Kissimmee Vets: Four Clinics Compared

Kissimmee, Florida • Pet care

Kissimmee has veterinary practices that date back to 1944 and newer clinics opened in the last decade. This comparison looks at four local vets by history, hours, services and what to do after hours, so you can pick the right fit for your dog or cat.

This article is general information for pet owners. It is not medical advice; ask a licensed veterinarian about your own animal's health.

Choosing a vet is one of the first jobs for anyone who moves to Kissimmee with a pet, and one of the most important. You want a clinic close enough to reach quickly, open when you can get there and equipped for the care your animal is likely to need. Here are four Kissimmee practices, in order of when they opened, with what each publishes on its own website.

Osceola Animal Clinic, North Main Street (1944)

Osceola Animal Clinic opened at its North Main Street location in 1944 and has served Kissimmee from the same address for more than 75 years. It is a full-service small animal clinic with a strong diagnostic side: digital radiology, dental radiology, ultrasonography, electrocardiography and in-house laboratory work. It also offers laser therapy, surgery, behavior and nutrition counseling, microchipping and a fully stocked pharmacy. Hours are Monday to Friday 9 am to 5:30 pm and Saturday 8 am to noon; it is closed on Sundays.

Best for: owners who want an established clinic with imaging and dental X-rays under one roof.

Kissimmee Animal Hospital, East Vine Street (1974)

Kissimmee Animal Hospital was founded in 1974 and has a sister clinic in Poinciana. It treats dogs, cats and pocket pets at every stage of life, and its surgical services include spays and neuters, dental cleanings and some orthopaedic procedures. The practice promotes VIPet Plans for routine care, and its service list includes parasite prevention, microchipping, geriatric care, nutritional counseling and an on-premises pharmacy. The Kissimmee clinic is open Monday to Friday 8 am to 6 pm and Saturday 8 am to 1 pm.

Best for: households with rabbits, guinea pigs or other small pets as well as dogs and cats, and owners who like a wellness plan.

Flora Family Vet, Fortune Road (1996)

Flora Family Vet opened in 1996 as Boggy Creek Animal Hospital and renamed itself after the road became Fortune Road. The team follows a fear-reducing, family-centered approach to keep animals calmer during visits, and patient drop-off forms are available in Spanish as well as English. It serves Kissimmee, St. Cloud, Hunters Creek and Lake Nona, takes online bookings and is open Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 6 pm. For emergencies after hours, its website directs owners to the Veterinary Emergency Clinic of Central Florida.

Best for: anxious pets, Spanish-speaking families and owners who need a full Saturday.

BVL Veterinary Hospital, Simpson Road (2017)

BVL Veterinary Hospital opened in 2017 in the BVL Shopping Plaza behind the Bank of America on Simpson Road and is family owned. It offers wellness exams, vaccinations, spay and neuter, surgery, dental care with radiographs, care for sick and injured pets, emergency services, microchipping and Photon Wound Therapy. Its anaesthesia protocol is described in detail on its site: IV catheter and fluids, with heart rate, EKG, blood pressure, breathing, oxygen and carbon dioxide monitored throughout. It accepts CareCredit and Scratch Pay. The website lists hospital hours of 8:30 am to 5 pm; call to confirm the days.

Best for: owners who want to understand anaesthesia safety before a dental or surgery, and those who need payment plans.

How to choose between them

• 1. Distance. In an emergency, minutes matter. Note how long each clinic takes to reach from home at rush hour.
• 2. Hours. Flora is open all day Saturday; Osceola Animal Clinic and Kissimmee Animal Hospital close at noon and 1 pm on Saturday.
• 3. Services. If your pet needs dental X-rays or ultrasound, ask whether it is done in house.
• 4. Species. Small mammals need a clinic that sees pocket pets.
• 5. Payment. Ask about wellness plans, CareCredit, Scratch Pay and pet insurance.

Questions for your first visit

• 1. What vaccinations does my pet need for Florida, and how often?
• 2. What parasite prevention do you recommend year-round here?
• 3. How do you handle anaesthesia for dental cleanings?
• 4. Where should I go if my pet is sick at night or on Sunday?
• 5. Can you send records to a groomer or boarding kennel?

Bring vaccination records, a list of medications and food, and a stool sample if the clinic asks. Cats travel more calmly in a covered carrier; a top-loading carrier makes it easier to lift a nervous cat out at the clinic.

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Florida heat and your pet

Kissimmee summers are hard on animals. Walk dogs early in the morning or after sunset, test pavement with the back of your hand, never leave a pet in a parked car and keep fresh water available indoors and out. Heavy panting, drooling, stumbling or vomiting on a hot day can signal heatstroke, which needs a vet immediately. Fleas, ticks and heartworm-carrying mosquitoes are active almost year-round, so ask about prevention at the first visit.

Have a pet business in Kissimmee?

Groomers, trainers, sitters and vets in Osceola County can claim a free Cottlink business profile so pet owners can find them.

Quick answers

Which of these Kissimmee vet clinics opened first?

Osceola Animal Clinic on North Main Street opened in 1944 and still operates from its original location.

Which of these Kissimmee vets is open on Saturday afternoon?

Flora Family Vet lists Monday to Saturday hours of 8 am to 6 pm. Confirm before you go.

Where do I take my pet in an emergency at night in Kissimmee?

Flora Family Vet's website refers after-hours emergencies to the Veterinary Emergency Clinic of Central Florida. Call your own vet first for advice.