Home - San Juan Veterinary Clinic

In Memoriam

It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of our colleague and friend, Melody. Melody was a dedicated team member who brought deep compassion, dedication, talent, spirit and warmth to every day. Her commitment to excellence and genuine care for others left a lasting impact on all who had the privilege of working alongside her.

Melody will be remembered for her kindness, integrity, and the positive energy she brought into our workplace. She exemplified the values we strive for and enriched our community in countless ways.

Melody will forever be with us in spirit, and will continue to guide us in our pursuit of excellence.

We are a full-service companion animal care hospital in Montrose, Colorado,
offering exceptional state-of-the-art medical care.

We strive for perfection in the care of your furry family.

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Emergency care

We offer emergency services to existing clients (that means we have seen you in the last 18months and have current vaccines).
For all others, please contact your regular veterinarian or the nearest emergency hospital in Grand Junction:
Grand Valley Emergency Vet 970-255-1911
Animal ER of Western Slope 970-525-0911

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Communication Code of Conduct

Our practice strives to have clear, calm, polite and respectful communication with our clients. We all need to be respectful of each other’s time and strive to have efficient and effective interactions for the benefit of all.

These ideals facilitate positive outcomes in all aspects of our interactions. Without this cooperative effort there can be challenges that adversely affect the experience for everyone. We will not tolerate offensive or aggressive communication towards our staff.

We appreciate your patronage and strive for positive interactions. We are happy to transfer your pet(s) records if you do not share the same vision.

Our Services

Dentistry

Exceptional Dental Care Commonly referred to as a “Dental” or “Teeth Cleaning”, a thorough, professional oral cleaning and assessment is essential for patient health and comfort. Animals quietly endure severe dental disease and pain without showing any signs of discomfort. Many clients are more concerned about the anesthesia; than the disease, infection and chronic pain associated with untreated dental disease. Attempting to perform dental care without appropriate sedation is unsafe, ineffective and cruel. We provide exceptional dental care, using optimal anesthetic techniques and monitoring protocols for patient safety. We are dedicated to providing referral quality dental care and advanced dental […]

Diagnostic Laboratory Services

In House Blood Analysis We generally do not need to send routine samples to an outside laboratory; we are capable of performing extensive diagnostic blood work, on multiple patients, 24 hours a day and have the results in minutes. It is imperative to have this information quickly to make accurate and timely treatment recommendations to provide the exceptional care your companion needs. Endoscopy Endoscopy allows a visual examination of internal organs and body parts without invasive exploratory surgery. An endoscope also allows for a less painful way to document a disease process. Small biopsies may be taken to help make […]

Internal Medicine

The branch of veterinary medicine that deals with the diagnosis and (non surgical) treatment of diseases. We have the experience and diagnostic tools to identify and treat the most extensive of internal medicine diseases. Through blood work, cytology, tonometry, ultrasound, endoscopy, digital x-ray and other diagnostic tools we can help you determine the best course of treatment for your companion. With our complete in-house laboratory, most samples can be analyzed and the results reviewed in a matter of minutes. Ophthalmic Examination Your eyes are precious and so are your pet’s. If eye diseases are not properly identified and treated quickly […]

Laser Therapy

We have a Class IV Therapy Laser! This unit can only be purchased and used by medical professionals, and is among the most powerful medical lasers available. With our training, knowledge and experience we can provide tremendous benefit to our patients. Laser therapy is an FDA-approved treatment modality that helps decrease pain, reduce inflammation and promotes healing. Laser therapy is very effective in treating acute and chronic conditions. Laser therapy treatments are safe, effective, painless and fast. Treatments for superficial injuries can take a couple of minutes or less, treatments on deeper tissues may take 5 to 10 minutes. Some […]

Surgery

San Juan Veterinary Clinic provides exceptional surgical care We perform many surgeries, some of which are not commonly performed at most veterinary practices. SJVC has made tremendous investment in equipment and training to be able to provide this level of service. We are proud to provide these services, right here on the Western Slope. Having surgery done close to home helps allow you and your companion to be more at ease and makes for much easier follow-up visits. Here are just a few of the advanced surgeries we can routinely perform: TPLO (Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy) Laryngeal Paralysis Tie-back (Lar-Par […]

Chemotherapy

The word “cancer” instills a great deal of fear in most people. Almost everyone knows someone who has battled this dreaded condition. Animals get cancer, too. As with people, it is important to identify the cell type of cancer. The many different “cell-types” have dramatically different biologic behaviors within the body. Identifying the type of cancer and the area of the body affected helps your veterinarian to give you information you need to choose the best course of treatment. A thorough physical examination and some basic tests need to be done to start the assessment of the condition. With this […]

Meet our Vets.

We know your pets will like them as much as we do!

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Meet our Staff.

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Pet of the Month

We love your pets, so we’re showcasing them.

Bonnie

🎉🐾 May Pet of the Month: Bonnie! 🐾🎉 Proudly loved by Mike and Sandy

Meet Bonnie — a truly remarkable girl who’s showing us all how to age with grace, grit, and plenty of tail wags. At 16 years old, she’s still enjoying life’s simple joys and making every day count.

🌄 Favorite things to do together: Heading up to Lake City for walks, fresh mountain air, and a good swim.

🏊 Does Bonnie enjoy swimming? Absolutely — she still takes short, refreshing dips like a champ.

🧸 Favorite toy: Any stuffed animal she can get her paws on.

🍃 Favorite treat: Greenies — always a hit.

🛏️ Favorite place to sleep: The garage, her cozy and familiar spot.

🌟 Special talents: Just being alive and thriving at 16 is impressive enough — but still swimming? That’s Bonnie-level extraordinary.

🤣 Quirky or funny behaviors: Rolling on her back with pure joy, especially when there’s snow on the ground.

We’re honored to celebrate Bonnie this month — a senior sweetheart who reminds us that every age is a good age to enjoy life.

Click here for the Pet of the Month page!

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🐱🕷️ Why Cats Rarely Get Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is a big concern for dogs and people, but it’s surprisingly uncommon in cats. Here’s why your feline friend is naturally less at risk:

🧼 Exceptional Groomers
Cats remove many ticks on their own simply through constant grooming. Most ticks are brushed off before they can transmit Lyme bacteria.

🌿 Lower Exposure
Dogs explore tall grass, brush, and trails—prime tick zones. Many cats (especially indoor cats) stick close to home and encounter fewer ticks overall.

🛡️ Unique Immune Response
Studies suggest cats respond differently to Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. Their immune system may prevent the infection from taking hold as easily.

🕷️ Tick Preferences
The tick species most likely to transmit Lyme disease tend to prefer dogs and humans over cats, which lowers feline risk even further.

😼 Often No Symptoms
Even when exposed, many cats never show signs of illness. This doesn’t mean they’re immune—it just means they handle the bacteria differently.

🛡️ Prevention Still Matters
Outdoor cats can still get tick bites, so protection is important:
✔️ Use vet‑approved tick preventives made for cats
✔️ Check your cat after outdoor time
✔️ Keep grass trimmed and remove leaf litter
✔️ Stay aware of local tick activity here in Western Colorado ... See MoreSee Less