Paige Lorimer, DVM, CVA

Dr. Paige is a Colorado native with a love for the outdoors and small town living having grown up in Gunnison. Her path to Steamboat took her thru Colorado Springs and then Fort Collins before finding herself at home in Steamboat in 1995. She graduated cum laude with a B.A. from Colorado College in 1990. From there she went on to receive her D.V.M. from Colorado State University in 1995, graduating magna cum laude. Dr. Paige’s first & only veterinary job was with the now retired Dr. Sam Taliaferro in what we all lovingly know today as Pet Kare Clinic.

Dr. Paige loves every aspect of her job, from surgery to dentistry to regular wellness exams. She continued her education by becoming certified in acupuncture in 2004. Dr. Paige enjoys incorporating alternative medicine into treatment plans and spends a lot of time doing arthritis and pain management for pets.

Dr. Paige has 2 super goofy dogs, Walter (13yrs) and Miles (3 years).  Dr. Paige loves to be active – hiking, biking, skiing and fishing whenever she can.

“I have never imagined being anything other than a veterinarian. Pet Kare Clinic was my first job out of vet school 27+ years ago and every day I am thankful  to do this job and live in such a wonderful place. I believe veterinary medicine is an art as much as a science. While the majority of my training is in traditional veterinary medicine, I like to practice integrative medicine as much as possible and have 18 years of experience as a certified veterinary acupuncturist. Our pets are such an important part of our lives and I love seeing that special bond every day. My goals are to listen to what you need and help your pet have a very long, happy and healthy life.”

Susan Colfer, DVM

Dr. Susan Colfer joined Pet Kare Clinic in 1998 after working for two years as a mixed animal veterinarian in Laramie, Wyoming.  She graduated  from the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1996. Since arriving in Steamboat she has raised 2 sons with her husband Kelly, a self employed wildlife biologist and wetlands consultant. Their pet family is down to one cat after many years of lots of critters!.

Dr. Susan loves to work with people and their pets to enhance the wellbeing of their lives through wellness and preventative medicine. She is certified ‘Fear Free’ and passionate about utilizing techniques that will decrease stress, ensure comfort and pain management, especially during the end of life.

As co-owner of Pet Kare Clinic, Dr. Susan strives to foster an environment within the clinic that emphasizes compassionate, high quality, team focused veterinary care. She has been instrumental  in maintaining Pet Kare’s accreditation by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) hospital, which ensures that Pet Kare Clinic delivers the highest standards of care in the veterinary profession.

Equality is important, Dr. Susan strives to create an excellent work place for Pet Kare’s employees, a place where everyone feels supported and appreciated in a profession that has its share of sad times mixed in tremendous amounts of joy and healing.

Dr. Susan is active in the community and  is currently part of Ski Town Rotary and  is also a member of the Routt County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). She served as a 4H leader for the last 8 years until retiring from that once her kids aged out of the program.. In her spare time she loves to ski, hike, bike, travel and spend time with her family. One day she hopes to have a successful garden!

Professional affiliations: AVMA, CVMA, CVM (Colorado Volunteer Mobilizers / CERT).

Cindi Hillemeyer DVM, MSc

Dr. Cindi grew up in Alaska, which she credits for her love of the wilderness and everything in it, as well as enjoying a rural (and snowy) lifestyle. A visit to Steamboat Springs as a teenager brought her to the University of Colorado and collegiate cross-country ski racing.  Later, Sun Valley, Idaho (“Nordic town, USA”) became her home for many years.

Veterinary school took her to Grenada (West Indies) and the University of Pennsylvania, which were amazing experiences.

She worked on her master’s degree concurrently, and was able to spend a summer in Uganda learning about wildlife conservation as well as capture and medicine.  Following graduation she completed an internship at a small animal emergency and specialty hospital outside of San Francisco, CA, which was incredibly busy and valuable! This allowed her to develop skills in non-invasive diagnostic imaging such as endoscopy and ultrasound. Dr. Cindi continues to attend courses in abdominal and cardiac ultrasound and truly enjoys offering this incredible diagnostic tool to Pet Kare clients

“Animals bring so very much to the lives of their human counterparts. I am fortunate to be able to help enhance those relationships through medical care and support, something I’ve dreamed of since I was 10 years old. I strive to treat each pet as my own knowing that every relationship is unique and each human and pet has different needs. Pet Kare Clinic has given me the chance to work closely with compassionate, progressive doctors and staff who all honor this human-animal bond. I am truly enjoying my time in Steamboat Springs, a community full of awesome pets (and owners)!”

