Business Details
21 Years
experience
Emergency
services
Your Trusted Pittsburgh Veterinarian for Compassionate Pet Care
Founded in 2005 by Dr. Aileen Ruiz, The Big Easy Animal Hospital brings compassionate veterinary care to Pittsburgh with a unique New Orleans-inspired legacy. Our hospital combines advanced medical technology with personalized attention, offering services ranging from routine checkups to complex surgical procedures. With a focus on affordability and community, we prioritize pets' well-being while supporting owners through education and transparent communication.Our experienced team, led by Dr. Ruiz's expertise in emergency care and internal medicine, maintains rigorous professional standards through memberships in national and state veterinary associations. The facility also houses Dog Daze and Cafe, providing daycare, boarding, and grooming services to enhance pets' holistic care.
Services
Veterinary Care
Urgent Care
Dentistry
Senior Pet Care
Puppy/Kitten Wellness
Internal Medicine
Surgical Services
Laboratory Testing
Pet Euthanasia
Doggy Daycare
Details
- Year established: 2005
Highlights and features
- We are Pittsburgh's only Hispanic-owned veterinary hospital with 19 years of local service.
- Our in-house diagnostics and surgical facilities enable immediate, comprehensive care.
- Dr. Ruiz brings specialized expertise in emergency medicine and post-Katrina animal rescue.
- We offer integrated pet wellness programs from puppy/kitten care to senior pet monitoring.
- Dog Daze and Cafe provides convenient daycare, boarding, and grooming services onsite.
Services
Veterinary Care
Our comprehensive veterinary exams detect early health issues and establish care plans tailored to each pet's needs. We emphasize preventive care through vaccinations, parasite control, and wellness education. With modern diagnostic tools onsite, we provide immediate insights for effective treatment decisions.
Urgent Care
Critical care is available during business hours for pets experiencing trauma, poisoning, or sudden illness. Our equipped resuscitation unit handles airway, breathing, and circulation emergencies. We maintain referral partnerships for after-hours critical care support.
Dentistry
We offer complete dental care including cleanings, extractions, and periodontal disease prevention. Oral health assessments identify systemic risks like heart and kidney disease. Prophylactic treatments protect pets' overall health while improving breath quality.
Senior Pet Care
Specialized wellness plans address age-related conditions in pets over seven years old. We monitor for diabetes, arthritis, and organ disease through biannual exams and bloodwork. Pain management and mobility support enhance senior pets' quality of life.
Surgical Services
Our surgical suite handles spays/neuters and complex soft-tissue procedures with pre-anesthetic bloodwork for safety. Individualized pain management plans use multimodal therapies for post-operative comfort. Emergency surgeries prioritize patient stability throughout procedures.
People
Dr. Aileen Ruiz
Veterinarian/Owner
Dr. Ruiz founded The Big Easy Animal Hospital in 2005 after relocating from New Orleans post-Hurricane Katrina. A graduate of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, she completed internships in emergency care and internal medicine. She holds memberships in four veterinary associations and specializes in compassionate, community-focused pet healthcare.
Questions
What emergency care options do you provide?
We offer urgent care during business hours for critical pet emergencies. For after-hours situations, we recommend Blue Pearl North (412-366-3400) or Blue Pearl South (724-809-2009) emergency facilities.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept cash, checks (with valid ID), Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Debit cards, and CareCredit financing to accommodate our clients' needs.
How can I schedule appointments?
Call us at 412-908-9301 to schedule appointments Monday-Friday. Saturday technician appointments are available from 9:00am-2:00pm.
What special services differentiate your hospital?
We uniquely combine veterinary care with Dog Daze and Cafe's daycare, boarding, and grooming services. As Pittsburgh's only Hispanic-owned animal hospital, we emphasize cultural connection and community service.
Do you provide senior pet care?
Yes, we create customized wellness plans for pets aged seven and older, including biannual exams, bloodwork monitoring, and arthritis management to maintain quality of life.
What diagnostic capabilities do you have onsite?
Our hospital features in-house blood chemistry analyzers and modern diagnostic equipment for rapid results, enabling immediate treatment decisions during your pet's visit.
Videos
