Why I Will NOT Take My Pet to a Banfield Pet Hospital Again

We got a new puppy last week and were looking for a vet to take him to. We loved the vet we use to go to when we lived in another city 20 miles north of us but she closed her practice. There was another vet in that town that we liked but thought we'd find one closer to our home now. We have 2 older dogs that we took to a new vet in February and they were a lot more expensive than our old one but we choked a bit and gave them the money, I mean, the dogs do need their annual shots and heartworm meds. Plus they were about 10 minutes away.

When we got the new puppy I called around and we decided to go to Banfield which is in our local PetSmart. Big mistake. To begin with they have a Pet Wellness Plan which they push down your throat. The Pet Wellness Plan is $99 to enroll and $23 a month but that includes all office visits and routine vaccinations. Any meds are discounted 10% which means the antibiotic we had to get for the new puppy's ear infection would have cost us $31.50 rather than $35. We left last week paying around $65 for an office visit and antibiotics. We also left with a brochure n the Pet Wellness Plan and had to sit for an hour listening to the vet go over the plan with us and explain why we needed it. I'm sorry but with 3 dogs I'm not spending $297 enrollment for 3 dogs then $69 a month when we only take them to the vet once or twice a year. On top of that the 10% discount on the heartworm medication isn't worth $23 a month.

Today we went back for a follow-up and had to listen to not 1, not 2 but 3 people talk to us about the Pet Wellness Plan and how we could save money. Rascal (new puppy) is doing better and he was able to get his shots. We left after 2 hours and our bill this time was $104.65. That did include $24.95 for the office visit: follow-up. When we left we had our puppy, empty wallets and an appointment for his next shot in 3 weeks. That visit will be $24.95 for the office visit and $29.65 for the Distemper Parvo DAPP vaccine for a total of $54.60.

Needless to say, when we walked out of there we quickly decided we WERE NOT going back. Our decision was made mostly due to the fact that they kept pushing that Pet Wellness Plan down our throats. I'm an adult, tell me about something and I can make up my own mind. I'm also a stubborn adult and if you push me too much I will rebel and not giving you any more of my business is one way I do it.

After making the decision NOT to go back to Banfield I called other vets in the area and there were none that were general veterinary. So, I called the vet that's 20 miles away that we use to go to. They don't charge an office visit fee, only for the services provided. The shots today, including the fecal exam and de-worming would have cost us $56.50. The next set of shots which include the Distemper Parvo DAPP vaccine, rabies, another fecal exam and de-worming (I guess it's recommended 3 times) will be $61. I guess Banfield would have us come back in a week or so for the Rabies which would be an additional fee for that plus the $24.95 for the office visit.

I can tell you right now I'd rather drive $20 miles for my dog then set another foot in Banfield.