Chris Schwarz, DVM

Dr. Schwarz, or Dr. Chris as many know him, was immersed into a world of caring for animals from birth.  Growing up on a farm in Northwest Kansas, he grew up in a life surrounded by all sorts of animals, from cows to kittens.  His love of veterinary medicine grew as his oldest sister began dating his future brother-in-law, who began attending veterinary school.  After spending time with him at the veterinary college and later with him in practice, he knew that his life would follow in his footsteps in one way or another.  Dr. Chris attended Kansas State University majoring in Animal Science.  He was granted admission after his junior year in undergraduate studies into KSU’s Veterinary school, graduating in 2001 with his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine.  He then practiced in a mixed animal practice in south-central Kansas, truly living the James Herriot life-style, seeing everything from sunburned pigs to gunshot dogs.  After 3 years of working in mixed animal practice, Dr. Chris moved to Thornton Colorado.  He was involved with the turn of that practice from a five doctor daytime practice to a busy ten doctor 24 hour facility.  After over 10 years at the practice he and his wife decided to return to a smaller town, bringing them further west to Steamboat Springs and Pet Kare Clinic.

Dr. Chris has special interest in ultrasonography, having furthered his learning extensively through continuing education classes.  He has also furthered his interests in veterinary dentistry and has a strong interest in reproductive medicine.  As with the other doctors at Pet Kare Clinic, he is always researching the latest technology and is continually educating himself to keep the hospital at the cutting edge of veterinary science.  While not at work Dr. Chris is a busy husband and father of 2 adorable girls. When he gets a chance, he enjoys hiking with his adopted dogs, Remi (a Chihuahua/Shiba Inu mix), Ruby (a Chihuahua mix) and Bolta (a Corgi/Westie mix), skiing, and fishing.  He also enjoys helping with his wife’s family cattle ranch in Northeast Colorado when he can and while he does not wish to give up the excitement of highly-diagnostic small animal practice, it has truly brought him back to the roots of why he became a veterinarian in the first place.

Karen Nann, DVM

Dr. Karen attended Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in St Kitts West Indies. After finishing her veterinary coursework in 2016, Karen completed her clinical year at Colorado State University. While at Colorado State, Karen also became certified via Curacore’s course in Medical Acupuncture for Veterinarians. Her professional passions include nutrition, pain management (including acupuncture), dentistry and wellness.

Dr. Karen has experienced a life full of adventure; she has lived in California, Michigan, Connecticut and Texas, settling in Colorado for her undergraduate career at the University of Colorado at Boulder. After graduating in 2005, the adventures didn’t stop and she embarked as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the West Indies, where she became interested in veterinary medicine mentoring under Dr. Colin Boyle in St. Vincent. Upon returning to the United States in 2008, Karen enrolled and graduated from Bel-Rea Institute of Veterinary Technology, receiving her CVT (certification in veterinary technology). She interned at Littleton Equine Medical Center and continued her veterinary technician career at Special Friends Veterinary Clinic in Aurora, CO for almost 6 years prior to starting her path to becoming a veterinarian

When not working, Karen enjoys being outside. She is a yoga, spin and kickboxing instructor and you may see her teaching classes around Steamboat. In addition she is an avid skier, mountain biker, horseback rider, runner, and loves a good hike on a beautiful blue bird day! She has two dogs, a shy mixed breed Brie and a happy Pit Bull Jamon shared with her husband Gerry and daughter.

Lauren Sample, DVM

Dr. Lauren grew up in Fort Collins, where she was blessed with a childhood full of hiking, camping, biking, and skiing. Despite growing up in a family with a long-standing tradition of “no indoor pets,” she seemed to know from a very young age that she was destined to be a veterinarian.

In 2007, Dr. Lauren left Colorado and headed to the Mid-West where she completed her undergraduate

degree at Creighton University in Omaha NE. She then took some time off from her schooling and spent a year working at Vista Verde Guest Ranch in Clark, CO. It was here that she fell in love, not only with Routt County, but also with her future husband.

