Banfield Pet Hospital — Hours, Costs, Wellness Plans

These are the questions people actually search for. Honest answers, including the ones Banfield buries in the fine print.

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  What is Banfield Pet Hospital and how does it work? The largest corporate vet practice in the U.S. · 1,000+ locations inside PetSmart stores · Best known for its Optimum Wellness Plan (OWP), a prepaid preventive care subscription · Owned by Mars Inc.

  Banfield is not a traditional independent veterinary clinic — it is a corporate chain with standardized protocols and pricing, operating inside PetSmart retail stores in 42 states. The structure matters: veterinarians are employees of a corporation, appointments are typically 15–20 minutes, and the business model is built around the annual Optimum Wellness Plan (OWP) subscription. The OWP is not pet insurance — it is a prepaid package of preventive services (exams, vaccines, diagnostics) available only at Banfield locations. Banfield also sees sick and injured pets as a regular veterinary practice, but the wellness plan does not cover illness or injury treatment. For routine preventive care on a predictable budget, it works well for many pet owners. For comprehensive coverage of unexpected events, traditional pet insurance from a separate company is what you need.
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  How much does a Banfield Wellness Plan cost per month? Cats: starting ~$27/month · Dogs: starting ~$38/month · Higher tiers: $50–$80+/month · Plus a one-time enrollment fee of ~$60–$83 · Prices vary by location, pet age, and plan tier

  Banfield does not publish a single national price — costs vary by your zip code, your pet’s age and species, and which plan tier you choose. The Active Care base plans start around $27/month for adult cats and $38/month for adult dogs. Senior Care plans for older pets add screenings for conditions like cardiac disease and diabetes and run higher. Active Care Plus, which includes dental cleaning, is typically $50–$65/month for dogs. The enrollment fee runs $60–$83 as a one-time charge when you first sign up. A multi-pet discount of $15 off the enrollment fee applies to each additional pet. The most accurate way to get a price is to use the cost estimator at banfield.com or call your specific local hospital with your pet’s age and breed. Prices are updated periodically and can change at renewal.
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  Can I cancel my Banfield Wellness Plan if my pet dies? Yes you can cancel — but you will likely owe money · You pay whichever is less: (1) the retail value of services your pet already received minus what you’ve paid so far, OR (2) the remaining monthly payments for the rest of the contract year · Banfield does NOT automatically waive balances for pet death · This is the #1 complaint about Banfield

  This is the most important piece of information on this entire page — and the one most owners discover too late. The Wellness Plan is an annual contract. When a pet dies mid-year, Banfield’s contract terms do not automatically waive the remaining balance. You will be billed for whichever is less: the retail value of services your pet already received (minus your payments to date) or the remaining monthly payments through the end of the plan year. In a May 2026 BBB complaint, an owner was told she owed $868.45 after her dog died — Banfield refused to cancel effective the date of death. A 2023 CBS Texas investigation showed an owner billed $1,100 for services the dog received in his last week of life. Banfield has discretion to reduce or waive balances in some cases — and sometimes does after escalation or media attention — but it is not guaranteed. Know this before you sign.
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  Is the Banfield Wellness Plan worth it? For pets who will use 2+ wellness visits, all included vaccines, and diagnostics: often yes · For healthy pets who skip appointments: no · For owners near a Banfield who want predictable monthly budgeting: yes · For those wanting illness/accident coverage: no — this is not pet insurance

  The honest math: the company says members save an average of 30% versus paying individually. The key variable is whether you use what’s included. The base Active Care plan for a dog covers two comprehensive exams (retail value $55–$75 each), core vaccines, a fecal exam, a heartworm test, unlimited office visits, and 24/7 VetChat. If you make two wellness visits and get the vaccines, the plan typically breaks even or saves money compared to à la carte pricing. The Active Care Plus plan adds dental cleaning — if your dog needs an annual dental ($200–$600 retail), that plan often delivers significant value. Where it doesn’t work: if you miss appointments, move away from a Banfield, or your pet gets sick and needs care that the plan doesn’t cover. The plan covers prevention, not treatment.
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  Does the Banfield Wellness Plan cover the plan if my pet gets sick? No — the OWP does not cover any illness, injury, accident, emergency, surgery, hospitalization, or specialist care · The plan covers routine preventive care only · Illness visits at Banfield are billed separately at standard rates · Pet insurance is a completely separate product needed for accident/illness coverage

