Vets in Waco: A Baylor Student's Complete Guide to Veterinarians Near Campus
Your dog has been your roommate since freshman year. Your cat survived three dorm moves (don't ask). Now you're living off-campus — maybe even at 19Eleven with the bark park just steps from your door — and you need a reliable waco veterinarian who isn't a 45-minute drive away.
Good news: Waco has solid vet options, and several are a short drive from S 8th Street. Here's every vet clinic near Baylor organized by what actually matters: proximity to campus, hours, specialty, and what to do when your pet gets sick at midnight.
Routine Vet Clinics Near 19Eleven and Baylor
Animal Hospital of Waco — The Closest Option (~1.5 miles)
If you're at 19Eleven and your dog needs a wellness exam or your cat is due for vaccines, Animal Hospital of Waco is your most convenient choice.
Address: 2501 La Salle Ave, Waco TX 76706
Phone: (254) 753-0101
Hours: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 7:45am–5:30pm (closed 12:30–1:30pm for lunch); closed Wed, Sat, Sun
Website: animalhospitalofwaco.com
They offer full-service routine care: wellness exams, vaccinations, spay/neuter, dental, surgery, in-house bloodwork (CBC and chemistry profiles), and boarding. Walk-ins are welcome Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday — you don't always need an appointment for a straightforward visit.
One standout feature: their PawPlans® wellness program covers annual exams, vaccines, and routine services for a flat monthly fee. If you're planning to stay in Waco for two-plus years (most Baylor students are), this saves real money compared to paying per visit.
The clinic is about 6 minutes from 19Eleven and on the same south Waco corridor — no navigating across town.
Cottonwood Creek Veterinary Hospital (~2 miles)
A slightly longer drive, but Cottonwood Creek is worth knowing about if Animal Hospital of Waco is booked.
Address: 2200 S Loop 340, Waco TX 76706
Phone: (254) 757-0460
Hours: Mon–Fri 7:30am–5:30pm; closed weekends
Website: ccvethosp.com
What sets Cottonwood Creek apart: they treat exotic pets and farm animals in addition to dogs and cats. If you have a reptile, rabbit, bird, or guinea pig, most standard vet clinics will turn you away — Cottonwood Creek won't. They also have an after-hours emergency referral line when they're closed.
The vets here are Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine graduates, which is the benchmark for veterinary education in Texas.
Lake Air Animal Hospital (~3.5 miles)
The farthest of the three routine options, but worth considering if you have an exotic pet or want Saturday morning availability.
Address: 5601B W Waco Dr, Waco TX 76710
Phone: (254) 772-3520
Hours: Mon–Fri 7:30am–5:30pm; Sat 8am–12pm; closed Sun
Website: lakeairanimalhospital.com
That Saturday morning window is legitimately useful if you're a full-time student who can't take weekday mornings off. Lake Air also treats birds, reptiles, and pocket pets (hamsters, ferrets), has a fully stocked pharmacy, and runs a team of four experienced vets.
Banfield Pet Hospital (Inside PetSmart, ~3 miles)
Banfield is a national chain — consistency over character — but it has one major advantage the local clinics don't: weekend hours.
Address: 4600 Franklin Ave, Waco TX 76710 (inside PetSmart)
Phone: (254) 399-9883
Hours: Mon–Sat 8am–6pm; Sun 10am–5pm
Website: banfield.com
Their Optimum Wellness Plan ($45–$65/month) covers annual exams, vaccines, routine parasite prevention, and unlimited office visits. For a pet owner who's also a college student managing an irregular schedule, being able to walk in on a Sunday and get your dog checked out is worth something.
The added bonus: you're already in PetSmart, so you can grab food, treats, or a new toy while you wait.
When You Need an Emergency Vet
Here's the scenario no one plans for: it's 11pm on a Wednesday, your dog ate something he shouldn't have (chocolate, xylitol, a sock — take your pick), and every regular vet in Waco has been closed for hours.
These are your emergency options.
