Pet Stores An Isolated Incidence of Good Fortune - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**Piglett** · #1 04-09-09, 11:52 am

First I want to start off to say that I'm new to being a piggie mommy and the whole small animal community. I know that this is the kitchen and sometimes strong opinions are broadcasted. All I want to do is express my new found good fortune, and show that some good can come out of a unlikely situation. I didn't really know about how bad small animals are treated at petstores before now. I by no means plan to buy another living animal that comes froma petstore or "breeder." So there is my disclaimer. Here's my story:
I recently bought a guinea pig from a pet store (again this was before I was informed by this forum site), I prefer to call it an "adoption" and here is why. I have an American short-haired guinea pig named Piglett. I got him last Sunday and of course he seemed to be in good health, a few days ago I found a scab on his hip and I became very worried. I first sought out information from this forum through various threads. I came to the conclusion that I figured what he had was ring-worm. I googled medication and thought no, I'm not sure what I'm doing but I'm going to have to take him to the vet. The store where I got him has there "14 day guarantee" but I knew that If I returned him all would happen is that he would die. I'm quite attached to him and I thought "no way am I returning him" I'm a little short on funds but I was going to use the money I had set aside for something else to pay for his vet visit. So today I brought him to the Banfield to see the small animal vet and while I was there I ran into the store manager. She asked if I was bringing him back and I said no he had a vet appointment at 10. She asked me how long I had had him, and I said since last Sunday. I also said I believe he had ring-worm. She said "oh no, that is unacceptable, and we'll pay for all of his vet bills." I was shocked and wowed that the petstore was offering to pay for Piglett to get a clean bill of health. I got to save a few bucks, but MORE imporantly Piglett is getting the antibiotics (Baytril) and medical care that he needs. He is also getting checked for every parasite that guinea pigs could have, and the possible medication he would need once the diagnostics confirmed or dispelled what was wrong with him and I don't have to pay a dime. Even his follow up appointments are covered. To say the least I was surprised and still am.
Now I'm NOT saying that you should buy animals OR that it is right. By no means after reading how pet mills and pet stores collaborate I think it's heart-breaking and cruel. But I do feel that in the event that someone (who's ignorant before coming to this forum) who buys a pet from a store or even adopts one that where ever they got the animal from should pay for the initial vet bills, ESPECIALLY if the animal isn't in good health. I don't feel it's right for people to have to return it because it died or bites or is sick, only to be "taken care of" or don't receive treatment in a timely manner that ultimately results in death. I'm so glad I am now informed, and again will NEVER buy another animal. I've seen too many cute ones for adoption now. I am also very estatic that Piglett is going to soon have a clean bill of health and live to be a spoiled-rotten guinea pig that I already love so much.

Buying animals is wrong and now that I know that, I think I'll go buy a bumper sticker that says that. Piglett and I are happy now and now to work on building him a C&C cage.

**starshine123102** · #2 04-09-09, 12:00 pm

I'm very glad to hear that you were able to get them to pay for Piglett's vet bills. However, Banfield is owned by petco and is a very poor place to get vet treatment. It does sound as though the vet did know enough in regards to the kinds of AB pigs can have, but how does an AB treat a parasite? I would try looking on guinea lynx or calling around to see if you can find a more reputable cavy savvy vet.

I'm sure you've already looked at this, but here is the guinealynx page about ringworm just in case: http://www.guinealynx.info/fungus.html#top

I hope Piglett's feeling better!

**Piglett** · #3 04-09-09, 12:09 pm

Oh, I failed to mention that the Baytril was for his sneezing, she was treating him for a possible bacterial infection and URI too.

**_Lisa_** · #4 04-09-09, 12:10 pm

I've posted this before, but felt it warranted it here since there seems to be an opportunity to educate some forum members on Banfield.

Quote:

Originally Posted by _Lisa_

I felt it was worth noting that the vet office in Petco/PetSmart is not affiliated with Petco/PetSmart in any way besides being based out of some of their store locations. Banfield also has standalone locations just like many other vet offices, and whether or not the vets are terrible would depend on the location and the veterinarian. I take both of my dogs to the local Banfield & have had excellent care from them. They do not have an exotic or small animal vet so I do not take my guinea pigs there.

