Southside Animal Hospital

Southside Animal Hospital Treating your pets like one of our own! Southside Animal Hospital is a full-service veterinary medical facility located in Lake Charles, LA.

Our friendly and dedicated team strives to provide the highest level of medical, surgical, and dental care for our valued patients. We are currently welcoming new clients and offer Saturday appointments for added convenience, making it easier for pet families to access the care they need.

Last, and absolutely not the least, Dr. Michelle Traylor ❤️For more than 20 years, Dr. Michelle has dedicated her life t...
09/03/2026

Last, and absolutely not the least, Dr. Michelle Traylor ❤️

For more than 20 years, Dr. Michelle has dedicated her life to veterinary medicine and to providing Lake Charles with exceptional care. A graduate of LSU School of Veterinary Medicine alongside her husband, Dr. Matt Traylor, she has been the face of Southside Animal Hospital since the very beginning. Over the years, she has had the privilege of watching generations of pets grow from puppies and kittens into beloved seniors, caring for them through every stage of their lives. She has a particular love for soft tissue surgery, but her greatest passion has always been the patients and families who have entrusted their care to her. Her wealth of experience and knowledge is matched only by the compassion she brings to every patient who walks through our doors. After more than two decades in veterinary medicine, her passion for what she does has never faded. She has poured an incredible amount of effort into Southside and into every patient she has had the privilege of treating. We are incredibly grateful for the foundation she has built and the heart she continues to bring to Southside.

This week, Dr. Catherine Kohler! 💜🩷Dr. Kohler graduated from LSU School of Veterinary Medicine in 2019 and has practiced...
09/01/2026

This week, Dr. Catherine Kohler! 💜🩷

Dr. Kohler graduated from LSU School of Veterinary Medicine in 2019 and has practiced in her beloved hometown of Lake Charles ever since. As our Medical Director, she is deeply invested in the growth of our hospital and, most importantly, in providing the best care possible for our patients and their families. Dr. Kohler has a particular love for surgery and has recently continued her education in orthopedic procedures such as torn cruciates, fracture repairs, and luxating patellas! She’s always looking for opportunities to expand her knowledge and take on new challenges. She brings an optimistic, easygoing, and fun loving personality to the clinic and is always willing to learn something new or tackle whatever comes her way. At home, she stays busy with her husband, their two beautiful daughters, and their two pups! We’re grateful for the many opportunities Dr. Kohler has created for our team to learn and grow, and for the dedication she continues to show toward making Southside the very best it can be.

📞 Michael & Mango are here to say sorry 😢 Our phones are currently down!If you need to reach us, please send us a messag...
09/01/2026

📞 Michael & Mango are here to say sorry 😢 Our phones are currently down!

If you need to reach us, please send us a message here on Facebook or contact us via email [email protected]. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience while we get things back up and running! 🐾

This week, we start with Dr. Benge! ⚜️👩🏼‍⚕️We’re excited to introduce Dr. Amanda Benge, who joined the Southside vet tea...
08/25/2026

This week, we start with Dr. Benge! ⚜️👩🏼‍⚕️

We’re excited to introduce Dr. Amanda Benge, who joined the Southside vet team this past April! A New Orleans native, Dr. Benge graduated from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2025 and has already brought so much knowledge and enthusiasm to our practice. She has a particular passion for internal medicine and loves getting to work through the challenges of helping our patients feel their best. Outside of the clinic, Dr. Benge just recently welcomed her first son, making this an especially exciting new chapter in her life! We’re so happy to have her as part of the Southside family and look forward to watching her grow with our team. If you haven’t had the chance to meet Dr. Benge yet, come see her at your next appointment and say hello!

🐾What’s something you wish more people knew about your job?
“As a veterinarian, I wish more people knew just how important a physical exam is. It’s one of the most crucial steps in evaluating a patient and can give us a surprising amount of information from a patient who can’t talk to us! Sometimes, the physical exam provides answers that tests alone and a good history simply can’t.”

