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VRCC Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital

Updated 2026-07-07 · 1,215 reviewed · 182 listed · Scored from 1,517 Google reviews · How we rank ›

4.2(1517) 72 composite score See reviews on Google ✓ Verified
General Veterinary CareEmergency & Urgent CareVeterinary SurgeryHolistic & Alternative MedicineLow-Cost / Affordable Vet CareExotic & Avian VetVeterinary DentistryLarge Animal / Equine Vet
VRCC Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital
Services
General Veterinary Care, Emergency & Urgent Care, Veterinary Surgery
Reviews
1517

What recent reviews say

Many reviewers praise the veterinarians and technicians for diagnostic skill, calm demeanor, and genuine care during traumatic emergencies. Staff have saved lives through rapid stabilization and coordination with other facilities. However, a distinct cohort reports communication breakdowns during urgent cases, especially around surgical availability and treatment options, along with staff becoming hostile when pressured. Costs are steep and markup on medications significant.

Readers face a trade-off: the hospital is equipped for complex diagnostics (cardiology, oncology, surgery, CT imaging) and staffed by board-certified specialists, yet expectations about surgical access and staff professionalism during crisis moments do not always align with reality. Some families felt pushed toward expensive interventions rather than offered balanced options.

Recent shift: A majority of recent one-star reviews (four in the past month) cite communication failures, aggressive staff during stressful interactions, and high costs, whereas five-star reviews continue to praise skill and compassion. This suggests some deterioration in consistency, particularly around managing difficult conversations and follow-up.

Praised for
  • skilled specialists
  • compassionate, caring staff
  • diagnostic capability
  • stabilization in crises
  • coordinates with primary vets
Watch-outs
  • poor communication during emergencies
  • aggressive/rude staff under pressure
  • high costs and medication markups
  • aggressive surgery recommendations
  • lack of follow-up
skilled-vetscompassionate-staffthorough-examspoor-communicationoverpricedsurprise-feesemergency-availabilityhigh-stress-for-petsgentle-with-animalsknowledgeable-staffcaring-follow-up
Best for: Owners of pets with complex conditions who can afford specialist care and accept high costs as part of emergency treatment.
Think twice if: Expect high bills and medication markups; verify surgical availability in advance if surgery is a likely outcome. Some staff have handled difficult conversations poorly.

Strengths

  • 24/7 emergency availability
  • board-certified specialists onsite
  • advanced diagnostics (CT, in-house lab)
  • strong stabilization and crisis management

Worth knowing

  • Dr. Creevey (cardiology) praised for compassion with anxious animals
  • Vet tech Brian noted for careful handling of dogs with IVDD
  • Staff members Ali, Lexi, and Keri specifically commended for difficult cases and demeanor
  • Follow-up communication failures reported by multiple owners
  • Diagnostic scan at one emergency visit cost $1200; subsequent recommended treatment $5000; same medication sold on Chewy for $47 vs. hospital price of $200
  • One owner reported $900 charge for cast and X-rays on puppy; surgery recommendation of $7000 declined, puppy healed with weekly cast changes at other clinic

What reviews say by service

Emergency & Urgent Care
Stabilization and diagnostics praised; surgical availability and communication about overnight coverage criticised
Veterinary Surgery
Owners report staff recommending expensive surgery when conservative treatment was viable; transfer-only availability overnight when surgery advertised
General Veterinary Care
Specialist referrals and diagnostics strong; follow-up and coordination variable
Veterinary Dentistry
<UNKNOWN>
Exotic & Avian Vet
<UNKNOWN>
Large Animal / Equine Vet
<UNKNOWN>

How it compares

  • Rated 4.2 against a 4.57 average across the 104 emergency & urgent 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 surgeries available 24/7 at VRCC?
The website advertises emergency surgical services, but reviewers report that on-call surgeons are not always available overnight; transfers to partner facilities have been necessary. Verify availability when calling with a critical case.
What is the typical cost of an emergency visit?
Diagnostic visits range from $900 to $1200 or higher depending on what is needed. Follow-up treatment plans and medications can cost thousands. Medications sold at VRCC may be significantly more expensive than other pharmacies.
Do they coordinate with my regular vet?
Yes; reviewers report the staff communicates with primary veterinarians to ease follow-up care.
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Reviewers consistently praise VRCC for exceptional specialist care, especially in cardiology, with vets like Dr. Creevey, Dr. Lee, and Dr. Martin earning trust through clear explanations and genuine concern. Staff members by name-including techs Megan, Eric, Karrigan, and Sarah-deliver warmth and hands-on support during emergencies and long hospital stays. Concerns centre on a reported price jump (eye exam $116 to $290 without warning) and one historical misdiagnosis, but 81 percent of reviews are five-star.

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Review evidence is limited. The hospital states it offers 24/7 emergency and specialty care (cardiology, oncology, surgery, diagnostics) with board-certified staff across Denver Metro.

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Last updated 2026-07-07