Some Banfields do have an exotic and small animal vet, just not my closest location.

Piglett-I am very happy that Banfield provided quality service to your piggie. I've come to know & love the local Banfield vets & vet techs because of their amazing understanding, kindness, and community service towards animals. I wish everyone could such great experiences with Banfield as you & I have!

Edited to add a link to the Banfield vet office history:

From Portland Oregon to Pet Hospitals Nationwide: The Banfield Story - Banfield.net

**Piglett** · #5 04-09-09, 12:16 pm

Thanks _Lisa_ the Banfield near me is great, my 9 month old puppy has been going there since he was 6.5 weeks old. They're great. And thanks for posting the information about Banfield. I'm lucky enough that they do have a small animal vet there.

**sophistacavy** · #6 04-09-09, 04:15 pm

My Banfield also has exotic vets, but I have discontinued bringing any of my pets there since I came on here one day and learned about Banfield.

I will drive a longer distance to the next town/city/whatever over to bring my "other than cat or dog" animals to the vet. I feel that no matter what species of animal companion you have, they all deserve equal rights and are equally entitled to the best veterinary care that can be found.

I learned from some members on here that Banfield switches out doctors very frequently, and you are likely to not see the same doctor twice in a row. I had noticed that before when I went there, but the reality of the situation didn't "hit me" until I read on here what goes on there. They have new doctors coming in and going out fairly often, compared to "normal" vets, or so I've heard.

Also, Banfield is in co-operation with PetStupid, not PetNo. Doesn't make a difference, really.

In my own personal opinion, it is suspicious, to say the least, that Banfield or any veterinary practice would gain and lose doctors and other employees so often. I wonder why that has to happen.

Also, people who come into PetStupid just to go to Banfield always have a risk of buying something from there, much less a live animal. They locate the Banfields in the store so that customers/clients will have to walk past much of the merchandise (which in PetStupid's eyes includes their live animals) in order to get to Banfield.

I don't know if Banfield's profits have anything to do with PetStupid's profits, but I would love to know that.

**Paula** · #7 04-09-09, 05:00 pm

Consumer complaints about Banfield Pet Hospital

The vets at my local Banfield nearly killed my much beloved dog, Scout, for mere stupidity and laziness. I, personally, would never take ANY animal to Banfield, nor would I recommend anyone else take any animal there.

They are not the same company as PetSmart, but they are in cahoots, and none of it is good business as far as I'm concerned.

Piglett, I'm glad you were able to get good care, if it turns out to be good care, at your local Banfield. But as you said, it is an absolutely isolated incident. If I were you, I wouldn't test my luck any further with them.

**Peggysu** · #8 04-09-09, 06:20 pm

I prefer privately owned veterinarian offices where I know the vet and see the same vet.

I have one vet for my dog and another for my guinea pigs.

**pigsmakemesmile** · #9 04-09-09, 07:50 pm

I had the same vet for ten years but recently found a vet that I found to be amazing. She's 1/2 mile further from my old vets office. I became discouraged when I intially brought my pigs to him with a problem it turned out he couldn't treat them. So I ended up bringing them to the vetinarian hospital where they were properly treated by a small exotics vet. I was happy there until a new vet came that the others in the office ranted and raved about. I brought Chubbs in to have an abscess on his cheek drained by this new vet. He died the same night....a happy, healthy, lively robust..never been ill pig...died. He went into CHF. I'm still angry, hurt and grieving. I will never go back there, the vet never called me after. It was believe the anesthesia was the issue. Anyhow, a new vet came to the area who specializes in small animals,, rabbits and guinea pigs are her specialty. My daugter and I took Oscar, a dutch lop-ear in for what appeared to be seizures. I never saw a vet examine a small animal so indepthly. She spent a good 45 minutes teaching us about Oscar. One of the owners of the vet clinic there has 5 cavies. I was estatic. She's pricely though. I'm very fortunate I can afford her visit. My Bassett was seen by his old vet and given ear drops for an inner ear infection that wouldn't clear up. I decided to bring him to the new vet. The visit cost me 215 dollars but it included complete exam, ear cytology, ear cleaning solution, ear drops (different) and clavamox and a couple extra things. My daughter said the vet spent a good 45 minutes examining him. He is doing so much better now. There's a Petsmart by me but they don't have a vet clinic there. It's hard to find someone good . I feel I got lucky though.

