Foothills Animal Hospital logo
Foothills Animal Hospital
Lakewood, Colorado

Veterinarian | Foothills Animal Hospital

VeterinarianFull-Time

Listed compensation

$115k-$140k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 1mo ago · Verified live

Job Description

Practice

Foothills Animal Hospital was established in 1979. We specialize in customer care, family-feeling style practice, small animal dental care, and general surgery.

Foothills Animal Hospital is a custom-built clinic located in the heart of Green Mountain. We have long-term clients that have been coming here for over 40 years.

Position Purpose

Foothills Animal Hospital is excited to welcome an Associate Veterinarian to our team in beautiful Lakewood, Colorado! Whether you're an experienced veterinarian looking for your next great practice or a new graduate ready to begin your career with a supportive team, we'd love to meet you.

Serving the Lakewood community since 1979, Foothills Animal Hospital has built lasting relationships with generations of clients and their pets. We pride ourselves on maintaining the welcoming, family-style atmosphere of a neighborhood practice while providing high-quality, comprehensive veterinary medicine.

Our collaborative team values open communication, teamwork, and creating an environment where everyone feels supported. For a new graduate, you'll find veterinarians who are excited to provide mentorship and help you build confidence as you develop your skills. For an experienced doctor, we offer the opportunity to practice with autonomy, pursue your clinical interests, and become an important part of an established and close-knit team.

Foothills is a full-service small animal hospital offering preventive and wellness care, dentistry, in-house diagnostics, ultrasound, general and orthopedic surgery, acupuncture, laser therapy, and more. With a diverse caseload and a team committed to continued learning, there's plenty of opportunity to practice the medicine you enjoy while continuing to grow professionally.

Why Foothills?

What truly sets Foothills apart is our people and our culture. We're a team that enjoys working together, supports one another, and shares a genuine commitment to our patients, clients, and community. Many of our clients have trusted Foothills with their pets for decades, creating the kind of long-term relationships that make general practice so rewarding.

And when the workday is over, Lakewood is an incredible place to call home. Located just west of Denver at the base of the Rocky Mountains, the area offers easy access to hiking, biking, skiing, and endless outdoor recreation while keeping all the dining, entertainment, and amenities of the Denver metro within reach.

If you're looking for a practice where you can practice great medicine, continue to grow, and genuinely enjoy the people you work alongside, we'd love to hear from you!

Essential Responsibilities

  • Examine and treat companion animals to detect and determine the nature of disease or injuries.
  • Operate diagnostic equipment and collect diagnostic samples as well as interpret results.
  • Advise pet owners on preventative care and treatment options.
  • Perform surgery and prescribe medication as needed.
  • Provide counsel around pet end of life care.
  • Maintain patients’ medical records.
  • Ensures compliance with veterinary ethics and relevant statues, policies, and procedures.

Requirements/Qualifications

  • DVM/VMD degree from an accredited AVMA institution.
  • Appropriate state licensure.
  • Eligibility to obtain DEA/BNDD.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • Demonstrates professional and courteous presentation consistently with staff and clients.
  • Ability to lift patients and carry equipment up to 25 pounds; ability to lift patients or carry equipment over 25 pounds with assistance.
  • Benefits Offered
  • Unlimited personal time
  • Bonus incentives
  • Health insurance; dental insurance; vision insurance
  • Retirement benefits (401(k), Roth(k) with match)
  • CE and licensure reimbursement
  • Flexible work schedules
  • Managing career path development
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • DVM Referral Program
  • Mental Health Resources
  • Relocation assistance available

Pay Range

USD $115,000.00 - USD $140,000.00 /Yr.

Key Responsibilities

The veterinarian will examine, diagnose, and treat companion animals while performing surgeries and interpreting diagnostic tests. They are also responsible for advising pet owners on preventative care and maintaining accurate medical records.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a DVM or VMD degree from an accredited AVMA institution and possess appropriate state licensure. Excellent communication skills and the ability to handle physical requirements related to patient care are required.

Qualifications

Education
Doctoral or professional degree (postgraduate degree)

Certifications

DEA License

Key Skills

Small animal surgeryDiagnostic imagingClient communicationMedical record maintenanceClinical diagnosticsPatient examinationTreatment planning

Veterinary Medicine Career Context

The cost-of-living index for Colorado is 103.1 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$128k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $124k in an average-cost state. 60.9% of Colorado clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Of the 50 active Veterinary Medicine listings this role was benchmarked against, 2% are remote, 74% have no call, 90% require no weekends.

Top Veterinarian Jobs

12 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution12 jobs · 11 employers

3
<$150k
3
$150k
2
$160k
1
$175k
3
$180k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks12 jobs · 11 employers

Sign-on bonus
92%
401k / retirement match
92% this job
Relocation assistance
83% this job
CME allowance
67%
Loan repayment
17%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Associate Veterinarian

PETCO Animal Supplies Stores · Westminster, Colorado

$88k-$186k
#2

Veterinarian

Pure Paws Veterinary Care · New York, New York

$160k-$180k
#3

Veterinarian

$160k-$180k
#4

Customer Development Consulting Veterinarian

$118k-$175k
+ 10 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.0this job 2.8
Better work-life than 20% of Veterinary Medicine listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 3,108 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Lakewood

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$557k≈ 4.8× annual pay
Typical market rent
$1,800/mo≈ 19% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
26 min
State income tax
Up to 4.4%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.

Foothills Animal Hospital logo

About Foothills Animal Hospital

Benefits & Perks

Unlimited personal time
Bonus incentives
Health insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Retirement benefits (401(k), Roth(k) with match)
CE and licensure reimbursement
Flexible work schedules