We are very happy with our experience at Animal Emergency & Specialty Center after our cat was bitten by a rattlesnake. The constant attention and care our cat received saved her life. Do do the severity of the situation, our cat had to stay several nights so we had the pleasure of working with many Doctors, Techs, and Staff. They were all very professional and accommodating and always were able to provide us with the very latest on how our cat was progressing! Read Less

My dog had to be rushed to Animal Emergency and Specialty Center last year. The way that they cared for my dog and walked me through the prognosis and options stuck with me. The staff truly care about the animals and their owners. My other dog has developed a mass on her leg and I thought it was constricting her breathing. My vet is closed on Wednesdays (today) so I wen't back to this facility due to my experience from last year. They went over my options and made me feel good about my decision. Dealing with emergency situations with elderly pets is so difficult. This place makes you feel like you're not alone. If the staff ever reads this...thank you. Read Less

The doctors here have saved my dogs life. I can't say enough good things about them and this facility. I would recommend it to anybody. The staff is always so friendly and helpful. Charlie says thank you for all you've done for me – and my Mom. ❤️. Read Less

I've been to this facility numerous times, and I've always had a pleasant experience. They've saved my lab's life when he needed emergency surgery on 3 different occasions. I was able to visit him whenever I wanted, and I got updates frequently from the techs and doctors. He got excellent care when there, and he's still alive because of them. Just recently I had to take my oldest in for severe injuries from a larger dog. They took him back immediately, and then came and got me as soon as they were able to assess the situation. We're still in the process of his care, but they recognize him as soon as he walks in, and they tell me how good he is for them. I'm sure they tell that to everyone, but my point is that the customer service from the techs and doctors is amazing. Estimates have always been provided up front, and they've been spot on. Yes, it's generally expensive, but in all honestly, it's an emergency and specialty facility. They're there because your pet needs services beyond the capability of your primary veterinarian at that time. You seriously get what you pay for. I've heard and read negative experiences about this facility, but I still have yet to experience it myself. And until that happens, this facility will be my go-to. Read Less

I brought my dog here to discover she was very close to death and possibly wouldn’t make it through the night. I decided to leave her with the doctors and nurses because they were so caring and I literally thought it was her only chance to live. That was the best decision- seven days later I brought her home. That was two years ago and my dog is doing better than ever. I highly recommend this practice!!! Read Less

If I could give negative stars I would. Their specialists are fine, but when my dog who has heart issues was last hospitalized they essentially told us to put her down, or keep her hospitalized which is extremely expensive. When we said we would prefer to do it at home they told us we were being "inhumane" and essentially abusing her. After seeing that her "oxygen box" was basically the size of bread box that my chihuahua couldn't even sit up up, we decided to bring her home. To which they asked if we had someone waiting at home to put her down. 3 months later she's doing better than after a $1k night at the hospital. As I type she's pleasantly sleeping on my bed. They are so money grubby it's sickening. I remember a friend in high school saying that, but honestly it's the truth. By ignoring their ER vet my dog has had 3 months of a playful enjoyment filled life. We've altered her activities, but their pure motivation was money, not her well being. They would prefer to get paid than see a dog enjoy her life. the selfishness is sickening, and I would love for them to see some litigation for their irresponsible recommendations. Their greed sickens me. I truly wonder how many people's dogs they have put down out of pure greed. Seeing how well my dog is doing currently makes me sick had I followed their strong suggestion to put her down. When yesterday she played ALL DAY, stopping to nap, rolling in the yard. chasing me around the house, enjoying a bone. I am truly disgusted by this place. Her breathing is great from my mom and I experimenting and adjusting her meds. They would prefer TO PUT YOUR DOG DOWN, than work with you. Cleary my dog does not look abused or in pain as I type this. I do have a vet in Castle Rock who does in home euthanasia when the time comes, but for now, she's gonna gonna go roll in deer poop and bark at the UPS man. Read Less

I had a really great experience here today.  My dog got sick from eating rawhide bones. I called and spoke to someone who was super friendly and told me to come right in.  I was greeted by two very nice ladies. Once I sat down, one of them brought me my paper to sign, which was nice because I was comforting my dog.  The vet assistant was wonderful. He was very attentive and helpful.  The vet was also great.  She took the time to explain exactly what they were doing.  They took care of him, gave him meds and we were out in about an hour.  Coming from CA, I don't have a vet yet so was not sure what to expect.  The price was also pretty good considering all they did.  I would go there anytime my pup was in trouble. Read Less

I had to take my dog here twice over Memorial Weekend and while it wasn't exactly where I wanted to be, they make it the best experience it could be. My pup face planted on our hardwood floors and hurt his shoulder and couldn't walk. Since I'm an overprotective fur mama and hate to see him in pain, I searched Yelp and came upon this place with wonderful reviews. They examined him, were friendly and gave him medication that turned out to be a little too much for his 9 lb body. So we had to go back, they hydrated him and in a couple days he was good to go. They were attentive, friendly and knowledgeable, so much so that I will most likely take him for his yearly check up when it comes around. Read Less

I have had to go here for emergency reasons and for specialty reasons and have been very pleased with the care they have provided my dog. I highly recommend Dr. Probst if you are in need of a neurologist for your pet. He has been so helpful with finding seizure meds that work for my dog and even got me quotes on prices of different meds and called me back quickly to discuss medication options and a plan moving forward. If you have an emergency situation with your pet I highly recommend you take them here and also consider this veterinary practice for speciality needs. Read Less

