Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital

Unfortunately, this is a Tale of Two (Vets) On my initial visit, I was met with so much kindness, appreciation, and compassion for my dog. Drs Bartner (faculty) and Jackson (the resident) were great, as was Rae (student). However, a week later and 1 day prior to a scheduled procedure for my dog, I started receiving calls with new and different information regarding the procedure Neurology was to do. 1 treatment turned to 3 mandatory treatments over 6 weeks... and being told i needed to make a decision immediately if i was going to proceed! WHOA! This isn't a simple nail trim! I followed up with an email that definitely had some tones of aggravation, but after the latest faculty member rotating through sent a very defensive and aggressive email (which included NEW & DIFFERENT info than her resident provided!), I replied with an apology for being upset. One would expect the "professional" Dr Stephanie McGrath to understand, but nope! She followed up with yet ANOTHER aggressive email. Needless to say, I have zero confidence or faith that this particular NEUROLOGY rotation of Dr McGrath and Dr Ukai would administer excellent care. It's sad to say, but using CSU for veterinary care is hit or miss. Some faculty are dedicated to making excellent veterinarians while others are focused on simply focusing on technical skills. So disappointing.

The CSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital is truly outstanding! I am beyond impressed with the level of care and compassion they provided. My 9-year-old small dog, Stella, has struggled with IVDD for years, and recently, she slipped a disc, causing hind-leg paralysis. We initially took her to an ER in Denver, where we had a terrible experience. Desperate for better care, I turned to social media for referrals, and the response was unanimous - go to CSU. We made the drive to Fort Collins, hoping for the best, and CSU exceeded every expectation. From the moment we arrived at the ER, we were welcomed with kindness. The front desk receptionist, Stacey, was incredibly friendly and compassionate. Nurse Erin triaged Stella with such empathy and care. In the ER, we met fourth-year resident Maddy and Dr. Wettig, both of whom took the time to listen to my concerns and displayed genuine care for Stella’s well-being. Stella was admitted overnight, had an MRI in the morning, and underwent surgery that same afternoon. Dr. Takeshita, the resident who performed the surgery, along with faculty member Dr. Erickson and fourth-year resident Jordan, kept us constantly informed about Stella’s condition and treatment plan. I believe they checked in on us at least six times on the day of her surgery! Their communication and attentiveness reassured us that she was in the best hands. At Stella’s discharge appointment, I had the chance to meet Dr. Takeshita and Jordan, who took the time to thoroughly explain her post-op care. Their warmth and expertise were a beacon of light during one of the hardest weeks of our lives. I also met rehab specialist Laura, whose encouragement and knowledge gave me confidence in caring for Stella at home. I cannot express my gratitude enough. Thanks to CSU, my little girl is on the path to recovery. Their dedication, compassion, and love for what they do are unmatched. If you’re looking for exceptional veterinary care, look no further. Thank you, CSU team, for everything - you all are truly amazing!

Had to make the tough decision to let my sweet bunny Latte pass. The team here showed nothing but love and compassion to her and to my family. When I brought her in, I could see and feel how they were doing everything to help her. They really do care. It is a difficult process, but they helped me and my sweet love feel comfortable so she could have an easy passing. Thank you so much for everything you did for my Latte. She was my everything and I know she is in peace no longer in pain. Thank you.

I’ve always had terrific experiences with CSU’s specialty services, and their emergency/urgent care was no different when I brought my dog in for lethargy and loss of appetite. From start to finish, the experience was incredibly kind, compassionate, and seamless. The urgent care representative promptly stood up to check on my dog’s status as soon as I entered the lobby. Within 10 minutes, a team of students warmly greeted me and took my dog back to assess his vitals, immediately putting me at ease. A fourth-year DVM student soon took a thorough and thoughtful history, showing incredible kindness and patience. Not long after, the supervising DVM, Dr. Jessie Warhoe, and the fourth-year student, Maddie, returned with an initial assessment and a clear plan. They recommended baseline lab work and, depending on the findings, fluids and anti-nausea medication. They kept me informed every step of the way. Thankfully, the lab results were all normal, and they explained the next steps with clarity and care. The entire process felt thorough without ever being rushed. Compared to other veterinary emergency visits, this one felt very reasonably priced. I worked comfortably from the lobby while waiting, and the staff’s kindness and professionalism made the experience much easier. The best part? My primary veterinarian texted me to check on my dog before I even got home — CSU had already sent the information. It truly felt like a team of veterinary professionals was supporting us. I am beyond grateful for the compassionate and skilled care my dog received at CSU’s urgent care. Thank you to Dr. Warhoe, Maddie, and the entire team for your kindness and dedication!

It’s been a year since we brought our oldest furkid here after being injured. She has always been healthy which was very much in her favor during all of this. We get to celebrate her 12th birthday next week because of CSU. The staff is extremely kind, very helpful, knowledgeable and they have the latest and greatest in veterinary medicine. Considering everything that had to be done, I also found their bill to be very reasonable and after this experience, I don’t want to take any of our dogs anywhere else.