Dr. Jeff Young is an American veterinarian and television personality best known for Animal Planet’s Dr. Jeff: Rocky Mountain Vet.
He built his reputation on low-cost, high-volume animal care through his Colorado clinic, Planned Pethood Plus.
Dr. Jeff Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Jeffrey “Jeff” Young |
| Born | April 14, 1956, Indiana |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Veterinarian, TV Personality |
| Known For | Dr. Jeff: Rocky Mountain Vet |
| Education | Colorado State University (DVM, 1989) |
| Clinic | Planned Pethood Plus / International |
| Wife | Petra Mickova |
Who is Dr. Jeff?
Dr. Jeff Young is an American veterinarian known for affordable, high-volume animal care. He founded Planned Pethood Plus, a Colorado clinic built around low-cost spay and neuter services.
His work reached a national audience through Animal Planet’s Dr. Jeff: Rocky Mountain Vet.
The show followed his clinic for eight seasons, highlighting his hands-on approach and his refusal to turn away animals based on an owner’s ability to pay. At its peak, the series drew more than one million viewers an episode.
Young also built Planned Pethood International, a nonprofit that trains veterinarians to work in underserved regions. The organization has supported clinics in countries including Mexico and across parts of Eastern Europe.
He later opened a training center in Conifer, Colorado, to carry that mission forward. The facility combined a working clinic with a place to teach other veterinarians his high-volume methods.
Young has also been an outspoken critic of what he sees as profit-driven practices in his own field. That stance shaped his entire career model.
Dr. Jeff’s Ex-Wife and Family Life
Dr. Jeff Young was previously married to Deb Burns before his later marriage to veterinary professional Petra Mickova. His earlier relationships have stayed largely private over the years.
His family life has mostly unfolded away from the cameras.
Young married Petra Mickova, a fellow veterinary professional, in 2014. The two met through their shared work at his clinic before their relationship developed into marriage.
Petra has remained closely involved in the clinic’s operations. She has appeared alongside Young in his more recent television and online projects.
The couple worked together to expand Planned Pethood’s reach. Young has spoken publicly about Petra’s role in helping secure the clinic’s future.
Early Life of Dr. Jeff
Jeffrey Young was born on April 14, 1956, in Indiana. He spent part of his childhood on his grandparents’ farm.
That early exposure to animals shaped his lifelong interest in veterinary care.
His mother, Esther Stevens, raised him alongside a stepfather who served in the military. Because of that service, the family moved often during his childhood.
Young has described himself as a military kid who lived in several parts of the country growing up. One early turning point was the death of his own pet dog, which pushed him toward a career treating animals.
He carried that drive into his veterinary training. His path eventually led him to Colorado, where he built his entire career.
Dr. Jeff Age / Birthday
Dr. Jeff Young was born on April 14, 1956, in Indiana. His zodiac sign is Aries, a sign often linked with drive, independence, and a strong will.
He has worked as a veterinarian for roughly four decades.
Young built that long career almost entirely around his Colorado clinic and its affordable-care model.
Dr. Jeff Ethnicity and Nationality
Dr. Jeff Young holds American nationality. He was born in Indiana and moved frequently as a child because of his stepfather’s military career.
His early years took him through several parts of the country.
That path eventually led him to Colorado, where he settled and built his veterinary career around the Rocky Mountain region.
Dr. Jeff Height and Weight
Dr. Jeff Young’s height and weight are not publicly confirmed through a reliable primary source. He is recognizable on screen for his long hair, which became a signature part of his public image.
He later cut that signature hairstyle during his cancer treatment.
That moment drew significant attention from fans who had followed him across the show’s run.
Dr. Jeff Education
Young pursued veterinary training at Colorado State University. He earned his veterinary medicine degree there in 1989.
That program gave him the clinical foundation for his high-volume, low-cost approach.
After graduation, he first worked as an animal welfare officer in Colorado. That early role shaped his frustration with profit-driven veterinary practices.
His time as a welfare officer pushed him toward founding his own clinic. He wanted a model that put access to care ahead of profit.
Dr. Jeff Career
Dr. Jeff Young’s career spans more than three decades of veterinary work, advocacy, and television. He built a practice around the belief that pet care should be affordable for everyone.
His approach often put him at odds with the wider veterinary industry.
That willingness to challenge norms became central to both his clinic and his public image.