She then headed back to the Mid-West to complete veterinary school at Kansas State University. After graduating with her DVM, Dr. Lauren married her Vista Verde sweetheart and they settled in his hometown of Terre Haute, Indiana. Dr. Lauren spent the next 6 years a busy small animal practice, whose caring and knowledgeable staff helped to cultivate her love for animals, people, and veterinary medicine.

Dr. Lauren is thrilled to be back in Routt County and is beyond excited to be joining the talented team at Pet Kare Clinic.

Certified Veterinary Technicians

Kim

Kim joined the PKC team in November 2018 and has about 17 years of experience in the veterinary field. She became a registered technician in 2005 and has worked as a veterinary assistant, a veterinary technician, hospital manager and an adjunct instructor at a veterinary technology program.  She values striving for excellence, taking pride in her work, upholding a high standard of veterinary medicine, and client education for their pet’s best care. Her strengths include strong technical skills, leadership, teaching and training among others.

Kim lives here with her husband, twin 13 year old’s, and their almost 8 year-old hound mix named Gwen. She and her family enjoy spending time together on weekend adventures, skiing, hiking, or just milling about. They’re a close-knit group, and value their time together; whether work or play.

We enjoy drawing from Kim’s experience and we are always happy to learn from her and what she brings to the team.

Anna

Anna started at Pet Kare Clinic in August of 2014 after graduating from CMC with an associates degree in applied science and becoming a certified veterinary technician. She took a small hiatus from working to have her second child and stay at home for a few years but has been back part time since June of 2021.

Holly

Holly joined the Pet Kare team shortly after moving to Steamboat in August 2015.  She had been working in the veterinary field for 11 years, mostly as a receptionist, where she was raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was so immediately proficient and knowledgeable at our front desk that she became cross-trained as a vet tech shortly thereafter.  Recently Holly has became a CVT and we are all so happy for her!

Outside of work, Holly spends all of her time with her vivacious 9-year-old little girl. They enjoy swimming, watching movies, and going to the park. When she gets the chance, Holly’s favorite past time is relaxing. She also enjoys skiing.

Whether charming clients with her bubbly personality at the front desk or running the show with fiery spirit in the back, she has become an indispensable member of our team.

Beth

Beth has worked in the vet industry for 11 years and has been with Pet Kare Clinic since 2011 as one of our very valued veterinary technicians. She particularly loves dealing with wound management and behavior issues.  She also really enjoys helping to heal our customers’ beloved pets so that they can remain in their lives.  We are blessed to have Beth’s beautiful soul on our team.  While Pet Kare Clinic is a small-animal-clinic, Beth is actually a very avid horsewoman and showman.  She rides, breeds, and shows reining horses.  She is happily married to her husband Jacob and is the loving owner of several horses, 4 dogs, and 1 cat on a wondrous 38 acres in our beautiful Colorado. Beth also has a passion for photography and leather tooling.

Veterinary Assistants

Marissa

Marissa is originally from Los Angeles, and she has also lived in Seattle and in the four corners area. Marissa became interested in working in the veterinary field because of her passion and love for animals and her desire to do something fulfilling for herself and others. The thing that she loves most about working with animals is being able to give back to the loyal and loving companions who give so much to us. She says, “it’s the least we can do for beings that do so much to enrich our lives!” At home, she has a sweet yet sassy husky/shepherd, Loki. He is a very good boy but is the master of the temper tantrum, and he uses his good looks to get what he wants.

In her spare time, she enjoys reading, writing, hiking, camping, and cross stitch. She’s also a movie buff and a history nerd.

Hannah- Client Care Manager

Hannah came to Pet Kare in February 2017.  She is originally from Hayden but also spent time living in Fort Collins.  Now she is back in Hayden with her husband, her son and her dog Dax, who is a mixed breed.  Her love of animals has always been very strong, and she loves all of them!

Hannah is trained as a veterinary assistant and is an asset in the back of the hospital as well as the front.  She has always wanted to work in Veterinary Medicine and is so thankful to be a part of such a remarkable clinic.

Interesting facts about Hannah: She is in love with being outdoors, especially camping! She is artistic and loves to draw, photography and sometimes painting. She loves to surround herself with good friends and enjoy company of good people. She now has a little boy who is her pride and joy and thankful to have such a wonderful work family at Pet Kare.