I hand delivered a letter to the clinic manager and after 2 weeks I never received a response. My dog was family, not a transaction.  Here are excerpts of the letter; When I arrived, I was assisted by two people who came out to my car and helped me get Kenai out of the back seat as he was no longer strong enough to jump down on his own. They whisked him away to the back without a word.  I was then shuffled into a room and was told that someone would check me in, in a moment.  After being unceremoniously checked in Dr. Aiello, who never introduced herself (and I only know it was her because I found her picture on the website) asked me about the circumstances surrounding Kenai's illness....A woman came into the room and again did not introduced themselves, but I assume was a vet tech, she was also one of the women that helped with Kenai from the car, and gave me a price sheet for care.  She was never rude but just very matter of fact.  After agreeing to the charges, I asked if I could see Kenai.  I was told that it was too busy in the back with everyone providing care for Kenai... Dr. Aiello explained that Kenai was in pain and that he needed to have surgery and possibly chemo.  She then explained barring any complications that Kenai would live on average 2 months after surgery, but more than likely would have a good quality of life for that time, again barring any complications.  This surgery would cost approximately $5,000-$9,000...After many more tears and feeling like my heart was breaking into a million pieces I decided that I could not put Kenai though all of that and to end his suffering with euthanasia.  A short time later the woman whom I assumed was the vet tech came back into the room and I explained to her my decision.  She said that she would tell the doctor.... About 10 minutes later the woman came back in and asked if I was ready, she said, "not rushing you, just wanting to know."   I asked for about 15 more minutes.  After about 15 minutes Dr. Aiello came into the room with about 4 syringes.  She asked if I was ready.  I said yes, and she then said, "the first one is just a flush."  At that point, she started to pet Kenai's face and push the drugs.  She then stood up, walked over to Kenai's chest with a stethoscope and said, "he has no heartbeat, he is gone."  As she was walking out the door she said, "it is normal for them to gasp, don't worry."That was the last contact I had with anyone from the clinic.  Does anything stand out in this story?  Well, the part that was missing for me was the empathy.  My dog was family, not a transaction. Read Less

My cavalier King Charles ate part of a dog toy that then got stuck in his intestines. He required emergency surgery, where they were able to get it up into his stomach and then remove the piece and clear the blockage. He needed 19 staples. Dr. Lee Breashers saved his life!! The staff took great care of him while he stayed for two days after surgery. This little boy is my baby and I am so thankful to this amazing Dr. and staff. Read Less

The staff at Animal Emergency & Specialty Center are the greatest. When Beau was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma I was devastated and saw no hope for my best buddy. Dr. Lori and her staff were the answer to my prayers. I was faced with some very hard decisions and they helped me chose the best path for Beau. I wanted to be sure that I was basing my decisions on the quality of life not the quantity. We are now 10 months post diagnosis and my 12 year old Australian Shepard is still going strong. Despite the loss of his front leg, we still play Frisbee every day and he continues to enjoy an active and full life. Every day is a blessing and Beau and I are so thankful to all the staff at Animal Emergency & Specialty Center. Read Less

My OES puppy was stricken with Parvo 4 days after we got her. AESC saved her life!! They were upfront with the cost so I knew it was going to be a long, expensive road if she didn't overcome it quickly. I called often to get updates and visited too. All the staff, techs and doctors were kind and caring. The plasma infusion ultimately saved her life! I didn't realize healthy dogs can donate plasma here. Please consider doing this as there is a shortage of this life saving matter. I will be bringing our grown dogs and Lola, once she is grown, back in to donate :) A special thank you to Dr. Jennifer Campbell!! She spent lots of time with me explaining options and corresponding prognoses. Lola experienced her first snow and loved it!! Thank you for saving LOLARead Less

I've never had pleasant experience with the ladies that work there. I've had a small hand full of rude comments thrown my way because they had an issue on their order. They were not easy to work with then, and the rudeness stayed the same when I brought my sick dog in. Puppers made it out fine but learn to be a decent human! Read Less

They have treated both of our dogs. One is seen every three months for a chronic condition, and the other was taken there after having a severe wasp sting allergy. Most of the complaints on here seem to be money related, not quality of care. Yes, there is an exam fee - every time - pretty standard across the industry. Yes, surgeries cost thousands, CT scans cost between $1-2 thousand, medications, x-rays, IV fluids, etc. all cost money. We've done them all, and normally elect to test everything up front instead of the wait and see method, or taking steps toward a definitive answer. And YES there will always be cheaper options and more expensive options out there. We go to different vets and ERs based on what's going on with our dogs, and which doc best suits their need. Money and cost is relative. AESC has always taken great care of our girls. We have always received follow up calls from the vet, and they notify our primary care vet who also follows up with us the next day. It's so nice knowing they are there 24/7 just in case. Read Less

Thank you for taking good care of our Kitten today. Staff was very friendly and helpful from the moment we entered until we left today. Thank you for your time on a Sunday. Hope we don't have to visit again soon! :) But if we do we know we will be taken care of! Read Less

I am a veterinarian and my own dog, a one year old bull terrier, decided to perform some sort of acrobatic stunt on the staircase and he acquired himself a very complicated tibial fracture.  In other words, he broke his leg bad.  And so bad, it was above my head.Dr. Hazlett and the team at AESC were amazing.  I have referred many clients to AESC for after hours emergency and specialty care and have the utmost respect for the level of medicine they practice.  Thankfully Dr. Hazlett was able to get him into her schedule within a few hours of his injury.  She was very knowledgeable, thoughtful and kind.  She explained different treatment options, likely outcomes, and required follow up care.  We chose the best plan for my wild maniac dog and our busy lifestyle.  She stabilized his leg, while also answering some of my lingering general surgery questions.  I was impressed by the staff and extremely happy with the care they provided.  Thanks to the whole team for being there for my clients and for my own dog. Read Less

I unfortunately had to bring my puppy here the other morning after hours of vomiting and lethargy. They were as wonderful as I remember them the first time I had to come here. They were very up front with costs, gave me plenty of options and explained everything so well. I will most definitely bring Ms Allie here should she ever need emergency treatment again! Read Less

I've brought both of my dogs here a couple times for both serious issues and simple things that I overreacted to. They're always helpful and fast. The pricing is competitive, especially compared to hospitals I've been to in the past.Read Less

Arrived early evening on a Friday after my 70 pound Boxer ate a puppy toy, whole!  Fearful that I would be facing surgery and a HUGE bill, I was super please when they were able to get it out via the mouth (without nasty details).  Not only was my beloved buddy pleased, so was my pocketbook.  Amazing vets, super fast and friendly service, and not a bad price to pay for after-hours emergency procedures and devoted attention.  Great team, great place!  Thank you!! Read Less

