an experience with an emergency 24 hour hospital which is 5 minutes from my house!! I don't have a clue how it happened but Toto chewed up a cigerette [my nasty habit and I know, I know] .... the only thing I can figure is she jumped up in my desk chair and got it from my ashtray on my desk! BTW, all ashtrays have been removed!! At any rate, I didn't know it until I saw tobacco in her poop!!! [she is a very neat little bandit and leaves no evidence!! ] Dr. Lucy was out town and her assistant told me to call the local 24 hr. hospital as tobacco is very toxic!! I was on the verge of hysteria!! The girl [named Whitney] who answered when I called began asking for name, phone number, etc. ... and asked if I wanted to make an appointment??? I interupted her and almost screamed at her to tell her I had an "emergency"! She put me on hold after I explained to her what happened and the next person asked first for my address, then asked if I wanted to make an appointment? I did scream at her and said "NO, I have a vet who is out of town ... I don't want an appointment .... I want someone to tell me what to do!!!! Then SHE put me on hold!! I sat there for about 5 seconds with the freaking "elevator music" blaring in my ear before I slammed the phone down! I had finally remembered the name of my son's local vet and called him! They immediately gave me the reassurance and advice I sorely needed in my moment of blind panic ... never even ASKED my name!!! Since I found the tobacco in her poop, it was passing through her little system and the emergency was over ... I just had to give her Mylanta for her little upset stomach and watch her closely for any more signs of anything out of the norm. However, even though his office was closed ... he assured me that he would be happy to wait for me and see her if I wanted but that he felt confident that all would be fine ... and it was! The next day when I returned home from my Mom's, there was a message from "Whitney" needing some more information ... I was livid!! Decided to wait until I wasn't quite so angry to call her back! Then the next day I received a brochure in the mail from this so-called "24 hour Emergency Hospital" ... with Whitney's name written on the front of it!! I have Whitney on my "to do list" before I leave to join my husband in Colorado. Hopefully, when I call her I will have waited long enough to be civil ... I hate to get this angry! Whoever you decide on for Luna's vet, just be very careful and don't mind going over to look them over, armed with your list of questions! I'm sorry that this was so long ... but, I personally, just cannot stress enough the importance of a competent, caring vet for these tiny babies!!!
__________________ Toto's Mom - http://www.dogster.com/?206581 Yorkie Rescue Colorado - http://www.yorkierescuecolorado.com/ "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has limits." -- Albert Einstein |
10-29-2004, 03:49 AM | #6 |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Florida
Posts: 852
| So much of medicine has come down to the Whitney type operations! Human or animal. It is all about making sure they know who to bill. My last vet, and all the other vets except one in Augusta, will NOT take care of any animal after hours and weekends! I didn't know this when I moved here. If you have an emergency, you call an emergency clinic OVER AN HOUR AWAY! And most of these vets have practices with more than one vet so they COULD cover each other, but they don't want to give up their time for your little darling. When I was shopping for a new vet this year, the first two things I saw prominently displayed in my new vet's office was a BIG sign that said they DO cover all emergencies, no matter when they are needed! And also that they are accredited by the Asociation of Animal Hosptials (not sure that's the right name). It has two vets and we have seen each of them and like them both. It is also a big practice, with lots of employees, but VERY well run, VERY friendly, VERY clean everywhere. And so far, my two have had good experiences there. Higgins LOVES to go there so he can see the other dogs and CATS and always runs right up to the vets and people there, so I know he must get treated kindly. There is a huge, rather new vet clinic where we stay in Florida, and we were looking for it one day and stopped to ask a lady where it was. She was such a dear! Told us NOT to go there because they wouldn't take her dog that had been hit by a car after hours and that they charged an arm and a leg for anything they did. She said "They are nothing but a meat shop." And then she told us about Doc Magill right close to our RV Park. Been in practice for 30 years and he and his wife and daughter run the practice. I have never met a more kind and caring vet! And his charges are VERY reasonable. So, we are giving Doc Magill our regular checkup business for boosters, etc., and our vet up here for brief checkups and other care. That way we are covered in both places. It's the same with people medicine. The doctor's office we go to has some real lulus in it that I could cheerfully choke. But I like my doctor, so I put up with it. However, I have been known to lose my temper now and then, and because they made a big booboo with a recent illness Don had, and nearly died from because of them, they now treat me with great attention. It is VERY sad that you only get the attention you deserve when you say the word "attorney." The only person I have ever sued in my life was a lawyer (and I won), and I hate people who sue at the drop of a hat. But I don't hesitate to threaten if it is seriously needed, as it was in Don's case. Okay, okay, I'm climbing down of MY soapbox now. Geeee that felt good..... |
10-29-2004, 10:03 AM | #7 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Georgia
Posts: 246
| I would check around. i had them check charlie when I first brought him home but I never used them I go to another vet who came highly recamend. So just becareful they are small dogs and like they have told special needs. LOL |
10-31-2004, 10:44 AM | #8 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 221
| Thank you all for your replies, I do appreciate them!! Sorry I haven't posted in a while but I've been kept pretty busy lately, with Luna and school, it's hard to manage sometimes. HEHE. I just wanted to inform you all that we took Luna for her first vet visit on Friday. My parents took her, I was unable to go because I was called to fill in for a girl at work, so I wrote down a list of questions and gave it to my parents for them to ask the vet. They said she seemed really nice and concerned for the pup. Luna got a physical and her shot, in another 2 weeks she is getting another shot. Luna also had a little rash on her tummy which the vet said could be ring worm or just a rash. So she gave cream that we need to apply on her every 12 hours. The rash seems to be getting better, so I think it's not ring worm, thank God! I will post more in 2 weeks about the vet, I hope that time I can make it.
__________________ Melissa |
10-31-2004, 07:31 PM | #9 |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: USA
Posts: 659
| LUNA is so precious, thanks for sharing those photos. They are ones to cherish forever. She is BEAUTIFUL, enjoy, they grow up so fast ! She reminds me a lot of our little girls when they were that size, and the same adorable face ! |
11-10-2004, 03:42 PM | #10 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 187
| Banfield Hospital Yea, I brought my other dog- american eskimo to Banfield Hospital, they are good for your puppy if your puppy is already healthy in the first place, and the plan is really good because it kinda includes everything( all the shots/ visitis/tests, if you pay more it includes neuturing/spaying). I think it all depends on the doctor too. There was this one time my puppy fell down the stairs because she was so excited, and i immediately took her to Banfield and they took care of everything and I didn't have to pay anything extra. But after they changed the doctor, i didn't like them anymore, so I just switched to another vet, which is really good, suppose to be the best in texas and also the doctor was very passionate about his job. I think most doctors that work there are not that experiences ( my sister's in New Jersey and she said the Banfield there is horrible), so I guess it really depends. Hope this helps, let me know if you need anythign |
11-11-2004, 06:36 AM | #11 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 221
| Thank you Candance!! We have already found a wonderful vet for Luna. In fact, she's getting her last shot on saturday. We decided not to take her to Banfield because we really didn't know much of the service and haven't heard about it too much. So we took her where we had taken one of my cats, which I had to give away long ago, since we knew the place AND it's right by our house. I'm not to sure about how the vet goes about with emergencies because I wasn't able to go last time, but this time I will ask her. Either way, thank you all once again!
__________________ Melissa |
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