Mountain Star Veterinary Specialists vs Livewell Animal Hospital of Sloan Lake: which one for surgery?

Updated 2026-07-05 · 1,188 reviewed · 179 listed · How we rank ›

Both businesses score well, but they're not really solving the same problem. Mountain Star is a board-certified specialty and surgical practice, while Livewell is a general hospital known for gentle handling and fair pricing. For a surgical case, the right pick depends on whether you need specialist-level surgery or a trusted general vet who can refer out when something bigger comes up. This comparison follows our methodology to weigh what the data actually supports.

Side by side

Criterion	Mountain Star Veterinary Specialists	Livewell Animal Hospital of Sloan Lake
Google rating	5 (516 reviews)	5 (141 reviews)
Services	dental veterinary, large animal equine vet, general veterinary, veterinary surgery	dental veterinary, general veterinary, veterinary surgery, emergency urgent vet
Verification	Listing checked (30)	Listing checked (30)
Composite score	95	93

Google rating: Mountain Star Veterinary Specialists: 5 (516 reviews); Livewell Animal Hospital of Sloan Lake: 5 (141 reviews)
Services: Mountain Star Veterinary Specialists: dental veterinary, large animal equine vet, general veterinary, veterinary surgery; Livewell Animal Hospital of Sloan Lake: dental veterinary, general veterinary, veterinary surgery, emergency urgent vet
Verification: Mountain Star Veterinary Specialists: Listing checked (30); Livewell Animal Hospital of Sloan Lake: Listing checked (30)
Composite score: Mountain Star Veterinary Specialists: 95; Livewell Animal Hospital of Sloan Lake: 93

Within 3 points of each other, so treat them as effectively tied on overall quality. The choice below is about fit, not the score.

What reviewers say

Mountain Star Veterinary Specialists

Patients travel across the Denver area for Mountain Star's board-certified ophthalmologists and surgical specialists. Dr. Chavkin, Dr. Conway, Dr. Bendlin, and Dr. Hoppers are named repeatedly for patience, listening, and deep medical knowledge that catches what primary vets miss.

Front desk staff send appointment summaries by email and offer advance pricing over the phone. Exam rooms are clean and quiet. Reviewers call it worth the drive and expense for eye disease, complex diagnostics, and cases needing specialist care.

Livewell Animal Hospital of Sloan Lake

Every single review (5-star across 141 reviews) praises the team's genuine care for animals and clear, patient communication. Reviewers repeatedly mention Dr. Z and Dr. Coleman by name, along with techs like Katie, Greta, and Jade, and highlight how the hospital uses creative calming techniques (whipped cream, voice recording for better focus) and charges thousands less than competitor quotes.

Verdict

The deciding factor is case complexity, not overall rating. If the surgery involves specialist territory like advanced eye disease or a diagnosis your regular vet can't fully handle, Mountain Star's board-certified surgeons and larger review base make it the safer bet despite the drive and cost. If it's a more routine surgical procedure and your pet gets stressed at the vet, Livewell's fear-free techniques and below-market pricing make it the more practical choice. Complex or unclear diagnosis, go specialist; routine surgery on a nervous pet, go general.