Need Vet In Colorado

[Edelw]

Hi Everyone,

We're relatively new to Colorado and need a good, smart, "thinks with own ideas" vet for our cat with a complicated issue. If anyone has any suggestions as well as why you like the vet or don't like a particular vet, I'd be very grateful! We've been through the ringer with the vet machine protocol, robotic vets. I've learned an enormous amount about animals + vet system the last 10 years through this site and others, and quite frankly, it's very difficult to get quality care.
I've lurked here for awhile and really appreciate the camaraderie and care towards our kitties.

Thank you!
Edelw

 

[DreamerRose]

If you are in the Denver area, try Dr. Jeff, the Rocky Mountain vet at Planned Pethood Plus. They have a website and are a low cost clinic. They also neuter or spay all animals they treat if the animals are still intact.

You may not get Dr. Jeff, himself, as he is so well-known from his Animal Planet show, but the clinic has a raft of excellent veterinarians.

If you are near Vail or Eagle, let me know, and I will find out my son's vet, who is also very good.

 

[brittpatt]

Hi there,

My recommendation would be VRCC off of Santa Fe. I wish I would have gone to them sooner. Great vets and specialists.

 

[Edelw]

Hi brittpat and DreamerRose, Thank you very much for the recs. Do you have specific experiences (or friend's experiences) at these places? I've been lied to so many times about so many things by vets and I can't deal with that low level anymore.

The type of vet I need is someone who knows how to be down and dirty if they were in the middle of a remote forest needing to save a life. I need that type of thinker and doer. Most vets these days wouldn't be able to do that bc they don't know how to think for themselves and see veterinary care as a business protocol rather than a service of care. The vet machine in Colorado is, if the local vet can't figure something out in 2.2 seconds then you get referred to a specialist and all the big invasive tests which is extremely stressful and counter-productive to a sensitive animal. Only to be told incorrect information and subsequent misdiagnosis...
Here's a good vet example.....my friend had a cat with a hard lump between it's eyes. The vet did a simple biopsy at the office without anesthetic. They found out it was a fast growing fibrosarcoma. They decided to go unconventional and directly inject the tumor with sodium ascorbate, no anesthetic. It shrunk within a week. They kept doing the injections 2x week for a month, then maintenance injections- all without anesthetic. It's now 8-9 years later and the cat is alive and well. All so simple, out of the box thinking, non-invasive (for the most part), inexpensive, caring.

Thank you for any stories and information. It's all very helpful.

 

[tangers40]

Can you narrow down an area in CO you are looking for help in? I am in the Northern CO area and have a couple suggestions if you want to look up this way.

 

[Edelw]

Hi tangers40, Thank you for writing. We are in the Northern Denver/Boulder area, however, I'm willing to drive. Thank you!

 

[DreamerRose]

In that case, Dr. Jeff is right up your alley. He is in Wheat Ridge, north of Denver. I made my recommendation based on his TV show. You might be able to get an idea of his practice on YouTube or the Animal Planet website.

 

[Edelw]

I vaguely remember him staying up one night with a sick dog he brought back to his apartment. That's a piece of what I'm looking for- I've heard he's pretty unavailable these days but I'll check it out. Thank you for your help!

 

[DreamerRose]

Anybody in his clinic should be able to help you. They all have the same philosophy about animals.

 

[rogue22912]

I will warn you that planned pethood is tough to get a hold of via the phone my cat just had a surgery done by dr jeff and he was great but I had to go down there with my cat in order to get an appointment but they got me in that day. I tried calling them for two days in order to try and get an appointment. But I would also check out VCA animal hospital, they have muiltl location across colorado. They have been a great help when I have need it for my boy that just had the surgery I only went to dr jeff because VCA recimended (sp?) him. VCA wanted close to 2000 dollars for the surgery and at Dr Jeff it was done for 700. I would absolutely stay away from Hermosa vet clinic.

 

[brittpatt]

VCA and VRCC are the absolute best in my opinion. I would go with them.

 

[tangers40]

I would also recommend the CSU Vet Teaching Hospital up here in Ft. Collins. Vets are nationally known and I know they see some oddball stuff, as well as being up-to-date on the latest treatment guidelines and recommendations.