Best veterinarians in Denver, CO
At a glance
| # | Business | Score | Rating | From | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Berkeley Animal Hospital | 93 | 5 (169) | — | Nervous pets & unhurried exams |
| 2 | Wellshire Animal Hospital | 93 | 4.9 (351) | — | Complex cases & second opinions |
| 3 | Livewell Animal Hospital of Sloan Lake | 92 | 5 (141) | — | Budget-conscious owners wanting quality |
| 4 | VEG ER for Pets | 91 | 4.8 (2060) | — | Emergencies, including exotic pets |
| 5 | VEG ER for Pets | 91 | 4.9 (349) | — | After-hours emergencies with short waits |
| 6 | Animal Health Care Denver | 90 | 4.7 (561) | — | Long-term value & loyalty |
| 7 | Founders Green Animal Hospital | 90 | 4.8 (275) | — | Rescue & senior pet support |
| 8 | Park Animal Hospital and Wellness Center | 89 | 4.7 (495) | — | Aging pets & end-of-life care |
| 9 | Alameda Veterinary Clinic | 89 | 4.7 (449) | — | Locally owned, senior & anxious dogs |
| 10 | Denver Animal Hospital | 89 | 4.7 (281) | — | Families needing surgery through routine care |
| 11 | CVCA Alameda East | 89 | 5 (141) | — | Cardiology-driven cases |
| 12 | PetVet365 Pet Hospital Denver/Westminster | 89 | 4.9 (160) | — | Fear Free visits for anxious pets |
| 13 | The Center for Animal Wellness | 89 | 4.9 (897) | — | Cost-conscious diagnostic planning |
| 14 | Olde Town Veterinary Clinic | 88 | 4.9 (117) | — | Cat care & 7-day availability |
| 15 | Sploot Veterinary Care - Platt Park | 88 | 4.8 (797) | — | Weekend & holiday urgent visits |
Ranked picks
Berkeley Animal Hospital
Why it ranks first
Berkeley Animal Hospital tops the list with a perfect 5.0 across 169 reviews and the highest sentiment score in the group. Reviewers describe a clinic that slows down for anxious animals, explains options without pushing, and follows up afterward, which is a rare combination at this volume.
Pros
- Private exam rooms lower stress for skittish pets
- Upfront pricing with real options, not pressure
- Fast appointment access for urgent needs
- Staff known by name and trusted with nervous animals
Watch out: Review volume is solid but still medium confidence next to the highest-volume clinics on this list.
Services: general veterinary, surgery specialty, dental care, emergency urgent care
Wellshire Animal Hospital
Why it ranks second
Wellshire combines the highest confidence rating on this list (351 reviews, 4.9 stars) with a reputation for catching things other vets miss. Dr. Watterud and Dr. Cominsky get named repeatedly for reviewing old records thoroughly and explaining treatment in real depth.
Pros
- Vets review prior medical records before appointments
- Staff trained specifically for reactive or anxious pets
- Detailed explanation of treatment options and medications
- Clean facility with small comforts like letting cats explore the room first
Services: general veterinary, surgery specialty, dental care, emergency urgent care
Livewell Animal Hospital of Sloan Lake
Why it ranks third
Every single review is five stars, and reviewers specifically call out pricing thousands less than competitors without any drop in care quality. Dr. Z and Dr. Coleman anchor a team praised for fear-free handling and clear communication.
Pros
- Pricing notably lower than competitors, per multiple reviewers
- Fear-free handling for anxious pets
- Named vets known for patience and clarity
- Same-day or next-day urgent appointments
Watch out: Medium confidence given a smaller review base than the top two clinics.
Services: general veterinary, surgery specialty, dental care, low cost affordable
VEG ER for Pets
Why it ranks fourth
This VEG location carries the largest review base on the entire list (2,060 reviews) at 4.8 stars, with owners consistently describing fast, transparent emergency care that keeps them in the room. It even handled an exotic case (a ball python) with confidence.
Pros
- 24-hour emergency intake, no appointment needed
- Owners can stay with their pet during treatment
- Photo updates sent during hospitalization
- Transparent costs and clinical decisions, no price complaints in reviews
Watch out: This is an emergency-focused practice, not a routine wellness clinic.
Services: general veterinary, emergency urgent care, surgery specialty, low cost affordable
VEG ER for Pets
Why it ranks fifth
The second VEG location on this list scores nearly as high with 349 reviews at 4.9 stars, praised for short waits even on busy nights and for named doctors and nurses who stay with cases through recovery. It handles end-of-life moments with particular dignity.
Pros
- Owners permitted to stay with pets during treatment
- Named doctors and nurses follow cases through recovery
- Straightforward cost explanations before treatment starts
- Rapid assessment even during busy nights
Watch out: Emergency pricing runs higher than routine clinics, as reviewers note is typical for this kind of care.
Services: general veterinary, emergency urgent care, exotic avian
Animal Health Care Denver
Why it ranks sixth
With 561 reviews and over 16 years of client loyalty on record, Animal Health Care Denver stands out for prices reviewers peg at 50-75% below other Denver clinics for the same procedures. Dr. Nikki and Dr. Sayer lead a team that moves fast without feeling rushed.
Pros
- Pricing significantly below comparable Denver clinics
- Payment plans offered
- Consistent team continuity since 2014
- Vets take time explaining options despite efficient scheduling
Services: general veterinary, surgery specialty, dental care, large animal equine
Founders Green Animal Hospital
Why it ranks seventh
Founders Green earns strong marks across 275 reviews for vets who understand both pet and owner, with texting and calling updates during hard cases. One reviewer had a rough visit with a specific vet who rushed and left treatment incomplete, but that appears to be an outlier against a broadly warm pattern.