  This is the second most important thing to understand about Banfield. The Optimum Wellness Plan is preventive care only. If your dog develops an ear infection, eats something dangerous, gets hit by a car, or develops cancer — none of that is covered by the OWP. You will pay out of pocket for those visits at standard Banfield rates. The unlimited office visit benefit in the OWP means your exam fee for those sick visits may be waived, but all diagnostics, medications, treatments, and procedures are billed on top. This is not a criticism of Banfield specifically — all wellness plans work this way. The distinction between a wellness plan (routine preventive care) and pet insurance (accident and illness coverage) is fundamental and often misunderstood. Many pet owners carry both: an OWP for predictable routine costs and a separate pet insurance policy from a company like Trupanion, Embrace, or Figo for the unexpected.
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  How do I cancel my Banfield Wellness Plan? Cannot be canceled online · Must call 1-888-649-2716, email [email protected], or submit the online contact form · You will likely owe a balance at cancellation · Plan auto-renews annually unless you opt out before your renewal date

  Banfield intentionally requires direct contact to cancel — there is no online cancellation button or instant-cancel option in the MyBanfield portal. Your three options: call 1-888-649-2716, email [email protected], or submit the online contact form at banfield.com and wait for a callback. Be prepared for a wait time, particularly by phone. Before you cancel, know your contract renewal date — this is critical because once the plan auto-renews, you are committed to another full year. When you cancel mid-year, you will be told what you owe (the lesser of remaining payments or the retail value of services used minus payments made). Write down the name of every person you speak to and the date of every interaction. Get any balance or cancellation confirmation in writing by email.
• 7
  Does Banfield offer a free first visit? Not universally free — but new clients frequently receive a free or discounted first exam through promotions · Current offers vary by location and timing · Call your local hospital or check banfield.com/offers before booking

  Banfield has periodically offered a free first wellness exam for new clients, particularly for new puppies and kittens. These promotions are not permanent and vary by location and time of year. When enrolling in a new Wellness Plan, the first exam is typically included — so the value is built into the plan rather than offered as a standalone free visit. The most reliable way to find current promotions: check banfield.com, call your specific local hospital, or ask when booking the appointment. Also worth knowing: VetChat (Banfield’s 24/7 virtual consult service) is included free with all Wellness Plans — for basic health questions and triage, this service is available without an in-person visit or any additional charge.
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  Does Banfield have a PetSmart and is every PetSmart location the same as Banfield? Banfield is a separate company from PetSmart that operates inside PetSmart stores under a long-term partnership · Not every PetSmart has a Banfield hospital · Banfield and PetSmart are owned by different corporations · Your Banfield visit is billed by Banfield, not PetSmart

  The Banfield-PetSmart relationship is a long-term real estate and partnership arrangement, not a single combined company. Banfield Pet Hospital is a subsidiary of Mars Inc. (the same Mars that makes M&Ms, Snickers, and Pedigree pet food). PetSmart is separately owned by a private equity consortium. The two brands share physical space — the Banfield hospital entrance is typically in the back or side of a PetSmart store — but they operate independently with separate billing, staff, and ownership. Not every PetSmart has a Banfield inside; to find which locations do, use the Banfield store locator at banfield.com rather than searching PetSmart locations. Your Banfield bill comes from Banfield; your PetSmart purchases are separate transactions.

Banfield offers three main life-stage plan tiers per species. Exact prices vary by location — these are national baseline ranges.

The most important table in this guide. Read both columns carefully before enrolling.

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  Use Banfield for: Routine annual wellness visits, vaccinations, heartworm/flea prevention, dental cleanings (Plus plan), predictable monthly budgeting for preventive care, and VetChat for quick health questions between visits.
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  Use an emergency vet hospital for: After-hours emergencies, life-threatening situations, serious injuries or acute illness. Banfield is not a 24/7 emergency hospital. When your pet is having a crisis at 10 PM, you need an emergency animal hospital, not Banfield.
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  Use an independent vet for: Chronic illness management, specialists, second opinions, or if you prefer a consistent long-term relationship with the same doctor. Banfield locations have higher vet turnover than independent practices — your pet may see a different vet each visit, which some owners find frustrating for complex ongoing conditions.
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  Use low-cost vaccine clinics for: If your pet is healthy, you’re on a tight budget, and you only need annual vaccines without a full exam. ShotVet (PetSmart), PetVet (Tractor Supply), and Vetco (Petco) provide core vaccines at $22–$58 per shot with no exam fee and no annual contract.
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  Use pet insurance alongside Banfield for: Full financial protection. A Banfield OWP covers predictable preventive costs. A pet insurance policy from a separate company (Trupanion, Embrace, Nationwide, Figo) covers the accidents and illnesses that can generate $2,000–$15,000 in surprise bills. The two work together and can be used simultaneously.

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