Waco Animal Emergency Clinic — Primary 24-Hour Option
Address: 3901 Jack Kultgen Fwy, Waco TX 76706
Phone: (254) 752-6100
Hours: Mon–Fri 6pm–8am; Sat–Sun 24 hours
Website: wacoanimalemergency.com
This is the standard emergency referral for most Waco vet clinics when they close. Call before you go — they can advise on the severity over the phone and prepare for your arrival. About 15 minutes from 19Eleven depending on traffic.
Texas Animal Medical Center — Second 24-Hour Option
Address: 4900 Steinbeck Bend, Waco TX 76708
Phone: (254) 753-0901
Full-service 24-hour facility on the north side of Waco. A bit farther from campus (about 20 minutes) but provides a backup if the primary emergency clinic is at capacity.
Urgent Pet Care Waco — Limited Hours Urgent Care
Address: 2105 Franklin Ave, Waco TX 76701
Phone: (254) 339-1046
Hours: Mon & Fri 3–9pm; Sat–Sun 10am–9pm
Not for extreme emergencies, but a useful middle option for urgent-but-not-critical situations when your regular vet is closed. Think: minor lacerations, suspected minor infections, or acute GI issues that need evaluation tonight but aren't life-threatening.
First-Year Pet Owner Checklist in Waco
Whether you just adopted a rescue during welcome week or moved to Waco with the cat you've had since high school, knock these out in your first month:
Schedule a new patient wellness exam — Even if your pet is completely healthy, establishing care with a local waco veterinarian before something goes wrong is important. You don't want your first vet visit to be an emergency at midnight.
Bring vaccination records from your old vet. Most clinics want these to avoid repeating vaccinations unnecessarily.
Save the emergency vet number — (254) 752-6100 (Waco Animal Emergency Clinic). Put it in your phone now. You'll be glad you have it.
Note the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: (888) 426-4435, available 24/7 (there's a consultation fee of around $85). If your dog eats something potentially toxic, call this before the emergency vet — they'll help you assess severity.
Check your health insurance — if you're on Baylor's StudentBlue plan, it covers human health but not pets. Budget for routine vet care separately: expect $50–$150 for a wellness exam, $20–$45 per vaccine, and $200–$500+ for unexpected illnesses.
Pets and Off-Campus Housing at 19Eleven
On-campus at Baylor, pets are restricted to emotional support or service animals with university approval — and even approved ESAs are limited to your room only.
Off-campus is a different story. 19Eleven is fully pet-friendly: $350 pet deposit + $35/month pet rent per pet, and your dog gets access to the on-site bark park. The gated community means your pet can't accidentally get out through an unsecured entrance, which matters more than you might think until the day your neighbor leaves the main door propped open.
If you have two pets or a larger breed, check the floor plan options — the 3- and 4-bedroom layouts give pets more room to roam, and splitting rent across more roommates means the pet fees hit your budget less hard.
For more on pet-friendly living near Baylor, read our full guide to pet-friendly apartments and dog-friendly Waco, or explore Waco's best dog parks and off-leash areas to find where to take your dog on the weekends.
Quick Reference: Waco Vet Clinics by Situation
| Situation | Best Option |
|---|---|
| Routine exam, flexible weekday | Animal Hospital of Waco (~1.5 mi) |
| Need Saturday appointment | Banfield (Franklin Ave) or Lake Air |
| Exotic pet (reptile, bird, rabbit) | Cottonwood Creek or Lake Air |
| Late-night emergency | Waco Animal Emergency Clinic (254-752-6100) |
| Minor urgent issue on weekends | Urgent Pet Care Waco |
| Budget-focused routine care | Banfield Optimum Wellness Plan |
Ready to Move In With Your Pet?
19Eleven's bark park and pet-friendly lease structure make it one of the easiest off-campus options for Baylor students with dogs or cats. Now that you know where to take your pet when they need care, you've got everything you need for a smooth first year.
Schedule a tour to see the bark park and the rest of the community in person, or view floor plans and pricing to find the right fit for you and your pet.
