Petsmart Banfield?

[Love_Capone]

My baby got really sick this weekend and a friend told me about how much money they saved by going to Banfield, so I decided to try them. He has to be healthy in order for me to sign him up for the plan, so I had to pay full price for him today which ended up being 200 for parvo and geardia testing and fecal test (luckily all were negative). If I sign up for the plan I will pay 20/mo. and all shots will be free and the initial pet visit will be free but any extra testing I will be charged for. For all his puppy shots and neutering and sicknesses I think I paid about 600+. Does anybody on here have a petsmart wellness plan and is it useful and does it save money? I'm considering signing him up this week, any advice would be great!

[TLC]

I prefer private Vets. I have heard too many horror stories between the bad service, etc at Banfield and the horrid grooming at Petsmart.

Honestly, I would rather be safe than sorry.

[BonBon]

Here in Tulsa, a lot of the Petsmart vets are fresh out of school and just putting in time until they can get a position in a private practice. Or, they couldn't hack it in a private practice and have to work in one of these chains. Either way, they don't have the knowledge or experience I want for my babies' doctor.

Sorry, I don't mean to imply that this is true of all the Petsmart doctors. Just the majority of them, IMO.

[TurtleDove]

We've done both Banfield and another private vet, and I'm happy with Banfield. I know we've saved thousands on vet bills by just going to Banfield, whereas the private vet we went to charged at LEAST $200 per visit. There was also an incident that occurred with the private vet that just made me not want to take my girls there anymore.

All Banfields are privately owned though -- they just operate within the Petsmart building.

[Ellie May]

It wouldn't be my first choice.
Some Banfield vets are great, I'm sure, but you get what you get and if there is a vet there that you like, it doesn't seem like it would be as easy to stay with them. There was also one report of a Banfield using some anesthesia that is no longer considered safe. There also seems to be a problem with them overcharging for anything other than what is in your plan. I suppose if you really like the vet and like the office, then it would be worth it.

[xoxodoglover89]

IMO I think Banfield is pretty expensive. I work at a petsmart with a banfield located within our building and they just don't seem to have the knowledge like my primary vet does. I only took Sasha there once to get a bordetella vaccine and I haven't been back since. Everywhere is different though. My primary vet has extremely reasonable prices and are very knowledgeable. Where you're located, your banfield may be great though! I think it's just personal preference.

[BaxtersMommy]

I LOVE Banfield. I adore his Vet, he is about a 60 year old man (who had his own practice forever). There are other vets there, but I request him. My babies are only getting their shots right now, but I did get the wellness plan. I paid 100.00 down and 21.95 a month for a year, that includes all shots, spay/neuter, 3 wormings etc. I have a Vet that my parents have used for years, but he has gotten expensive. I am sure if something serious came up, I would get a second opinion. But, I really like my experience so far at Banfield. Just ask about the Vets and how long they have been in practice.

[capt_noonie]

How old is your puppy? I know when I first got Uni they tried to sell me the Wellness plan too. If your pup is over 6 months old it is waaaaay less than if your pup is younger than that.

Also in order to take advantage of the Wellness hour vaccine prices, yes your pup has to be healty and not sick, otherwise you pay a $50 office visit fee. Also the Wellness vaccines hours does not discount the price of the shots, only waives the office visit. BUT if you work your charm, sometimes the lady at the front dest will give you a voucher good for a free office visit, sick or not. I got one for Uni that way, and they are good for 6 months. I ended up never using it b/c I found I like her vet at the humane society better. He is really good, remembers what she was in for the last time, and office vists are only $15! And vaccines are cheaper than the Wellness hours at Banfield. Her DHPP was $10 and her 3 yr rabies was $6.

Also, with other pets I had before (cats) Banfield ALWAYS try to sell you something you did not go in for. They always try to sell me advantage. My pets never have fleas, they are always indoors, and when I've found some on them, a simple flea shampoo solved the problem.

The first time I took Uni there for her shots they gave me an estimate of all the stuff they "suggested" I do, and it was $403, what I ended up doing, came out to $98, just for shots!

That's why they WANT you to get the wellness plan. If you go to Banfield and you don't you will go broke. That's why your friends say they are saving a lot of money. they are saving a lot of money compared to what they normally would pay there without the plan. IMO you would save more money going somewhere else.

Oh might I add that they are just like Kaiser. A vet STUDENT will do 95% of the exam and the DVM will come in for like 5mins tops, if you're lucky. No thanks.

[tammy8833]

they over charge you on everything

the parvo shot is a combo cost them something like $4 but they charge you twice plus a waste fee they are the only vet that i know personally that charge waste fees...

i have heard alot of negative information..google complaints and rip offs see what happens

[mk97]

From what I've heard about them, they have a set list of things they have to do--like if your pet is in for vomiting, they don't say well, it could be this or this--they refer to a list and have to do what's on it. I would rather take my babies where it's based on your pet's history and is case by case.

