Dr. Cloud was born and raised in St. Louis, MO.  He graduated from Roosevelt High School in January 1961 and enrolled into the University of Missouri.  

His love of animals led him to veterinary medicine.  He graduated with his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1968.  At that time, he accepted a commission in the public health service and was assigned to Colorado State University, working with a colony of 1000 beagles in a study of the effects of low radiation.  After his military was complete, he moved back to his hme town and worked for Northwest Animal Hospital with Dr. Donald Blake.  After one year Dr. Blake offered Dennis a failing small practice down the road.  Dennis bought the practice and renamed it Rock Road Animal Hospital.  Starting in a three room building, the practice grew rapidly into a four veterinarian practice and many bulding additions.

It was during that time of growth that Dr. Cloud began working with a large pet store chain.  He devoted a great deal of time in helping the stores and breeders with disease and management problems.  From this relationship, Dennis was able to develop systems and programs which he shared in presentations at the Western States Veterinary Conference and the North American Veterinary Conference.  From this experience it became obvious that there was a need to coordinate pet, pharmaceutical, food industries and veterinarians.  Dennis was instrumental in working with the AVMA in starting Pediatric Medicine.

Dr. Cloud was an innovator in the area of practice management.  He developed systems of management for his practice such as "Owning the Exam Room".  He shared these systems in presentations at WSVC, NAVC, Missouri VMA Annual Meetings, Merial district meetings, and veterinary students at the University of Missouri and Mississippi State University.  As a result of his speaking, Dennis was invited to speak at the Southeastern European Veterinary Conference in Barcelona, Spain.  Dennis was an early proponent of recommending a physical exam every 6 months, replacing the yearly exam standard.

While still practicing at the Rock Road facility, Dr. Cloud opened two more practices, Paw Patch Animal Hospital in Florissant, MO (1992) and Cloud Veterinary Hospital in O'Fallon, MO (1998).

Dr. Cloud served on many advisory boards incuding Pfizer, Hill's Hospital Design Committee, Veterinary Economics, the University of Missouri Veterinary School, and the Open Door Sanctuary.  Dennis was chairman of the AAHA Convention in St. Louis, MO.  From all this involvement, Dennis met so many veterinrians from the US, Canada, and Europe that five veterinarians formed a group to meet once a year to discuss their practices and how to improve veterinary management and medicine.

For 10 years Dr. Cloud hosted the Purina Animal Advice Show on KTRS radio on Saturday mornings.  He retired from radio the spring of 2018.

For 19 years Dr. Cloud was a licensed soccer coach.  He coached select youth and had the honor to take the first   U-17 girls team from St. Louis to the national playoffs in Washington, DC.  He also coached Olympic Development U-12 to U-18.

Dr. Cloud has been married to his high school sweetheart, Sharon for 52 years. They have 6 children and 11 grandchildren.  They spend time trveling to visit their grandchildren bus also managed trips to Europe, the Arctic, Russia, and almost every state in the US.  Now retired and free of practicing, Dr. Cloud volunteers at the Basilica of St. Louis and Missouri Botanical Garden as a docent.  He is also very actice in the Knights of Columbus.

Dr. Cloud has earned a huge amount of respect from his profession.  His management ideas have advanced the practice of small animal medicine and surgery.  His works with pet producers provided a link to practitioners and helped to overcome inherent disease problems.  His friendly laughing style cast a bright light on veterinarians and the work they do.