The staff at AESC are the absolute best at what they do! Over the years we've had experience with both oncology and surgery. The docs (Lori and Breshears) and vet techs (Casey and Micki) are caring, compassionate and loving. We're so blessed to have such pros available for our furry kids. Yes, they're very expensive but you definitely get what you paid for! Read Less

Wouldn't even see my cat without being able to pay all upfront. Unwilling to work out a payment plan, and won't take checks, even though I assured them that the money would be in my account Monday morning, I just couldn't access it at 8pm on a Saturday night. Read Less

I have been here several times, unfortunately for my sick fur babies. The situations were very difficult but the care, the empathy and informative service helped ease a very difficult times for me and my pets. Dr. Eyal Sittenfeld was incredibly wonderful and helped us through very hard times. I highly recommend this place to all who truly care about their pets. You will be in good hands and well taken care of as the staff is very understanding and helpful. I am so glad we have a place like this in our town of Parker. Read Less

Oscar was diagnosed with parvo in September 2016 at 3 months old. A serious virus with life and death consequences that put him in isolation for 4 days. Thanks to the wonderful and attentive care he received at the clinic, he is now a happy and thriving 7 month old puppy who is preparing for the show ring. Thank you! Read Less

Thank you Dr Lee Breshears for doing such a fantastic job on both of Ellie's knees - TPLO surgeries - she's doing really well recovering and can't wait to play, hike, backpack and more again!! See photos of Ellie in comments below! Thank you to Shannon and the other techs for taking care of my baby girl! It was so hard not having her home those two nights with me but I knew she was in good hands the entire time and they were so kind to me when I called a few times to check on her. I was invited to come visit but this Mom needed a night off and I knew that she was taken care of there. This fiasco all started almost a year ago when I noticed something wasn't right on our jogs together. By May, she needed TPLO and another six months later, her other knee needed it, just as Dr Lee explained the research behind it and it would probably happen, we decided to come back for the second. I did not have pet insurance either. Hopefully will find a way to pay off bills but my baby is doing really well...and it was the right thing to do too. Here's to a wonderful 2017!!! Ellie will be 6 in April 2017.Read Less

It's Thanksgiving and my little dog's eye was very red and closed. Called the clinic and got in right away. Staff was nice, it was a calm environment and they took care of my baby. It was just an infection and nothing that a little cream antibiotic won't cure. They didn't seem at all upset that they were working on a National Holiday. I'll use again, if needed. Love my vet, but just a backup if needed. Read Less

Recently spent my second visit with my new kitten at this vet. After charging me for an emergency visit, which was just a normal appointment made the day prior, they proceeded to get an x-ray to figure what I told them, that hes constipated and hasn't pooped in 5 days, since the last visit I was with them. They gave him an enema and a couple other treatments. After this was done, the vet did not come and see me again. The nurse gave me back my kitten and asked me if the doctor had talked to me. I had to sit and try to talk about what had happened when we came in before and had to be the person asking if there's any correlation between his constipation and the infection prior. The nurse seemed very unsure and it was at that moment I realized the vet had charged me 350$ to run an x-ray, to tell me exactly what I told her, and then to do an enema. She did not talk to me about what could be the issue. She did not talk to me about his recovery, will the enema help his constipation? Should I still be giving him His anti biotics? How long should I wait till I get worried about him not pooping again? Should I be looking out for anything in particular? These are all questions I had to ask the nurse and all questions the nurse could not answer accurately. This is a nice vet, nice building, friendly people, unfortunately the vet was not concerned with healing or diagnosing my kitten. And charged me premiums on top of it. I expect care and concern with my vet or atleast for them to inform me on what's happening with my 2month old sickly kitten whose being taken in for the second time. Read Less

I'm giving only 4 bc ultimately my pet didn't come home, but that was no fault of the staff/ lack of trying. From the minute I walked through the door, my sweet girl was attended to and they were very up front and honest about her diagnosis and care. It was heartbreaking to see my girl in the pain she was in, but the doctor was awesome and she ultimately made the decision that I had to make a little easier on my heart. Thank you AESC, while I appreciate you being there in my dogs time of need, I do sincerely hope I don't need to come in and see you again soon. Read Less

I wouldn't trust my pets to any other emergency facility. I've been to others, and they don't compare. I've read many of the one-star reviews, and some of them are hearsay while others I have no explanation for. I would take them with a grain of salt. You have to remember that these people are trying to treat animals who can't communicate and tell us exactly what's wrong. Sometimes it's a guessing game. This is an excellent facility and I have found that they always do their best, presenting me with many options, and a recommendation for best care, as well always asking what I want to do and following my directions as long as they make medical sense. Read Less

I absolutely love this clinic. My newest baby Stella has come to visit here multiple times in the last 2 weeks, and the staff has been so kind. Every time I walk in the staff is friendly and accommodating. The tech staff is caring and loving, and the vets are bar none! Thank you all for being so wonderful!! Read Less

These people are not qualified to be veterinarians. They could not diagnose a simple torn ACL. Almost $200 for an exam and some pain medication and we were told they could not determine where the pain was coming from because our pet was in pain and did not want to be examined. We were told X-rays may or may not help determine and that they would be an additional $300. We followed up with our regular veterinarian who could pinpoint where the pain was in about 3 minutes and then did an X-ray to confirm and rule out any other issues. All done for under the cost we paid at this emergency and specialty clinic. I believe their specialty is relieving caring pet owners of their hard earned money and sending them on their merry way and truly not caring for pets. Read Less