[Love_Capone]

Originally Posted by TurtleDove

We've done both Banfield and another private vet, and I'm happy with Banfield. I know we've saved thousands on vet bills by just going to Banfield, whereas the private vet we went to charged at LEAST $200 per visit. There was also an incident that occurred with the private vet that just made me not want to take my girls there anymore.

All Banfields are privately owned though -- they just operate within the Petsmart building.

I had a really bad incident with a private vet and thats why I'm searching for someone new. I like that they are open 7 days a week. Capone got really sick on Sunday and I couldn't get him into the private vet until late Monday afternoon. I called Banfield and they let me bring him asap.

[Love_Capone]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

How old is your puppy? I know when I first got Uni they tried to sell me the Wellness plan too. If your pup is over 6 months old it is waaaaay less than if your pup is younger than that.

Also in order to take advantage of the Wellness hour vaccine prices, yes your pup has to be healty and not sick, otherwise you pay a $50 office visit fee. Also the Wellness vaccines hours does not discount the price of the shots, only waives the office visit. BUT if you work your charm, sometimes the lady at the front dest will give you a voucher good for a free office visit, sick or not. I got one for Uni that way, and they are good for 6 months. I ended up never using it b/c I found I like her vet at the humane society better. He is really good, remembers what she was in for the last time, and office vists are only $15! And vaccines are cheaper than the Wellness hours at Banfield. Her DHPP was $10 and her 3 yr rabies was $6.

Also, with other pets I had before (cats) Banfield ALWAYS try to sell you something you did not go in for. They always try to sell me advantage. My pets never have fleas, they are always indoors, and when I've found some on them, a simple flea shampoo solved the problem.

The first time I took Uni there for her shots they gave me an estimate of all the stuff they "suggested" I do, and it was $403, what I ended up doing, came out to $98, just for shots!

That's why they WANT you to get the wellness plan. If you go to Banfield and you don't you will go broke. That's why your friends say they are saving a lot of money. they are saving a lot of money compared to what they normally would pay there without the plan. IMO you would save more money going somewhere else.

Oh might I add that they are just like Kaiser. A vet STUDENT will do 95% of the exam and the DVM will come in for like 5mins tops, if you're lucky. No thanks.

Yea I paid 200 today for what I believe would have only been about 75 at the private vet. They told me originally it would be 350 because he needed a full blood work up to make sure he didn't have diabetes or anything of that nature, but I opted out of that testing. I thought it would be useful for his shots because he will be due for his one year shots in Oct and without the plan or anywhere else there will be the 30-50 fee per visit plus the cost of shots. There are so many opinions, I don't know what I should do.

[nneessaa]

Maybe you can find a regular vet that is open on Sundays? The vet I go to is open 24/7 even on holidays, plus it isn't too expensive (it isn't the cheapest, but doesn't charge $1000 for a neuter like other places around here..)

[MaddiesMommie]

I understand your delima. In my experience with PetSmart, I was very unhappy. I haven't used the vet, but did use the groomer. Maddie acted lethargic after her grooming. I was concerned she had been drugged. The groomers acted very rude when I picked her up, scolding me and making me feel horrible b/c she was so difficult, so they said. The groomer I use now loves Maddie and says she is a real sweetie. No problems at all.
I did call their Banfield with a question and they refused to give me any help b/c she was not a current patient.
I am sure all PetSmarts and Banfields are different. However, I have found better care elsewhere. I did have a problem with Maddie one Sunday, I found an Emergency Animal Clinic open 365 days a year to take her to for that day.
Good Luck in your search.

[redvalaria]

Run, and I mean FAST away from any Banfield facility.

There are at least 3 class action suits (and that means there were SOOO many plaintiffs they couldn't confine them to one suit!) pending against them now.

see this link:

Complaints and Class Action Lawsuits Against Banfield Pet Hospitals Nationwide - Banfield The Pet Hospital Saint Paul, 55109

additionally, I know of several people who have had horrendous Banfield experiences (and not at a single location, in multiple places around the country)

They are scam artists and its like a ponzi scheme: they sell you a wellness plan, but, if your pup dies? you have to keep paying for the whole contract. they ALWAYS tell you you need blood work (even when you don't) to jack the bill and they overcharge unmercifully. God forbid anything unusual happens: they will transfer your pet to an emergency unit *and even it it is their fault, you will be responsible for the HUGE EVet bill.

Run....I am telling you this with all sincerity. I had a vet friend who worked there, temporarily and she said it almost made her quit the profession!