**rabbitsncavyluv** · #10 04-09-09, 11:09 pm

I understand your viewpoint but you still bought him - not adopted. All their pigs likely have ringworm. It is common - along with mites and missexing/ pregnancy. Are you going to 'adopt' those too? They do just replace them with more from their breeding mill.

I know their written policy but if you make a big stink to management and corporate they will pay your vet bills. Many people have been able to do this. They'd rather shut you up by doing so. Their 'offering' isn't surprising.

**Piglett** · #11 04-10-09, 01:22 am

I want to address some of the questions on here. Rabbitsncavyluv, I stated earlier that I wasn't going to be buying any other animal from a pet store. I consider Piglett as an adoption because I'm giving him a better life. I know that they have replaced him with another pig, and I feel bad for that pig. I didn't have to make a big stink about anything, she just willingly offered, I didn't hint to anything. Regardless of where or how I got him, he's mine and I'm going to give him the best care that I can give him.

As far as the Banfield, they have only one specific small animal vet, I heard and saw for myself (someone called in to make an appt. for a Saturday for their piggie and I heard the receptionist say that she (the vet) didn't work on Saturdays, thus she wouldn't be able to schedule her for an appt. that day). Banfield is not affiliated with Petsmart, they are their own company. As far as MY Banfield, they are great and I know all of the doctors and they know my dog Virgo as well as the receptionist staff.

I have a pretty personal relationship with majority of the staff, and the only thing that changes sometimes are the receptionists. They don't give any medical care to my pet so to me that doesn't matter, BUT the vets at my Banfield have been there for as what I've learned some years, and there are only 5 vets there. you can also request to see only one specific vet. The choice is yours, I think that If you don't speak up about your preference of doctor's then you need not gripe about seeing various ones when you go.

I also want to say that it's not fair bash any one vet office (unless of course your pet died under their care, I'd be VERY angry too), I think quality care is based off whether or not that particular vet CARES about the well-being of your animal. Some vets could give a hoot about your pet and are in it just for the money, and some will do everything shy of giving a limb for your pet. Like I said it's based on the vet. I have been fortunate to have a very healthy active 9 month old puppy and he has been going there all his life, and he's as "healthy as a horse." They love him there, and really go the extra mile to make him and myself feel like family.

Not every Banfield is like mine, but I'm fortunate. I feel if in 9 months nothing is wrong with my dog, then I'm doing something right with his health care. I care deeply about the health of my pets, and will give my last dime to ensure that they are healthy and happy. I am very PASSIONATE about animals, always have been. Nothing is too good for them, their needs are majority of the time considered before mine. I'm not fussing at anyone individual, I'm just stating that I care for the well-being of my animals.

Side note: I'm a Zoology major with a minor in health and human values and genetics. I believe very much so in adoption, and here's where proof is in the pudding. I adopted my puppy Virgo from two ladies who were in Petsmart taking their litter of puppies to the vet. It so happened that Virgo and his siblings were rescued from some people in the two ladies' neighborhood. They found the puppies in a ditch covered in mud and bugs being just a few days old. Virgo's parents were tied to a tree with no food or water (they rescued the mother a few months later). The ladies went to their neighbors door and demanded that they gave them all of the puppies or would call the SPCA.

Then took them to the vet, that's how I got Virgo. I saw him, and fell in love. I picked him up on a Sunday, and he's been spoiled-rotten ever since. I paid for his shots, neuter and everything. I even caught diarrhea in my hand when he had intestinal worms (the way he came into the world has made him have a very sensitive digestive system).He is often the first to get spent on when I get paid. I'm dedicated.

