Banfield Pet Hospital: A Houston, TX Vet with a Focus on Wellness Plans

Banfield Pet Hospital Introduce

In the vast landscape of pet care in Houston, Texas, Banfield Pet Hospital is a widely recognized name, often located conveniently inside local PetSmart stores. For many pet owners, it represents a readily accessible option for a wide array of routine veterinary services, from annual check-ups to vaccinations. The Houston location at 7050 Highway 6 N aims to be a one-stop-shop for pet health, offering a range of services designed to promote preventive care and overall wellness. The clinic's business model is built around its Optimum Wellness Plans®, which are designed to provide a predictable, monthly payment structure for a package of preventive services.

This article will provide a factual and informative overview of Banfield Pet Hospital in Houston, focusing on the services they offer, their business model, and the unique aspects of their practice. It's important to note that while the provided information highlights a long list of available services and a focus on wellness, some customer reviews express significant dissatisfaction with the quality of care, communication, and billing practices at this location and the broader corporate entity. Therefore, this article will present a balanced perspective, allowing you to make an informed decision based on both the services they advertise and the experiences shared by other local Texans.

The core philosophy of Banfield Pet Hospital revolves around preventive pet healthcare. Their Optimum Wellness Plans are not pet insurance but rather a subscription service for routine care, including exams and vaccinations. This is intended to help pet parents budget for their pet's health needs throughout the year. The clinic offers comprehensive care for both cats and dogs, with a focus on routine vaccinations, dental cleanings, and diagnostic services like blood tests and digital radiography. They also offer medical grooming and behavior advice.

However, it is crucial to consider the customer feedback that points to a disconnect between the advertised services and the actual customer experience. Several reviews describe issues with communication, long wait times, and a feeling that the clinic prioritizes sales over the well-being of the animals. One pet owner recounted a troubling experience where their dog was not seen for a full day despite a scheduled appointment, was charged for services not performed, and returned home with an unexplained injury. Another review details a frustrating ordeal with the wellness plan, where the client felt they were consistently charged for services not covered, were unable to cancel the plan, and received a lack of clear communication regarding their pet's health.

Banfield Pet Hospital is located at 7050 Hwy 6 N, Houston, TX 77095, USA. It is situated inside a PetSmart, which provides a level of convenience for those who also need pet supplies. The clinic is equipped with a wheelchair accessible parking lot to accommodate clients with mobility needs.

The clinic operates on an appointment-required basis, and it is recommended to schedule in advance. They are also noted as being an LGBTQ+ friendly establishment.

Services Offered

Preventive Care: A focus on Preventive Veterinary Care and Preventive Health Services, including Routine Vaccinations, Puppy Plans, and Kitten Packages.
Diagnostics: Services like Blood Tests, Digital Radiography, and Ultrasonography are used for illness diagnosis and treatment planning.
Surgical and Dental: They offer General Surgery, including Spays and Neuters, as well as General Dentistry and Tooth Cleaning.
General Veterinary Practice: Comprehensive Exams for Cat Dog Services, Pet Hospital services, and Primary Care.
Additional Services: They provide Microchipping, Parasite Control, and have both an In-House Pharmacy and an Online Pharmacy. They also offer End Of Life Care and Pet Prescription services.

Features / Highlights

Extensive Network: As a large corporate chain, Banfield Pet Hospital has a widespread network, which can be convenient for clients who travel.
Wellness Plan Model: The Optimum Wellness Plans aim to simplify budgeting for pet care by offering a fixed monthly cost for routine services. This can be seen as a benefit for those who prefer a subscription-based model.
Advanced Technology: The clinic is equipped with modern diagnostic tools such as Digital Radiography and Ultrasonography.
Comprehensive Care List: On paper, the clinic offers a broad range of services, from behavioral advice to surgical care, catering to various pet health needs.
LGBTQ+ Friendly: This feature can make the clinic a welcoming environment for a diverse range of clients.

