Best veterinarians in Denver, CO
This ranks the 15 highest-scoring veterinary practices in Denver by our methodology, weighting rating, review volume, recency, and sentiment. It covers general practice, specialty, and mobile care, so you can see who handles routine wellness and who handles the harder cases.
Trauma and after-hours crises get their own ranking on best emergency & urgent care. A couple of 24-hour and specialty practices still show up here too, since they score well enough on overall care to earn a spot on the general list.
At a glance
| # | Business | Score | Rating | From | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mountain Star Veterinary Specialists | 95 | 5 (516) | — | Complex eye disease & surgical referrals |
| 2 | Berkeley Animal Hospital | 93 | 5 (169) | — | Anxious pets & no-pressure care |
| 3 | Livewell Animal Hospital of Sloan Lake | 93 | 5 (141) | — | Fear-free care on a budget |
| 4 | Wellshire Animal Hospital | 93 | 4.9 (351) | — | Catching what other vets miss |
| 5 | CVCA Wheat Ridge | 92 | 4.9 (319) | — | Cardiac diagnosis & ongoing monitoring |
| 6 | VEG ER for Pets | 91 | 4.8 (2059) | — | Emergencies, including exotics |
| 7 | Goodheart Animal Health Center | 91 | 4.9 (484) | — | Unhurried surgery & end-of-life care |
| 8 | Northfield Veterinary Hospital | 91 | 4.8 (571) | — | Fast same-day and urgent slots |
| 9 | Goodheart Animal Health Center | 91 | 4.8 (563) | — | Fear Free exams for nervous pets |
| 10 | Front Range Veterinary Clinic | 91 | 4.8 (268) | — | Long-term, decades-old trust |
| 11 | South Platte Veterinary Hospital | 91 | 4.8 (225) | — | Second opinions & budget-conscious care |
| 12 | Westwood Animal Hospital | 91 | 4.8 (189) | — | Decades-long family loyalty |
| 13 | CVCA Alameda East | 90 | 5 (141) | — | Specialized cardiology (Alameda East) |
| 14 | Mobile Small Animal Clinic | 90 | 4.9 (78) | — | House calls for anxious or senior pets |
| 15 | Tender Touch Animal Hospital | 89 | 4.8 (865) | — | Full-service care with long-term consistency |
1. Mountain Star Veterinary Specialists
5 (516 reviews)score 95/100
Mountain Star tops the list on the strength of board-certified ophthalmologists and surgical specialists that reviewers say catch what primary vets miss. With a perfect 5.0 across 516 reviews and the highest composite score in Denver, it's the clear pick when a case needs specialist-level diagnostics rather than routine care.
- Board-certified veterinary ophthalmologists on staff
- Handles complex eye disease and surgical cases
- Detailed exam summaries emailed after visits
- Advance pricing given over the phone
Watch out: This is specialist-tier care, so expect referral pricing rather than general-practice rates.
Services: dental veterinary, large animal equine vet, general veterinary, veterinary surgery
2. Berkeley Animal Hospital
5 (169 reviews)score 93/100
Berkeley Animal Hospital's 5.0 rating across 169 reviews reflects a team reviewers say remembers individual pets and never pushes unnecessary treatment. It's a strong pick for owners who want a neighborhood-clinic feel with honest pricing rather than a corporate assembly line.
- Skilled at calming anxious and nervous cats
- Thorough exams with clear health explanations
- Honest, no-pressure treatment recommendations
- Same-week and Saturday appointment access
Watch out: Medium confidence on review volume compared to the largest practices on this list.
Services: dental veterinary, general veterinary, veterinary surgery, emergency urgent vet
3. Livewell Animal Hospital of Sloan Lake
5 (141 reviews)score 93/100
Every one of Livewell's 141 reviews is 5 stars, with reviewers naming Dr. Z, Dr. Coleman, and specific techs for creative calming tricks and pricing that runs thousands below competing quotes. It's a standout for rescue and anxious dogs where cost and stress both matter.
