The Big Easy Animal Hospital
Pittsburgh, PA
At a glance
- Facility type
- Veterinary Practice
- Practice tier
- General
- Clinic type
- Standalone
- Operating status
- Operational
- Appointment model
- Both
- 24/7 care
- No
- Accepting new patients
- Unknown
Species treated
Services
Amenities & accessibility
Overview
stress free veterinary care providing emergency/urgent & wellness care in lawrenceville. pittsburgh, pa
In 2005, after Hurricane Katrina destroyed much of New Orleans, Dr. Aileen Ruiz evacuated and relocated to Pittsburgh not only to rebuild her life, but to open the Big Easy Animal Hospital on July 12, 2010. After operating out of a 2,500 square-foot facility, Big Easy Animal Hospital expanded to our current location at 12 McCandless Avenue. The facility also houses Dog Daze and Cafe which offers doggy daycare, dog boarding, cat condo boarding, grooming and a Cuban coffee shop
Mission — Our mission is to work toward easing animal suffering, maintaining animal well-being, and enhancing the human-animal bond through conscientiousness, integrity and sound veterinary medical principles
Care capabilities
- Emergency
- Urgent Care Only
- End-of-life care
- In Clinic
Team at a glance
Individual names, titles & bios are in the practice intelligence layer below.
Technology & equipment
Services in detail
Memberships
Appointments & hours
MONDAY - FRIDAY 10AM - 6PM; MONDAY, TUESDAY, THURSDAY & FRIDAY Walk-in Hours (10am - 11:45am); MONDAY-FRIDAY Appointments; SATURDAY Doctor/Technician Appointments EVERY OTHER SATURDAY from 9:00am - 2:00pm; Surgeries and dental procedures are scheduled on Wednesdays
Connect
Frequently asked
Does The Big Easy Animal Hospital offer emergency or urgent care?+
The Big Easy Animal Hospital offers urgent care appointments most days of the week (not a 24/7 ER).
What services does The Big Easy Animal Hospital offer?+
The Big Easy Animal Hospital offers Wellness, Vaccination, Surgery, Dentistry, Imaging, In House Lab, Pharmacy, Hospitalization, and more.
When was The Big Easy Animal Hospital established?+
The Big Easy Animal Hospital has served the Pittsburgh, PA community since 2010.
What reviewers say
The veterinary practice is widely regarded for its exceptionally compassionate, knowledgeable, and patient-focused staff who handle anxious pets and complex medical cases with great care. The facility features a clean, welcoming environment and offers comprehensive services including veterinary care, boarding, daycare, and grooming under one roof. While the team provides thorough explanations, strong follow-up care, and reliable emergency and walk-in support, patients and families frequently experience extended wait times and scheduling challenges. Pricing is a point of mixed feedback, with some appreciating the financial options and fair rates while others note high fees for specific procedures.
Frequently praised for
Aggregated from reviewer feedback across multiple sources.
Practice Intel
Inside the full profile
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Ownership & corporate structure -
Team & DVM count -
Hiring & expansion signals -
Key contacts — owner & medical director -
Practice history — ownership, pricing & quality shifts -
Capability signals — gaps & confirmed services -
Review intelligence — sentiment, pricing & named staff
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Data as of July 2026. VetPulse aggregates public-record and licensing data; it does not represent the practice directly.