So, my point is... I am a very responsible pet parent, and If I don't know something I quickly seek out the correct information. I didn't know about the desperation of the adoptable guinea pig population, and now that I do I won't be buying another one. Piglett in my mind was adopted/rescued, that's how I see it, because what was the alternative? I could have easily said take him back, he's sick and don't want him but I didn't. I made sure he got the care he needed. I didn't turn my back on him, and to me regardless of where you get your piggie from, if you give this kind of love and dedication they were adopted by you, because you made the choice to give them a better life.

He's the last bought pig, and I don't feel that where he came from should be held against me. Also in the event that I find that Piglett isn't receiving the best care possible, I will find him another vet. Like I have said they get nothing but the best because my animals didn't ask to become my "children", I wanted them and as such I have to do right by them. Alright I'm done with my tangent, I don't want to offend anyone but I want to show that I'm not ignorant and try to constantly educate myself in the correct way, especially If I'm in unfamiliar territory.

**jenniwat001** · #12 04-10-09, 06:03 am

I'm really glad that Piglett got the treatment he needed. And I am really glad you found this forum. Yes you bought a pig from a pet shop but you wont do it again and you didn't know any better. Welcome! I hope you find all you need on here and that Piglett is getting better. As you found out things can get heated around here, don't be put off people are just passionate!

**_Lisa_** · #13 04-10-09, 07:34 am

Any large corporately owned business will have many many complaints against them, and you won't find nationally visited web sites dedicated to locally owned vet offices, but that does not mean that one is better than the other. Each location of a vet office should have their quality determined by the care provided by the staff & veterinarians there.

Case in point, one of the complaints listed here is that Banfield rotates you from vet to vet each time you come in because they switch out vets often? That may be true at some locations, but it would be wrong to assume that its true absolutely everywhere. The Banfield location I visit has had the same front office, vet tech, and vet staff since I started seeing them 3 years ago. The only exception is that one vet moved away, and when she did we received an invitation to a going away party for her to wish her luck in her new location.

When I first started going to Banfield I did rotate through vet's to see which one I liked the best for my dog Anna (I didn't have my second dog, Cody, yet.) We finally settled on one vet & see her everytime. It is incredibly simple to see the same vet multiple times-mention them by name when you make the appointment & thats who you will see! And that is no different than the vet office I take my guinea pigs-they have multiple vets & I choose to see one in particular.

I think why I feel so defensive is because Banfield is the ONLY vet office that I can think of with such a national presence. It makes sense to me that you would find multiple complaints regarding such a nationally known & corporately owned business, when the same complaints could easily be made against any locally known vet office & it would not receive anywhere near the same amount of attention.

I'm not trying to convince anyone to take their animals to Banfield if they don't want to, but I encourage everyone to do more research on the facts as opposed to generalizing an entire company based off (what might only be) less than 10-20% of their locations. Visit your local Banfield, interview the staff, and ask for a tour of their facilities. I did & it was worth it.

**Ly&Pigs** · #14 04-10-09, 08:38 am

Quote:

He's the last bought pig, and I don't feel that where he came from should be held against me.

No one is holding it "against" you. You didn't know any better. But that still does not make it an adoption no matter what you may think. You did not sign an adoption contract, you purchased the pig. I'm glad you are giving the pig a good life but that doesn't change the facts of where he came from or that he was a purchase. Animals in petstores are nothing more than merchandise to be sold and then restocked. Most come from breeding mills or backyard breeders who have no clue of what they are doing.

I also need to ask you to please break up long posts into more managable paragraphs. For some of us, it's hard to read long posts without them being in paragraphs.

**ferndalezoo** · #15 04-10-09, 09:11 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by starshine123102

However, Banfield is owned by petco and is a very poor place to get vet treatment. !

Banfield is similar to Petsmart (not Petco) training classes, or Petsmart groomers.
I've seen crappy Petsmart trainers and good ones.

I've seen crappy Petsmart groomers, and good ones.

How good or bad a particular Banfield vet practice is, is going to depend on the individual location, and the doctors/techs at that location.

There is one in my area that actually has a decent small-animals-and-exotics vet. Of course, they cost an arm and a leg, and I have another vet that I prefer, so I don't use them.

**Paula** · #16 04-10-09, 12:51 pm

Quote: