A woman in maroon scrubs smiling at a white curly-haired dog in a clinical setting.

A legacy of veterinarian excellence

Built on expertise, guided by compassion, and dedicated to advancing pet care.

Our practice

Founded in 1955 as a one-person general practice, Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital evolved through a pivotal 1994 merger with Denver Veterinary Specialists that united general and specialty care. As a 24-hour emergency, specialty, and primary care hospital, we provide seamless veterinary services — all under one roof.

Our commitment to excellence is reflected in our continuous AAHA accreditation since 1963 — becoming one of the first U.S. hospitals to earn Referral Standards accreditation in 2008.

Three vets in scrubs in a veterinary clinic attending to a large dog on a table.

Our ethos

We set the standard for excellence in veterinary medicine because we believe you and your pet deserve nothing less than superior care.

It’s important to us to maintain open communication with primary veterinarians and pet owners, ensuring every patient receives compassionate treatment that honors the bond between pets and their people.

Veterinary staff attending to a dog on a table in a clinic room.

Our partners

We are a proud member of the Veritas Veterinary Partners family — a national network of specialty and emergency veterinary hospitals across the United States.

Together with our partner hospitals, we are helping bring high-quality, progressive veterinary care across a broad range of fields closer to the pets who need it.

Our people

Our team unites specialized expertise with compassionate care across all departments.

Leadership team

Hospital Director

Bill Cicero, BS, MBA

MEDICAL DIRECTOR, VETERINARY DERMATOLOGIST

Darin Dell, DVM, DACVD

ASSOCIATE MEDICAL DIRECTOR, EMERGENCY VETERINARIAN

Stacy D. Meola, DVM, MS, DACVECC

HOSPITAL SERVICES MANAGER

Brooke Doran, BA, CVT

FACILITIES COORDINATOR

Melissa Kinzer

Trained for
excellence

We are a multi-disciplinary hospital

Behind every response is our team of specialized experts — veterinarians, technicians, assistants, and support staff equipped to bring comfort, healing, and expert care when your pet needs it most.