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VRCC Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital

Updated 2026-07-10 · 1,287 reviewed · 184 listed · Scored from 1,517 Google reviews · How we rank ›

4.2(1517) 72 composite score See reviews on Google ✓ Verified
Veterinary Dental CareGeneral Veterinary CareEmergency & Urgent CareVeterinary PharmacySurgery & Specialty CareExotic & Avian CareLarge Animal & Equine
VRCC Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital
Services
Veterinary Dental Care, General Veterinary Care, Emergency & Urgent Care
Reviews
1517

What recent reviews say

VRCC earns strong marks for emergency stabilization, specialist care, and staff compassion during critical moments, but stumbles on transparency and aftercare. Reviewers praise named staff like Dr. Creevey, Keri, and Jay for genuine care; others report being steered toward costly surgery when simpler options existed, abandoned after discharge, or misdiagnosed before seeking second opinions.

The facility delivers on specialized services (cardiology, oncology, CT imaging) and coordinates well with primary vets when it functions smoothly. Expect premium pricing: diagnostics run $900-plus, medications are marked up significantly above retail, and surgical recommendations can exceed $15,000. Communication breakdowns-delayed answers, unclear overnight surgical coverage, staff rudeness when questioned-undercut the clinical strengths.

Praised for
  • skilled emergency stabilization and diagnostics
  • compassionate staff in critical moments
  • specialist expertise (cardiology, oncology)
  • coordination with primary veterinarians
  • calm, knowledgeable demeanor
Watch-outs
  • poor communication about surgical availability
  • inconsistent follow-up and responsiveness
  • aggressive upselling of expensive procedures
  • high medication markups
  • staff hostility when issues arise
compassionate-staffskilled-vetsresponsive-emergency-careoverpricedclear-communicationpoor-follow-uppushy-upselling
Best for: Pets requiring emergency stabilization or specialist second opinions when primary vets are unavailable.
Think twice if: Those sensitive to high costs, expecting transparent surgical options during emergencies, or wanting accessible aftercare-communication gaps and medication markups are documented.

Strengths

  • 24/7 emergency availability
  • specialist departments (cardiology, oncology, surgery)
  • rapid stabilization and diagnostics
  • CT imaging and in-house lab

Worth knowing

  • Dr. Creevey (cardiology) noted for compassion with anxious dogs
  • Vet tech Keri praised for honest guidance during emergencies
  • Vet tech Brian and staff Ali, Lexi noted by name for skillful handling
  • Diagnostic costs: $900+ for cast and X-rays alone
  • Medication example: $200 in-house vs. $47 on Chewy
  • Surgical recommendations reaching $15,000–$20,000
  • Overnight surgical coverage sometimes unavailable despite advertised emergency surgery services

What reviews say by service

Emergency & Urgent Care
Quick stabilization and diagnostics save lives; communication about overnight surgical availability and transfer logistics falls short.
Surgery & Specialty Care
Skilled surgical care when available, but overnight surgeons not guaranteed despite advertising; staff sometimes oversell surgery over conservative options.
General Veterinary Care
Specialist expertise aids complex diagnoses, though misdiagnosis reports suggest variable clinical judgment.
Veterinary Pharmacy
Medications marked up substantially above retail; $47 retail vs. $200 in-house noted by reviewer.

How it compares

  • Rated 4.2 against a 4.57 average across the 110 veterinary dental care businesses listed here.
  • Has more Google reviews than 97% of the businesses in this directory.

How we scored this

Scoring Method
Star rating 47
Review volume 100
Review recency 100
Review sentiment 48
Profile completeness 100
Verification 30

Rating breakdown

5
1097
4
110
3
36
2
41
1
233

Common questions

Are emergency surgeons available 24/7?
The facility advertises 24/7 emergency surgery, but reviewers report that overnight surgeons are not always available on-site and transfers to other hospitals may be necessary. Ask about immediate surgical coverage when you call.
How much do emergency visits and diagnostics cost?
Costs vary widely by case. Diagnostics alone (cast, X-rays) run $900 or more; full diagnostic workup $1200+. Surgical recommendations can reach $15,000–$20,000. Medications are priced significantly above retail.
Do they coordinate with my regular vet?
Yes, reviewers report that VRCC coordinates care with primary veterinarians, which can simplify follow-up and reduce duplication.
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Similar veterinarian nearby

VRCC Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital (Cardiology)
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VRCC Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital (Cardiology)

4.4(42)✓ Verified

Reviewers consistently report exceptional care from board-certified specialists and compassionate staff, particularly in cardiology, surgery, and oncology. Vets take time to explain complex conditions, give personal cell numbers, and send updates with photos. The main friction point is pricing: one reviewer faced an undisclosed jump from $116 to $290 for an eye exam, and a second felt unheard when questioned about it.

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28 low data

Donald S. Westfall, DVM

No rating yet

Review evidence is limited. The business lists emergency and critical care, cardiology, internal medicine, oncology, surgery, orthopedics, CT imaging, and in-house lab services on their website and states they are board-certified veterinary specialists serving the Denver Metro area.

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VRCC Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital (Medical Oncology)
44 low data

VRCC Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital (Medical Oncology)

2.0(1)✓ Verified

Review evidence is minimal (1 review at 2-star rating). VRCC's Englewood site specializes in medical oncology and offers board-certified veterinary oncologists, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and diagnostic imaging, but cannot be reliably assessed on service quality from available reviews.

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Last updated 2026-07-10