Took my dog to this ER (twice)  because she was restless and acting strange (like she was drunk) for a few days but vet assumed she sprained her back/leg and sent her home with pain killers. On our 2nd visit because symptoms got worse, I pointed out a "new" lump on my dogs throat which I hadnt noticed before and hadnt been brought to my attention by vet or groomer. Asked the vet to examine it along with why she was acting so strange. After 2 hours in a room by myself multiple vets had examined her and suggested the lump was because she got "nipped by another dog" at the dogpark. I doubted that diagnoses but took her home. 4 days later the lump felt scabby and her fur was crusty...I examined the lump very thoroughly myself and found a perfectly round hole. To my surprise.. when I maniulated the lump further,  A LIVE MAGGOT (cuterebra) popped out of the hole. This is apparently somewhat common for animals in rural areas that comingle with mice and rabbits...but $475 worth of vet bills for NOTHING. Called the vet back to share my horror and was told the info would be pasaed along to the manager. LOL. My dog is okay but reading online suggests not exactly a DIY project and could cause infection if not handled promptly and properly:/ Read Less

A gentle closing to a sad situation brought my husband into the animal ER one night. I was at work and our barn cat began having seizures and altered mental status. No obvious trauma so we didn't know what to do. The staff was quick, courteous, and presented everything about our cat in the black and white terms I needed. It was a very difficult decision I had to make but we ended up putting Lily Kitty down. I felt horribly guilty and incredibly sad/shaken up but the staff was wonderful with their emotional support over the phone while I was stuck at work.  A few days later we received a hand written condolence card in the mail which I thought was a classy and heartfelt gesture. Read Less

Come home from a business trip only to find that our puppy is vomiting and has diarrhea. Terrible for a puppy to have to go through this. After puking in her kennel and getting it all over herself, we bath her and clean her kennel. I'm holding her wrapped in a towel and wouldn't you know, this little dog projectiles vomit all over me and the rug. Back to bathing her and cleaning it. We decided to call our vet who happens to be closed on Wednesday and refers us here for emergency service. We get her in the car and take her in. As I'm sitting in the waiting area, I start reading Yelp reviews and hear some of the horror stories about them asking for several thousands of dollars from people. I definitely start getting concerned and am not sure if we should stay or go somewhere else. Well, we decided to stay and take our chances. The wait was a little long but what do you expect? There were several emergencies that came in and I'm sure they take them back by the severity of the animal. We make it back and they vet tech looks at her and asks a few questions. Very sympathetic to how she is feeling. Then came the doctor. He was awesome! He checked her out and told us all the things that it could be but positioned us to go the cheaper route. They injected her with fluids and gave us some antibiotics. They said it was most likely just a stomach virus. They did run a couple tests to make sure it wasn't something detrimental and those came back negative. We left with a bill of $250 and a puppy that was feeling much better the next day. If our main vet wasn't so good, I would highly consider coming back here. Read Less

My little 2 year old pug was just diagnosed with a Stage 3 Mast cell tumor. Within 24 hours my life turned upside down. She is my baby and I was devastated at this awful diagnosis. The oncology group that worked with us, from Dr. Lori on down, were absolutely amazing and very informative. It does not take away the pain we are all going through as a family with this unfortunate diagnosis, but it was so wonderful that they seemed to have compasion and understanding of how we were feeling and dealing with the process. Now, we are moving forward with treatments, and building a bucket list for our sweet Della. For whatever time she may have, it's going to be the best of the best. I would recommend this group to everyone I know, who is having serious health issues with their pets. Read Less

I was very pleased with my experience with them. I had to take my senior cat to them to get some labs done because she had stopped eating, was losing weight, and my vet wasn't able to get her in on an emergent basis that day. I was worried that something was very wrong. She had a long run with hyperthyroidism, renal failure and a recent bout of pancreatitis in February. I had a feeling it was "that time" and the lab values ended up confirming it. I was so impressed that the vet, Dr. Jennifer Campbell was able to give me options, but was very honest and gentle in delivering the news. She was very frank, gave me options that could be used to attempt to extend her life, but was ultimately in agreement that it was probably time to say goodbye. I appreciated her honesty, knowledgeability, professionalism, and overall the fact that I didn't feel pressured into pouring time and money into interventions that would prove to be futile. Instead, I was given the option to take her home, and spend another precious day with her until we had to say goodbye. She was able to recommend three different local vet services that would come into my home to help her pass, which ended up being the very best decision I could have made for the situation (I ended up choosing Caring Pathways.) I also must mention Patrick, the tech, who was incredible with me and my lil' girl. He was so compassionate and spent the extra time to love on Tabers and expressed his sympathy at the news. Such a big, tough looking guy with the gentlest heart and soul! They made a tough experience the best it could possibly be, and I will always recommend them to anyone for emergency vet needs. Read Less

Our vet sent us to see Dr. Ginieczki (Cardiologist) . She and her assistant are very nice. Dr. Carrie answers email promptly and never makes you feel like you are annoying her. My dog was very sick and they were gentle and kind working with her. She has Congestive Heart Failure and Severe Pulmonary Hypertension. They were honest about the poor prognosis but are working hard to find the right combination and dosages of drugs to provide our dog with quality of life. Our baby is doing better! The clinic is very nice. The prices are really high but they are specialist.Read Less

