Banfield Pet Hospital Reviews 

Had an appointment July 4th 2025 I was there at 8:00 in the morning I was first in line 40 minutes later I'm still trying to check in I'm first in line and the manager Sheena is taking people ahead of me finally I checked in after 40 minutes she tells me it was a drop off appointment and she doesn't know when the doctor can get me like I'm really going to leave my pet there all day long disorganized stupid rude and then she calls me 2 hours later when I'm at home what time did I schedule you for next week stupid manager didn't even know I had rescheduled for the following week cuz I wasn't going to leave my pets in Las Vegas in 110° heat in the middle of the afternoon I only wanted one appointments and she didn't even know what time she'd rescheduled me to. Sheena was very rude to me the manager for inside the petsmart Banfield I was there first thing in the morning at 8:00 a.m. she was taking people ahead of me her demeanor and everything was rude.

Have had a Banfield Wellness Plan since my 11 year old dog was a puppy. Recently we relocated to Singapore and was charged an arm and a leg to “sign some paperwork”. On top of that, during that appointment was the 1st week after my plan renewed. I tried to cancel my wellness plan since we are now abroad but am told I “owe” $1,500 additional from that appointment and would have to pay that if I want to cancel the wellness plan.

We usually take my dog to the cottonwood location. However when I call them they did not seem to care or help that my dog needed to be seen for a same day ER visit. I called the Academy location and they were able to see him asap. Everyone made us feel comfortable and at ease. We will be moving to the Academy location for all of our future visit's. The staff and Doctor are so caring and AMAZING!!!

If you have a wellness plan and you pay monthly, be aware! You must change your payment method for each pet plan individually. Updating the main account does not flow down to each account. Then they charge $20 when the payment fails. The conversation below is with a customer service rep who offered no help and proceeded to explain how funds have to be in at a certain time. Duh! When a payment method is changed and a the old one deleted, it should not still be active on the pet plan pages. I gave 3 stars because the plan and the gets are good. The company itself sucks in technology and customer service.

We liked the vets at Banfield. However NO ONE should sign on to their plan. It is impossible to get your money's worth. They tell you you can cancel, and you can, but when my dog passed away, I owed them for the rest of the year. Over $600. Their plan is absolutely not worth it.

I have been taking my dog to Banfield for four years. She was seeing a particular doctor and she is no longer there. They have been having different doctors come in until they hire a permanent doctor. After today's service I sure hope that will be soon. The service I received today was substandard. I need my pet to see a permanent doctor and not someone here today and gone tomorrow. I was not pleased that I was given a prescription that Banfield could not fill. I ended up bringing my dog into the office for a cerenia shot.

I need to warn other pet owners about my devastating experience at Banfield Pet Hospital (owned by Mars Inc.) also located in many Petsmart stores.
April 17, 2024: Took my completely healthy, happy dog Beanie for a routine checkup and vaccine update. Lead Vet. Paaymans, DVM administered a ProHeart 6 shot along with two additional vaccine shots. That same day, Beanie began showing symptoms - fainting, heavy breathing, and became nearly immobile. I immediately called and brought him back to Banfield. Their response? 'There's no problems, but call emergency if it gets worse.' They dismissed clear emergency symptoms and sent us home.
April 18: Rushed Beanie back to Banfield as his condition worsened. They charged me $400 for an x-ray and three additional shots. Vet Paaymans, DVM stated his heart was swollen in x-ray, telling me to see a cardiologist, they don't know why he is fainting and to go to emergency if worsens. No urgency, no accountability for the fact that he was perfectly healthy just 24 hours before coming in for simple shot update.
Easter Sunday, April 20: Beanie had become so weak that I took him to emergency care. Heavy blood in stool, throwing up dark red, no eating or drinking water, and hardly breathing. Beanie tragically passed away that evening. Just four days after a simple vaccine visit, my beloved pet was gone.
The aftermath was equally appalling:
- Banfield corporate only offered a hollow 'sorry for your loss' and claimed Beanie 'did not respond well' to the Proheart 6 shot
- They promised to contact ProHeart 6 about splitting cremation costs but never followed through
- They're still forcing me to pay for my other dog's wellness plan that I'll never use because I've lost all trust in their care and service
- They refunded the $400 from the second visit and canceled Beanies plan.
Banfield ( owned by Mars, Inc) operates like a sales organization, not a veterinary hospital. They push wellness plans and treatments without proper care or consideration for our pets' lives. My healthy dog died because of their negligence, and their response showed zero compassion or accountability.
I urge pet owners to:
- Avoid Banfield entirely
- Research all medications/shots thoroughly before agreeing
- File complaints with your state's veterinary board
- Report to pet advocacy organizations
- Read wellness plan contracts carefully - they trap you in payment plans
- Document everything in case the worst happens
SPECIFIC ACTIONS TO TAKE:
- File a formal complaint with:
- Your state's Veterinary Medical Board
- The FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine
- Better Business Bureau
- American Veterinary Medical Association
-File with the small claim court or contact a pet attorney
- Write reviews everywhere!
Remember: Corporate vet chains like Banfield often prioritize profits over pet care. Always trust your instincts if something doesn't feel right about your pet's care."

