Banfield Pet Hospital
Reviews and Complaints

From my experience, Banfield is a total rip off and have horrible pet care. Not only did was my dog treated for liver failure when he simply needed an antibiotic, but a 3 lb puppy (chihuahua) was given Giardia, Corona, Levo, Rabies, Bordatella, Distemper Parvo HA & Distemper Parvo LA at one time. After a visit to the ER Vet in the middle of the night and another $100 dollars, I went to another vet in the area who explained the levels of toxins in his liver and why it was not liver failure, which was a severe treatment considering he needed a mild antibiotic, and not cost efficient for my pocket. I paid over $700, besides the insurance rates for all the care (blood tests, ultrasounds, etc) and medication from Banfield and the other vet I saw only charged me for costs of meds due to the fact that he was dissappointed in the care and treatment and that he saw I had more than overpaid for the unnecessary care. After the other vet opted not to charge me I felt that was a big indication of Banfield’s level of treatment, this made me see this man actually cared that my dog’s health was important and priority. Not only that this vet pointed out that in his opinion based on the size of my dog and all the vaccines given, that may have the cause of the reaction in the first place and he explained this is not certain and it may have happened and he explained what vaccines put him at higher risk when given (levo and rabies). Now every time he is seen for vaccines, no matter the vet seen, he has to be checked in for the day due to his risk of another reaction. He explained next time he would have to charge me and he would have to hospitalize him for the day but he absolutely would not give a dog that size that many vaccines at one time. Also, he explained that some of the shots were unnecessary and why. (Although I didn’t go into detail he gave me facts as to why; ie. the Corona is not something that is mandatory due to regulations such as Rabies and that in his career he has treated maybe one dog for symptons related, it is just not common.) The point of this is to make others aware of this, because not only was this all terribly upsetting and stressful for me but the cost was absurd. I would not want anyone else out there to go thru what I went thru with Banfield.

I did not expect a lack of "ethics" to come from a animal clinic. Banfield's wellness plan is a plain rip-off. They perform a lot of unnecessary test, over vaccinate (which can be harmful to your pet) and pretend they are doing all these good things for your pet and in reality all their doing is working on owners love and emotions for their friend to milk money out of them. Go get a real vet. Totally disappointed and I will never spend another dime in a pet smart.in time I will payoff my contract, but they will loose in the long run. I will pass my experience on to other pet owners.

I have been on the pet wellness program over the past 3 to 4 years. Recently my credit card # changed and they could not take out the 20.00 a month. They are always calling and put me in collections. Well I have never signed a contract, so don't know why I would be put into collections. Then I had to bring my dog in on an emergency due to my daughter accidenly spilling hot water on him. I call Banfield 1st letting them know what happened and informed them I am at work and could not get the dog in right away. I had ask what my children could do until I could get the dog in. The stated there is nothing they could do, there is no over the counter medication they could give him, I would have to bring him in to be seen. On that note I contacted my sister to please take the dog in. When she arrived they made her wait for 1 1/2 hours before being seen. They stated they would do nothing for the burn because it was not red, and just to keep an eye on him. But inform my sister that his ears are durty and has and ear infection, they wanted to do a test to see what kind of infection he had. She told them ok. They never mentioned that he is over due on his shots. The bill came to $125.00. My dog has not been having any problems with his ears! I did not use the medication and brought my dog to a new Vet. They cleaned his ears and gave him all of the shots needed to bring him up to date. He had 2 shots, nails clipped, ears cleaned. I asked if he had an ear infection and they stated no just durty. I returned to Banfield very upset, stated I would like a refund on medication my dog did not need. They stated no I could not do that. I informed them I went to a new Vet. and he does not need it, no infection and how upset I am about this. And complained how they made my dog wait so long knowing that he was coming in on an emergency. And that I was not there for his ears but for a burn. When I stated to get very angry with the employee she stated in front of everyone that I was in collections.
I do not know what this has to do with the treatment of my dog, but was very upset that she seemed to want to inform everyone in the waiting room to this information. I feel they were just trying to make money and did not give a crap about my dog! I have never seen the Vet. He has the dogs go in the back, he never comes out to talk. I will NEVER bring my pets to Banfield again.

