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I would like to share 3 different experiences I have had with Banfield that have affected me directly or indirectly over the past few years. And before I get into this, I would like to share that I have been with Banfield for I would guess about a decade. I have defended them when others have talked badly. I defended them to my mother after they were responsible for her dog's death a few years ago. But my last experience with Banfield has set me on fire. The lack of care and the sheer laziness to figure out what is wrong with a pet that someone loves is unacceptable.
2016: My older dog had a mass removed. The surgical site became infected. I took him in to have it addressed. They gave me an antibiotic and sent me on my way. A few days later, I brought him in again, as the surgical site had become necrotic. They told me everything looked normal (although the smell was awful, and literally smelled like death). In hindsight, I should have gone to the emergency room, but I took the vet at Banfield's word that this was the normal healing process. A few days later, my dog was dying. I took him back, and they refused to see me, but I would not leave until they did. When they took him back, they told me I needed to prepare myself because he was dying. I don't need to explain why this is absolutely a horrific situation. They put a drain tube in him but told me he probably wouldn't make it. He by some miracle did make it (probably because I ended up taking him to the Emergency vet), but his suffering for those two weeks was definitely on Banfield. I knew something was wrong, I knew he was dying, but the vet was either too lazy, or too incompetent to realize that.
2016: My mother's dachshund (family pet) ate something she shouldn't have. She had surgery to remove the item. Post-surgery, the dog's belly was very distended, and the dog was extremely lethargic. She was not healing. Mom took her dog in and told the vet something was wrong, and the vet insisted that everything was healing normally, and not to worry. This happened 2-3 times before the dog died. My mom knew something was wrong, but the vet didn't... or even worse, didn't care. A As in my first example, I do not need to explain why Banfield's actions are not just unacceptable, but heartbreaking, dangerous, and horrifyingly wrong.
2023- My current dog has been in to see the vet several times over the last couple years for a bad limp. I was very concerned as my dog is only 4 years old, and 2 years old when it started. I was sent away with "I don't see anything wrong with her ' every single time, and given some Rimadyl to give her. The last time I was there I requested X-rays. I was told by the vet that X-rays would not show anything at all. Frustrated and defeated, I left again with no resolution. This past month, I noticed my dog was struggling worse than ever before. I called Banfield and asked if they could see her. They said they could not see her for about a month out. So I called another local vet, who got her in right away. The first thing the new vet did was give her an exam (something Banfield did not do ONCE in any of our visits). The new local vet said immediately something wasn't right, but she would need to do x-rays to confirm. After x-rays were done, it was"very apparent" my dog was injured and had a torn CCL, and to top it off, also had bony tissues and the start of arthritis from... get this... BEING INJURED FOR SO LONG and having done NOTHING ABOUT IT.
I am FURIOUS. I can no longer defend or support any Banfield. I stayed with them for so long because I believe that everyone makes mistakes. Things happen sometimes unexpectedly, and I believe in forgiveness and second chances. But three different serious issues that have all impacted me is just too much. There's no excuse or reason for that kind of negligence. I have done so much research and asking around and found that I'm not alone. This is apparently par for the course for Banfield.
When I asked to cancel my wellness plans for both of my dogs, it was it's own huge situation, which you can read about it many other people's complaints (and they are all accurate and true, but that's not the complaint I am trying to make here). They would not let me out of my contract, even given the situation. I guess they won't do that because it would be accepting responsibility, and God forbid, losing a few bucks. Greedy, uncaring, incompetent, and lazy. For the sake of your pet's health, safety and long term wellbeing I suggest you don't bring your pet to them.
