Best veterinarians in Denver, CO
This is the overall ranking of Denver's best veterinarians, built from our methodology that weighs ratings, review volume, recency, and sentiment. It covers practices that handle the full spread of care, from wellness exams to surgery to end-of-life support, rather than a single specialty.
If you want a narrower cut, we also rank general veterinary care, emergency & urgent care, surgery & specialty care, and exotic & avian care separately. This overall list blends all of those factors into one score.
At a glance
| # | Business | Score | Rating | From | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Berkeley Animal Hospital | 93 | 5 (170) | — | Anxious pets, top overall |
| 2 | VEG ER for Pets | 93 | 4.9 (351) | — | Emergency care with bedside access |
| 3 | Wellshire Animal Hospital | 93 | 4.9 (351) | — | Long-term family vet relationships |
| 4 | VEG ER for Pets | 91 | 4.8 (2064) | — | High-volume emergency & exotic ER |
| 5 | Hampden Family Pet Hospital | 91 | 4.8 (1170) | — | Unhurried care at high volume |
| 6 | Livewell Animal Hospital of Sloan Lake | 91 | 5 (142) | — | Anxious and reactive rescue dogs |
| 7 | Animal Health Care Denver | 89 | 4.7 (563) | — | Budget-conscious fear-free care |
| 8 | Park Animal Hospital and Wellness Center | 89 | 4.7 (495) | — | Aging pets & house calls |
| 9 | Alameda Veterinary Clinic | 89 | 4.7 (449) | — | Decades-long client trust |
| 10 | CVCA Alameda East | 89 | 5 (142) | — | Cardiology specialty referrals |
| 11 | Denver Animal Hospital | 89 | 4.7 (281) | — | Two-decade loyal clients |
| 12 | Founders Green Animal Hospital | 89 | 4.8 (275) | — | Chronic disease management |
| 13 | The Center for Animal Wellness | 89 | 4.9 (896) | — | Cost-conscious diagnostics |
| 14 | Livewell Animal Hospital of RiNo | 89 | 4.9 (168) | — | Same-day appointments |
| 15 | Pet Medical Transport | 88 | 5 (62) | — | At-home euthanasia & transport |
Ranked picks
Berkeley Animal Hospital
Why it ranks first
Berkeley Animal Hospital tops the list with a perfect rating and the highest composite score, built on unhurried exams and staff who specialize in calming fearful animals. The sample is smaller than some competitors, but every review is five stars, including praise for honest pricing and end-of-life care.
Pros
- Staff excel with anxious or scared animals
- Thorough, unhurried exams with clear explanations
- Transparent pricing with no upsell pressure
- Compassionate end-of-life care
Watch out: Review volume is lower than other top-ranked practices, so the medium confidence rating reflects a smaller sample.
Services: general veterinary, surgery specialty, dental care, exotic avian
VEG ER for Pets
Why it ranks second
VEG ER for Pets in Littleton pairs a near-perfect rating with a large review base, and reviewers consistently mention being allowed to stay with their pet through treatment. Named doctors and nurses show up again and again in reviews for fast, transparent emergency work.
Pros
- Owners can stay bedside during treatment
- Fast assessment without feeling rushed
- Clear cost estimates before treatment starts
- Skilled surgical and emergency team
Watch out: Emergency pricing runs high, as it does at most ER vets, though reviewers feel it's justified by the care.
Services: general veterinary, emergency vet, exotic avian, large animal equine
Wellshire Animal Hospital
Why it ranks third
Wellshire Animal Hospital has built three decades of trust on named doctors who catch what other vets miss and explain every step. It covers surgery, dentistry, exams, and end-of-life care under one roof, with reasonable pricing and smooth online booking.
Pros
- Named vets with 10+ year patient relationships
- Catches issues missed at other clinics
- Gentle with anxious and aggressive animals
- Transparent pricing, including vaccine cost breakdowns
Services: surgery specialty, general veterinary, dental care, exotic avian
VEG ER for Pets
Why it ranks fourth
This VEG location backs up its huge review count with consistent praise for speed, transparency, and letting owners stay involved during crises. It also handles exotic pets like bearded dragons and guinea pigs in emergencies, which is rare for an ER.
Pros
- Owners can stay present throughout treatment
- Rapid intake with real-time updates
- Handles exotic and avian emergencies
- Status texts and phone access to doctors during stays
Watch out: One reviewer noted the open treatment areas could bother reactive dogs.
Services: emergency vet, general veterinary, surgery specialty, house call mobile
Hampden Family Pet Hospital
Why it ranks fifth
Hampden Family Pet Hospital manages over a thousand reviews while still earning praise for vets who sit on the floor with nervous pets and phone in results personally. Dental surgery, emergency stitches, and acupuncture all get called out for transparent pricing and clear aftercare.
Pros
- Vets spend unhurried time with nervous pets
- Proactive follow-up calls after procedures
- Transparent pricing and aftercare instructions
- Minimal wait times despite being busy
Services: surgery specialty, general veterinary, dental care, exotic avian
Livewell Animal Hospital of Sloan Lake
Why it ranks sixth
Livewell Sloan Lake keeps a perfect rating by leaning into fear-free handling for nervous and reactive dogs, with Dr. Z and Dr. Coleman named repeatedly for patience and clear explanations. Pricing is consistently described as fair, sometimes thousands less than competitors.
Pros
- Fear-free approach for anxious rescue dogs
- Pricing well below some competitors
- Clean facility
- Prompt appointments and follow-up calls
Watch out: One case left a dog's appetite loss undiagnosed after x-rays and tests, though the team offered a free re-exam.
