I went back and forth about writing this in hopes “time” would make what my pet and I went through more tolerable at the hands of Dr. Beebe and Apex Dental. It has not. What started as me caring for and loving my pet as a child, turned into an exploitive near death experience for my pet and 3,200+ in medical bills. After reading several good reviews of Apex Dental and Dr. Beebe, I decided to contact his practice and make an appointment for my dog. Scheduling was a snap and done very professionally. I arrived on-time for our preliminary appointment and was seen shortly thereafter. The appointment went well and my dog Pepper and I were both treated with kindness and compassion. An explanation of surgical procedures and related charges was given with a written and verbal estimate of 700-900 being the expected range with an absolute max 2,208 max (according to Dr. Beebe, jokingly if my dog needed dentures). Dr. Beebe said she didn’t need anything close. Wanting the best for Pepper and “feeling” that Dr. Beebe was capable of that, I scheduled Pepper’s surgery for the following week. That was the last good experience with Apex dental I would have.
Throughout that day of Pepper’s surgery, I was not kept informed of her status or current condition. I called and noon and they said she was in procedure. They finally called me around 2:30 p.m. in the afternoon with a very cryptic message that there were a few extractions the needed to do. They couldn’t tell me anything about price so I was thinking closer to the 900 dollar range Dr. Beebe quoted. I called back again at 4 as I had heard nothing and I knew their office would close between 5-6 (or whenever they decide to go home). I was treated like a pest this time as opposed to a concerned parent. I was told, Pepper has been in procedure for 5+ hours. “Oh but don’t worry, she is just fine.” When I asked about picking her up, they said 5:30. Feeling as though something fishy was up, I went there immediately and waited. After ringing the front desk bell repeatedly, a vet tech with bloody hands finally came out to talk to me. She was more interested in telling me about the fact that she is training to become a mortician than where my dog was. That’s when they hit me with the doozie. Pepper’s charges had skyrocketed to 3,200+ plus with virtually no explanation. Dr. Beebe was nowhere to be found. When I asked if I could speak with him, he wasn’t available.
At this point, I almost called the police and had them meet me at the facility as it felt like Pepper was being held at ransom. I reluctantly paid the outrageous price and demanded that I see Pepper immediately. She was returned to me at that point. She had been under anesthesia for 5 hours. She was out of it big-time which I found out much of that would become permanent in the form of brain damage. One day with Dr. Beebe at Apex dental, and she was never the same again.
Ultimately Pepper never recovered and I put her down about 2 weeks ago.
What Dr. Beebe might like to know:
1.) People come to you and pay your prices because they love their pets and expect top notch treatment. When you sell someone a Ferrari and drive them home in a worn out VW, they are not going to be happy. Your patients are family members, not procedures.
2.) Communication with your customers is king. Pets that are brought to you are family members not toasters. Communicate with the families while their loved ones are in your care.
3.) Follow-up. When someone is having problems, don’t just vindicate yourself of the problem and push them out the door for someone with another bank account that needs drained.
4.) Your ability to deliver a treatment plan is pathetic. I call what you do bait and switch with questionable legality and morality.