We have had our pets on the most expensive plan since 1998/1999. Took our dog in as his jaw seemed to be hurting and there was blood coming from his mouth/tongue. The vet in our presence never even looked at his mouth. All Banfield is concerned about is being able to bill for comprehensive exams, all the insane things like eye pressure tests, deworming, dental cleaning (we did with one dog and in one month her teeth had just as much tartar), x rays of the middle section (now if they really had a plan it would be xrays of the entire dog as most problems will occur around the mouth/throat) etc. etc. Our male dog has to have continuous checking of his thyroid. (low thyroid missed by banfield which caused enlarged heart and irregular heart beat-it was only after I researched the internet and found that all his symptoms were low thryroid and I asked the vet if they had ever had that tested and she said no. Well his thryoid hardly read on the charts, it was so low. Back to this visit.. We paid for the thyroid test - after drawing blood they said there equipment wasn't working and it would have to be sent out. I have been calling daily to get the results. Today after some 11 days from having the blood drawn, they say it is "lost". They don't know where it is. The lab said they never got it. So we would have to drag our dog down for more blood to be drawn. This is a 15 year old small dog who is blind and deaf. When this July comes up for renewal we may terminate the contract and go elsewhere. They are close and handy, but in all these years I truely do not see that they have the animals best interest at heart. Also, all they want to do is drop offs, which with older dogs with ailments and bllindness and deafness, is not a reasonable thing to do. So visits can take up to 2 hours or longer - with both dogs it is usually about a 2 and 1/2 hour to 3 hour visit. Which is ridiculous.

The wellness plan seemed great at the beginning until you go in to use it and they will find something to sell you medicine, flea medicine for indoor dogs and do tests that you don't need. I finally caught on and said I dont need a heartworm test for the limping in her leg. and all the medicines! They look in my dogs ear and wants to test for yeast when there wasn't anything wrong on and on. NEVER SIGN ANYTHING FROM THEM! They were nice to get money but the woodinville doctor that said he was part owner was a arrogant complete rude * when I told him I felt ripped off. OVER 500 dollars for xrays when one was needed they took four. STAY AWAY FROM BANFIELD PET HOSPITAL IN WOODINVILLE WASHINGTON. They only care that they make money and sell you * people anything they can and I was *!

My friend took her healthy, 3.5 year old black lab to Banfield because he ate a sock and it needed to be removed. She picked him up Friday evening and woke up Saturday morning to her other dog barking uncontrollably. My friend quickly realized there was something wrong with the dog who had surgery the night before. He couldn't move and was lying in a pile of diarrhea and vomit. She got him into the car with help and he died on the way back to Banfield. The vet there was shocked that he had died and offered no explanation. Later that day the vet called and said it "was most likely surgical error". If she was so incompetent or uncomfortable performing a pretty common procedure that she was going to make a mistake, she should have referred my friend somewhere else. The vet is actually calling the corporate offices to see if my friend should need to pay for this. The vet is admitting fault and my friend lost her healthy dog. I hope people read this and never, ever take their pet to Banfield.

I have never been to Banfield before butt my vet was closed and my little dog had a nasty yeast infection and ear infection in his right ear.. Anyway I took him in to a Banfield facility and the receptionist was very nice although the vet had the personality of a wall and she said she needed to swab his ears to verify infection or yeast... Now I am a RN and I know when you are being cheated out of money... Common in ten years I have never had a vet request a slide test to verify a ear infection or yeast.. plus the whole test may actually cost 50 cents... they wanted 33 dollars and I refused the test... Anyway after refusing the tech said "we will see"... unbelievable I was treated like * from Doctor after that... what is wrong with people its all about money anymore and lets see how much money we can get out of people... little did they know I was somewhat educated and the test was not needed,,,, These vets who are only in it for the money should nnot be working or have the priveledge to work with animals.

