Banfield Pet Hospitals can be found in most PetSmart stores around the nation. Convenient locations, extended hours, and drop-off options attract many clients to these clinics. Above all, Banfield touts its Optimum Wellness Plans as great opportunities for customers to save money. But is a Wellness Plan the right choice for your pet?
Before you sign the dotted line for a Banfield Wellness Plan, make sure you’ve educated yourself about what the plans offer, and what they do not.
When a Banfield employee pitches a Wellness Plan, one of the first things they will say is that the Wellness Plan is a binding contract that lasts for one year. If you’re in a rush, or if your mind is focused on your ailing pet, it’s easy to zone out while someone recites the Wellness Plan’s details. But this particular detail bears repeating: When you sign up for a Wellness Plan, you are responsible for a year of payments, even if your pet becomes lost, is stolen, is given away, or dies. In the event that you sell or give your pet to someone else, the Wellness Plan payments are non-transferable.
Banfield employees will also inform you that Wellness Plans are not pet insurance. This is true, though many customers mistake them for such. Wellness Plans are a pre-paid bundle of services. You will pay a sign-up fee, plus your monthly charges, and your pet will receive the pre-paid veterinary services throughout the year-long contract period. You end up paying less than you would if you paid for all of the services individually throughout the year.
Puppy and kitten Wellness Plans include all the vaccines that young pets require, as well as a spay or neuter. The spay or neuter option is a real selling point, but keep in mind that you are responsible for the price of medications associated with these procedures. Pain management and antibiotics are common.
The financial value of the vaccines is less clear. Certainly, there are some very necessary vaccines that your pet should have. But Banfield’s vaccination policy is somewhat controversial. Most veterinarians combine vaccines in order to spare pets the pain of multiple injections, and to spare clients the cost of paying for each shot individually. Banfield does not; your pet can be injected up to seven times in one sitting, depending on their size and species. Private veterinarians also contend that Banfield uses vaccines that aren’t necessary for certain animals. While Lyme’s Disease and Leptospirosis are real diseases, it is unlikely that they would be contracted by city-dwelling pets that seldom leave their homes. Do some research with local veterinarians who use fewer vaccines, and who combine many of the ones they do administer. You may find that you would pay a significantly lower amount of money at a private practice.
Some levels of Wellness Plans offer one free dental cleaning per year. This does not include extractions; if the veterinarian discovers loose or broken teeth that need removal, you will be responsible for the charge of extraction, plus necessary medications.
The Wellness Plans for young pets might be the best value of all, but all Wellness Plans cover the cost of office visits, which is significant. They also give a small discount on medicines and services that are not covered outright. In addition, they promote vaccination, dental care, spaying and neutering to clients who might not otherwise acknowledge the value of these procedures. Finally, Wellness Plans can be used at any Banfield location, so they are convenient for those who relocate or travel with their pets.
The choice to put your pet on a Wellness Plan is yours to make. Show your pets the love they deserve by making an informed decision that is right for their needs.
