Banfield Pet Hospital

9/7/10 I took my 28lb Shetland Sheepdog to Banfield for a wound on her right shoulder due to another dog's bite.
When I picked her up I was told by Dr Blackman that sutures and a drain were put in and should bring her back in 3-5 days. When I returned on 9/10/10 I was told that her skin had necrosis and surgery was required to debride the dead tissue and that the situation was serious. The surgery on 9/14/10 done by Dr Casuccio was very aggressive, a 12 by 6 inch area was removed and some of the fatty tissue underneath, the incision was irregular, had orange rubber bands added and another drain. When we returned on 9/15/10 Dr Casuccio informed us that my dog had gangrene (no blood work was done), would need a skin graft, there was no more he could do for her, the situation was life threatening and we needed to take the dog immediately to AVS Surgery Center in Gilbert, AZ.
We took my Sheltie to AVS and she was seen by Dr Dixon. I asked him why the tissue had necrosis this severe and he said that if the sutures are too tight the blood supply can be cut off. He recommended emergency surgery of either a skin graft at$4500 or an amputation at $2785. When I did not agree to surgery, he then said "well it is not really and emergency and we can give you estimates for non-emergency surgery tomorrow."
We paid $145 for the evaluation and left AVS.
I then called Arizona Sheltie Rescue that evening. They took me to their vet, Dr Veith, at Oasis Animal Clinic in Chandler the next day. He told me that my dog's situation was not as bad as I had been led to believe and thought we could put her on a stronger antibiotic, epsom salt packs and do a smaller debriding surgery if needed the following week. Dr Veith's diagnosis and treatment have been accurate so far (10/2/10) my dog is recovering without skin grafts or amputation.
I believe that these vets at Banfield are incompetent both in diagnosis and worse at surgery. I believe that the initial sutures were too tight, the drain too large and my dog and myself have suffered physically, emotionally and financially. They overcharged on many items and drugs. They have made no follow calls on my dog. Stay away from Banfield! I have now heard of several other incidents of malpractice from other pet owners in the areas.