🐾What’s one piece of advice you’d give someone?
“Be open-minded and don’t be afraid to try something new. You never know where an opportunity might take you… It could end up being one of the best things you’ve ever done, or at the very least, you’ll live and learn something from it.”

This is Kathe! 📖✨Kathe has been part of the Southside family for five years and is often one of the very first people ou...
08/20/2026

This is Kathe! 📖✨

Kathe has been part of the Southside family for five years and is often one of the very first people our clients get to know. As our receptionist, she has a remarkable ability to remember names, recognize familiar faces, and make conversation with just about anyone who walks through our doors. Her recognizable voice has become a staple of our front desk, especially when answering the phone with her signature greeting. Kathe has a love for learning that extends well beyond the clinic. She enjoys reading, watching documentaries, and has an impressive knowledge of all sorts of history. She has also continued pursuing her education over the years while working toward a degree in Women’s Studies. Her quirks, curiosity, and genuine connection with our clients make her an invaluable part of our team!

⭐️ What’s your favorite thing about your job?
“Getting to meet and greet all the fur babies!”

⭐️ What’s a special interest you have?
“I have myriad special interests and I’ll tell anyone who is interested ALL about them 🤣”

Cheers to many years, Amanda! 🥂 Yesterday marked ELEVEN years of Amanda at Southside Animal Hospital! As the longest wor...
08/18/2026

Cheers to many years, Amanda! 🥂

Yesterday marked ELEVEN years of Amanda at Southside Animal Hospital! As the longest working technician on our team, Amanda has been here through it all. She has worked in every area of the hospital, watched generations of patients grow from puppies into seniors, built relationships with countless clients, and trained many of the employees who have joined our team over the years. Her experience and knowledge run deep, making her not only one of our most seasoned technicians, but truly the cornerstone of Southside. Amanda is continuing her education at SOWELA as she works toward becoming Registered Nurse, and hopes to eventually transition into human medicine. Taking on a whole new phase of helping lives in need. Through eleven years of veterinary medicine, she’s collected an impressive amount of knowledge, stories, and a sense of humor that can keep the whole clinic laughing. We’re so thankful for the years of dedication, experience, and memories she has given to Southside. Happy 11 years, Amanda! 🎉🐾

⭐️What’s your favorite thing about your job?
“My favorite thing about my job is getting to be a part of helping animals feel better every day. I love getting to assist with surgeries, learn new medical techniques, and continue expanding my knowledge. Most of all, I enjoy spending time with all of our patients and seeing sick animals get back to feeling like themselves. I’m also grateful to work alongside such a great team of doctors and technicians who make every day enjoyable and give me so many opportunities to learn.”

Next up, Kaitlyn! 💉💙Kaitlyn has been part of the Southside team for an incredible seven years! She brings plenty of pers...
08/16/2026

Next up, Kaitlyn! 💉💙

Kaitlyn has been part of the Southside team for an incredible seven years! She brings plenty of personality to our clinic and has a way of keeping both our team and our clients laughing, even when they least expect it! There’s never a dull moment when she’s around! She grew up around animals and even spent time rodeoing in earlier years, so working with animals has always been a big part of her life. When she’s not at Southside, Kaitlyn also works in emergency medicine at our local Pet ER. She has trained in a quick thinking, extensive, and critical care environment, bringing even more experience to our team. She has a particularly good eye for phlebotomy, and if someone mentions that a patient needs blood drawn, you can bet Kaitlyn will be the first one there! We’re lucky to have her experience, humor, and one of a kind personality as part of the Southside family all these years!

🚨What’s one special intrest you have?
“Emergency and critical care. There’s something incredibly rewarding about being there for an animal during one of their scariest moments and doing everything I can to help them feel safe and give them a second chance”

‼️What’s something you wish more people knew about your job?
“I wish more people knew that being a vet tech is so much more than just “helping the vet.” We become emotionally invested in our patients, we love them, worry about them, celebrate their recoveries, and sometimes grieve alongside their families. We’re constantly assessing patients, making critical decisions, comforting scared animals, educating owners, and advocating for those who can’t tell us what’s wrong.”

