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VRCC Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital (Radiation Oncology)

Updated 2026-07-05 · 1,188 reviewed · 179 listed · Scored from 21 Google reviews · How we rank ›

4.8(21) 78 low data composite score See reviews on Google ✓ Verified
General Veterinary CareEmergency & Urgent CareVeterinary SurgeryExotic & Avian CareVeterinary DentistryLarge Animal & EquineHolistic & Alternative Medicine
VRCC Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital (Radiation Oncology)
Services
General Veterinary Care, Emergency & Urgent Care, Veterinary Surgery
Reviews
21

What recent reviews say

Reviewers consistently praise Dr. Vernon, Dr. Messinger, and the team for expert oncology and emergency care that extends survival and quality of life. The facility earned trust through transparent treatment options, rapid scheduling, and genuine attention to both pet comfort and owner concerns.

Based on limited recent reviews, so treat this as low-confidence.

Praised for
  • compassionate oncology care
  • knowledgeable specialists
  • quick appointment access
  • emergency responsiveness
  • gentle handling of animals
Watch-outs
  • long wait times for appointments
compassionate-staffknowledgeable-vetsgentle-with-animalscaring-bedside-mannerclear-communicationhelpful-front-deskemergency-availabilitylong-wait-times
Best for: Pet owners facing cancer diagnosis or acute emergencies needing specialist-level care
Think twice if: Expect significant wait time to reach an initial appointment with specialists

Strengths

  • Radiation oncology with named specialists
  • 24/7 emergency availability
  • Multi-department expertise
  • Rapid specialist access

Worth knowing

  • Dr. Vernon specializes in radiation oncology and SRT (stereotactic radiation therapy)
  • Dr. Messinger handles internal medicine cases
  • Named technician Katie works with cancer cases
  • On-site pharmacy with affordable medications
  • Treatment graduation parties for oncology patients
  • Sends condolence cards after pet loss
  • In-house CT imaging and lab
  • Previous location confusion resolved by calling to confirm

What reviews say by service

General Veterinary Care
Experts in complex internal medicine diagnoses; knowledgeable staff across departments
Emergency & Urgent Care
24/7 availability, fast triage, attentive emergency staff; one dog preferred this facility over other vets
Veterinary Surgery
Board-certified surgeon handles orthopedic and cancer-related surgical cases

How it compares

  • Rated 4.8 against a 4.6 average across the 167 general veterinary care businesses listed here.
  • Has more Google reviews than 20% of the businesses in this directory.

How we scored this

Scoring Method
Star rating 79
Review volume 58
Review recency 99
Review sentiment 63
Profile completeness 100
Verification 30

Rating breakdown

5
18
4
2
3
1
2
0
1
0

Common questions

What is the wait time for a specialist appointment?
One reviewer noted wait times were long to reach an appointment, though another had a cancellation filled within 3 hours of calling
Do you offer radiation therapy for cancer?
Yes; Dr. Vernon performs SRT (stereotactic radiation therapy) for tumors including melanoma and nasal cancers
What happens after my pet finishes cancer treatment?
The facility holds treatment graduation parties and sends condolence cards if a pet passes away
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VRCC Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital
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VRCC Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital

4.2(1517)✓ Verified

Strong stabilization and specialist expertise stand out among emergency cases, with named staff like Keri, Jay, and Dr. Creevey earning specific praise for calm, informed care. Recurring friction emerges around communication breakdowns during crises, steep pricing with pharmacy markups, and pressure to pursue expensive surgery when conservative care proved sufficient. The facility delivers life-saving diagnostics and cardiology work, but inconsistent follow-up and transparency about what services are actually on-site 24/7 undermine trust when families face the hardest decisions. At best, VRCC catches critical cases early and coordinates specialist transfer smoothly. At worst, callers report rude staff, requests for $15,000-plus treatment plans with poor communication, and medication bills that jump 4-5x when priced elsewhere. Families choosing this facility should expect expert care and compassion from some staff, but verify surgical coverage claims beforehand and plan to get second opinions on major procedures.

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Donald S. Westfall, DVM
33 low data

Donald S. Westfall, DVM

No rating yet

Review evidence is limited; no individual reviews are available for this business. Their website claims expertise in emergency care, internal medicine, cardiology, oncology, and surgical specialties across the Denver Metro area.

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Last updated 2026-07-05