| Complaint: | Complaint 21-150 |
|---|---|
| Respondent: | Madeline Beebe |
| Premises: | AZPetVet Las Sendas Animal Hospital |
The complainant says that he and his wife took their dog to Beebe because the dog would get scared riding in a car. The dog would start hyperventilating and have problems breathing so they were hoping to get something to help calm the dog. Beebe allegedly said that the dog might have a host of other issues and wanted to run a lot of tests; the complainants admit they could have said no but by the time Beebe was done they were terrified and felt guilty if they declined all the testing. The dog was taken back to run all the tests and when she came back the dog could barely breathe and would make a "terrible noise" each time she did. Beebe dispensed some calming medication and sent the dog home; Beebe said that they had a hard time with the dog but that the dog had no health issues. The dog was shaking, vomiting, and could hardly breathe; that night she kept throwing up a thick white foam and then died. The complainant says that they tried to warn Beebe but that she wouldn't listen and tortured their dog; they can't understand how a healthy dog ends up so sick and dying from an exam. They said that they spent $700 and were "suckered into a scam" that killed their dog; the complainant relates that he's a disabled veteran who doesn't know what to do without his companion.
Beebe has a markedly different recollection of the interactions. She says that the dog was seen at other veterinary hospitals for anxiety problems before coming to Las Sendas. She also says the dog had actually been boarded for the past three days and came out of the boarding environment vomiting with some blood; they also allegedly said the dog couldn't be taken on trips, would attack the other dog in the house, and that the dog needed to be muzzled constantly. They also allegedly said the dog suffered from fly biting and began talking about the dog having seizures; Beebe portrays the complainants as talking down to her during this part of the conversation. Beebe says the complainants were begging her to take their concerns seriously and do a workup; she said she recommended neurology referral but was declined so she offered to do a full workup there. She claims the complainants wished her "good luck" because of the dog's temperament; we're also told that it took multiple staff members to restrain the dog and run the tests. She says she recomended an antinausea injection but the complainants turned her down; she heard the next day the dog had died and that the complainants demanded to speak to her. She pastes the notes regarding the conversation from the medical record into her complaint; it's worth a read.
The Investigative Committee said that the dog likely died from being brachycephalic, but they also start throwing out ideas that the dog might have had a progressive brain tumor or bloat. They did believe that Beebe was guilty of medical incompetence for failing to sedate the dog prior to exam, wondering if this was the result of a lack of experience on her part; the Board had other ideas and threw that violation out with no concerns whatsoever.
| Source: | November 11, 2021 PM Investigative Committee Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| David Stoll | Respondent Attorney |
| Madeline Beebe | Respondent |
| Roll Call: | |
| Adam Almaraz | Aye |
| Amrit Rai | Aye |
| Gregg Maura | Absent |
| Steven Dow | Aye |
| Violations: | |
| ARS ยง 32-2232 (22) Medical incompetence in the practice of veterinary medicine for failure to administer (or recommend) a sedative to the dog, a brachycephalic breed, prior to performing diagnostics, which possibly led to brachycephalic syndrome and sudden death. | |
| Result: | Passed |
| Source: | December 12, 2021 Board Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| Madeline Beebe | Respondent |
| W Reed Campbell | Respondent Attorney |
| Proposed By: | Robyn Jaynes |
| Seconded By: | Darren Wright |
| Roll Call: | |
| Craig Nausley | Aye |
| Darren Wright | Aye |
| J Greg Byrne | Aye |
| Jane Soloman | Aye |
| Jessica Creager | Aye |
| Jim Loughead | Aye |
| Melissa Thompson | Aye |
| Nikki Frost | Aye |
| Robyn Jaynes | Aye |
| Result: | Passed |
The primary source for the above summary was obtained as a public record from the Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board. You are welcome to review the original records and board meeting minutes by clicking the relevant links. While we endeavor to provide an accurate summary of the complaint, response, investigative reports and board actions, we encourage you to review the primary sources and come to your own conclusions. In some cases we have also been able to reach out to individuals with knowledge of specific complaints, and where possible that information will be included here.