Can they handle weekend emergencies?

Yes. They are open seven days a week and have capability for weekend ultrasounds with radiologist review. One review notes they performed emergency surgery at 1 a.m. on a weeknight.

Do they require payment upfront?

Yes. Reviewers note you must pay for services immediately, but the clinic offers payment options through a third-party financing service.

How long are typical waits?

Highly variable. One reviewer reported no wait and seeing the vet within 5 minutes; others describe waiting a long time despite urgent situations. The clinic does not publish wait-time estimates.

RiNoVet Animal Emergency Care

Updated 2026-07-09 · 1,217 reviewed · 179 listed · Scored from 214 Google reviews · How we rank ›

4.3(214) 78 composite score See reviews on Google ✓ Verified

General Veterinary CareEmergency & Urgent CareVeterinary SurgeryLow-Cost & Affordable CareExotic & Avian VetVeterinary Dentistry

Services: General Veterinary Care, Emergency & Urgent Care, Veterinary Surgery
Reviews: 214

What recent reviews say

Reviewers most often praise the vets and staff for genuine compassion, rapid triage, and willingness to operate at odd hours. Dr. Chip Gallagher, Dr. Ryan, Dr. Brenda Francis, Dr. Roca, and Arka are named for expertise and bedside manner. One vet stayed late to perform 1 a.m. surgery; another caught a missed diagnosis and saved a dog's life. Patients note the clinic is transparent about which tests matter and which are optional, and one reviewer called it the most cost-effective emergency vet in Denver.

However, at least three reviewers reported serious diagnostic misses (gas instead of intestinal blockage; missed splenic masses) where they sought second opinions at other ERs. A handful complained about waiting times despite the urgent nature, and two reports cited dirty facilities and one front-desk staffer who seemed dismissive. The clinic itself does not publish prices, making cost unpredictable upfront.

Praised for

compassionate and knowledgeable vets
staff goes beyond expected care
quick assessment and diagnostics
emergency surgery capability
friendly and calming demeanor
transparent about costs and options

Watch-outs

missed diagnoses in some cases
inconsistent front-desk responsiveness
long waits despite urgent situations
facility cleanliness concerns
occasional poor communication with clients

compassionate-staffknowledgeable-vetsemergency-availabilitygentle-with-animalslong-wait-timestransparent-billingthorough-examsclear-communication

Best for: Pet owners facing sudden emergencies and wanting rapid diagnostics and surgical capability.

Think twice if: Owners seeking guaranteed diagnostic accuracy should ask for a second opinion; some report long waits despite urgency and occasional facility cleanliness issues.

Strengths

Performs emergency surgery including after-hours procedures
Weekend ultrasound capability with radiologist review
Staff named for going above standard care (follow-up calls, emotional support)
Transparent about which diagnostics and treatments are truly necessary

Worth knowing

Dr. Chip Gallagher, Dr. Ryan, Dr. Brenda Francis, Dr. Roca named for exceptional care
Arka (technician) noted for attentiveness
Performed emergency surgery at 1 a.m.
Capable of weekend ultrasounds with radiologist interpretation
No wait time reported in one case; other reviewers cite long waits
One reviewer noted they did not push unnecessary X-rays and saved money
Follow-up calls from clinic mentioned in at least one review

What reviews say by service

Emergency & Urgent Care: Praised for rapid triage, 24/7 availability, and after-hours surgery; some report long waits and missed diagnoses.
Veterinary Surgery: Commended for performing emergency surgery including after-hours and complex multi-object removal.
General Veterinary Care: Mixed: staff thorough in some cases, but three reviewers report significant missed diagnoses requiring second opinions elsewhere.

How it compares

Rated 4.3 against a 4.58 average across the 92 emergency & urgent care businesses listed here.
Has more Google reviews than 49% of the businesses in this directory.

How we scored this

Ranking Method

Star rating 55

Review volume 100

Review recency 100

Review sentiment 63

Profile completeness 100

Verification 30

Rating breakdown

171

Common questions

Can they handle weekend emergencies?: Yes. They are open seven days a week and have capability for weekend ultrasounds with radiologist review. One review notes they performed emergency surgery at 1 a.m. on a weeknight.
Do they require payment upfront?: Yes. Reviewers note you must pay for services immediately, but the clinic offers payment options through a third-party financing service.
How long are typical waits?: Highly variable. One reviewer reported no wait and seeing the vet within 5 minutes; others describe waiting a long time despite urgent situations. The clinic does not publish wait-time estimates.

Request a quote

Similar veterinarian nearby

Humane Colorado, formerly the Dumb Friends League - Veterinary Hospital at CSU Spur

4.4(1183)✓ Verified

Most reviewers praise the clinic's affordability, especially for urgent and surgical care at a fraction of typical emergency vet prices. Staff and vets, particularly Dr. Nguyen and Dr. Holly, earn repeated mention for compassion and skill during difficult procedures; the facility is clean and discharge instructions are thorough. Booking challenges and occasional front-desk miscommunications frustrate some visitors, and one customer was quoted 80 dollars for spaying but charged 260.

General Veterinary CareMobile & House-Call VetVeterinary Surgery

View profile

Livewell Animal Hospital of RiNo

4.9(168)✓ Verified

Livewell RiNo earns trust through vets and techs who visibly love animals, move patients through quickly, and explain every step. Dr. Kramer and Dr. Hoppe stand out for calling post-surgery to reassure owners and listening to endless questions without rushing. One owner was steered away from early eyelid surgery and faced permanent corneal scarring; a few callers report cold receptionists, mostly named issues. Pricing is fair, and surgical recovery updates feel personal. The clinic serves diverse pets from dogs to exotic birds, handles urgent care, and manages complex cases like reactive dogs needing double TPLO surgery. Strengths are bedside manner, same-day scheduling, and genuine attentiveness. The front desk can feel unwelcoming on first contact, and judgment calls on whether to intervene early sometimes disappoint. Most reviewers view this as their home vet now.

General Veterinary CareVeterinary SurgeryVeterinary Dentistry

View profile

Sploot Veterinary Care - RiNo

4.8(833)✓ VerifiedPublishes prices

Sploot consistently delivers attentive care; staff earn high marks for patience with nervous pets and vets for listening to owner concerns. Surgical aftercare and emergency access stand out, and first appointments get discounted for new members via their SplootPack membership. However, aggressive no-show fees ($85-89 on brief appointments), surprise emergency visit markups, and confusing billing practices have alienated cost-conscious owners. Multiple reviewers report being charged double or triple typical vet prices without clear advance notice, and the clinic's explanations for appointment purpose shifted after disputes. Reliability hinges heavily on your tolerance for strict cancellation policies and premium pricing.

General Veterinary CareVeterinary SurgeryVeterinary Dentistry

View profile