- Fear-free techniques for anxious and rescue dogs
- Pricing well below competitor quotes
- Staff consistently named and praised by regulars
- Same-day or next-day access for urgent issues
Watch out: Smaller review base than the largest Denver practices, though sentiment is uniformly positive.
Services: dental veterinary, general veterinary, veterinary surgery, emergency urgent vet
4. Wellshire Animal Hospital
4.9 (351 reviews)score 93/100
Wellshire earns a high-confidence score from 351 reviews, with owners describing vets who dig past the surface complaint to find early-stage conditions. Staff remembering pets by name years later and splitting vaccine costs for tight budgets point to a practice built around the animal, not the clock.
- Vets catch early-stage disease others miss
- Staff remember pets and owners over years
- Calm handling of nervous or aggressive animals
- Clear, transparent cost discussions
Services: dental veterinary, general veterinary, veterinary surgery, holistic alternative vet
5. CVCA Wheat Ridge
4.9 (319 reviews)score 92/100
CVCA Wheat Ridge's board-certified cardiologists, Dr. Dixon and Dr. Moralejo, are repeatedly praised for explaining complex heart conditions in plain terms and staying reachable between visits, including remote review of home ECG data. With 319 reviews at 4.9, it's the go-to when a pet needs cardiology rather than general wellness care.
- Board-certified cardiologists on staff
- Remote monitoring support for out-of-area clients
- Clear explanation of complex diagnoses
- Responsive text updates between visits
Services: general veterinary, holistic alternative vet, veterinary surgery, exotic avian vet
6. VEG ER for Pets
4.8 (2059 reviews)score 91/100
VEG ER's 2,059 reviews at 4.8 make it the highest-volume practice on this list, with owners describing rapid intake, staff who let you stay beside your pet, and skill with exotic emergencies down to a ball python's cloacal prolapse. It's built for the worst moments, not routine checkups.
- 24-hour emergency availability
- Owners can stay with pets throughout treatment
- Experience with exotic animal emergencies
- Status texts during hospital stays
Watch out: For non-urgent, routine care you'll likely be better served by a general practice on this list.
Services: emergency urgent vet, general veterinary, veterinary surgery, exotic avian vet
7. Goodheart Animal Health Center
4.9 (484 reviews)score 91/100
Goodheart's Broadway location holds a 4.9 rating across 484 reviews built on vets who take time to explain every option rather than rush the visit. Reviewers single out surgery, pain management, and end-of-life care as particular strengths, with a facility designed around animal comfort down to separate cat and dog spaces.
- Unhurried approach to anxious or complex cases
- Gentle end-of-life care and euthanasia services
- Thorough explanation of treatment reasoning
- Facility designed to reduce animal stress
Watch out: Prices run well above typical Denver rates, with cat neuters cited over $600.
Services: dental veterinary, general veterinary, large animal equine vet, veterinary surgery
8. Northfield Veterinary Hospital
4.8 (571 reviews)score 91/100
Northfield's 571 reviews at 4.8 point to a team that responds quickly when pets are seriously ill and still takes time to explain what's happening. It's a solid choice for owners who need to be seen same-day without losing the personal touch.
- Rapid same-day and emergency appointments
- Vets explain options clearly before deciding
- Consistent staff who know pets by name
- Follow-up contact after procedures
Services: general veterinary, veterinary surgery, holistic alternative vet, exotic avian vet
9. Goodheart Animal Health Center
4.8 (563 reviews)score 91/100
Goodheart's Baker location scores just behind its Broadway sibling, with 563 reviews at 4.8 praising Fear Free techniques like examining pets on the floor instead of the table. Named vets and techs who remember animals across visits, plus a policy against unnecessary tests, back up the calm-clinic reputation.
- Fear Free techniques reduce pet anxiety
- Exams done on the floor for comfort
- Transparent care planning without upselling
- Quiet, calm waiting areas
Services: dental veterinary, general veterinary, large animal equine vet, veterinary surgery
10. Front Range Veterinary Clinic
4.8 (268 reviews)score 91/100
Operating since 1974 and AAHA-accredited, Front Range holds a 4.8 rating over 268 reviews from families who describe multi-decade loyalty and a 45-minute drive being worth it. Named vets Dr. Amy, Dr. Brett, and Dr. Matt handle everything from routine x-rays to emergency visits with the same calm attention.
