Evolution Veterinary Specialists - Lakewood, Colorado

Carol T.

The entire staff was genuinely concerned about my dogs health issues. The doctor was so kind, supportive and professional. I was so upset. She gave me many options to pursue. The exceptional and distinctive aspect to this experience is that the doctor then called me the next day. She wanted to see how we were doing. She was able to recommend a vet hospital that dealt with neurology. I was actually thinking about putting my dog down but after we went and saw a neurologist my dogs future is bright. I am so grateful!!

Kirsten S.

A Grateful Heart in the Midst of Grief

The past three months have been some of the hardest my husband and I have ever faced. Just two and a half years after losing our son, we found ourselves navigating another heartbreaking loss. The weight of our grief has been immense, but through it all, our friends at Evolution have been by our side, offering unwavering support, love, and kindness. I cannot express enough gratitude for the way they have carried us through this painful time.

Just before Christmas, our beloved Chance went into heart failure. We rushed him to VEG, where they stabilized him and referred us to Evolution to see a cardiology specialist. From the moment we walked through their doors, they were expecting us and immediately took Chance in, ensuring he was safe and stable. After an echocardiogram, we discussed a plan for his care. Because of them, he was able to come home and spend Christmas with us. For a month, he did well, and we cherished every moment.

At his follow-up appointment, we saw signs that he was struggling again. Our wonderful nurse and doctor recommended one more medication, hoping it would give him more time and a good quality of life. We tried everything, but two days later, Chance stopped breathing at home. We were devastated and in shock. Even though it was after hours, I called Evolution, and they could not have been kinder. When we arrived, we were met with such love and compassion. In one of my darkest moments, they held me up, wrapping me in comfort and peace.

Chance was 11, and his best friend, BW, was 15. BW struggled deeply after losing his brother. We worked with our vet, doing everything we could to help him, and for a while, we saw glimmers of hope. But as time passed, BW stopped eating, then walking. We had an appointment scheduled for Tuesday, but on Sunday night, during the President’s Day holiday weekend, BW went to sleep and passed away in the night. We were absolutely heartbroken.

At 1:30 a.m., unsure of what to do, I once again leaned on my friends at Evolution. Without hesitation, they answered my call with kindness and compassion, guiding us through what to do next. Every single interaction we have had with Evolution has been filled with gentleness, love, and understanding.

Today, I picked up BW’s remains, and I was completely overwhelmed with grief. The woman at the front desk was so kind and calm—just like every person we have encountered at Evolution. A few weeks ago, we received a beautiful handwritten card from them, filled with personal messages of love and shared sorrow for Chance. It wasn’t just a standard sympathy note—it was real, heartfelt, and filled with care. That meant the world to us.

The night Chance passed, our incredible nurse spoke to BW like she was his aunt—not just as if she was, but because in that moment, she truly was. She shared a story of losing her pet turtle, connecting with us in a way that made us feel seen and understood.

Losing both of our boys has been unbearable, especially coming so soon after the loss of our son. But Evolution made it just a little more bearable. They brought peace to our heartbreak, and I cannot begin to thank them enough. If you are a pet owner, I wholeheartedly recommend Evolution. These are the people who will hold you in your grief, honor your beloved pets, and surround you with love when you need it most.

From the bottom of my heart—thank you, Evolution. I don’t know what I would have done without you.

Wenli

EVS saved our 8 year old bunny when we brought her in with stasis symptoms and a distended stomach. While it was a long wait since they were very busy, they were up front about costs and the treatment plan. They were able to explain things to us clearly and recommend a treatment plan that worked for our bunny. Our bunny is now home safe. Fair warning, emergency vets are expensive! We hospitalized our bun overnight and all in all it was close to $4,000. However, like I said, they were up front about the costs and we felt it was all well worth it for our bun to recover from a very scary stomach blockage. Thank you to the techs and vets who assisted us!

Kathryn C.

All I can say is, WOW. It's hard to find dedicated vets for exotic small animals. This team has gone above and beyond expectations. I have taken in my hamster twice for medical issues and every time, they have treated my hamster with respect and compassion. They even reached out via text to check on my hamsters well-being! I took my dying ham in just the week and they took her in immediately, they truly care about their patients and the owners. I would recommend this vet hospital to any pet owner, but especially exotics because they are so hard to find.

