Southside Animal Hospital

10/09/2026

A little family fun at Career Day! 🐾🦷

Dr. Kohler and her sister, Dr. Miller, of Crawford Orthodontics, had the opportunity to return to their alma mater for St. Louis Catholic High School Career Fair! They loved getting to talk with students about their careers, share their experiences, and hopefully inspire a few future veterinarians and orthodontists!

Of course, Michael tagged along and stole the show!

10/01/2026

A huge thank you to Crust Pizza for treating our Southside team to lunch today! We enjoyed every bite😋 We’re so grateful to be part of such a supportive Lake Charles community! 💙

52-Week Challenge: Southside Animal Hospital 🐾🍕

Each week, our 52-Week Challenge brings us to a different local business to cater their lunch as a small thank-you for the work they do in our community. This week, we had the pleasure of treating the team at Southside Animal Hospital!

Thank you for the care and compassion you show our pets and their families every day. We appreciate all y’all do and we’re happy to bring a little pizza to brighten y’all’s day!

What local business should we go to next week? 👇👀

09/26/2026

Saturday mornings are for vet visits & cheering on the Tigers! 🐾🏈

Sweet Roxy came in this morning dressed for game day and wanted to help us remind everyone that Southside is OPEN Saturdays from 8 AM–12 PM!

Geaux Tigers!! 💜💛🐯

09/22/2026

✂️ Need a groom? We’ve got openings!

Our experienced groomer is here 3 days a week and has availability for baths, haircuts, nail trims, and all your pet’s pampering needs! 🛁

Give us a call to get on the schedule!

Disclaimer: Our adorable Mr. Bigglesworth came to us this way. No cats were shaved bald in the making of this post. 😹

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.

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.

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! 🐾

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.”

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 🤣”