Banfield Pet Hospital is a predatory operation disguised as pet care.
They lure you in with a plan that looks like a simple subscription, but what they don’t make clear is that it’s a locked-in, year-long contract. Try to cancel, and you’re hit with the full balance — no matter how little you've used or how dissatisfied you are.

They advertise these plans as money-savers, but in reality, they continue to price-gouge for medications and treatments — many of which are cheaper over-the-counter elsewhere. The plan becomes virtually worthless, and you're stuck between damaging your credit or continuing to pay for subpar care.

It’s a calculated, manipulative system designed to maximize profit, not pet health. And it’s no coincidence: Banfield is owned by Mars — yes, the candy company. Their priority is not your pet — it’s profit.

If you truly want to support animal welfare, give your business to a local, trustworthy care provider built on compassion and ethics. The good-hearted staff working at Banfield — and yes, many of them do care about animals — deserve better too. They’d likely be happier, better-paid, and more empowered working at independent clinics not tied to deceptive corporate tactics.

Boycotting Banfield doesn’t hurt animals — it protects them. Don’t fall for the myth that corporate chains are the only option. Speak with your wallet and support real care, not corporate greed.

Banfield overall is a money grab. There are vets and techs that work for Banfield that genuinely care about animals, but they are trapped in the Banfield money machine.

We have had the Banfield wellness plan since 2012 - and 2013-2024 was for two dogs. Last year we discovered the hard way that the wellness plan we had been paying into for 12 years offers no form of emergency care and any end of life care/services are only during business hours. God forbid your senior dog have a medical emergency at night or on the weekends - you are coming out of pocket for that 100% at a place you've never been. It was awful and we lost our girl.

So for our other senior dog, we decide to change vets to somewhere that can accommodate emergency and end of life care - specifically a vet that can come to our home when the time comes. We haven't renewed our wellness plan package in years - there are no signed documents - in fact the only change we made was in 2024 when we lost our girl. But somehow we are still "under contract" and we have to pay $500 to end our wellness plan.

So the rough math is 11 years of two dogs on wellness plans at roughly $75/month = $9,990 and two years of just one dog at roughly $45/month = $1,080 for a total of $11,070 that we have paid Banfield. No serious incidents, no major surgeries (our girl had a paw surgery in like 2013 that's it) just a visit every year for vaccines - but because we learned the hard way how awful it can be when it's their time and we want to do better this time, Banfield still has to squeeze us for that last $500.

Find a vet that fits your needs and tuck that $45 or $75/month in the safe and you'll be much better off. Banfield only cares about the money.

Terrible customer service and a scam! Like many others, They lock you into an agreement without full disclosure and will not honor any of their discounted promises. DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY!

