University Animal Clinic

4.8 (510)
623 E McNeese St, Lake Charles, LA 70607, USA

Hours:

Monday: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Thursday: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Saturday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Sunday: Closed

How to Save Money at University Animal Clinic

Schedule Regular Vet Visits

One of the best ways to save on vet bills is to prevent expensive health issues before they develop. By scheduling regular wellness checkups, your vet can detect health issues early, helping you to avoid costly treatments and surgeries down the road.

Price Shop for Pet Prescriptions

Oftentimes our fur babies are prescribed human drugs off-label. Your vet is apt to charge more for these medications than you would pay at your local pharmacy. In fact, big-box or chain pharmacies can offer steep discounts. So it’s best to price shop.

Pet Insurance

Most pet insurance providers will pay between 80% and 90% of the vet bill. You can even get coverage for routine care and things like vaccinations and dental cleanings. If you do the math, you’ll most likely find that pet insurance makes financial sense in the long run as well as gives you peace of mind.

How Do You Choose the Right Pet Insurance Provider?

Pet Insurance Review makes it incredibly easy for pet parents to select an insurance provider they feel good about. You can use our handy comparison tool to get the gist of what a company offers. We’ve also collected over 150,000 reviews of insurance companies from real pet parents like you to rank the top providers in the market. Here is the current ranking of each:

Top Pet Insurance Providers of 2024
Rating Provider Total Review
4.4 AKC 889
4.7 ASPCA 11,409
4.9 Embrace 14,230
4.9 Fetch 2,045
4.4 Figo 2,578
4.7 Hartville 164
4.9 Healthy Paws 7,477
4.9 Lemonade 783
3.2 ManyPets 2,153
4.6 MetLife 493
4.8 Nationwide 21,392
4.3 Pet Assure 12
4.7 PetPartners 110
4.5 Pets Best 7,196
4.3 Pumpkin 1,163
4.7 Spot 5,259
4.9 Trupanion 60,296
4.8 Prudent Pet 125

Or, you can simply get a fast quote from multiple providers and go from there.

Thinking of insuring your pet?

Get Quotes & Compare

Getting to Know Your New Vet: Essential Questions to Ask

Choosing a new veterinarian is an important decision for any pet owner. You want to find someone who is competent, compassionate, and a good fit for you and your fur baby. To help you get the most out of your first appointment, here's a list of essential questions to ask your new vet:

Tell me about your experience with [pet type].

Different vets have different areas of specialization. Some are experts with cats, some dogs, some pocket pets, and some horses. Knowing that your vet has vast experience treating your specific type of pet can bring you peace of mind.

How do you handle emergencies?

You must know what to do in case of a pet medical emergency. Inquire what after-hours policy the clinic has, whether they have on-site emergency care available, and if they have a relationship with any nearby emergency animal hospitals.

How do you communicate with pet owners?

Good communication is key to building a trusting relationship with your vet. Ask how they prefer to communicate (phone calls, emails, online portal) and how often you can expect to hear from them.

Are there any breed-specific health concerns I should be aware of?

Some breeds are predisposed to certain health conditions. Knowing what to watch out for can help you catch problems early and get your pet the treatment they need.

Do you have any questions for me about my pet?

This is a great question to ask because the answer will show that the vet is interested in getting to know your pet as an individual and is willing to listen to your concerns.

Bonus question: Can I take a tour of your facility?

Getting a feel for the clinic's environment can help you and your pet feel more comfortable during your visits. Remember, you’re not just looking for a veterinarian, you’re looking for a partnership. Do not be afraid to ask these questions and any others you can think of. Any vet worth their salt will be happy to answer them. Because the more informed you are, the better equipped you'll be to make decisions about your pet's care! And that should be every vet’s top priority.

Reviews from Google

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Lindsey Martinez

Dr. Goeckel is always so great! She’s always taken such good care of our dogs that we had growing up! Now that I have a pup of my own I knew I had to take him to see Dr. Goeckel for his puppy shots. My little man Ace was so comfortable throughout the whole appointment that he was falling asleep! Affordable cost and caring staff, you can’t beat it!

posted: 08/14/2023

Heather Vincent

Dr Woodward and his team have gone above & beyond to save my little Beau . He was hit by a car & Dr. Woodward did everything in his power to fix my little Beau . I am so thankful for this vet . He’s caring & compassionate. He loves the animals & it shows. I will be forever grateful for Dr. Woodward & the entire staff at University.

posted: 08/08/2023

Kris P'Gee

I found myself unexpectedly with a ten week old farm bred puppy on Saturday and UAC got me in on Tuesday for her initial exam and 1st shots. Everyone was so knowledgeable, patient, & sweet. Thanks Dr. Guidry for all of the great advice as this is my first puppy. I'm so grateful to Ms. Zachary for the referral.

posted: 05/18/2023

Tessa Weisenberger

They saved my kitten’s life! Veterinarians in my area (Vernon parish) were not able to offer the emergency surgery she needed. They referred me to University Animal Clinic, and Dr. Woodward was willing to and able to repair a diaphragmatic hernia along with multiple bowel loops in the left side of her thorax. The surgery was done without any surprise medical fees. The price I was quoted over the phone was the price I paid, and and they even offer and honor a 10% off military discount. None of the staff acted irritated in the slightest about my frequent phone calls to check on her during her stay. I am very thankful for University Animal Clinic and so is Gollum!

posted: 06/05/2023

Bull73

Being new to Lake Charles I did not have a vet in place. Through a referral from an emergency facility my daughter Roxi was taken there. After getting in to see the vet and seeing an X-ray she was taken for an ultrasound. Within an hour I was notified that she has an extremly large tumor that was attached to the spleen. The tumor was bleeding and the spleen was about to rupture, so Roxi had to have surgery right away. UAC allowed me to come see her before going into surgery as she is a 15 yr. old lab. They let me spend as much time as I needed in case that was the last time I would see my daughter. Roxi pulled through the surgery and they removed a 2+ lb. bleeding tumor and spleen. The staff and doctors are polite, professional, understanding, knowledgeable, and open to every question I had and I had a lot. Words cannot express my gratitude for saving my daughters life and the care that was provided to my daughter. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!!

posted: 04/26/2023