I have had a Wellness Plan for my mix-breed Shiba Inu dog for five years and I changed my plan from Primary to Basic to Basic Plus. I got the Basic Plus Plan a year ago to cover blood work, urinalysis, and Teeth Cleaning. The dog has been well and was given a comprehensive exam a month ago and I made an appointment to have his teeth cleaned today. When I brought him in to Banfield this morning, I was told I may have a list of other charges added on which could total $200.00. I told them that I paid extra for my plan so the fees were included. They said I had to pay an additional $120 for the pre-op bloodwork, "if there was something wrong with the dog's bloodwork". I said that the bloodwork is included in the $32.95 that I am paying every month. (When you have a blood test before surgery, and something is wrong with your blood, you don't pay extra for that bill. I paid the same for bloodwork when my cholestrol was high as I did when it was normal.) Banfield refused to do the surgery unless I agreed to pay the extra bloodwork charge if there was something wrong with my dog's blood. The pre-op bloodwork is included in the plan. I am cancelling my entire plan and will not go into another Banfield or Petsmart!

My dog had Pneumonia and Banfield didn't know how to give the correct treatment to him. He was near death and I went and got him from banfield and took him to the ASPCA and they saved him. I was told he had severe pneumonia by the ASPCA.

One of the veterinarian told me there was nothing else she could do for my dog and sent him home in the bad condition that he was in with meds that wasn't helping for him at all.

It is in my opinion that banfield has veterinarian's that have no Idea of what they are doing, and need to return school to improve their knowledge on how to give the very best treatment that there is to our beloved pets.

I tried to cancel my puppy wellnes plan when we lost out dog and was told I would have to pay the balance owed. (about $50.00)
I refused to pay
The account has now been sold to a collection agency and the amount has grown to $75.00.
I was getting constant calls, day and night, until I told them to stop calling me as I can legally do.
Recently, they started calling my wife on her cell phone and threatening her. She was not even on the account.
There is no human that you can talk to that is in a position to get this resolved.
I would recommend never dealing with Banfield or Petsmart again.

You can get out of wellness plan only if you do it in 4 business days from purchase. A good idea is not to have the initial check done at banfield because of all the fees and charges. Once your pet gets a good bill of health... then shop around and ask prices.. banfield pays to have the first year with all the shots and to have dog/cat fixed included. After the year.. cancel one month before contract ends otherwise you continue to get charged the monthly fee. AFTER THAT YOU ONLY GET COUPLE SHOTS A YEAR SO GO TO PETSMART OR PETCO ON SATURDAYS FOR THAT. You only pay for the shot.
I had a problem because my dog was unfit and continued to get sicker so I returned the dog. Now, it could be a problem getting some fees back or to get charged more for a simple visit.
If you decide to go to banfield for puppies first check, dont let them do anything other than check the dog if healthy. If you must, allow check up only.. all shots and sorts can be done later once you decide if dog is healthy. Dont let them pressure you in sales. Its a game.

I signed up for Banfields wellnes plan after our first visit ended up with an unexpected surgery. I was stressed about losing my dog who I had only adopted the week before. Since then I decided to bite the bullet and pay the money every month because it must help right? Not even close, everytime I take my dog there for a "covered" visit, it ends up costing me a fortune. I dont trust these people and I dont think they have my dogs, or anyone elses pets health in their best interest.