The worse banfield that I have ever attended, terrible customer service, so inconvenience and crowed. Don't waste your time going there.
I'm canceling my membership

While my dogs vet is an excellent doctor...
My dog has blood in his urine and so I made an appointment for him to be seen and he was not seen by his normal vet
INSTEAD...
When I made his appointment I Specifically asked if there was anything I needed to do before his appointment and they said no
I get to appointment and they take him in the back and 5 mins later they brought him back, they said my dog wouldn't let them get the samples they needed and I know for a fact they didn't try
they didn't put a muzzle on him or take necessary precautions in order to get the tests and samples
I know this because I LITERALLY WATCHED THROUGH THE WINDOW
when they came back they wanted to give him full spectrum antibiotics- pain meds and trazadone
So of course they wanted me to spend unnecessary money and THEY DONT EVEN KNOW WHY HES GOT BLOOD IN HIS URIN
I TELL YOU THIS...
IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO MY DOG BECAUSE OF THEIR NEGLIGENCE...
I WILL SUE THE HELL OUT OF BANFIELD

I regret to say that I will not be bringing any of my pets to Banfield after many years of entrusting their care to this company. After two separate incidents with my dog needing to be seen due to illness, I was told by Banfield representatives and have seen for myself that Banfield egregiously understaffs their "hospitals" to cut costs, and cannot accommodate sick in-office appointments when needed, even to those holding wellness plans. What kind of hospital can't provide in-office care as needed, when needed? I am aware that the wellness plan is not insurance and does not provide special service to those who pay for it, but I was certainly not aware that it would not be possible to MAKE in-office sick appointments when needed, due to Banfield's intentional lack of accommodation. Since virtual visits do not make bloodwork or other physical tests possible, this is hardly a substitute for in-office care that I trusted would be there when I needed it for my pets. My dog is currently fighting for his life and will likely have to be put down at a local emergency vet. When he became ill, none of the Banfield locations were able to see him for a number of days and he has not displayed signs of the fact that his liver was shutting down with every hour that went by, so I had no idea that he needed immediate care since only bloodwork could show that. If Banfield had accommodated an in-office sick appointment within a reasonable amount of time, we would not be where we are now. I called every Banfield location within an hour's drive of my home and was told by each location that there simply wasn't enough staff to accommodate a sick appointment that day or within 3 days' time. I was even told by one location that they were "understaffed" and had to call in an extra employee just to be sufficient for the preventative care appointments scheduled for that day. To any professional, it is clear where the corporate priorities are. Such a mode of operations is completely negligent in a healthcare setting, which certainly demands a higher standard of integrity. If my pet had been seen sooner, if I had chosen to see another non-emergency vet who was able to accommodate a sick appointment, he would not be dying due to his liver shutting down. Instead, I chose to wait until his regular, trusted vet was able to see him and depended on the Wellness plan to cover his office visit and bloodwork. Now I know that a vet office that can't accommodate sick appointments is highly unreasonable and paying $55 a month for 2 preventative appointments a year or only those appointments which could be scheduled weeks in advance (what appointments would those be, if not sick appointments?) is what I have actually been paying for. Banfield's priorities are not mine, and their practices are deceptive. Seeking a lawsuit. Don't entrust their health to such a company.

If there was an option for negative stars it would be a closer indicator for the service you will get if you make the unfortunate decision to bring your animal here. I have had 2 dealings with this specific Banfield location, and one was just worse than the other. The first experience was when my Banfield location was closed due to an internet outage. My dog just needed an allergy shot before we left for vacation. I was told by my home clinic to go to the Town and Country location, and they would take care of me. They advised that I call first to let them know I was on my way, so I did just that. When I explained what I was needing and that my clinic told me to go to Town and Country the lady I was speaking with told me not to bother driving over as they would not see me because they didn't have the time. I mean - rude, right? Well, after my recent encounter that first experience was a lovely Sunday afternoon with roses and puppies!