Sarah

Catt moved from Denver to Yampa in March 2022,.  She was in Denver her whole life and loves living in the mountains and out of the city!  She was a dog trainer for 4 years prior to moving and considers more dog training on the side.  She is very knowledgeable about training dogs if you have any questions she is here with answers.  She has 2 cats, Sophia and Paisley and 2 dogs, Sis and Pascal whom she loves very very much!  She loves hiking and a hobby of hers is painting 3D figurines that she prints with a 3D printer.  She started working at Pet Kare Clinic in June and is enjoying working with such a wonderful team and she looks forward to meeting our wonderful clientele and all of their pets.

Samantha is originally from Wilmington NC.  She ventured to the mountains of Colorado in 2013, ending up in Steamboat in 2016.  She has a daughter named Kinsley who is 4 and full of personality, and expecting a baby boy in July.  She has 2 dogs, a golden retriever named Hank and a rottweiler named Sugar.  Samantha loves the outdoors, she loves going on a good hike, camping with her family and spending a nice sunny day on the river.  She has always loved animals and is so excited to finally be working her dream job with animals and we are lucky to have her!

Erick L Egger, DVM, Diplomat ACVS

Veterinary Orthopedic Consultant, Professor Emeritus, Colorado State University – Dr. Egger is a native of Denver, Colorado and completed his undergraduate education and received his DVM at Colorado State University in 1975. He then completed a small animal Internship at Purdue University (1976) and a surgical Residency at the University of Missouri (1978). Following a short period in a Boston private veterinary surgical referral practice, he joined the teaching faculty at Iowa State University in 1978 where he specialized in orthopedics. In 1982 he fulfilled the requirements and was certified as a diplomat of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. Later that year, he joined the faculty at Colorado State University and in 1986 was promoted and tenured. Dr. Egger has participated as chairman of various ACVS and Veterinary Orthopedic Society committees over the years and in 1986 served as president of the national Veterinary Orthopedic Society.

Dr. Egger’s early research and writing activities narrowed to concentrate on fracture fixation and the effects of fracture mechanical environment on fracture healing. To that end, in 1990 he completed a fellowship at the Orthopedic Biomechanics Laboratory of the Mayo Clinic where he was investigating the effects of axial “dynamization” on fracture healing. While at the Mayo clinic he also developed animal models for studying bone ingrowth into metallic prosthesis and a new method for attaching tendons to metallic prosthesis. He developed an acrylic-pin external fixator system (APEF) for fracture management which became commercially available in 1992, In September of 1997, Dr. Egger left CSU’s clinical practice to join the Veterinary Specialists of Northern Colorado in Loveland, Colorado and begin his own Veterinary Orthopedic Consulting (VOC) practice that provides mobile consulting to practices in Aspen and Jackson Hole. In 2004, he rejoined the CSU clinical faculty with a special appointment in orthopedic surgery and maintains his private VOC activity. Current research activities include continuing development of the Acrylic Pin External Fixator system, improvement of Total hip replacement devices and implantation techniques. For the last two years, he has been developing a transcutaneous osseointegrative intramedullary implant for salvaging limb function following lower limb amputation. He continues to lecture widely on orthopedic problems and their surgical treatment to students and professional groups.

In May of 2011, Dr. Egger retired from CSU, moved to Steamboat Springs, Colorado and continues to provide orthopedic consulting and surgical services to western Colorado and Wyoming.

For fun, Egger hikes, bikes (both pedal and crotch rocket), occasionally abuses wood calling it logging and carpentry, and most recently is actively developing a Yak farm. *Bio originally from Spring Creek Animal Hospital in Wyoming.

Krysdal

Krysdal is a Horizon’s client and has worked with us part time at Pet Kare Clinic since 2006. She helps us with cleaning and blesses our lobby with her wonderful smile and innocent presence.  Her favorite part of her job is cleaning the rooms, but she enjoys the daily interactions with the staff as well.  Outside of Pet Kare Clinic, Krysdal has a cat, Wendell, whom she loves immensely. She also enjoys riding her bike, playing soccer, and bowling. (Insider info: her nickname is Kdog).

Janet

Janet has worked at Pet Kare a loooong time (over 20 years). We affectionately refer to her as our C.O.T. or Crusty ol’ Tech (Instead of a Certified Vet Tech or C.V.T  which she was for many years).  There isn’t a job in the clinic she hasn’t done.  She has mopped her way to China and back.  Janet managed Steamboat Silkscreen “back in the day” before joining Pet Kare in 1994.  She is officially retired but we still call her to fill in shifts when we need help and she keeps saying “yes”. She spends her winters in Florida and her summers in Yampa, riding her horse every day she can. Janet’s pets include birds, cats, dogs, horses, cows (her favorites) and pack rats.