I think it is safe to say MOST pet owners LOVE their animals and would do anything for them.  This place knows that all too well. First off, the staff is not very friendly, not EXACTLY rude, just not inviting, like you would hope to see in an emergency situation.My little Corgi Mix, roughly 9.5 years old, became unable to walk up stairs, randomly, one day last week.  I took my dog to this hospital on Friday, because I was worried about his condition and wasn't willing to wait until Monday, to find out what was wrong with him.Prognosis Friday night was, 'over-weight' and because of his weight, Luke was experiencing 'back pain'. I wasn't REALLY buying it because he cannot physically walk upstairs, but could go down and is a very active dog, even for being fat. I was told the vet couldn't see anything on an XRAY. I was referred here from a vet clinic by our house and I was told, 'they have all the fancy equipment, we don't have.' So I am confused. The vets, I've since spoken to, do use XRAYS for the initial imaging, in these cases. The prognosis on Friday is what I WANTED to hear over reality.  Unfortunately, because of the prognosis, because I want to believe these professionals, I decide on doing some blood work, for a little peace of mind, and we were sent home with some pain medication. Sunday morning, Luke had done what they call, 'went down in the back'.  Meaning, he lost all function of his back legs.  We take him back, he is diagnosed, with zero information, such as imaging with a bulging disk.  I am told he needs EMERGENCY surgery, in the tune of $7000.  My ONE other option given to me was... to euthanize Luke. My dog is older, I worry about the recovery of invasive surgery. Also, I don't have $7k in my back pocket or even the bank.  We were given, roughly, 10 minutes make a decision, before they came back to us with financing options.  The lady who was helping me complete the financing paperwork, made the suggestion of calling my mom, to use my mother's information so they could perform the surgery, as I was only approved for a portion of the costs.  That is when I knew, this was a RACKET and quite possibly not the only solution. I felt we were more of a SALE or Transaction with the all rebuttals from the vet. They claimed I had ZERO options outside of the two given.  After we found out we had only two options, my boyfriend asked for Luke to be brought back to us, we weren't, going to fund a $7k surgery without ANY information, further put my baby down.  Also, the surgery is NOT guaranteed, AT ALL.  In fact, it could not work at all, but obviously all surgery, any specie, is case by case. Additional frustration, we took Luke in to the ER, in a laundry basket, as he can't walk.  ER relieved his bladder INSIDE the basket, making him urinate all over his bed and blankets. They brought him back to us like that and didn't bother telling us.  We were told the wait on him was because they were expressing his bladder, they expressed his bladder AFTER our decision to go home.  I do not believe in coincidence.  I was very nice and cordial about my decision.  I even told them, I needed to sleep on it and consider any other alternative options.  I was honest, I might be back.  I don't think Lukes injury could have been entirely prevented.  But, when dealing with a bulged disk there are various things you should do to not further injure the spine. I was NOT given proper information on how to treat a potential bulged disk.  The instructions are for back pain, but she did suspect a disk issue.  If a bulged disk is what happened to Luke, he probably went home Friday and injured himself further because we didn't have the proper knowledge on how to handle this injury. The refused to do XRAYS. Imperative information such as strict crate rest until able to walk was NOT mentioned.In my own research, I have found, Crate rest is the single most important part of treatment when a bulged disk is suspected. Limiting walking and to carry the dog to and from bathroom area, only allowing a few steps at a time.  Also, there are conservative treatments out there for people, like myself, who lack funding for $7k emergency surgeries, paid in full.   Also a great alternative for those who can't afford, don't want or aren't a candidate for invasive surgery, but also because surgery is not GUARANTEED is aggressive steroid treatment.  From my research, the only thing surgery does is remove the bulge to prevent further damage.  The dog still has to endure a few months of being incapacitated and it can take up to a year, either route, conservative treatment or surgery, to regain nerve function.  Conclusion, it's been three days and Luke has undergone holistic treatment.  He has had acupuncture, laser, VOM-laser treatment and chiropractic care.  It's a long journey for recovery for him, but he can POTENTIALLY recover, fully.  My vet is not promising anything, but Luke stood on his own today, there is hope before surgery. RACKET!!! Read Less

I am from out of town and was traveling with my dogs, a friend recommended this place to me when I had an emergency and they were fantastic.  I did not have to wait, the entire staff and the vet were friendly and efficient.  Some of the other reviews said the cost was high, I thought they were very reasonable for after hour emergencies and very conscious of the cost and my options.  I would highly recommend this place. Read Less

I have been in here several times, all of which have been after normal vets are closed for something that I, being an overprotective dogMommy, see to be emergent situations and I have always been happy with the TLC they give my fur babies. But tonight went beyond that TLC, my newly adopted pup needed to be seen for an infection. Not only were Hailie and Dr. Amy so sweet and loving to my Dixie girl but they were also so kind to me. It touched my heart and I left there with tears in my eyes. Thank you guys for all you do! For fur babies and their owners! Read Less

Earlier this week our sweet 15 week old Yorkie puppy Bent was involved in an altercation with our Chow mix, he came out on the loosing end and the result was traumatic injuries to his mouth, skull and eye. Which required a complicated orthopedic surgery to put him back together. I can"t say enough about the care he received from AESC. From the moment he arrived the entire staff showed him so much love and compassion we never doubted he was in good hands. Dr. Campbell was first on his case and kept us up to date on his condition and our options. She is such a caring Vet and is so detailed in her approached to insure nothing was missed when assessing his injuries We then meet with the surgeon Dr. Breshears, he spent a hour with us going through the options and possible complications. He answered all of our questions and never made us feel rushed. After Bent's surgery we met with him again, and he is just wonderful, answered all of our questions and addressed all of our concerns. I feel he is an amazing surgeon and appreciate his honestly as to keep us aware of what could happen down the road. I wish I could remember all of the names of the vet techs we worked with as well, they are so knowledgeable and caring and played such an important role in little Bents care. Whenever we visited or called they never acted as If we were bugging them but instead took time to update us and review any changes in his condition or care. This was a horrible event for our little family and I truly believe AESC saved Bent's life and also helped my boyfriend and I deal with everything, and prepare us for the road to recovery ahead. Read Less

Horrible experience. Our vet sent us to get an ultrasound, which was prearranged. When we got there 13 minutes later, they would not do an ultrasound. They would call someone in (it was weekend), but only if we agreed to have our dog admitted for ($4500). The ultrasound was to confirm liver cancer as the dog was in the last stage of liver failure and X-rays had shown a large mass on his spleen. The staff continued to regroup and find a way to make money. It was like a car dealership and playing games. Stay away.Read Less

I rarely write reviews and this is probably my first one but I thought my recent experience here warranty a positive one. My dog suddenly started to act like his mouth/teeth were bothering him at work one day at work to the point where he was shaking and violently pawing at his face. He has a history of bad teeth and I was worried he was in major pain and/or might swallow his tooth and choke. I didn't want to wait for an appointment at my regular vet so reluctantly I went here even though I figured it'd be a very expensive visit. I waited about 15 minutes and the doctor saw him. Within seconds she pried open his mouth, something I was hesitant to do myself, and immediately noticed a piece of plastic was lodged in the back of his mouth which she easily pulled out. Relieved it wasn't something serious I made a pithy comment to my dog "Do you realize how much money that piece of plastic is gonna cost me?" and to my amazement she sad she wouldn't charge me. I even asked if she was sure, because I was honestly expecting to be out hundreds for teeth problems, and she insisted. They could have charged me a visit fee even though it only took a couple minutes, but didn't and I was impressed by that. Read Less

