Help and resources for Denver veterinarian consumers
Government & regulatory
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Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine
This is the state licensing and regulatory body that licenses veterinarians and veterinary technicians in Colorado, sets continuing education requirements, and handles disciplinary matters under the Veterinary Practice Act. It safeguards public health, safety, and welfare and enforces a code of ethical conduct for licensed veterinarians, with violations potentially leading to Board discipline.
Visit website → Phone: 303-894-7800 Division of Professions and Occupations, 1560 Broadway, Suite 1350, Denver, CO 80202 -
Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA)
DORA is the umbrella state agency that houses the Division of Professions and Occupations, which administers veterinary licensing, license verification, and complaints against licensed veterinary professionals in Colorado.
Industry & professional associations
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American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
The AVMA is a not-for-profit association founded in 1863 representing more than 105,000 veterinarians. It provides information resources, continuing education, publications, member discounts, consumer-facing pet owner resources, and a clinical trials registry.
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American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)
AAHA is the only accrediting organization for companion animal veterinary hospitals in the US and Canada. AAHA-accredited hospitals are evaluated against roughly 900 standards, and pet owners can use its online directory to check whether a hospital is accredited.
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Colorado Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA)
CVMA is the state professional association for Colorado veterinarians. It lists Colorado's state-required continuing education courses and helps licensees with renewal and CE compliance, though it does not manage veterinary licenses itself, that falls to DORA.
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Colorado Association of Certified Veterinary Technicians (CACVT)
CACVT is the state professional association for credentialed veterinary technicians in Colorado. It can verify an individual's original certification date, credential history, or past credential status for another state or a VTS application through a State Verification request.
Consumer protection
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Colorado Attorney General - Consumer Protection Section
This state office handles consumer fraud and deceptive business practice complaints, including billing or service disputes that could involve a veterinary practice. Its Consumer Fraud Unit takes in and investigates complaints under the Colorado Consumer Protection Act, and since 2023 it runs a Consumer Mediation Program to resolve disputes between consumers and businesses through informal negotiation. It does not provide legal advice or represent individuals, and cannot investigate or prosecute individual cases.
Visit website → Phone: 1-800-222-4444
Financial assistance
This is general information, not financial advice. Confirm eligibility and terms directly with each program.
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American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF)
AVMF is the charitable arm of the AVMA. Gifts through AVMF support charitable care of injured or abandoned animals, disaster relief, education, and research into animal diseases, and it administers grants that can help offset veterinary costs.
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