Dr. Jeff Young is 57 years old

Dr. Jeff Young, the veterinarian known for the Animal Planet series Dr. Jeff: Rocky Mountain Vet, was born on August 1, 1966. That makes him 57 as of 2024. He runs the Rocky Mountain Veterinary Clinic in Denver, Colorado, where he has worked for decades treating exotic animals, wildlife, and domestic pets.

His age is relevant mainly because his career spans nearly four decades in veterinary practice. He did not start his clinic yesterday or build it in a few years — the depth of his experience comes from sustained work over a long period, which is why the show focuses on complex cases that require that kind of background.

Key Takeaways

  • Dr. Jeff Young was born August 1, 1966, making him 57 years old in 2024.
  • He has run the Rocky Mountain Veterinary Clinic in Denver for more than 30 years.
  • His television series Dr. Jeff: Rocky Mountain Vet began airing in 2014 and continues to run.
  • His practice focuses on exotic animals, wildlife rehabilitation, and emergency cases alongside routine veterinary care.

His Path to Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Young earned his veterinary degree from Colorado State University's College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. He started his career in the 1980s, which means he trained during an era when exotic animal medicine and wildlife care were less standardized than they are now. That background shaped how he approaches cases — he often works without a script or a predetermined outcome, because the animals he treats do not follow textbook protocols.

His early years in practice overlapped with the growth of emergency veterinary medicine as a specialty. Many of the techniques and approaches he uses now were developed or refined during his own career, not learned from a textbook written before he started.

The Rocky Mountain Veterinary Clinic and Its Scope

Dr. Young founded the Rocky Mountain Veterinary Clinic in Denver in the early 1990s. The clinic operates as a full-service practice but is known especially for taking on cases other vets turn down — animals with severe injuries, exotic species, and wildlife that need emergency care. The clinic also runs a rehabilitation program for injured wildlife.

Because the clinic is in Denver, it serves both urban pet owners and people from the surrounding mountain region. That geographic position means Dr. Young's team treats everything from house cats and dogs to bears, mountain lions, and birds of prey. The variety of cases is one reason the show has sustained interest — there is no predictable routine.

His Television Career and Public Profile

Animal Planet began filming at the Rocky Mountain Veterinary Clinic in 2014, when Dr. Young was 47 years old and already well established in his practice. The show, Dr. Jeff: Rocky Mountain Vet, documents his work with animals and his staff. It has run for multiple seasons and introduced him to a much larger audience than his clinic alone would reach.

The television work did not change what he does — it documented what he was already doing. His age at the time the show started means he brought decades of experience to the camera, not a newly minted practice trying to build credibility through media exposure.

Why His Age Matters to His Work

In veterinary medicine, experience compounds. A vet at 30 has seen certain conditions; a vet at 57 has seen them multiple times across different animals, different seasons, and different circumstances. Dr. Young's age reflects the fact that he has treated thousands of animals over nearly 40 years. That history informs how he diagnoses, how he handles emergencies, and how he decides when to try a treatment versus when to refer or change course.

His staff at the clinic includes younger veterinarians and technicians. That mix — experienced leadership with newer practitioners — is common in established practices and allows knowledge to transfer across generations.

His Family and Personal Life

Dr. Young is married and has adult children. His family has been part of the clinic's story, though the show focuses primarily on the work itself rather than his personal life. His wife, Petra, has appeared on the show in limited capacity, but the clinic and the animals are the center of the public narrative.

He has spoken in interviews about the toll that emergency veterinary work takes, especially cases involving animal suffering or death. At 57, he has had time to develop coping strategies and perspective that younger practitioners are still building.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dr. Jeff still practicing veterinary medicine?

Yes. As of 2024, Dr. Jeff continues to run the Rocky Mountain Veterinary Clinic and the show remains in production. His age has not led him to step back from active practice — he still works with animals directly, not just supervising staff.

How long has Dr. Jeff been a veterinarian?

He has been practicing veterinary medicine for approximately 38 to 40 years, having graduated from veterinary school in the mid-1980s. He founded his own clinic in the early 1990s, so he has owned and operated the Rocky Mountain Veterinary Clinic for roughly 30 years.

Did Dr. Jeff go to veterinary school in Colorado?

Yes. He earned his veterinary degree from Colorado State University's College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, which is located in Fort Collins, Colorado. That education kept him in the state where he has built his entire career.

What animals does Dr. Jeff treat most often?

His clinic treats domestic pets like dogs and cats, but is known for handling exotic animals and wildlife — bears, mountain lions, birds of prey, and other species that most veterinary practices do not have the equipment or training to manage. The mix of routine and emergency cases is part of what makes the show compelling.