Our 1 year lab had a complicated fracture, the doctor spent a great deal of time with us showing us the x-rays and discussing our options. His treatment lasted 4 months and included numerous, sometimes daily appointments. The staff was very caring with our puppy and with us. I would highly recommend Animal Emergency and Specialty to anyone needing special care for their pet.Read Less

Had a late night emergency and was able to get in and out pretty quickly. The doctor was knowledgeable and informative. I did a follow up visit with my regular vet who then ended up recommending I go back here to see the animal neurologist. We are still working getting my little guy better but having answers and treatments within a couple hours/days has made this go a lot more smoothly than I thought I would. Price for visit and meds was fair, no complaints. Would recommend.Read Less

Don't go here unless you like to waste money. I brought my dog into this establishment around 7:00 pm in the evening after he had eaten stale food from the trash that same day. He had vomited a couple of times but was lethargic with muscle tremors.  The ASPCA poison line highly recommended we have him seen. We waited the expected timeframe, about 35 minutes, made our way to the exam room and the technician (Melissa) was pleasant. She took vitals and after another moderate wait time, the vet saw the dog. The vet (Joel) examined my dog but seemed to be putting on quite a demonstration to prove my dog was severely dehydrated. It was odd. He recommended X-rays of my dog's abdomen even though there was no indication he ate anything but some stale food. He also advised to keep him over night, medicate him, and give him an IV with fluids.  I was very skeptical so I asked for an estimate. He didn't seem to want to offer up this information but rather was ready to walk out with my leashed dog. He promised to return with that information in just a moment. However there was another long wait but I could see my dog was already starting to feel better, his tail wagging, jumping up on my lap, walking around, ears perked. That was good because it helped me see that his diagnosis was way off and we could easily take him home and these treatments were going to be unnecessary as suspected. The technician (not the vet) finally returned with the estimate which included several IV medications, X-rays,  medications, ultrasounds, and other treatments for nearly $2100 with just a $930 deposit that night. Gulp, what????  I declined and said I'll pay for the office visit. She said she'll tell the vet and be back. We then sat in the exam room until after 9 pm and by that point my dog is acting normal again and I've had enough waiting. I go to the front desk and tell the woman there I need to pay for the visit and go. (I had to get my daughter home to do homework).  She said to go back to the exam room, she doesn't take the payments. (Rude!) I said I'd wait right there, we need to go home now. Finally, the technician came back and saw us in the lobby. To her defense she was handling the ENTIRE office while the front desk woman played cell phone games and the vet did whatever. She asked again if we wanted to at least do one of the at home treatments. I declined so she left to report back to the vet (again). We waited another several minutes while she handled other customers (and the front desk woman sat on butt) and when she came back and she took us to a nearby exam room to review the discharge papers and I paid $95 for the exam. She was pleasant and quick. She did her job, can't say that about the other two in the office. I don't believe in throwing every treatment available just because it's available (and lines the vet's pockets). There are ways to start conservatively and measure if more is necessary.  I've animals of all kinds all my life. I currently have three horses, three dogs and two cats (and a fish). My vet, feed and farrier bills are ridiculous. I have donated and volunteered many hours with animal rescue groups.  I have worked with great vets who start with the end in mind. They do not jump to conclusions nor do they over treat unnecessarily.  This place gave me the heebie jeebies and I won't be back.  Ever. They do exactly the opposite by over treating unnecessarily. By the way, within a couple more hours my dog was 100% - no treatment necessary. He just needed rest, water, and to get it out of his system. FYI-the discharge papers indicated no water for my dehydrated dog that night. Read Less

I was horrified to hear my friend's cat was misdiagnosed!! Not only did their family pet cat have an unnecessary painful surgery;The clinic is not wanting or willing to address some important issues with this trusting and caring family. If you care and love your animal seek treatment elsewhere;I would NOT recommend this clinic!! Read Less

Would recommend and will go back if needed. I worked at an ER vet clinic for 4 years. In that time I witnessed expensive care and a high price tag just to walk in the door. This is not true of Animal Emergency and Specialty Center. I took my 7 year old Chihuahua there because she was not breathing right. The staff came to assist immediately. She was stable and the vet on staff made no requests for more expensive testing and did not try to talk me into un-needed tests. If I ever need emergency care for my pets again I will go back to this hospital! A++++ in my book!!! Thanks!!! Read Less

They love your wallet not your pet! $175 for some eardrops.My most recent experience at the "loving" family vet was absolutely terrible. I needed some eardrops for my dog but they would not give them without an appointment. Of course no appointment was available, so they needed to schedule an emergency appointment instead....Already hesitant at this point I decided to go for my dog's sake. I spent 1 hour and 15 minutes at their facility waiting, in which time they only achieved to take a swab of my dog's ear. I did not get to see the vet and never saw any results after an endless wait, so I left. Today I went to pickup the eardrops and was presented with a $175 bill, for the ""emergency"" visit. Last time I went there. Read Less

This ER is very very expensive, and the staff's not that great. I took a Great Dane in with a torn toenail and they wanted to do bloodwork! I just wanted the nail trimmed so it wouldn't get further damage, and it took almost 2 hours. They really argued with me about the bloodwork - I refused. That bloodwork would have cost $1,000 or so. Go to the ER in Castle Rock, the staff is more experienced, kinder, and the prices are much better. Read Less

