Banfield Pet Hospital

Cody White

I am very displeased with the decisions made not to fill my dog, Schnapps’s, prescription for Rimadyl at the Merrimack, NH, and Chelmsford, MA, Banfield Hospital locations. My dog Schnapps has been a regular patient at the Chelmsford, MA, location for almost his entire life – now 9 years old. I went to Merrimack a couple of weeks ago to have Schnapps evaluated for a possibly infected paw. I also told them Schnapps would be having evaluations done soon for arthritis, and in the mean time, Dr. Hollowell prescribed Rimadyl. She refilled it on Friday too for 5 days, when I told them over the phone that it’s helping his mobility. Yesterday I went to the Newton, MA, Banfield where Schnapps had the infected paw evaluated again –He had his comp exam done, X-rays and examined for arthritis. Dr. Stone was very helpful, and in the long conversation about treatment we overlooked the refill of Rimadyl – Newton, being 2 hr roundtrip drive, they said I could get Rimadyl at any Banfield since they share medical records– so Chelmsford, MA and Merrimack, NH- only 15 mins drive one way for me. I thought great, I’m working today and am leaving tomorrow morning early for California for business for the week, and I only have enough Rimadyl for Schnapps until Wednesday morning. When I talked to Merrimack, they said that Dr. Hollowell wasn’t there so they couldn’t refill the prescription for me and she was the one who saw Schnapps there. I asked if my brother could come pick it up tomorrow or Wednesday, their answer: no, go back to Newton. They ignored that it would even be an option for my brother, who is dog sitting, to go get the refill when Dr. Hollowell is back. Isn't it the same as transferring a prescription from one pharmacy to the next? Why couldn't they respect Dr. Stone or Hollowell's decisions? I called Chelmsford, MA, and the lady I talked with was very patient, but the practice manager's decision was the same- no go back to Newton. Now Schnapps needs it potentially for the rest of his life. So why can’t the prescription just be accepted at Chelsmford now? Am I going to have to drive to Newton for the rest of Schnapps’s life to get Rimadyl and a probiotic that was prescribed there? Or I can only get it in Merrimack if Dr. Hollowell is there? This is just ridiculous, now I am going to drive 2 hours round trip on the day that I’m working and need to pack for my business trip just because 2 of the Banfield locations have practice managers who don’t think they should fill Schnapps’s Rimadyl prescription, but the Newton location was fine with filling, and said it wouldn’t be a problem with another Banfield location filling it. So if Dr. Hollowell was working at the Chelmsford location that day would it then be fine - or because she was in Merrimack when she saw Schnapps it would be null and void? Where is the respect for medical records and decisions made by doctors for medical treatment plans that should be adhered to within the umbrella of a medical system at the same company? There seems to be some disconnect between subjective decisions being made by some practice managers. What is the point of all the practices being connected if they don’t respect the prescriptions and exams done at other locations by other doctors, especially when we are in a time where getting a vet appointment is so difficult? So now, unless I want to drive to Newton for every refill I need for Schnapps’s Rimadyl, and foreseeably even the probiotic that they prescribed, I have to make an appointment at Chelmsford for them to have me sit in a room with Schnapps and look at the computer, pull up his records, and see yes, he had the tests done, he needs this.

greg oleson

Honestly this place is awfull. As a customer I should be able to get service and not be told what I can and can't get for my dog. They were forcing me to get an MRI for my dog and that is not what a business should do. If I had it my way there would be alot more profane words to describe this place. I will be boycotting this place and blasting my experience and oh just an FYI this is called freedom of speech protected by the 1st amendment of the constitution so there is nothing you can do about it. If you try I will slap a civil lawsuit.

Philip Robinson

Great staff caring always looking to help your pet and minimize impact on your wallet. We have had three dogs go their over the years.

Joshua White

My dog passed away and I'm still required to pay the 7 months left on my "wellness plan"? What a scam. Never recommending them to anyone.