A guide to veterinary care in Holladay, Utah — what to look for in a clinic, how Holladay vets compare to nearby SLC neighborhoods, after-hours options, and what to expect for routine and emergency care.
Holladay sits at the foothill edge of the Salt Lake Valley, with Cottonwood Heights and Millcreek as immediate neighbors and easy access to both 700 East and Highland Drive. For a city its size, Holladay punches above its weight in veterinary care — multiple general practice clinics within a 10-minute drive of each other, plus straightforward access to specialty referral hospitals and 24/7 emergency facilities along the I-215 corridor.
This guide covers what Holladay residents should know about local vet options: routine vs. specialty care, what to look for in a clinic, what fair pricing looks like in 2026, and how to handle emergencies after hours.
Most Holladay-area pet owners have three layers of care available:
A Holladay-based GP clinic should be your home base, but you'll want to know — before you need them — which referral hospital and which emergency hospital your vet works with.
The American Animal Hospital Association accredits clinics that meet high standards across roughly 900 quality measures — anesthesia protocols, pain management, sterilization, recordkeeping, staff training. Only about 12–15% of US veterinary hospitals are AAHA-accredited. Several SLC-area clinics carry the accreditation; look for the AAHA logo or ask directly.
Fear Free is a certification program that trains veterinary staff to use low-stress handling techniques — minimizing fear, anxiety, and stress during visits. Fear Free clinics use synthetic pheromones, non-slip exam table mats, gentle restraint, and treats during procedures. For anxious dogs and cats, this can be the difference between a usable vet relationship and a yearly trauma.
Roughly 40% of US cats don't see a vet annually, in large part because the visit is so stressful. The American Association of Feline Practitioners runs a "Cat Friendly Practice" certification — separate cat waiting areas, cat-only exam rooms, and feline-specific handling. If you have a cat, this designation matters.
In 2026, a Holladay vet should offer:
Annual wellness exams in Holladay run $65–$110. The visit typically includes a full physical, weight check, heartworm test, fecal screen for parasites, and a discussion of vaccines and preventives. Plan for 30–45 minutes.
Core canine vaccines (DHPP, rabies, leptospirosis, Bordetella) run $20–$45 per shot. Most Holladay clinics will discount when several are given at the same visit. Lifestyle vaccines like canine influenza and Lyme are recommended based on travel and exposure — your vet should ask before recommending.
Routine spay/neuter at a Holladay GP clinic runs $300–$700 depending on the dog's size and the clinic's anesthesia protocol. Cats run $150–$350. AAHA-accredited clinics typically include pre-anesthetic bloodwork, IV fluids, multimodal pain management, and post-op pain medications in the price — confirm what's included before booking. Lower-cost clinics may bill these separately.
A full anesthetized dental cleaning with X-rays runs $500–$1,000+ in Holladay. The price varies with anesthesia time, X-rays, and any extractions. Skip clinics that offer "anesthesia-free dental" as a primary service — major veterinary organizations consider it ineffective and stressful for the pet.
Basic wellness bloodwork (CBC + chem panel) is $90–$180, urinalysis adds $40–$80, and abdominal X-rays are $150–$300. Ultrasound and CT are usually referred to specialty centers and run several hundred to over a thousand dollars depending on the study.
The Salt Lake metro has several full-service specialty referral hospitals within a 15–20 minute drive of Holladay. Specialties commonly available include:
You'll need a referral from your GP for most specialty work. Ask your Holladay vet which specialty hospitals they refer to and why — preferences are usually based on case experience, not contracts.
Salt Lake City has multiple 24/7 emergency veterinary hospitals concentrated along the I-15 and I-215 corridors. From most of Holladay, you can reach a 24-hour facility in 10–15 minutes.
When to go to the ER vs. wait for your GP:
Go to the ER immediately for:
Call ahead before you arrive. The ER can prep, ready meds, and triage faster if they know you're coming. Save the number in your phone now, before you need it.
Emergency exam fees in SLC start at $150–$250 just to be seen. Itemized treatment is on top — bloodwork, imaging, hospitalization, and surgery can rapidly reach four or five figures. Most emergency hospitals accept CareCredit, Scratchpay, and similar payment plans. Many also offer pet insurance pre-authorization.
If cost is a concern, ask the ER team for a written estimate with high and low ranges before authorizing care, and ask which steps are essential immediately versus which can be done at your GP later.
Once you've narrowed to AAHA-accredited or otherwise reputable clinics, the differences usually come down to fit:
The best way to evaluate fit is a wellness visit on a healthy pet. You'll see how staff handles your animal, how the vet communicates, and whether the practice feels right before you're managing an actual illness or emergency.
For a first appointment with a new Holladay vet, bring:
Holladay residents have strong general practice options nearby and easy access to the broader SLC specialty and emergency network. The best time to choose a vet is before you need urgent care — schedule a wellness visit at a top-rated Holladay clinic, confirm their referral and ER partners, and save those phone numbers in your contacts.
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