Contact Information

Address: 7050 Hwy 6 N, Houston, TX 77095, USA

Phone: (281) 861-8997

What is worth choosing

When considering Banfield Pet Hospital in Houston, it is essential for local Texans to weigh the advertised convenience and comprehensive services against the serious concerns raised by a number of customer reviews. On the one hand, the clinic offers a structured approach to preventive care through its wellness plans, which can appeal to pet owners who want to budget their health expenses. The clinic's location inside PetSmart and its extensive list of services, including advanced diagnostics, suggest a comprehensive approach to pet health.

However, the recurring themes in customer feedback—such as poor communication, feeling "ripped off," and concerns about the quality of care—are significant. One review explicitly warns against the wellness plan, citing a client's dog was not even seen for a whole day. The negative experiences with billing, communication, and unexpected costs for services that were supposed to be covered by the wellness plan are major red flags. Pet owners are advised to carefully consider these factors and to read multiple reviews before committing to a long-term plan or entrusting their pet's care to this particular location. The stark difference between the advertised services and the lived experiences of some clients highlights the need for careful consideration and potentially looking elsewhere for care that aligns with your expectations for compassionate and competent service.

Banfield Pet Hospital Services

Veterinarian
Animal Hospital
Behavior Evaluation
Behavior advice
Blood Tests
Canine Dna Test
Cat Dog Services
Cat Friendly Practice
Coat Care
Coat and skin care treatment
Comprehensive Exams
Comprehensive exams
Diagnostics Surgery
Digital Radiography
Digital radiography
Dog Packages
Ear Care
End Of Life Care
End of life care
Feline Leukemia
Gastrointestinal Illness
Gastrointestinal illness diagnosis and treatment
General Dentistry
General Surgery
General Veterinary Practice
General dentistry
General surgery
Home Delivery
Illness Diagnosis
In-House Pharmacy
Kitten Packages
Medical Grooming
Medical Therapy
Medical grooming
Microchipping
Nutrition Advice
Nutrition advice
Online Pharmacy
Parasite Control
Parasite Protection
Parasite control
Pet Health Advice
Pet Healthcare
Pet Hospital
Pet Prescription
Petcare Packages
Pets Checked
Preventive Health Services
Preventive Petcare
Preventive Veterinary Care
Primary Care
Puppy Packages
Puppy Plans
Routine Bloodwork
Routine Vaccinations
Spays and neuters
Surgical Care
Tooth Cleaning
Treatment Plan
Ultrasonography
Urgent Care
Vaccinations
Vaccinations For Pets
Veterinary Advice
Veterinary Consultation
Veterinary Emergency
Veterinary Medicine
Veterinary Visit

Banfield Pet Hospital Details

Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible parking lot

Crowd
LGBTQ+ friendly

Planning
Appointment required
Appointments recommended

Banfield Pet Hospital Photos

Banfield Pet Hospital Location

Banfield Pet Hospital

Texas Harris County Houston Copperfield Place Highway 6 North

7050 Hwy 6 N, Houston, TX 77095, USA

Banfield Pet Hospital Reviews

An average rating of ★3.8 from 200 user reviews.

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★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1