Christopher H.

This story has been a long time coming. These events took place in April of 2023, the night of the 8th, early morning of the 9th. We weren't ready to write this right after it happened and then of course life got in the way.

My partner, Mikayla, brought our 10 year old female mixed breed dog, Jess, to Evolution Veterinary after she wasn’t doing well, and our regular vet was closed (it was 9 PM). Unfortunately, our experience was not positive. From the moment we arrived, there seemed to be an overwhelming focus on urgency and financial pressure rather than clear, compassionate care. Before any treatment, we were asked for a $2,000 down payment, and we later received a bill totaling an additional $7,300. The clinic seemed more interested in credit services with QR codes plastered everywhere than in providing clear, ethical care. We were told she needed emergency surgery. Mikayla left the facility believing we had made the correct choice. That Jess had a chance..

Later that night we received a call.. after the surgery, Jess began crashing again, and we were immediately pressured into considering a SECOND surgery. At this point we were able, in the absence of all of the pressure tactics, to make the correct choice and have Jess euthanized. The entire process felt like it was more about maximizing compensation than genuinely focusing on Jess’s well-being.

After a day or two of processing all that went down, a family member recommended we request a clinical summary of treatment. It was when we received this document we realized that. Jess did not go into surgery until almost 1:00 AM, nearly 4 hours after arriving at Evolution. She lay there sedated and dying. I would never have thought that's all that speed and urgency to perform that $9,304.51 would count for. In hindsight, we feel like we spent nearly $10,000 for our dog to die a slow and painful death.

When we went to pick up Jess’s remains, we were disheartened to find that her collar was missing. The staff seemed indifferent when we asked about it, almost off-putting, though they did eventually find and return it.

We are certain a more traditional and certainly pragmatic vet would have recommended euthanasia as the best option, given Jess’s age and symptoms. While we ultimately made the decisions ourselves, we felt that Evolution Veterinary was more motivated by financial gain than by what was best for Jess.

We share our experience to help other pet owners make informed decisions. Our goal isn’t to discourage seeking emergency care but to make sure others know what to expect. It’s essential to choose a vet that prioritizes the well-being of the animal and doesn’t exploit emotional moments for profit. This was an awful experience not just because of the loss of our family pet but also because of how Evolution Veterinary handled the entire situation. Be cautious doing business with those that covet money above doing the right thing

Jessica G.

I recently had to bring my clients pet to the emergency vet, and while it was a stressful experience, Ebony made all the difference. From the moment we arrived, she was welcoming, compassionate, and truly caring. Her dedication and care for both the animals and their owners were clear, and I’m so grateful for her presence. Thank you, Ebony, for being the bright spot in an otherwise challenging experience. Roman and I thank you!

Lexy L.

Runis/Tunas mom here. I have to say as heartbreaking as the diagnosis and outcome of my baby's cancer battle, I havw to say Dr Sam Hocker, and his tech Kayla went above and freaking beyond. Worked with us with weird scheduling, and us going out of town having friends bring him in for continued care. They made sure that my baby didn't die alone. For everything they have done, I cannot thank them enough! - only crap thing we did deal with was the asshole pharmacy chick with dreadlocks rude af and yelled at me when I asked for smaller needles for the subqu meds I had to give my cat. Gave me 20g needle and told me to suck it up, and that I will need to pay for needles when I return. - the onco department delt with that for me!

Rachel S.

This review is long overdue! We took our cat Jasper in for emergency services about 5 years ago when he was lethargic and not eating. The veterinarians there took great care of him, updated us frequently about his status while running tests, and were very reassuring throughout the process. They diagnosed him with diabetes and they were very diligent with us about treatment moving forward, how to proceed, how to administer insulin, etc. We could tell they cared greatly for our pet because they wanted to make sure that he was going to receive the proper life-saving care he needed before releasing him back to us.

I can say with pride that he is down to a normal weight, still plays like a kitten, and while he did not go into remission- his diabetes is under control and tests at normal levels daily. We just celebrated his 14th birthday and he's living a fulfilling life thanks to Evolution. I have to thank the vets at this center for caring about our little guy as much as we do. THANK YOU!