I took my cat to Banfield today, and I knew almost immediately that they were trying to sell every test possible to make money. The nurse came in, and he was actually decent--knowledgeable and caring--he talked to me about my cat's fur loss and explained that they have seen a lot of this due to allergies. He also swabbed her ears and said she didn't appear to have an ear mite problem because her ears were too clean (my cat does not go outside and has been indoors for nine years).
Then the doctor comes in, smelling like he had too much alcohol the night before, and immediately starts talking about testing for hyperthyroidism despite the fact that the cat was normal and showed no other symptoms of this (she clearly eats well and does not show any other symptoms of this problem). He then launched into the heart murmur problem, and stared off in space at one point, apologizing and coming back--probably a hangover brain freeze. I later found out was fairly normal, but he made it sound like that was the real issue, and we need to talk about procedures for this problem. I then brought him back to the real issue of her fur loss.
He said she should have fungus cultures, skin tests, and skin impressions, and blood work-up without telling me what any of those things did. Oh and he said she needed an ear mite test, but when I said I was sure that she didn't have mites and that the nurse even said he didn't think she had ear mites, the doctor looked panicked and said he completely disagreed. I should have seen that as a sign of his being scared of losing money.

When some manager lady, a completely condescending woman, came in to explain the costs, I asked her what these things would show about my cat's skin, and she used every word over my head that I couldn't understand. She made the mistake of saying that the skin tests would rule out bacteria and other problems which the fungus culture might find. I asked her if the fungus culture was for more than ringworm (because I know what that is and have had a cat with this and knew that wasn't my cat's problem) and this manager woman said, "Ringworm and a bunch of other fungus types I cannot even begin to start listing." Whatever. I made her take that $30 plus charge off and she was pissed off and rushed out of the room to do this. I agreed to only the skin tests and ear mite test because she and the doctor assured me that this was the only way to determine ear mites by some $30 test.
Well, the good nurse comes in to tell me the results (after I sat for over 20 minutes), and he says that the cat didn't have mange, and I said, "What the heck? Is that what the skin test showed? I just paid $25 to find out what I could have told you people??? He said that the ear mite test came back negative--hmmm, he and I knew that before I agreed to the damn fee, so that was not surprise.
Then the nurse asked if I wanted to try the fungus test which he clearly stated, "checks for ringworm." And I said oh heck no--my cat does not have ringworm, and I am not paying for a test to come back negative.

So the doctor comes in and wants to get on the "same page" and says the cat needs blood work up and testing for hyperthyroidism, and I exploded on him saying that I would not trust him because of the BS tests they made me pay for and the one they wanted me to pay for.

Ringworm, ear mites, and mange have been around for decades--you mean to tell me that doctors cannot identify those by close observations anymore--I bet old time, down home, experienced vets can--they don't need fancy tests after seeing multiple cases of these. Tests, tests, tests for money, money, money--it's like the crisis with the human health care for profit system.

I was so stupid not to check all of the multiple bad reviews this place has received from pet owners and former employees. What a joke.

We brought our purebred Alaskan Malamute puppy in for her spay. The doctor performing the spay inadvertenly removed some tissue that she did not identify before removing. The parts were thought to be connected to her bladder and their removal would be certain death for our puppy. When asked about the removal of the tissue before identifcation, the vet responded with "It was too late by then." My puppy has a 8" incision on her abdomen for a simple procedure. We do not know what the vet removed from our dog or the function of that tissue, vital or not. I will be filing a complaint with the board.

anyone who is interestet to join in the class action and reporting Banfield, please email: [email protected]

To: [email protected] and his Executive Assistant Gina Sienia at [email protected].

Subject: Banfield Pet Hospital: Complaint
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]
Date: Wednesday, December 16, 2009, 12:04 AM


To: Georgia Veterinary Medical Association

Cc: Dr. Scott Campbell, CEO, Banfield, The Pet Hospital

Regarding Banfield Pet Hospital in Midtown:
650 Ponce de Leon Ave.,
Atlanta, GA 30308
404-892-7277


Please, consider following for the license evaluation of the Banfield Pet Hospital and Doctors: Rene Freshwater and Jana Cargile.