The most recent encounter was just last month. My clinic was closed due to bad weather so I had to go to Town and Country again because my pup had been throwing up the night before and would not eat or drink. I was cautioned when I dropped her off that the staff was trying to close up early that day to get everyone home safely before the roads started to re-freeze. I said that was great, I didn't want to be out driving in all the yuck either, so that worked nicely. The vet kept her from about 10 AM until around 4:30 with not one single update on what was going on. When I finally did receive a call, she told me my dog was in complete liver failure, and I needed to decide if I wanted to put her down or take her home to make her comfortable as she was going to starve to death because in liver failure a dog would not eat. She told me this OVER THE PHONE! I was an absolute wreck driving to the clinic. Once I got there, I was again told my options, and I asked if there was anything else that we could do. The vet said not at this clinic, no. I asked what that meant and she said that a specialty vet clinic might have other options, but I would need a referral. I asked how I could go about getting a referral and she said, well, I have to call them. I said, OK, then call. She asked if I was sure because it sometimes takes forever to get through to them. I said that yes, I was sure, and this ignorant human gave a deep sigh and acted put out when she said, OK...I'll make the call. She seemed way more eager to push me out quickly so she could be done for the day and go home.

I took my pup to the specialty clinic where she was given excellent care. She was NOT in liver failure. She needed her gall bladder removed. She is completely fine and recovered now - no thanks at all to the vet at Town and Country. The fact that my pup could have died at this crappy clinic continues to bother me which is why I decided to write this review. Had her gall bladder leaked or God forbid burst while that horrendous vet did nothing but administer fluids and give me a wrong diagnosis she very well could have died. If you care at all about your pet stay away from this clinic. I was charged over $500 for her to basically do nothing but give fluids and an incorrect diagnosis.

In closing I would like to add that I have nothing against Banfield as a whole. The vet that works at the Town and Country location though, she should have her license revoked. I wouldn't trust her to shave my dogs rear end at this point. Stay away - stay far, far away.

Extremely Disappointed with Banfield Pet Hospital – No Accountability and Poor Communication

I took my dog to Banfield Pet Hospital in Schererville, Indiana, on March 17th for a routine checkup due to concerns about his overgrown nails and a small dent in his tail. Upon arrival, everything seemed fine—he was walking, barking, and energetic. However, what should have been a simple visit turned into a horrific experience for both my dog and my family.

During the exam, the team drew blood from behind his jugular, and when they returned him to my mother (who took him in on my behalf), he was yelping uncontrollably, clearly in severe pain, with his mouth swelling in real time. Instead of acknowledging the situation, Dr. Mullins dismissed it as potential gum disease and did not take immediate responsibility for what had happened.

Following their advice, we took him to an emergency pet hospital, but his mouth was so swollen and painful that they couldn’t even properly assess the initial concerns we had about his kidneys or tail. Instead, we were forced to focus solely on his mouth, leading to excruciating pain medication costs and additional vet visits.

I returned to Banfield days later, seeking answers and accountability. Dr. Martin, a field supervisor, was present and appeared concerned, but much of the conversation revolved around whether Banfield would cover any costs rather than addressing the real issue—what had actually happened to my dog. They insisted on an X-ray, claiming it was necessary for a dental specialist to evaluate the damage. At no point was I informed that this X-ray would cost $270+. Instead, they waited until after the procedure to spring the fee on me.

This entire ordeal has cost nearly $3,000, and yet Banfield has shown no real accountability, offered no follow-up, and failed to communicate effectively throughout the process. The lack of transparency, dismissive attitude, and failure to properly inform me of costs upfront is completely unacceptable.

I would strongly caution other pet owners before bringing their beloved animals to this location. What started as a simple checkup turned into a nightmare that caused unnecessary pain and suffering for my dog, not to mention financial and emotional stress for my family. I expected professionalism, care, and accountability, and I received none of the above.

Banfield, do better.