Today’s next spotlight, Zada! 🧠🩺Zada has been part of the Southside team for just over three years and has become an imp...
08/13/2026

Today’s next spotlight, Zada! 🧠🩺

Zada has been part of the Southside team for just over three years and has become an important part of our day-to-day operations. She studied Natural Sciences and Mathematics at SOWELA and has trained in every area of our hospital. Although she is experienced throughout the clinic, surgery and anesthesia have become her primary focus and an area she has developed a particular passion and skill set for. You can almost always find her in our surgical room, assisting with procedures, preparing patients for surgery, managing anesthesia, and helping ensure each case runs smoothly from start to finish. She stays focused when things get challenging, works hard, and is always willing to step up when needed. She is dedicated to continually expanding her knowledge and skills and brings a strong work ethic with attention to detail to everything she does. We’re grateful to have her on our team!

🐾What’s one piece of advice you’d give someone?
“Aim to be the best at whatever you do. Master your craft, learn everything you can. Never stop educating yourself. Always better your hands on skills. But pursue it only because the more capable you become, the more help you have to offer people. Excellence is most meaningful spent in the service of others.”

🐾What’s your favorite thing to do at work?
“Definitely surgery haha, and dentistry! Most recently I’ve been trying to perfect my dental x-rays! I love drug calculations and medical math. I could place IVs and intubate all day long. And I’ll never turn down a good scaling and polishing!”

Today’s first spotlight, Reagan! 👩🏼‍⚕️🩷Reagan joined our team two years ago, and we’ve had the privilege of watching her...
08/13/2026

Today’s first spotlight, Reagan! 👩🏼‍⚕️🩷

Reagan joined our team two years ago, and we’ve had the privilege of watching her grow into an incredibly driven and compassionate future veterinarian. Reagan studies Pre-Veterinary Medicine at McNeese State University, where she serves as Vice President of the Pre-Vet Society and is a member of Phi Mu sorority. She is dedicated to educating herself, serving her community through veterinary medicine, and making the most of every opportunity to prepare for the career ahead of her. She’s smart, determined, and always willing to step in and take a shot at whatever is needed at the clinic. She does what it takes to be knowledgeable and capable for the patients trusted to her care. And if you know Reagan, you know her corgi, Chunk! The two have never been separated. We’re proud to have Reagan on our team and can’t wait to see the veterinarian she becomes!

🐾Whats your favorite thing to do at work/favorite thing about your job?
“My favorite thing about my job is getting the opportunity to comfort pets during their time with us. Being at the vet can be stressful because they are in an unfamiliar environment, so I love being able to comfort them and make them feel safe. I always want to help make their veterinary experience as stress-free as possible. Of course, a huge plus is getting to love on all the fur babies!”

🐾Whats one piece of advice you'd give to someone?
“One piece of advice I would give is to always lead with kindness and understanding. In veterinary medicine, there can be so many different emotions involved. Sometimes it’s a routine checkup, sometimes it’s a medical emergency, and sometimes someone is saying goodbye to their furry best friend. You never know what someone may be going through, so try not to take things personally. Be patient, show compassion, and remember that both the pet and their owner may be having one of their hardest days.”

We had a very special walk-in today… Bigfoot himself showed up for a sick exam—turns out even legends aren’t immune to L...
05/01/2026

We had a very special walk-in today…

Bigfoot himself showed up for a sick exam—turns out even legends aren’t immune to Louisiana allergies this time of year. He was a perfect gentleman, gave our Bentley some love, and only shed a little in the exam room.

After his visit, he walked out feeling better… and apparently a changed man— he left rocking Southside gear like a true fan. We love a loyal client.

Moral of the story: whether you’re covered in fur or just have a little extra… we’ve got you covered. 😉

Address

1709 W Prien Lake Road
Lake Charles, LA
70601

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 5:30pm
Thursday 8am - 5:30pm
Friday 8am - 5:30pm
Saturday 8am - 12pm

Telephone

+13375646502

Website

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