Founding Planned Pethood (1990)
After working as an animal welfare officer, Young grew frustrated with the financial priorities of many veterinary practices. In 1990, he founded Planned Pethood Plus in the Denver area, built around affordable spay and neuter services.
The clinic emphasized high volume and low cost to reach underserved communities. Through this model, Young worked to reduce pet overpopulation while keeping care within reach for owners on tight budgets.
Over the years, the clinic grew into one of the busiest of its kind in the country. It built a patient base of tens of thousands of animals.
Young also drew controversy for speaking out against his own profession. He criticized what he viewed as profiteering in standard veterinary pricing.
Rocky Mountain Vet on Animal Planet (2015–Present)
In 2015, Animal Planet began airing Dr. Jeff: Rocky Mountain Vet, following Young and his staff at Planned Pethood Plus. The show ran for eight seasons.
It highlighted the clinic’s heavy caseload and Young’s unconventional, hands-on style. Episodes ranged from routine surgeries to complex procedures.
The series also followed Young on trips to run free spay and neuter clinics in remote communities. Those segments took the show well beyond Colorado, including to parts of Latin America.
At its height, the show averaged well over a million viewers an episode. It turned Young into one of Animal Planet’s most recognizable figures.
Planned Pethood International and Later Work
Young expanded his mission through Planned Pethood International, a nonprofit training center for veterinarians working in underserved regions. The organization has supported work in countries including Mexico and parts of Eastern Europe.
He later opened a veterinary hospital and training facility in Conifer, Colorado. The center combined a working clinic with a place to train the next generation of veterinarians.
Young also faced a serious cancer diagnosis in later years, which he discussed publicly. He has spoken about planning for the clinic’s future beyond his own involvement.
Dr. Jeff Cancer Battle
Dr. Jeff Young faced a serious cancer diagnosis that became public during the later years of his career. He addressed the illness openly with fans rather than keeping it private.
He cut his signature long hair before beginning treatment.
That moment became one of the more widely discussed chapters of his public life. Fans who had followed the show rallied around him.
Young spoke about how the diagnosis shaped his plans for Planned Pethood. He focused on securing the clinic’s future and training others to carry on his model of affordable care.
Dr. Jeff Net Worth
Dr. Jeff Young’s exact net worth is not publicly disclosed. His income has come mainly from his veterinary clinic and his work on Animal Planet.
His clinic was built on a low-margin, high-volume model rather than premium pricing.
Young ran Planned Pethood Plus around affordable care, charging a fraction of what many other clinics charge. That approach prioritized access over profit throughout his career.
His television work on Dr. Jeff: Rocky Mountain Vet added income across the show’s eight seasons. He has also drawn support for his nonprofit, Planned Pethood International, which funds veterinary training in underserved regions.
Dr. Jeff Social Media
Dr. Jeff Young and his clinic maintain a presence online, where they share updates on their work and animal care. Much of the content centers on Planned Pethood.
His work also appears through the clinic’s official channels.
The clinic shares updates through its website and social platforms under the Planned Pethood name. Young has also appeared in a YouTube series alongside his wife, focused on their veterinary work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Dr. Jeff Young?
Dr. Jeff Young is an American veterinarian and the star of Animal Planet’s Dr. Jeff: Rocky Mountain Vet. He founded the low-cost clinic Planned Pethood Plus in Colorado.
Who is Dr. Jeff’s wife?
Young is married to veterinary professional Petra Mickova, whom he wed in 2014. The two met through their work at his clinic.
Who was Dr. Jeff’s ex-wife?
Young was previously married to Deb Burns before his later marriage to Petra Mickova.
Where did Dr. Jeff study?
He earned his veterinary medicine degree from Colorado State University in 1989.
What is Dr. Jeff known for?
He is known for Dr. Jeff: Rocky Mountain Vet and for building Planned Pethood around affordable, high-volume animal care.
Where is Dr. Jeff’s clinic?
Planned Pethood operates in Colorado, with a veterinary hospital and training center in Conifer and roots in the Denver area.
Conclusion
Dr. Jeff Young turned a frustration with profit-driven veterinary care into Planned Pethood, a Colorado clinic that treated tens of thousands of animals at a fraction of standard prices.
His Animal Planet series carried that affordable-care mission to millions of viewers across eight seasons.