I don't even know where to begin. I have been a client of Banfield, Eagan for over 5yrs now. I have gotten to know all the staff as they have helped care for my 5yr old Weimaraner. I was fairly happy with them so when I finished college to be a vet tech I decided to work for the company~against the advice of every single instructors/vet techs at my school. They all told me I would regret it. Well, they were correct. Not only was the level of animal care incredibly disturbing but the lack of knowledge and compassion by the staff was horrifying. Aside from that nightmare in the midst of the 5 months I lasted there (before I told off the office mgr ~who had NO PRIOR MEDICAL BACKROUND!) I fell in love with a little abandoned dog. The Dr. said that if someone didn't take it he would either be euthanized or sent to the humane society~this dog had spent the first 4yrs of his life locked in a laundry room. I decided to take him. The lead Dr. gave his permission to put him on a wellness plan so we could neuter him. A few weeks prior to me adopting this dog, Banfield had rolled out a new wellness plan that was specifically designed for dogs that had not been spayed/neuter prior to turning 6 months old. So, we neutered him, a few months later I wanted to get him in to have a dental so I upgraded his plan. I talked it over with the csc (receptionist) the morning I brought him in for the dental and also had requested a few additional services that I was happy to pay for. The treatment plan that I signed that morning was for $72.00 but when I came back to pick him up his bill was suddenly $378.00! I waited for an hour so they could try to find out what this 250.00 charge was that appeared on my bill and no one knew. The csc even called corporate 3 times and they had no idea what it was either. So knowing me for 5yrs she said that I should go ahead and go home and she would work on finding out what this $250.00 charge was for. TWO weeks later she calls and said I was being charged for his neuter. I have upgraded my other dogs plan to the highest plan which is the optimum and NEVER had this happen. I have argued with them stating that had I known that morning when I signed a treament plan for $72.00 that I was going to have to pay for the neuter I NEVER WOULD'VE UPGRADED HIS PLAN! Why should I pay the price for their incompetance? Their policy is that when a client signs a treatment plan they are basically signing a contract agreeing to pay the amount that is listed on the treatment plan and IF there are additional charges they will call you before they proceed. I'm so angry and disappointed in this company. I do not understand why no one informed me that if I were to upgrade his plan I would have to suddenly pay for his neuter. Why has that never happened when I have upgraded my Weims plan? They have now sent me to collections and are destroying my credit. I will never take my pets back there again. I'm so disappointed that my 5yrs of loyalty meant nothing and that this is how they treat their clients. Not only was I traumatized but the horrifying lack of animal care but now this bull! As a previous vet tech with Banfield... I BEG ALL OF YOU TO NEVER TAKE YOUR PETS TO ANY BANFIELD! You have no idea what goes on behind closed doors! And you don't want to know!

I have a 5 month old pit bull who when we got her had Kennel Cough. We have been trying to get rid of this for a month now. A week ago my cat got into something toxic and became paralyzed and almost died. Seeing that we take our dog to Banfield we decided to take the cat there for treatment as well, as it was close to home and an emergency. I was told the blood and urine tests ran $250+ and was basically made to choose whether to get help for my cat or take her home to die. Of course I told them to run the tests but asked if they took payment plans because we did not have all the money upfront. I was told they do not take payment plans but we could pay what we could and the balance would be sent to collections after 10 days and we could just make payment arrangements to the collection company. So 2 days later I picked up the cat, had a balance of $558.37 (which I paid $90 then) and left.

Well now a week later, my dog is still sick and needed to be seen. She is on the wellness plan so I made her an appointment and took her up there. I was denied service because I had an open balance. After arguing with the lady behind the counter for more than 10 minutes, she went and got the Vet who came out and asked what the problem was. I explained what happened and that my dog is ill and needs medication and needs to be seen. The Vet was really trying to work with me and asked if I could make a payment on the balance, pay the office visit (for the cat) and for medications, to which I said I totally could, I just did not have the $468.37 up front or I would not have left a balance to begin with. Well, the front desk lady rudely interrupted and said nope, can't do it, it has to be paid in full or it will be sent to collections and the insurance will be canceled. I broke down in tears because my pets are my babies and how can they turn us away! They have my credit card information for the wellness plan, it is not like I am trying to run off without paying, we had a pet emergency and I just think it is so sad to say you care about pets but then make people choose whether or not to pay rent or let your animal die.

I did call this morning and talked to someone who was very helpful and gave me the number to corporate and the office manager. I hate that this has happened and do not want this to screw up our health plan, but I am pretty sure it will and after the episode last night, I will be finding a different Vet to take my animals to.