Kristina

Kristina is currently a Senior in high school and our amazing kennel technician!  She learned about the job through 4H has been with Pet Kare since October 2021.  She enjoys riding horses, hiking and skiing.  She has plans to study abroad next year but will stick around when she is back in Steamboat during breaks, we love having her here and she is beyond helpful!

Rest in Peace

Gandalf (our old DLH gray tabby cat)

Our beloved Gandalf passed away at age 16. Gandalf was our main security personnel/night guard and he roamed the halls up and down making sure no trouble came to the clinic. The part of his job he liked most was watching all of the activity at the Kum-n-Go (but he took many breaks in the acupuncture room listening to the bird sounds). He was also very interested in helping with surgeries, but for some reason the rest of the staff would not allow him in the surgery rooms. He exceled at trash can tipping. Gandalf also ha cerebellar hypoplasia like his brother Moses and walked with a drunken stagger (but he run just fine!). He was Pet Kare Clinic’s very first patient in the hospital after they moved from Sundance Plaza. He was very sick and for months couldn’t walk more than a step or two without falling over.

Outside of work, Gandalf (also known as “Big G”) lived with his one annoying little brother, Moses, and enjoyed daily visits from his approximately 18 moms and 1 dad. His passions, hobbies, and interests were all tied into one main desire in life: FOOD. When he was not begging for or eating food, he liked to gently bite toes when least expected, and weave in between the staff’s legs while they’re trying to work.

Lola (DSH calico kitty)

Lola passed away at the age of 15 years. She had been living at Pet Kare since the beginning of 2016. She came to us from the Doak at Casey’s Pond after her previous owner passed on. She is a sweet kitty with some undesirable habits which made her difficult to re-home. Dr. Paige graciously offered to let her live here and now we can’t imagine life without her. She can often be seen sitting in one of our comfy waiting room chairs, silently keeping company with the clients. From there, she is likely to sneak onto the pet food shelves and attempt to gnaw her way into a bag of dog food. Otherwise you can find her on her makeshift bed on top of Dr. Susan’s desk watching and “talking” to the birds out the window. Currently, she is the most sociable cat of our 3, constantly roaming the clinic and finding new places to lay down or get love. She loves to be pet and will happily roll over for tummy rubs.

Moses

We are so very sad to report that on November 21, 2016, our beloved hospital pet, Moses, crossed over the Rainbow Bridge in the presence of Dr. Paige and several of his devoted caretakers.  As you will read in his biography below, he had used up more than his 9 lives while living at Pet Kare. His health had been declining this fall and finally diagnostics revealed that he most likely suffered from renal lymphoma. Every member of the Pet Kare Team had given him extra love in his last several weeks but that didn’t make saying goodbye any easier. We will miss you, our silly, goofy, soft and loving, loudest purring kitty of all time.

Moses was with Pet Kare Clinic for 6 years in the Human Resources department. His main duty was on-call stress relief. His specialty was working with people, but he was not really a ‘dog person’. His favorite part of working here was being picked up and given ‘loves’ by so many people every day. Moses was born with feline distemper and has had cerebellar hypoplasia his whole life, which makes him walk like a drunken sailor. During the first few years of his life, Moses was very sick and used up more than his 9 lives. Many days, the staff said their goodbyes, only for Moses to miraculously recover by the next day. If he didn’t live at Pet Kare Clinic, he wouldn’t have survived very long.

Outside of work, Moses lived at the clinic with his older brother, Gandalf, and approximately 18 moms and 1 dad. He loved waiting by the treatment door and asking to go up front…and then to the back…and then to the front. He was very passionate about boxes—all shapes and sizes. He prefered to sit in boxes, not on boxes. He also enjoyed boxing with Gandalf, and pretty much anything to do with the word ‘box’.

Both Moses and Gandalf came to Pet Kare as young kittens destined to be put down because of their very poor health conditions. They have spent all but a few weeks of their lives at Pet Kare and give all of us loves and petting whenever we need it. We couldn’t do our jobs without these guys!