Compassionate and caring? WHAT A JOKE!! They care alright. They care about getting money. They told me my dog needed tests to the tune of over $700. I got another opinion and the other vet couldn't believe Dr. Weldon's recommendation. She didn't come right out and say that of course because she didn't want to make another vet look bad, but it was obvious what she thought. What she did suggest was some medication and, wouldn't you know it, my dog got better. I was so P.O.'d that I was talking to my neighbor about it and she told me that she's heard the same thing from other parents at her daughter's school. The vet at this hospital may talk a good game and can put on a performance, but the proof is in the pudding. If you're not willing to fork over a mortgage payment, she's not going to be happy. I also didn't like how the vet tech handled my dog. A little too rough for my tastes. I don't mind spending money on my dog--I absolutely LOVE him, but I'd like to know that I'm spending my money smartly. Dr. Weldon has lost ANOTHER client, which it sounds like is happening a lot in our neighborhood. Read Less

Dr. Weldon is a wonderful, caring and compassionate vet who takes wonderful care of my pug. She is thorough and upfront with the care my pug needs. Her and her team of techs have provided outstanding care and treat her as one of their own. I trust her and her staff and I never feel pressure to do wasteful procedures. Vet care is something that many pet owners don't ever want to have to do, but when you love your animals like they are your children, you want to provide them with every option possible and Dr. Weldon can do that, and does it at a reasonable price. She is amazing! Read Less

We took our dog Timmy to Loving Family Animal Hospital thinking that he wasn't going to make it. Dr. Weldon treated us like we were family and understood how much our Timmy has meant to us. She helped us so much and Timmy had his surgery today at CSU and is going to be just fine. We are so happy you have no idea. Dr. Weldon has been so good to us!! Thank you Dr. Weldon. You can truly see that Dr. Weldon became a veterinarian because of her love for animals and her compassion for their owners. We felt embraced and cared for ever minute. Read Less

I have a neighbor who's a friend of this vet and she asked me to go to this clinic because it's a new business and she wanted to help her get started. I agreed because I remember what it was like to start a new business and I figured the dog needs her shots anyway so why not. Big mistake. The staff was flighty and cavalier about spending my money. They were frustrated when I said I didn't want to buy heartworm tablets from them and instead wanted to buy them online. Ill go back to my last vet because she's closer and was much better in every way. Read Less

I gave this clinic 2 stars because it's new and modern. Offering refreshments is a nice touch, but not enough to override the pressure to do every test under the sun. I came in for shots, please just give my cat the shots I came in for. Read Less

BEST VET EVER! I had heard of the nasty comments some left and had to voice my opinion. I have an English Bulldog and a French Bulldog who have both seen Dr. Weldon for several things and both were neutered there. Bulldogs can be tricky with anethesia and I visited several vets before I decided on taking my fur babies to Loving Family. Dr. Weldon and the entire staff always take great care of my boys - so much that they get excited when its ""time to go see Dr. Weldon."" The facility is very clean and inviting. The staff is VERY caring and compasionate and always acts in the best interest of the animal. Everytime my boys have been to Loving Family, we get a follow-up call the next day to make sure they are doing well. I don't even get this treatment from MY physicians!! Thank you Loving Family Staff!! Read Less

I tried to login again to Citysearch, but can't get in, so I started a new account. I'm the same reviewer as jackonline. My dog cut her foot, and since I wasn't going back to Loving Family, I did a search for a vet offering a military discount. I went to www.petsforpatriots(dot)org and saw that Loving Family was listed there. I wanted to see what you had to do to get listed on that referral list and I found out that she had to LIE to get listed there in the first place. In order to qualify to be on their referral list the first questions asks ""Are you a veterinary clinic, hospital or practice in good standing for at least the past ?ve years?"" If you don't answer yes, you're disqualified. Loving Family opened in 2011. It doesn't matter that the doctor may have been at other clinics for 5 years before. It has to be this clinic that's been open and in good standing for 5 years. Dr. Weldon you've been caught. I'm P.O.'d all over again. I have contacted Petsforpatriots(dot)org. I'm confident they will investigate you and will be taking you off their referral list. Try building your business on something other than lies and maybe you'll make it, but I bet more people will see through you like we have and will take their business elsewhere. On January 14, Dr. Weldon responded to another negative review "" Have some self-respect and leave a person like myself who is trying extremely hard to run a business that is made up of love, honesty, and compassion alone!"" HONESTY? What a joke. She had to lie to get listed on www.petsforpatriots(dot)org. She's already proven just how honest she is. I made the drive up to Community Pet Hospital in Thornton. They were very reasonable and I got my miitary discount. Read Less

Weldon was our vet at Coal Creek. We took our 4 year old sweet terrier to her to check out a small lump. She told us it was a just a fatty lump and nothing to worry about, Then she told us that she needed her teeth cleaned, which we agreed to. While she was there for the cleaning, she called us and said that we should remove the lump while she was already asleep. We trusted her so we agreed. When we picked up our dog that night, she was so wobbly she couldn't walk straight. We were told that she would snap out of it by the next day, That night, she was barely moving, so we decided to take her to the ER. On our way there, she died in the car. We called the next day to tell Weldon what happened. The hospital manager talked to us on the phone and said she was sorry we lost our dog. We never heard from Weldon. We'll never know what happened, but one thing is for sure and that's that our dog was fine before she went under Weldon's care and then she died less than 6 hours after leaving her care. I saw her name in an ad for her new hospital with a $15 off coupon. I went to her website to see if it was her and saw her fake smiling face and felt prompted to write this review. Read Less

I had to bring my dog in for an emergency visit on a Saturday. It was so stressful to see my pet ill, but when I called Loving Family they reassured me that they could take care of my pet. When I came to my appointment they addressed all my concerns with such compassion. They did the necessary things and made not only my pet feel better but I felt better. I'm pleased to report he is doing great! They even called to check up on my pet and even asked if I was doing OK. I honestly have never had this service at a vet hospital. Thank you to the kind people and a big thanks to Dr. W. ! Read Less

