Banfield/Vet Issues (Long Post... Sorry!)

Does anyone on the board use Banfield Pet Hospital as their primary vet?

I was anxious for a long time over which vet to choose for the kittens. I asked for opinions on facebook, called people I knew had cats, etc., and eventually I went with Banfield because of the Wellness Care plans that cover a lot of the routine dewormings, vaccinations, etc.

I'm just not sure it's the right choice for me anymore. So far out of pocket I've had to pay over $200 on ear mite treatment, ear cleaning, a benadryl-type shot prior to their vaccinations "in case" they were allergic, etc. Plus the $150 start-up fee and $35 per month (for both cats, not each). I'm looking at almost $400 after 1.5 months of ownership and I feel like if I had gone to the SPCA or an independent vet for shots I could have gotten it for cheaper even though what I'm getting with Banfield is supposed to be "deeply discounted." Do you think that's right or is my estimation of care costs incorrect?

Also, Banfield has a $250 treatment minimum for CareCredit so with what's going on in my life money-wise since April, it's been difficult to come up with the money since I can't use my CareCredit account. I'm not sure if other vets would have a similar restriction, or what.

I also think once I'm done with my year-long contract ( ) I'll choose a feline-only vet or at least dig around for one with particular training with cats because it seems like 98% of the literature and verbiage is for dogs. ALL the pictures on the walls in their exam rooms are of dogs, the brochures all default to dog language, just mentioning cats if there's a cat-specific issue. I also like to ask "What's normal?" (for myself as well, lol!) and there's been a few times the pet nurses couldn't really give me an answer. There should be a range of "normal" for their temperatures, right????

I'm not sure if what I'm feeling is overreacting because I've never cared for kittens before (all my previous cats were found cats who came to us already of age) and am not familiar with vets, or if it's a sign that I should move, or what. I'm sure they're getting standard care as far as administering vaccinations, physical exams, etc. I'm not worried they're being mistreated or that the doctors are incompetent. Just maybe not as familiar with cats as with dogs...?

I also got ticked off at their first appointment because the doctor made some remarks about the SPCA I didn't like. Banfield has two plan options: a basic plan, and a basic+spay/neuter plan. It's $6 more per cat per month. $6x2 cats = $12 x 12 months = $144!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To be neutered!!!!!!!! No way. The Richmond SPCA, a great organization who does work with trap & release, free spay/neuter for needy families, etc., will neuter them for $25 each. Easy choice in my mind. But when I told him that, he made this shocked face and was like, "Oh really??? Are you sure they use pain medication??" .......... uhhh....... No, doc. They operate without anesthesia. Either he was trying to manipulate me into getting the more expensive package or he's not familiar with the biggest pet advocacy organization in our city (which is the CAPITOL of Virginia for crying out loud!) and in either case that's troubling.

If I back out now, I'll either have to pay retail value for what they've done so far, or the cost of the rest of the monthly payments, whichever's less. I can't afford that, so I'm stuck until next May.

I'm sorry for the long-winded, multi-faceted post! After 7 weeks of having them and 3 vet's appointments, plus voraciously devouring these boards and other online info, you'd think I'd be more educated. Any advice or insight you could provide would be VERY appreciated!!

Just FWIW, a lot of low-cost spays and neuters don't come with all the bells and whistles you'll get from a private vet - such as blood work, post-surgery pain control, etc. Not to say they're not providing a very needed service, but the service tends to be bare bones. $144 for a spay from a private vet sounds very reasonable to me, tell the truth, assuming it does include some of these peripherals I mentioned.

Now, some people love Banfield, some don't - I suspect it varies from location to location. Myself, I think it's important, if it's possible, to contact different vet practices in your area and make an appointment to interview them...just say up front that you're considering changing vets. If nothing else, you'll get a 'vibe' from the way you're treated.

But, remember, it's not always apples to apples. I happen to go to a vet hospital - I do like it because there are always staff on site, 24 hours a day, to monitor animals left overnight, and they have hours seven days a week. But, their fees are slightly higher than a near by clinic - but I'm paying for more hours of access and that overnight staffing. And I'm paying for access to the vets on the phone - if I have post-shot questions, etc, as opposed to having the shots done at a shelter. But everyone has to figure out what they're comfortable with, and I do think if you're not comfy with Banfield, just make a few appointments for interviews, before your kitties have any need for another vet check, and see who you like.

Heck, even at a private vet fees may vary for a procedure. For example, I had my cats' teeth cleaned last February (dental cleaning month - always a discount!). These days, vets can't assume every owner will opt for blood work (although some vets will mandate it - and some owners will not use those vets), or fluid support during the procedure (and my guys just got a cleaning - no extractions). And I opted for a slightly more expensive sedation as well. So my fee for the cleaning probably didn't match the next owner's fee for basically the same procedure.

But, yeah, for my two 'mature' kitties, who are pretty much basically healthy, I'm sure I spent close to a thousand this year to date.

