Banfield Pet Hospital

4.4 (234)
4735 Dorsey Hall Dr, Ellicott City, MD 21042, USA

Hours:

Monday: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Thursday: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Saturday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at Banfield Pet Hospital

Schedule Regular Vet Visits

One of the best ways to save on vet bills is to prevent expensive health issues before they develop. By scheduling regular wellness checkups, your vet can detect health issues early, helping you to avoid costly treatments and surgeries down the road.

Price Shop for Pet Prescriptions

Oftentimes our fur babies are prescribed human drugs off-label. Your vet is apt to charge more for these medications than you would pay at your local pharmacy. In fact, big-box or chain pharmacies can offer steep discounts. So it’s best to price shop.

Pet Insurance

Most pet insurance providers will pay between 80% and 90% of the vet bill. You can even get coverage for routine care and things like vaccinations and dental cleanings. If you do the math, you’ll most likely find that pet insurance makes financial sense in the long run as well as gives you peace of mind.

How Do You Choose the Right Pet Insurance Provider?

Pet Insurance Review makes it incredibly easy for pet parents to select an insurance provider they feel good about. You can use our handy comparison tool to get the gist of what a company offers. We’ve also collected over 150,000 reviews of insurance companies from real pet parents like you to rank the top providers in the market. Here is the current ranking of each:

Top Pet Insurance Providers of 2025
Rating Provider Total Review
4.4 AKC 893
4.5 ASPCA 11,862
4.9 Embrace 18,256
4.9 Fetch 26,237
4.2 Figo 2,614
4.6 Hartville 169
4.9 Healthy Paws 10,159
4.9 Lemonade 809
4.6 ManyPets 2,377
3.9 MetLife 729
4.8 Nationwide 21,410
4.0 Pet Assure 13
4.5 PetPartners 115
4.3 Pets Best 12,821
4.6 Pumpkin 1,643
4.6 Spot 7,860
4.9 Trupanion 60,842
4.8 Prudent Pet 1,733

Or, you can simply get a fast quote from multiple providers and go from there.

Thinking of insuring your pet?

Get Quotes & Compare

Getting to Know Your New Vet: Essential Questions to Ask

Choosing a new veterinarian is an important decision for any pet owner. You want to find someone who is competent, compassionate, and a good fit for you and your fur baby. To help you get the most out of your first appointment, here's a list of essential questions to ask your new vet:

Tell me about your experience with [pet type].

Different vets have different areas of specialization. Some are experts with cats, some dogs, some pocket pets, and some horses. Knowing that your vet has vast experience treating your specific type of pet can bring you peace of mind.

How do you handle emergencies?

You must know what to do in case of a pet medical emergency. Inquire what after-hours policy the clinic has, whether they have on-site emergency care available, and if they have a relationship with any nearby emergency animal hospitals.

How do you communicate with pet owners?

Good communication is key to building a trusting relationship with your vet. Ask how they prefer to communicate (phone calls, emails, online portal) and how often you can expect to hear from them.

Are there any breed-specific health concerns I should be aware of?

Some breeds are predisposed to certain health conditions. Knowing what to watch out for can help you catch problems early and get your pet the treatment they need.

Do you have any questions for me about my pet?

This is a great question to ask because the answer will show that the vet is interested in getting to know your pet as an individual and is willing to listen to your concerns.

Bonus question: Can I take a tour of your facility?

Getting a feel for the clinic's environment can help you and your pet feel more comfortable during your visits. Remember, you’re not just looking for a veterinarian, you’re looking for a partnership. Do not be afraid to ask these questions and any others you can think of. Any vet worth their salt will be happy to answer them. Because the more informed you are, the better equipped you'll be to make decisions about your pet's care! And that should be every vet’s top priority.

Reviews from Google

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Jill Marie

My pets have been patients here since this location opened; we left the Columbia location and the quality of care increased and my stress about going to the vet decreased. My dogs hated the craziness and loudness of the Columbia location. They were so kind and caring when we had to put our cat down due to cancer. They are also great at providing continuity of care not bouncing me from vet to vet. Why not 5 stars? It is hard to get appointments....

posted: 12/13/2024

Javion Smith

The staff is inexperienced and will lie to you. We booked an appointment for our dog’s annual visit. When we scheduled the appointment, we asked for a private room for the vet or vet tech to see us. They promised that we would have a room to ourselves for the appointment. When we arrived Banfield had us waiting for over 15 minutes past our appointment time. Also, they tried to give our dog the vaccines and the exam in the back without us present. We asked for a room again, but they said none were available. We refused for our dog to be seen without us present, threatened to leave. After we threatened to leave, they magically had a room available for us. Total clowns operating the place. We left without service, because if they are willing to lie about a room, they will lie about anything.

posted: 12/13/2024

Andy Wolfe

Great staff, always incredibly helpful. They've worked to get my dog in when he needed it, they're incredibly kind and patient with animals with fear based anxiety. Elliott is always friendly at the front desk, the tech Savannah is incredibly knowledgeable and Dr. Alexander is wonderful to work with. Highly recommend this location to anyone.

posted: 08/23/2024

Gurdeep Singh

Called me with a script that was supposedly "ready" and had me wait for over 45min on my lunch break while they filled it. Will also call to reschedule your booked appointment at the last minute. Not sure what the issue with communication is with this branch.

posted: 12/18/2024

Eunice Lee

I’m writing today because I’ve noticed that the Benfield location in Dorsey Hall has been consistently dirty during my recent visits. The last time I was there, the nurse was still cleaning the room after she called me and my dog in. Despite her efforts, the corners of the room remained dirty, and there were white crumbs scattered on the exam table. Additionally, another table in the room was covered in dust, and there was a strong smell of urine. Overall, it left a very unsanitary impression.

posted: 08/21/2024