I still to date have not received anything from Banfield showing me what all they did to my cat, the costs estimates, etc..

The lady behind the counter had no right to talk to me the way she did, said that Most people don't leave a balance and there are no Vets out there that will allow a balance to carry over, which is b. s. because I have taken my animals to a vet that allows payments on high balances... which is where I should have taken my dying cat to in the first place but Banfield was closer and it was a true life or death emergency. I am grateful they saved my cat but am very displeased about the lack of customer service

My little yorkie pup died yesterday becasue of shock distemper shot. They performed deworming, her parvo shots, and the diphenhydramine injectable. We took her to Banfield Hazel Dell location in Vancouver, WA.

When we had purchase her from a breeder in Yakima, WA. She was a playful puppy at 9 weeks old @, 8 oz. She was eating and drinking well. The following day after getting her, we took her to Bannfield 11/06/10 to get her checked, they reccommended us getting her puppy shots and dewormed, so we did as advise, but informed them prior that she has already been dewormed and had her 1st shot on 10/27/10, but from what the "profession" advise that it was going to be ok, so we took it. She came home fine for about 30 min, and collapse. She was so weak, paralyzed, and had vomit and diahrrea. I knew she was dehydrated from this so I kept forcing water to her and tried feeding her.

I called the vets there and she said it was totally normal for puppy to have this reaction. I waited another day, my little one was not getting any better and first thing in the morning took her to the vet at Bannfield again. They simply did not know what was wrong with her. I left her there for the rest of the day where they put some support for her and told us she has low blood sugar. When they closed at 7, I picked her up and she was still so weak, but the vet there told us she was going to survive, and she was doing very well. She had said that her chaces of surviving were high. She them reccommended taking her to the emergency vet.

We then took her to the emergency vet, there the vet took sample of her blood an ran all other tests just like the vet at Banfield did. He told us that her blood sugar was very low her chances were not very high even if we get a blood tranfusion, that's when I did not want to see my baby suffer any longer. I cried for hours and still am.

My hospital bills for my baby is sky rise, and she is not even here with me because Banfield kept giving me hope that there was still life in her. I am mad the fact that the vets at Bannfield knew she probably couldn't make it but gave us so much hope so we can go back there and the emergency vet so my baby suffer and they can make their money! (BAN FAIL) I am fill with regrets I took her to Bannfield. They have injected way too many vaccination in such a little one. Vets should know better how much a newly, small baby can take.

We called this morning 11/09/10 to cancel the puppy membership and informed them that our little angel is no longer here with us.

In memories of Dora 9/7/10-11/08/10 R. I. P.

