New puppy in the house
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| Congratulations on your new addition! Please post pictures! |
| Do you have pictures?? Sorry almost sounded like puppy insurance ad to me |
Lunderwood wrote: Do you have pictures?? Sorry almost sounded like puppy insurance ad to me
My 1st thought as well. |
 I really felt bad cause it sounded rude after I read it. |
| We've had a great experience with Banfield. We've been lucky to be at a Banfield with good, experienced Veterinarians. I understand that Banfield attracts a lot of Veterinarians just out of school, so you have to be careful. We really like their Optimum Wellness Plan (basic version), as it covers two complete physicals a year, immunizations, fecal testing, worming, etc. and most importantly, no charge office visits. I can't tell you how much money we've saved on urgent office visits. Our Banfield is open seven days a week, and they'll generally work with us if something is time sensitive; we've saved a fortune by avoiding the Emergency Centers (usually a minimum of $125,00 to walk in the door).
Here are a few tips for managing Banfield, based on our experience: 1. Be leary of Banfield's very aggressive immunization program. We decline a number of the immunizations that Banfield suggests, and know many to be controvercial (e.g. Lyme). A friend who is a Professor of Veterinary Medicine at a local University says many of Banfield's suggested immunizations are very controverial, and some may be not good for the dog; 2. Be leary when you see a Veterinarian taking direction from the computer in the exam room. The computer provides the Veterinarian with treatment algorithms that in some cases standardize good care, and in other cases (often) direct the Veterinarian to suggest unnecessary services, drugs, or procedures to increase charges and fees. It's been our experience that the young, recent graduates follow these algorithms, and the more experienced Veterinarians make clinical judgements based on experience, and dismiss what the algorithm is telling them to do if they perceive the suggested treatment or test is unnecessary; 3. Be prepared for Banfield to suggest a dental cleaning under general anesthesia pretty often. We've done it once in four years, when we thought the timing was right (when we picked our dog up he looked like a bunch of college roomates from 30 years ago); 4. If you find one Veterinarian that you like, stick with that Veterinarian; 5. Be leary of any Optimum Wellness Plans beyond the basic version. The top tier plans are rediculous, with multiple EKG's and chest x-rays per year, which under most circumstances are not warranted in OES; 6. Banfield's pricing on medicatons can be rediculous, and they will not write a Rx. for 1-800-pet meds. They will, however, price match the Internet, so sometime we decline a medication, go home, and come back with a print out from 1-800-pet meds, and have saved a fortune. Some Veterinary medications are the same as human medications, and with a friend who is a physician, he'll on occasion write the Rx. which we go to Wal Mart and pay $4.00 for the Rx. (Banfield wanted $69.00). While Banfield can be a bit like McDonald's with their standardized menus, I think you can get excellent care there. Just be on your toes when it comes to additional charges (e.g. repeat ear cultures, ear cleanings, etc.) |
Congratulations on your new pupper, yes nothing better then the sweet smell of puppy breath. 
Look forward to seeing photos of the new fur baby.  |
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