- AAHA-accredited hospital since 1974
- Seven-day operation for flexible scheduling
- Named vets with long-term loyal followings
- Home medication delivery available
Services: general veterinary, veterinary surgery, exotic avian vet, dental veterinary
11. South Platte Veterinary Hospital
4.8 (225 reviews)score 91/100
South Platte's 225 reviews at 4.8 highlight a recurring pattern: owners come for a second opinion and the vets redirect them away from unnecessary surgery. Reviewers describe feeling like partners in care, with Saturday and same-day slots and phone follow-up rounding out the experience.
- Second opinions often overturn unnecessary procedures
- Named vets and techs build trust over visits
- Saturday and same-day appointment availability
- Budget-conscious medication sourcing
Services: general veterinary, veterinary surgery, exotic avian vet, dental veterinary
12. Westwood Animal Hospital
4.8 (189 reviews)score 91/100
Westwood's 189 reviews at 4.8 come from families who've stayed with Dr. Baye and her team for 20 to 55 years, citing fair pricing and no unnecessary upsells. The clinic squeezes in walk-ins during crises and shifts appointments same-day for emergencies, which explains the fierce loyalty.
- Dr. Baye's clinical intuition and diagnostic skill
- No unnecessary upsells or overcharging
- Accommodates walk-ins during emergencies
- Reasonable, fair pricing
Watch out: Medium confidence given a smaller review base than the top-ranked practices.
Services: general veterinary, veterinary surgery, exotic avian vet, dental veterinary
13. CVCA Alameda East
5 (141 reviews)score 90/100
CVCA's Alameda East location earns a perfect 5.0 across 141 reviews for Dr. LaFauci's cardiology team, with owners praising visual explanations of diagnoses and prompt email follow-up. It's a strong specialist pick, though sentiment sits a touch lower than others here due to one documented complaint.
- Board-certified cardiologists (Dr. LaFauci and Dr. Sharpe)
- Modern diagnostic equipment including echocardiography
- Patient education using visual tools during exams
- Prompt email and phone follow-up
Watch out: One serious complaint about medication mismanagement under a different doctor at this practice is on record.
Services: general veterinary, emergency urgent vet, veterinary surgery, exotic avian vet
14. Mobile Small Animal Clinic
4.9 (78 reviews)score 90/100
Dr. Jinny Lin's mobile practice turns vet visits into a calm at-home experience, with 78 reviews at 4.9 praising her honesty about which tests are actually necessary. It's the clear choice for elderly or anxious pets that struggle with clinic environments, including compassionate in-home end-of-life care.
- Mobile service removes clinic stress entirely
- Dr. Lin personally handles every appointment
- Honest about which tests and procedures are needed
- Responsive by text and call outside standard hours
Watch out: Smaller review count than clinic-based competitors, though sentiment is strongly positive.
Services: general veterinary, veterinary surgery, exotic avian vet, dental veterinary
15. Tender Touch Animal Hospital
4.8 (865 reviews)score 89/100
Tender Touch's 865 reviews at 4.8 (94% five-star) make it one of the most-reviewed general practices in Denver, with a full menu from surgery to dentistry to ultrasound in-house since 1999. Reviewers with 10 to 20-plus years of loyalty describe vets who sit on the floor with nervous dogs and handle end-of-life moments on the lawn rather than in a stressful lobby.
- AAHA-accredited with Cat Friendly Practice certification
- Full diagnostic lab, dental, and surgical services on-site
- No upselling culture, advice tailored to the pet
- Long wait for a bad review: most cite fair or excellent value
Watch out: A handful of reviewers call it expensive, though most who mention price still call it worth it.
Services: dental veterinary, general veterinary, veterinary surgery, exotic avian vet