On November 8th, 2024 I took a beautiful two month old shistzu puppy for a complete health check up at Banfield,North Heaven, with Dr Cardona. She attested my puppy was healthy before taking her to a back room and adminitering an intranasal bordetella vaccine. Before we got home, my puppy was already vomiting and visibly sick. 10 days later she passed out for the first time, from lack of oxygen. Little did I know it'd be the slow and agonizing end of her. My many attempts to get help were either dismissed or minimized and the lack of treatment for almost three months caused my puppy a collapsed trachea which prevented her from breathing. Banfield North Heaven, specifically Dr Crystal Cardona and dr Brocklehurst were involved in my 5 month shihtzu puppy to have a collapsed trachea and be put down at only 5 months old. Dr Cardona administered my 2 month old puppy an intranasal bordetella vaccine which immediately made her very sick. Despite my many attempts for help, she was ignored by both vets cited above, for almost three months,before getting any meaningful help. By then, my puppy was diagnosed with an inflammed and collaped trachea. She couldn't breath and I had to make the excruciating decision to put her down at 5 months old! The vets are uncaring and incompetence. The staff is rude and disorganized. Search the web and you'll find many cases similar to my situation, due to Banfield’s malpractice and incompetence. I hope the State Board finds them liable. Stay away.

Banfield OWP is a scam. They do not disclose the terms of the plan which lock consumers into a 12 month continuous payment obligation. My dog has not received services since October, so they canceled the plan and are charging me $600 for the rest of the contract (through May 2025) and have refused to render services through May 2025 citing contract language.

Today I took my dog ​​Milo to get his teeth cleaned, a procedure that from what I understand is a very simple one that helps maintain my pet's health. Completely trusting in the care of my dog, we left him there perfectly healthy, and it turns out they called us to tell us they had had an accident and that my dog ​​had hit his cage and hurt his eye and needed antibiotics. I can't understand how something like this could happen. I know maybe my dog ​​was scared, but when we went to get him, my dog's eye was completely red, like part of it was sticking out. At that time, no one offered us an apology or anything, and we paid not only for the cleaning but also for the medicine to heal his eye, which was healthy when we left him. I am super outraged with the situation because you trust your pets to them and God knows how they are treated there. At this time, we have not received any further explanation. Now I have Milo here with his eye practically popping out, red, wearing a cone, in a procedure that was supposedly simple. Don't take your pets to this place.

I originally had a pet plan for my dog at around $50 per month, but suddenly, I started getting charged $75 instead. When we contacted customer service, they admitted it was an error and assured us they would correct it. They never did.

The same overcharge happened the next month, and the next—each time, they claimed it was a mistake, but we were never refunded.

Then, during an unrelated vet visit, they handed me a bag of prescriptions. Inside, I found flea prevention and dewormer—items I never requested or agreed to. That month, we were charged $75 again, and this time, customer service told us the increase was correct because our plan had been “upgraded” to include flea prevention and dewormer.

Mind you, I never approved this upgrade. I buy these medications myself for much less and would never have opted in. On top of that, they had been charging us the higher price before ever providing these meds—then sneakily slipped them into our bag after the fact.

When I asked for proof—anything showing that we signed off on this upgrade—they never provided it. We called the clinic every week for a month and a half, and every time, they promised to call back but never did.

Three months later, after exhausting all options, we finally reached corporate, only to be told that there was nothing they could do since we had “received” the medication.

This company needs to be investigated for fraud. And I won’t even get into the quality of their service—except to say they clearly value money over actually helping your pet.

Avoid this company like you would your narcissist, gaslighting ex.

My pets for over 15 years have been going to Banfield, and i have been paying on their pet plans, so you can imagine how much money I have spent. Today March 11th, 2025, I called customer care to inquiry about the Downers Grove, IL., location...I have been trying to reach them for the last couple of days and the recording states it was close at 4pm. The customer care rep told me she don't know why it's close, maybe short staff, but I will have to keep trying or find another location. I explain to her that my pet go to this location and was she able to leave an email with the manager, she stated no and to keep calling. This is freaking ridiculous, but I'm sure if they didn't recieve a payment, they would be contacting me via email, texts and phone calls. I have to find another pet hospital.