This is not the same Banfield I had trusted for years. I’ve taken my first dog here for 5 years and my second for 2 years, but after my most recent visit, I will be canceling my plan and finding a new veterinarian.I dropped my dog off at 9:00 AM for his routine annual shots. I never received a single update throughout the day. When I arrived at 5:25 PM—well past what should have been ample time—they told me to come back in another 45 minutes. This put us close to their late pickup window, which they do charge for. I had to remind them not to charge me the late fee, which they agreed to.I returned around 6:10 PM. The clinic was closed. They didn’t bring out my dog until 6:30 PM, and when they did, I was told none of the scheduled services were performed. Despite this, I was still charged $35 for gabapentin and tramadol because my dog was “too hyper.”When I finally got my dog back, something was clearly wrong. He wasn’t his usual peppy self. He was licking his leg excessively. When I got home, I found blood on his fur and a fresh cut on his leg—completely unmentioned and unexplained by staff.The cost of Banfield’s wellness plan is now $165/month—more than I pay for my own comprehensive health insurance. And yet, I got zero communication, no services performed, and my dog came back injured.The quality of care has dropped significantly. The vet is rarely present, and vet techs appear inexperienced and untrained. This is completely unacceptable.I will be canceling my plan by the end of the week. I strongly urge others to look elsewhere for trustworthy, competent care for their pets.
July 29 · Mohammad Abdulla
This review is based on my experience with this location over the past year. Took my pets to Banfield for 20 years but will no longer do so. This place feels like they are just trying to take my money rather than provide quality health care. I had my dog on the wellness plan which cost my $130 a month and included basic vaccines, two checkups a year and a dental cleaning. However, every time I would take my dog in, I still managed to pay $150-$200 for things not covered by the plan. In January of last year, I took my dog in for a dental cleaning. The vet told me that they would not perform the cleaning because the pre-procedure blood test revealed low enzyme levels in my dog’s liver so that they could not put him under anesthesia. The vet recommended that I give him some medication and prescription food for one month, which I did. A month later, I took my dog back in for his teeth cleaning and was again told that his enzyme levels were too low for them to put him under anesthesia. They told me that they didn’t know why but that he could have a mass on his liver and that I needed to get him an ultrasound. When I took my dog to get the ultrasound which cost me $800, I was told that nothing was wrong with him, that it was likely the food he was eating (table food) that was the problem. The ultrasound tech at the vet hospital (not Banfield) deduced this by asking simple questions that the vets at Banfield failed to ask. While all of this was going on, I attempted to cancel the wellness plan since it appeared that they were not willing to provide the dental cleaning that I essentially already payed for with the plan. They would not allow me to cancel because I had already used services and would not even allow me to pay the difference of the cost for the services already provided without discount. Therefore, I was stuck in the plan for almost an entire year. Fast forward to this year when my wellness plan lapsed, I took my two dogs in for basic vaccines, a checkup and heartworm prevention. The entire day while my dogs where there the staff kept a trying to sell me the wellness plan even though I refused and went behind my back and tried to sell it to my husband. The last straw was a few weeks ago I made an appointment to get the k-9 influenza vaccination for my 2 pups, which are not required but at some boarding places. They wanted to charge me $200 for 2 vaccines, telling me that they had to charge me for a checkup because the vaccines couldn’t be administered without one. That is absurd! I’m done with this place. If you don’t want to be charged an arm and a leg for mediocre pet health care, don’t come here. I’ve never been so enraged in my life as I was with poor customer service, outrageous prices and poor pet care at Banfield. I will not be returning and will definitely not recommend this place.
March 25 · Cassie Daniels
What’s the point of having a wellness plan with unlimited office visits if when your having an actual emergency they can’t see your pet. Oh but whenever they need payment its really easy to demand it from u. I’ll remember that next month when they try to take money from my account. “Update” Well sorry isn’t bringing my dog back or saying good luck and hanging up on me isn’t either. Friday June 25th 11pm I had to put my Max to sleep. He was in a lot of pain and u guys couldn’t see him because u required to schedule an appointment and all bandfield locations close to us where fully booked.
June 27 · Ramon Zamora
Dr. Brittany King and her veterinarian technician were wonderful to work with! They were kind to Cooper (our small older dog) 🐶 and offered to administer vaccinations in the back room since I had my daughter with me.My daughter was excited to see everything and loves playing with her three doctor’s kits at home, so I asked them to stay in the room. My daughter loved seeing the full exam and vaccinations!Dr. Brittany King was thorough and her veterinarian technician was thorough in discussing the differences in pricing for the wellness plans offered.They engaged my daughter and asked her questions about her interest in animals.We arrived at 5:00 p.m. for our scheduled appointment and were promptly seen within 7 minutes. Thank you for a wonderful visit!
October 15 · Serena Sneeringer
We had a very sick baby kitty who, unfortunately passed away. The doctors AND staff were all so incredibly caring, compassionate and professional. I especially appreciated the initial visit w the doctor who told us flat out his high suspicion for the fatality of his diagnosis. With their help, we were able to give baby Tucson the best short life.We recently receive a condolence card with hand written notes from all the providers. I was completely blown away.Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!
November 24 · Tammie Wolff