Pros
- Compassionate with anxious, rescue, and senior animals
- Responsive follow-up during medical crises
- Clean, well-organized, welcoming facility
- Easy same-day or next-day booking for urgent needs
Watch out: One reviewer described a specific vet as rushed and dismissive, an outlier worth knowing about when booking.
Services: general veterinary, surgery specialty, low cost affordable, emergency urgent care
Park Animal Hospital and Wellness Center
Why it ranks eighth
Park Animal Hospital draws consistent praise across 495 reviews for pairing medical skill with real emotional support, especially from Dr. Chris Spears for aging dogs. Reviewers describe end-of-life care delivered with enough sincerity that it changed how they felt about the loss.
Pros
- Dr. Spears' reputation for aging-dog care
- Exceptionally empathetic end-of-life and grief support
- Appointments run on schedule with straightforward booking
- Clear cost and treatment explanations before acting
Services: general veterinary, surgery specialty, dental care, low cost affordable
Alameda Veterinary Clinic
Why it ranks ninth
Alameda Veterinary Clinic pairs 449 reviews at 4.7 stars with a reputation for treating nervous and elderly dogs at their own pace. Staff like Dr. MacKenzie and vet tech Stephanie get named repeatedly for remembering pets across years of care, and the clinic has kept its standards under new ownership.
Pros
- Prices notably lower than chain competitors
- Same-day urgent appointments for injuries
- Follow-up calls after routine visits
- Gentle, tender handling of end-of-life appointments
Services: general veterinary, surgery specialty, large animal equine, low cost affordable
Denver Animal Hospital
Why it ranks tenth
Denver Animal Hospital covers a wide range, from vaccines and dental to TPLO and general surgery, backed by 281 reviews at 4.7 stars. Named doctors Ackley, Casey, Miles, Tadros, and Rojas earn praise for standing by families through cancer diagnoses and terminal illness.
Pros
- Staff proactively adjust the environment for anxious pets
- Vets call with results and guidance unprompted
- Long tenure with individual families
- Flexibility on pricing during financial hardship
Services: general veterinary, surgery specialty, dental care, large animal equine
CVCA Alameda East
Why it ranks #11
CVCA Alameda East holds a perfect 5.0 across 141 reviews, anchored by Dr. Kendra LaFauci's cardiology work, which reviewers describe as thoroughly explained with live echocardiogram walkthroughs. One serious complaint about medication management for an epileptic dog under a different vet stands out against an otherwise strong record.
Pros
- Board-certified cardiology specialist on staff
- Diagnostic imaging shown and explained during the visit
- Proactive follow-up by phone or email
- Deep experience with heart disease cases
Watch out: One reviewer reported dangerous medication lapses for an epileptic dog under a different vet at this clinic, worth asking about if that's your situation.
Services: general veterinary, emergency urgent care, exotic avian
PetVet365 Pet Hospital Denver/Westminster
Why it ranks #12
PetVet365 built its reputation on a Fear Free approach that reviewers say genuinely works, with separate cat and dog spaces, home-like furniture, and staff who adapt when a pet needs extra time. Multiple named vets, including Dr. Tan and Dr. Ashley, earn praise for patience and persistence in getting pets referred when needed.
Pros
- Fear Free certification with separate dog and cat exam rooms
- Photo check-ins and texting updates after procedures
- "Happy Visits" offered for anxious pets to build comfort
- Staff adapt pacing and medication approach per pet
Watch out: One vague negative review offers no specifics, so it's hard to weigh.
Services: low cost affordable, general veterinary, emergency urgent care, exotic avian
The Center for Animal Wellness
Why it ranks #13
The Center for Animal Wellness carries the second-highest review count on this list (897 reviews, 4.9 stars), with named vets who brainstorm cost-effective plans instead of running unnecessary tests. A recent 3-star review flagged record-keeping errors and a delayed lab call, which the reviewer noted was inconsistent with the clinic's usual standard.
Pros
- Vets known for unhurried, personal consultations
- Cost-conscious diagnostics that avoid unnecessary testing
- Flexible scheduling for last-minute urgent needs
- Follow-up by email and after-hours calls
Watch out: A recent review flagged record errors (wrong age and name) and a delayed lab result call while the assigned vet was out.
Services: general veterinary, surgery specialty, dental care, large animal equine
Olde Town Veterinary Clinic
Why it ranks #14
Olde Town Veterinary Clinic scores high on sentiment across 117 reviews, with Dr. Tande's decade-long reputation for cat care standing out. The Arvada clinic stayed open during a power outage and is described as handling euthanasia with real compassion, though it's smaller-scale than the top clinics here.
Pros
- Open 7 days a week, including through emergencies
- Fair, transparent pricing with upfront estimates
- Vets explore options rather than pushing expensive procedures
- Decade of experience in cat-specific care
Watch out: One reviewer had a poor phone experience with staff that led to a cancelled first appointment.
Services: surgery specialty, large animal equine, general veterinary
Sploot Veterinary Care - Platt Park
Why it ranks #15
Sploot Platt Park handles a high volume of reviews (797) at 4.8 stars, with staff greeting pets warmly and offering same-day access seven days a week. Services run from wellness exams through surgery and end-of-life care, though one reviewer flagged a missed thyroid diagnosis and markup pricing on in-clinic supplements.
Pros
- Same-day emergency access seven days a week
- Transparent pricing without upsells, per most reviewers
- Strong follow-up communication after visits
- Full range from wellness exams to dental and surgery
Watch out: One reviewer reported a missed thyroid diagnosis and noted markup pricing on branded supplements sold in-clinic.
Services: general veterinary, surgery specialty, dental care, low cost affordable