Services: general veterinary, surgery specialty, dental care, exotic avian
Animal Health Care Denver
Why it ranks seventh
Animal Health Care Denver earns loyalty over repeat visits by taking time with nervous animals rather than rushing them, backed by below-market pricing on diagnostics and imaging. Some doctors and staff have stayed on for 16-plus years, which shows in the client retention.
Pros
- Fear-free practice approach
- Below-market pricing on diagnostics and imaging
- Vets take time explaining treatment options
- Long-serving staff and doctors
Services: general veterinary, surgery specialty, large animal equine, dental care
Park Animal Hospital and Wellness Center
Why it ranks eighth
Park Animal Hospital pairs clinical skill with real compassion, with Dr. Chris Spears singled out for a decade-long reputation for anxiety-aware care. The practice also offers house calls and end-of-life services at home, which sets it apart for families dealing with older pets.
Pros
- Dr. Chris Spears' anxiety-aware, thoughtful care
- House call and at-home end-of-life services
- Honest, transparent treatment recommendations
- Easy booking and on-time appointments
Services: general veterinary, surgery specialty, dental care, exotic avian
Alameda Veterinary Clinic
Why it ranks ninth
Over sixty years in Lakewood, Alameda Veterinary Clinic keeps clients returning through calm, unhurried appointments and next-day follow-up calls. The same vet team stayed on through a recent ownership change, and reviewers report no complaints about access or outcomes.
Pros
- Follow-up calls after appointments
- Vets sit at pet's eye level to ease anxiety
- Gentle end-of-life and euthanasia care
- Same vet team retained after ownership change
Watch out: One owner noted X-rays were costly, though felt the quality of care justified it.
Services: surgery specialty, large animal equine, general veterinary, dental care
CVCA Alameda East
Why it ranks tenth
CVCA Alameda East's board-certified cardiologists, Dr. LaFauci and Dr. Sharpe, earn near-uniform five-star praise for pairing technical expertise with detailed, visual explanations and unprompted follow-up. A serious complaint about a different vet's medication management stands out against 140 five-star reviews, worth knowing before booking.
Pros
- Board-certified cardiologists
- Visual education tools during exams
- Proactive follow-up calls and condolence care
- Specialist collaboration without extra charges
Watch out: One serious 2024 complaint alleges medication gaps and negligence by a different veterinarian in epilepsy care.
Services: general veterinary, exotic avian, large animal equine
Denver Animal Hospital
Why it ranks #11
Denver Animal Hospital earns long-term loyalty through named doctors who talk through every step and check in after appointments, with some clients returning for twenty years. It covers routine care, surgery, dentistry, and end-of-life decisions with the same unhurried attention throughout.
Pros
- Patient, unhurried consultations with named vets
- Special accommodations for fearful pets
- Post-appointment follow-up calls from doctors
- Help with end-of-life and hospice care at home
Services: general veterinary, surgery specialty, large animal equine, dental care
Founders Green Animal Hospital
Why it ranks #12
Founders Green treats pets and owners as whole beings, with Dr. Erin Mills and Dr. Margolis named for patience and responsiveness, including rescheduling to allow more time. Growth hasn't diluted the personal touch, though one reviewer had a rough experience with a different doctor's communication style.
Pros
- Dr. Erin Mills: patient, thorough, responsive
- Proactive rescheduling and follow-up communication
- Anxiety-friendly with nervous or rescue pets
- Conservative diagnostic approach, not pushing extra tests
Watch out: One visitor found a different vet dismissive when asked to slow down, leading to missed treatment.
Services: general veterinary, surgery specialty, dental care, exotic avian
The Center for Animal Wellness
Why it ranks #13
The Center for Animal Wellness is AAHA accredited and holds 20-year clients, with multiple named doctors praised for genuine care and cost-conscious diagnostic planning rather than upselling. A large review base backs this up, though one long-term client flagged record-keeping gaps when the primary vet was away.
Pros
- AAHA accredited with long-term clients
- Multiple named vets praised individually
- Cost-conscious diagnostic planning
- Same-day or weekend appointment flexibility
Watch out: One client reported record-keeping inconsistencies and delayed lab results when the primary vet was unavailable.
Services: general veterinary, surgery specialty, large animal equine, dental care
Livewell Animal Hospital of RiNo
Why it ranks #14
Livewell RiNo runs warm, unhurried visits with Dr. Kramer and Dr. Hoppe frequently named for real attentiveness, plus vet techs skilled at reading reactive pets. Same-day appointments are common and post-surgery follow-up calls are routine.
Pros
- Dr. Kramer and Dr. Hoppe earn repeat trust
- Vet techs skilled with reactive or anxious pets
- Post-surgery phone updates from the vet directly
- Fair, transparent pricing
Watch out: One owner disputes clinical judgment on an eyelid issue, and one receptionist was described as cold on calls.
Services: general veterinary, surgery specialty, dental care, exotic avian
Pet Medical Transport
Why it ranks #15
Pet Medical Transport fills a specific need: Dr. Luanne Strom handles at-home euthanasia with composure and empathy, plus oxygen-supported emergency transport across Arvada, Broomfield, and Golden. All 62 reviews are positive, though this is a smaller, specialized practice rather than a full-service clinic.
Pros
- At-home euthanasia reduces stress for pets and families
- Dr. Strom takes time for goodbyes and explanations
- Available for short-notice and after-hours requests
- Oxygen-supported emergency transport
Watch out: This is a transport and euthanasia specialist, not a general veterinary practice.
Services: house call mobile, general veterinary, emergency vet