5 Veterinary Urgent Care Options in Denver for After-Hours Needs

When a pet becomes sick or injured outside regular veterinary hours, knowing where to go can feel overwhelming. Denver itself offers a strong network of veterinary clinics, urgent care centers, and emergency hospitals but pet parents don’t always live within city limits.

In reality, the Denver metro area functions as a shared care ecosystem. Families in surrounding communities such as Arvada, Lakewood, Edgewater, Belmar, Wheat Ridge, and other nearby cities often rely on clinics near Denver for after-hours veterinary support, especially when local options are limited or closed in the evenings and on weekends.

That’s why this guide looks beyond Denver proper to highlight veterinary urgent care options near Denver; clinics that many pet parents across the metro area turn to when timely care is needed.

Urgent care clinics play a critical role in this landscape. They help address non-life-threatening but time-sensitive concerns such as vomiting, limping, ear or eye infections, allergic reactions, or sudden changes in behavior, without the intensity or long waits often associated with full emergency hospitals.

Below are five veterinary urgent care and emergency care options near Denver, offering a common first stop for after-hours care across both Denver and its surrounding communities.

1. Sploot Veterinary Care

Extended-hours urgent care with a modern, pet-first approach

Sploot has become one of the most trusted names in urgent veterinary care near Denver, particularly for pet parents seeking evening, weekend, or same-day appointments. 

With clinics located across Denver neighborhoods including Highlands, Belmar, Central Park, Commons Park, and Greenwood Village,, as well as nearby communities like Arvada, Sploot offers a practical solution when regular veterinary offices are closed but a pet still needs prompt medical attention.

For families outside Denver city limits, Sploot also provides full fledged services in Arvada vet hospital for sick pets, especially for urgent but stable conditions that require timely evaluation without the intensity of a full emergency room visit.

What Sploot is best known for:

• Excellence: High-quality care and customer experience 

• Honesty: Transparent, honest  human-first communication

• Ease: Seamless and stress-free experiences

• Warm: Always approachable, down to earth, and empathetic

• Available and responsive 7 days a week care designed around real-life needs 

• Education: Focus on educating  pet parents to stay proactive—not reactive

Common urgent issues Sploot treats:

• Vomiting or diarrhea

• Ear and eye infections

• Skin irritation and allergic reactions

• Limping or minor injuries

• Sudden changes in behavior or appetite

Sploot is designed for urgent but non-critical concerns; the kinds of issues that shouldn’t wait days for an appointment but don’t always require emergency hospitalization. When a condition does need escalation, Sploot’s veterinary teams help guide pet parents toward appropriate emergency care options.

For many households across the Denver metro area, Sploot has become a dependable first stop for after-hours care that balances speed, medical quality, and a calmer experience for pets and their people.

2. Animal Urgent Care

Focused care when regular clinics are closed

Animal Urgent Care clinics are built specifically to handle urgent medical needs that fall outside standard veterinary office hours. These clinics typically operate during evenings, weekends, and holidays, helping bridge the gap between daytime practices and emergency hospitals.

Conditions commonly seen at urgent care clinics:

• Sudden vomiting or diarrhea

• Minor wounds or bite injuries

• Lameness or mobility issues

• Ear, eye, and skin problems

• Mild pain or discomfort

Because these clinics are not designed for intensive or critical care, they often provide faster service and lower costs compared to emergency hospitals. If a pet’s condition becomes more serious, urgent care teams can refer pet parents to emergency facilities.

3. UrgentVet

After-hours care for non-life-threatening concerns

UrgentVet follows a clear and transparent model: treat urgent cases quickly and refer emergencies when necessary. Their clinics are intended for pets that need prompt medical attention but are stable enough to avoid emergency hospitalization.

Pet parents often visit UrgentVet for:

• Gastrointestinal upset

• Allergic reactions

• Urinary issues

• Eye and ear infections

• Minor injuries or wounds

UrgentVet clinics typically welcome walk-ins and aim to keep wait times shorter than traditional ERs. For Denver pet parents dealing with late-night or weekend issues, this model can provide reassurance without overmedicalization.

4. Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG)

24/7 emergency care when urgent becomes critical

Veterinary Emergency Group plays a crucial role in Denver’s after-hours care ecosystem. While not an urgent care clinic, VEG is often where pets are taken when symptoms are severe or rapidly worsening.

VEG is appropriate for:

• Difficulty breathing

• Seizures or collapse

• Severe trauma or bleeding

• Suspected poisoning

• Acute neurological symptoms

VEG hospitals operate 24/7 and are fully equipped for emergency diagnostics, surgery, and hospitalization. Their open-concept treatment model allows pet parents to stay close to their pets during care, which many find comforting during high-stress situations.

5. VRCC Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Hospital

Advanced emergency and specialty services

VRCC (Veterinary Referral Center of Colorado) is a long-established emergency and specialty hospital serving the Denver metro area. This facility is best suited for complex, severe, or referral-based cases, rather than routine urgent concerns.

VRCC commonly handles:

• Critical emergencies requiring hospitalization

• Advanced diagnostic imaging

• Surgical interventions

• Specialty care (internal medicine, neurology, oncology)

Pet parents are often referred to VRCC by urgent care clinics or primary veterinarians when a condition requires advanced expertise or overnight monitoring.

Urgent Care vs Emergency Care: How to Decide

Knowing whether to seek urgent care or emergency care can save valuable time—and reduce unnecessary stress.

Urgent care may be appropriate if your pet has:

• Vomiting or diarrhea but is alert

• Mild limping or discomfort

• Ear, eye, or skin issues

• Minor cuts or wounds

• Sudden but stable behavioral changes

Emergency care is needed if your pet shows:

• Trouble breathing

• Collapse or seizures

• Severe bleeding or trauma

• Ingestion of toxins

• Extreme pain or distress

Clinics like Sploot and other urgent care providers often help pet parents assess symptoms and determine whether escalation is necessary.

Why Urgent Care Clinics Matter Near Denver

As the Denver region continues to grow, so does the need for flexible veterinary care that fits modern schedules. Urgent care clinics reduce pressure on emergency hospitals while giving pet parents faster access to treatment when regular clinics are closed especially for those living in the outskirts and slightly far away..

Benefits of urgent care include:

• Shorter wait times

• More predictable costs

• Less overwhelming environments

• Care aligned with busy urban and suburban lifestyles

Sploot’s presence across Denver neighborhoods and nearby cities reflects this shift, offering accessible care without sacrificing quality or compassion.

Final Thoughts

After-hours pet health concerns are never easy, but having clear options makes decision-making far less stressful. Whether it’s Urgent Vet’s extended-hours urgent care, a dedicated urgent care clinic, or a full emergency hospital for critical situations in different areas as of Sploot, Denver pet parents have access to a strong network of care.

Understanding **where to go and when** can make all the difference in protecting your pet’s health and your peace of mind.