Wow... that's definitely a lot to think about. That's the kind of context I was looking for. My situation is a "I don't know what I don't know" when it comes to raising kittens!

Originally Posted by darlili

Just FWIW, a lot of low-cost spays and neuters don't come with all the bells and whistles you'll get from a private vet - such as blood work, post-surgery pain control, etc. Not to say they're not providing a very needed service, but the service tends to be bare bones. $144 for a spay from a private vet sounds very reasonable to me, tell the truth, assuming it does include some of these peripherals I mentioned.

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What's the purpose of those bells & whistles? (Not asking in a snarky, "I'm not paying for that bs" way lol, just honestly don't know about how blood work relates to the neuter surgery.) I'll need to double-check with the SPCA on what's provided.

Originally Posted by darlili

I happen to go to a vet hospital - I do like it because there are always staff on site, 24 hours a day, to monitor animals left overnight, and they have hours seven days a week. But, their fees are slightly higher than a near by clinic - but I'm paying for more hours of access and that overnight staffing.

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That's the other thing - terrible hours. They open at 10 and close at 7 and won't schedule an appointment later than 5:20 and even then I get the "we're closing, get out" vibe. I can't drop them off since I'm at work at 8am so I have to snag the 5:20 appointments and take a short lunch in order to leave early. I didn't think any other vet's offices would have better hours.

I don't think any of the vets here have such restricted hours. The vet clinic I am taking my cats to is open 8 to 8 Tuesday through Friday, 8 to 6 on Monday, and 9 to 2 on Saturday. The first appointment I had there was at 7 p.m. on a weeknight. The bloodwork is to make sure nothing is going on with their system mainly kidneys or liver that would make anesthetic a problem. I was going to another vet clinic when I had mine spayed and neutered as kittens. They offered the bloodwork as an option and charged $55 for it. I had the bloodwork done on both of them. I don't remember the exact charge for either but it was in the range of $144 and that was almost 8 years ago.

Attitude was $226 for a spay, that was with bloodwork, fluids, and 3 days of pain meds. Nuts was around $160- $180(can't remember exactly) for his neuter and that was everything but pain meds(most neuters don't require take home pain meds like they do with spays.) I did bloodwork and fluids on mine because they were both leukemia positive but chances are all I'll do all the bells and whistles even with healthy pets, it's just safer that way.

I have low cost spay/neuters done for my ferals and the $35 place didn't give any pain meds, not that the cats seemed to care. The $5 place I go to now offers pain meds for an additional fee. The girl I have going in on Weds will get a post op pain shot(I have a feeling she is going to end up with a spay/abort) and then she'll be released back the next day as soon as she is able to take care of herself. I do have post-op pain killer shots done for females but not the males. If could get them to take pills opr liquids I'd get take home pain killes but I know the likelihood of getting any medication into them is about nil and I really enjoy having 2 hands and 10 fingers and if I tried to force them being medicated I might no longer have all 10 fingers or even both my hands.

It's up to you where you want them done but honestly $144 is cheap for a spay or neuter. I won't let the low cost plce do any of my pets just because they don't offer pre-op bloodwork or fluids so the higher price tag is worth it for me, lus I'm not too fond of the vet that does the $5 spays, he was a total a-hole and talk down to me like I was an idiot once(Mama had a rectal prolapse) but he was actually really kind and gentle when I had to take Half-Tail in to be put to sleep. My own vet is never like that. I just can't afford to take the ferals to my vet, too dang expensive and the low cost vet clinic does great work even if the vet is a little surly at times.

I want you to know I feel I paid a good fair price for both Attitude and Nuts' operations and neither one of them lived a year after their surgeries(FeLV+ complications, Nuts died yesterday and Attitude did in Nov) and the price was still worth every penny.

Taryn

Thanks for your responses... I'm at work so I'll respond in more detail later. Can someone give me information about why bloodwork is needed?

Originally Posted by parsleysage

Thanks for your responses... I'm at work so I'll respond in more detail later. Can someone give me information about why bloodwork is needed?

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Bloodwork is used to spot conditions that could cause complications, especially with the anesthesia.

Originally Posted by katachtig

Bloodwork is used to spot conditions that could cause complications, especially with the anesthesia.

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Oh, okay - that makes sense. See? Don't know what I don't know. I'll have to check with the SPCA. There are a few places around town that are more expensive than $25 but not nearly as expensive as Banfield so I'll look into those as well.

I'm thinking I might look into changing my home hospital. We have had three very uncomfortable vet visits at this hospital so I feel like I'm starting to get some stigma associated with me, lol, especially with one pet nurse in particular. So maybe switching hospitals will make me more comfortable. The hours are either the same or worse in other locations, though.

Thanks for your help and input!

You can have your vet do the bloodwork and still take them to the SPCA for the spay/neuter. The bloodwork is just so you know they won't have issues with the meds, it doesn't have to be done the very same day as the surgery.