On 10/19/10 I went to my appointment at Banfield The Pet Hospital at
12836 Citrus Park Drive
Tampa, Florida 33625
I wanted to give my newly adopted kitten, Simba a physical exam and I had concerns about her scratching her ear, her stool was loose, and she was coughing and sneezing when I got her but lately she sneezes only once in a while. I was interested in the Wellness Plan from the brochures it looked like a good deal.
I wanted to join the wellness Plan first when I arrived but the clerk at the desk stated that I could join after the visit. I arrived at my visit at 4PM. They weighed Simba and then proceeded to take me to a room and stated that the doctor would arrive soon. The doctor took maybe 30 minutes to arrive. I stated to him that it must be busy. He did a quick full exam on Simba that lasted approximately 3 minutes. He then said he would return to take a stool sample. He returned approximately 30 minutes later and took a sample from Simba's behind. He stated he needed to examine this. So he went outside with the stool sample and returned maybe 20 minutes later telling me the stool was negative. He then took an ear swab and told me he would return after examination on his telescope. I waited another 20 minutes and thought I heard him talking to another client. He returned and told me the exam was negative and thatthe ear mites could still be there and he could flush it out himself or I could do it. I choose to do it not realizing of course there would be a fee for it.
By now, I was concerned that I would be in the wellness program so I thought everything would be covered. I had a 30 coupon off a Wellness Progam from the adoption agency. He recomended antibiotics for her ear and general antibiotics for her. The fecal exam and ear swab would be covered by the wellness plan that I could join when I would leave his office. I was not too impressed with the quality of the exam. But I still figured it would be a good deal.
Then the doctor proceeded to tell me how much the medications would cost. He quoted a fee in the of about $100 with discounts from the plan. My first reaction was yelling
"What". I thought medicines would be covered but he stated that medicines are not covered. He told me to come back in a week.
I then proceded to the front desk. When I was told that the regular fee is $280 and
by purchasing the wellness Program I would pay a price of $160 which included my fee for the wellness plan and first months payment. I used my debit card to process the transaction and he stapled the receipt to about 10 pages describing Simba's illnesses. There were some loose papers on the bottom but they handed me the whole package and I made an appoinment for next week. I do not remember signing anything except for my debit card payment.
About 4 days later I see Banfield Insurance on the web. I was looking for pet insurance to supplement Banfield so I would be covered fully. My god was I shocked by multiple website after website depicting fraud negligence and various horror stories. My first reaction was to bring Simba to my old vet to check her out, as after I read all the stories I did not want to stay in Banfield.
My vet examined her and did a fine thorough exam with the help of and aid, he used a scope for the ears and took a stool sample with the aid. He told me all I should use was the Trasoderm Drops, not because of ear mites but because I should clean out her ear as it was dirty. He told me that I did not need the other medications. I left with Simba and payed the fee of $90 which sounded allot better than Banfields $280 or $160. Either way the exam took 10-15 minutes and it was allot more thorough. She was also checked for microchip and written down in record about the chip. Banfield totally omitted this even though a sign in the office said check each client for microchips.
After I bring Simba back home I send out email to Banfield that I wish to quit the program. From Reading all those statements on the web, I figured I should change my Debit Card and get a new one so Banfield cannot take any more funds. The next day I recieved a response from Banfield that I needed to pay $120 more as it would cover the true price of the one office visit they say. I called Banfield relations and they told me I could only quit on the 4th day. My Fiance told me she would not sign a document like that. I figure that $160 more than covers the price of quick office visit and medications. Banfield seems to inflate their prices.
Finally I say to myself that I am a sucker for falling for this scam. It was the coupon for thirty dollars off plus the fact that Banfields are located in PetSmart's which I thought were reputable. Well I go look at my contract and low and behold is my name printed on a piece of paper that tells about the Contract in a paragraph with a horrible contract beneath it. Nowwhere is my signature and I do not remember ever signing such a horrible agreement. I would never knowing do so.
I call back Banfield which I think is probably a waste of time. I told them that I believe that I did not sign a contract. I have no papers with any signature on it. The only thing I signed was my debit card. They refer me to cancellation line, where I waited 10 minutes and then phone went dead.
Alright, so now I will probably be assessed large fees and will have my credit ruined if a majority of the internet people are right. I am trying to join a class action suit as instructed on the website. I live on disability. My other cat just died I spent all my savings on her surgery and then put her to sleep at my vet place. So I do not have the funds to waste on Banfield. I cannot even afford her shots now after Banfleds prices but I would never bring my pet there money or no money due to the treatment and practices of there corporation which is all over the web. I am a sucker for falling for a coupon and what I thought would be a good deal for someone without funds. With my debit card I guess they could try to collect funds from my account and when they fail they will ruin my credit.
But when Banfield falls and they will someday my credit will get cleaned up I hope. I cannot believe they have been around since the fifties with their practices.
I firmly believe they will not survive.

Stay as far away from them as possible.1st it took them 4 hours to see my dog although the associate convinced me to purchase the wellness plan and make an appointment. The associate answered. My questions

Incorrect. When my dog was stolen I could not opt out my plan. They gave me the run around.in the end I paid $204 for a dog I no longer have. I endured terrible customer service. The supervisor never returned my calls. They charged me for services I received in the plan. I did not even want them, just a check up. They are liers. God don't like ugly they will not be in business very long. The worst dog

wellness place I ever dealt with. very unethical!