6/10/2008 I took two of my dogs (Benji – the mother approximately 3 years old and her puppy 5 months old) to the Vet. While waiting too see the doctor, I purchased their wellness plans for my dogs. I explained my concerns about my dog being playing with my neighbor’s puppy that got sick with bloody diarrhea and vomiting at around 4pm on 6/09/2008 and died by the noon of 6/10/09. Dr.Freshwater said that it may be rat poisoning, hit by the car or possibly parvo. I told that I don’t think anyone is using the rat poisoning. It may be the car, but I really doubt it. There is a good chance of Parvo. I asked the doctor to make a test for both of my dogs, but she refused and said, that since my puppy does not look sick, I should just take my dogs home and keep eye on them. I asked to start parvo treatment and told, that I am ready to pay, but Dr. Freshwater said that it is against their policy. I’ve been bagging for anything to prevent possible sickness. But she told that the only she can do is to test on parvo the fecalies of the dead puppy, and even if the results will be positive, she won’t start treatment of my puppy. In 3 days my puppy came down with parvo. Parvo tests became available for both of my dogs that day. I spend nearly $1000 for the treatment. Researching parvo decease on internet I found Amber technology products: Victabra (antibiotic) and Parvaid (herbal food supplement )that seem to be very successfully used to prevent parvo, after exposure to parvo and even to treat sick puppies. The cost is only about$60. There might be even more medicine to prevent parvo after exposure, but my puppy hasn’t gotten any chance to avoid suffering. May be the doctor was fallowing the procedure of the parvo treatment. However there are Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics of the AVMA. II.A Veterinarians should first consider the needs of the patient: to relieve disease, suffering, or disability while minimizing pain or fear. Was it against the procedure to try to avoid Parvo suffering?

In August I took both my dogs to get spayed. Their associate called me at 3pm and said, that surgery was performed at 11am, and my dogs are ready to go home. When I picked them up at 5pm, both dogs were in terrible shape.

The Association of Shelter Veterinary medical care guidelines for spay-neuter programs: If possible, surgical incisions should be examined to ensure that the skin edges are clean, dry, and well apposed.134, 158 .Cats and dogs that are not ambulatory should not be discharged until they are recovered.

Does it take 6 hours for a dog that had puppies and is slightly overweight to recover after her belly was open from her tail to her chest? When I carried her into the house, she fainted. Her belly started to bleed a little. Dogs are very pain resistant. However, Benji was walking whole night (after all pain killers they gave). I was up as well.

The Association of Shelter Veterinary medical care guidelines for spay-neuter programs: Animal owners, caregivers, or their agents should be provided with clear instructions for postoperative care. Written instructions are required in addition to oral instructions. Discharge instructions should include resources for handling questions or concerns about postoperative complications and emergencies.

I found much latter by myself, that after surgery, pets shell be kept in small enclosure, but nothing in Banfield instructions.

Small things, like treating hot spots are impossible for vets there. I spend hundreds dollars on medicine, that did not even help. After quitting Banfield and experimenting, I found the good treatment in Kroger: Benadene. Redness and itching was gone over the night.

After all the bad experience, I’ve got really concerned for the health of my dogs and did not take them to Banfield after their stitches been removed (and personnel was trying not to give me back my Elizabeth’ Collars, that I purchased).

I did not mentioned here the rudeness of their stuff (seems such a small thing in compares with professional torches.

And I don't know what was going on behind closed doors. I had more than dozen visits, but saw the doctor Freshwater only twice, and never Jana Cragile.


I was paying Wellness plan two more months (last payment 10/10/08), after I quit going to them. Their Billing department got concerned immediately (doctor did not care about my visits, or dogs). They gave me the number of their complaint department. I told them what happened and asked to investigate. Their office manager Amanda called me and said about parvo situation, that she was offering me to make the test, but I refused, because did not want to pay. And that was pure lie: I have met her for the first time, when was taking my puppy back home, after parvo treatment.

The Dr Jana Cargile called, and repeated that even if my puppy would be diagnosed with parvo on the first day, they would not do anything differently, they would not start treatment until it got symptoms.

I was waiting for their complaint department decision (as billing department kept sending me letters, I expected the letter from the complaint department as well). I have never got anything from them. Instead they turned me into collection agency.

This place is a total rip off. They were more interested in running tests (spending our money) than treating my dog and at the end of the day transferred us to an emergency clinic. Should have started at the emergency clinic to begin with, who would have thought it was cheaper. The tests Banfield sent to the emergency clinic were of no help to the emergency clinic and the EC vet did not even know why they were choosing to run the tests they were. EC vet started treating with antibiotics, even though she did not know the problem either, which is what Banfield should have done to begin with. If you care about your pet spend the extra money to take them to emergency, it will be cheaper in the long run! Banfield is AWFUL!

I have been a client of Banfield since 1996, the last ten years of which have been at the same Banfield location where the staff has always been great. In early 2009, we adopted a rescue puppy that upon examination was diagnosed with pneumonia and a serious parasitic infection. Thanks to one of the staff from Banfield who loaned us a nebulizer, we were able to nurse her back to health in about 4 weeks, though it was a stressful time.

I became unemployed in Feb. '07, but we have managed to continue the wellness plan for our 2 dogs & 3 cats until June of '09. During October, I received an incredibly nasty phone call informing me that our wellness plans were cancelled and that I owe the company about $800.00. So much for appreciating the customer!