I called around looking for best price for getting shots for my dog. I'm a disabled veteran. My disability benefits are not what they should be. I saw the coupon and called ahead and was told that the bill would be $80-90. On the morning of the appointment, my leg was acting up and I couldn't make it. My wife took our dog in without me and when she got home, she told me the bill was over $300! Our dog is 7 years old and completely healthy and runs around our yard without a care in the world. She isn't sick. She didn't need a bunch of blood tests. We're not going to Hawaii on vacation--that money was for food and mortgage. Not all my meds are covered by the VA. When I asked my wife why she didn't just walk out when she felt pressured to do the tests, she said that everyone from the front desk to the assistant to the doctor told her these tests were necessary to ""make sure"" our dog was okay and she took them at their word. I'll be sure to tell everyone in the neighborhood and all veterans I meet what kind of place this is. This place should change its name to ""Wealthy Family Animal Hospital"" Read Less

Thank you Dr. Weldon, Stacey, Sue, Chris, Katie! You saved our little, but very precious life when every one else thought that the euthanasia is our best option. I would recommend you to everyone who cares for their pets. From the bottom of my heart I wish your practice a very long, successful and rewarding journey. Read Less

I recently move to Colorado and needed to find a vet. After looking at several places they all weren't what I was looking for. I finally stopped by at Loving Family to check them out. I felt immediately welcomed. I was given a packet of information and she explained everything in it. She answered all my questions. I came back a few days later with my pet. I was even more impressed with them. We were given drinks, my dog was given some water. Dr. Weldon was so nice and smart! I hope I can find a doctor and staff like this for my own personal health! Read Less

Our animals have been with Dr Weldon for almost 5 years and we have always been extremely happy with her care but more importantly, how she always puts animals first. After reading the few negative reviews that were posted (out of 23 total reviews), I truly felt the need to speak up and go on the record. While all people have a bad day or two in their daily life, it angers me to read some of the dishonest and malicious comments being said about such an incredibly caring person and group of people. Dr Weldon and her team have always treated our family and our animals with the highest level of respect, compassion and professionalism. If you read all of the reviews of Loving Family Animal Hospital you will see a common theme amongst the people she deals with. This includes our story below. As a lifetime pet owner for 30+ years and a current owner of 3 dogs and 1 cat, my wife and I have dealt with numerous veterinarians all over the country and in our area. During this time my wife and I have been fortunate to work with some extremely talented veterinarians (including a few at The Ohio State Veterinary Hospital in Columbus, OH). After working with Dr Weldon for 5 years we would not hesitate to say that she ranks at or near the top because of her excellent medical/clinical skills but also because she is extremely loving and caring towards her patients. In fact in April of 2010, my wife and I had to put down our dog and longtime friend Maggie, as she finally lost her battle with hip dysplasia and arthritis. When we called Dr Weldon to tell her the horrible news, she immediately offered to come by our home for this somber occasion. This allowed my wife and I the opportunity to have Ms Maggie pass away quietly in her favorite chair, surrounded by all who loved her. While I am sure Dr Weldon is not able to offer this service to all of her patients (which is understandable in today's crazy world), it is this type of caring for our family and our animals that has kept us coming back. For many people a trip to the vet is an annual ordeal where you pile the animals into the car and take them for their yearly examinations. However with such limited time with someone, you really don Read Less

I just saw Dr. Monique's advertisement in the Aurora South coupon circular and feel compelled to share my experience. I am a loyal client of Aurora Animal Hospital. Dr. Monique worked there for a little while and she examined my dog once when she was there. She was perfectly nice and at the end of my appointment, I told her how nice it was to meet her and I looked forward to seeing her again. That's when she told me that she was opening her own clinic soon and told me that she could contact me when she was open. I was flabbergasted. I've been going to Dr. Holly for years and I couldn't imagine she would hire someone who would do this. I suppose that Dr. Holly found out about what she was doing, because my understanding is that Dr. Monique didn't last there very long. I'm sticking with Dr. Holly. I see there are lots of other reviews from people who are happy with Dr. Monique. I'm not one of them. I have to wonder about Dr. Monique's ethics if she's trying to steal patients away from a clinic that she's working for. If she's willing to compromise her ethics to gain some business, what else is she compromising her ethics about? Does she sell expensive medicine that isn't necessary or suggest tests that aren't necessary? Read Less

I have been taking my 5 year old dog to Dr. Weldon since she was 9 weeks old. Dr. Weldon has been very gentle and caring with my dog and able to answer all our questions so we could understand them. I think its great that Dr. Weldon opened up her own business so she could run it the way she wanted. She and the staff are so passionate about all animals and make you feel like you are one of the family. Dr. Weldon and the staff have made the animals their life and it shows through the care they give. Read Less

The lobby and exam rooms at this clinic are clean and pretty and it was nice to be offered refreshments, but the upsell and accompanying bill were a shock. I tried this place because there was a $15 off coupon, and times are tough right now. I asked what it would cost on the phone before I came, and once I was there they gave me an estimate for more than double what I was quoted. I guess I should have known that they have to pay for their refreshments somehow. Once I refused all the extras, their friendly attitude changed in a heartbeat. Read Less

I was looking for a new vet that would show compassion and real interest in my four cats. Boy did I hit the lottery with Dr. Weldon and her staff! From my initial phone call through my first visit, all I can say is wow. Everyone there was so professional and compassionate. They have a beautiful office, convenient hours, offer refreshments and were very affordable. They took time to learn my four cats histories and personalities. They listened and provided great guidance and that was even before I met Dr. Weldon. Dr. Weldon is simply the best. My oldest cat is 16 and showing signs of kidney disease, I am amazed at the things that can be done for a senior cat with this disease. She listen to my concerns and provided great advice. Thank you Dr. Weldon! If you are looking for a vet that will treat your pets as family I highly recommend Loving Family Animal Hospital. Read Less

We went in around midnight for our dog. We were the only ones there and it took them 2 hours to prescribe medication for our dog which turned out to make him even sicker than he was. We followed up with our vet 2 days later, and she removed him from all medications, prescribed a new one and now he is completely fine. This emergency room wanted to charge me over $2000.GO SOMEWHERE ELSE, YOU WILL BE HAPPY YOU DID! Read Less