Deborah Cays, DVM

Finding a dedicated and highly experienced veterinarian in the St. Louis, Missouri area is paramount for the long-term health and happiness of your pet. Dr. Deborah Cays, DVM, stands out as a highly respected and long-serving veterinarian practicing at the well-known Rock Road Animal Hospital. Her commitment to the local community and her deep expertise in a broad spectrum of veterinary medicine make her a trusted name for pet owners across St. Louis and the surrounding Missouri regions.

Dr. Cays is not just a practicing veterinarian; she is a native of St. Louis who has dedicated her entire professional career to animal welfare in the area. She began working at Rock Road Animal Hospital as a veterinary assistant in 1991, demonstrating her long-standing passion for the field. After completing her undergraduate studies at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and earning her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from the esteemed Mizzou College of Veterinary Medicine in 2003, she returned to Rock Road, where she has been practicing ever since. This deep local connection and consistency in her practice provide a valuable sense of stability and historical knowledge for her patients.

As one of the practice owners, alongside Dr. Theresa Bednar and Dr. Paige Stroud, Dr. Cays is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of care. The practice focuses on comprehensive veterinary services, ensuring that pets—from the smallest pocket pets to the most cherished canine and feline companions—receive preventative care, advanced diagnostics, expert medical treatment, and surgical services when needed. The philosophy of care under Dr. Cays’ guidance is centered on providing personalized treatment plans, relieving pain, reducing stress, and fully educating clients about their pet's health to ensure the best possible outcomes.

Address: 9418 St Charles Rock Rd, St. Louis, MO 63114, USA

The hospital is conveniently situated directly on St. Charles Rock Road, a major thoroughfare, making navigation simple. For those planning a visit, it is important to note the planning requirements:

• Appointments Recommended: Unlike a "walk-in" clinic, Dr. Cays’ practice operates on an appointment-only basis. This structure ensures that each pet receives focused, dedicated time and attention, minimizing wait times and maximizing the quality of the consultation, which is crucial for complex or specialized care.
• Accessibility: The facility has taken steps to accommodate all pet owners with important accessibility features, including a Wheelchair accessible entrance and Wheelchair accessible parking lot. This dedication to accessibility reflects a commitment to serving all members of the Missouri community and their pets.

• Preventative and Wellness Care: Animal Vaccines, Preventative Pet Health Care, New Puppy or Kitten consultations, Routine Blood Work, Flea Preventative applications, and specialized Vaccine Clinics.
• Advanced Diagnostics and Imaging: Access to X-Rays, Animal Ultrasound, Advanced Diagnostics, Diagnostic Testing, Digital Dental Radiology, Dental Radiography, Diagnosis and Treatment for various conditions, and a full Laboratory and Pharmacy.
• Medical and Surgical Specialties: Expertise in Internal Medicine, Medical and Surgical procedures, Surgery and Anesthesia, Veterinary Specialist Referrals when required, Skin Biopsies, and treatment for Skin Diseases and Infectious Diseases.
• Pet Life-Stage Care: Focused programs for Cat Health Care, Senior Pet Care, and deeply compassionate end-of-life services, including Hospice Care and Hospice and Euthanasia Services, with dedicated Grief Support.
• Specialized Health Needs: Allergy Testing, Nutritional Counseling (including creation of a Pet Nutrition and Diet and Exercise plan), Pain Management, Dental Problems, and services for Anal Glands.
• Care for Unique Pets: A noted dedication to Exotic Pet Care and specialized knowledge for Pocket Pets.
• Support and Comfort Services: Day Care, Nail Trims, Ear Plucking, Brush Outs, and informational resources, including a Hospital Tour for clients to become familiar with the facility.

• Exceptional Experience and Ownership: Dr. Cays is not just an employee but an owner of the hospital, boasting over two decades of experience since her graduation from Mizzou. This ownership structure translates into a long-term commitment to the quality and consistency of patient care.
• Holistic and Compassionate Approach: Dr. Cays is known for going "above and beyond" to help clients and educate them about their pets. Reviews specifically highlight her personal, kind, and accommodating style, including one instance where she sat on the floor with a nervous pet and owner to make the animal more relaxed—a testament to her deep empathy and genuine love for animals.
• Affordability and Value: Despite providing highly specialized and advanced care, customer feedback consistently praises the practice for offering "very reasonable prices" and being "always great service," indicating an exceptional value proposition for local pet owners.
• Comprehensive In-House Facilities: The practice has a full Animal Hospital with a Laboratory and Pharmacy on site. This integrated approach ensures pets receive immediate attention for diagnosis, treatment, and medication fulfillment without requiring external referrals for basic needs.
• Exotic and Pocket Pet Focus: The inclusion of services for Exotic Pet Care and Pocket Pets is a critical highlight, as many veterinary clinics do not offer this specialized knowledge. This capability makes Dr. Cays a key resource for St. Louis residents with diverse animal companions.
• Focus on Education: Dr. Cays places high value on client education, ensuring pet parents fully understand everything from preventative measures like flea preventatives to essential training, such as how to manage a New Puppy Or Kitten.

Phone: (314) 429-6666

Address: 9418 St Charles Rock Rd, St. Louis, MO 63114, USA

What truly makes this practice worth choosing is the deeply personalized, caring atmosphere that is evident in customer reviews. Clients feel that they are heard and that their pets are not just patients but family members. The willingness of Dr. Cays to adjust her behavior—even sitting on the floor—to put a nervous pet at ease is a powerful indicator of the level of compassion and individualized care you can expect. This empathy, coupled with a wide-ranging skill set that covers routine preventative care, complex internal medicine, specialized exotic pet care, and end-of-life support, means you will rarely need to seek an outside provider.

Furthermore, the practice provides essential value by offering consistently "reasonable prices" while maintaining a high standard of service and advanced diagnostic capabilities. For families managing the costs of pet ownership, this affordability without sacrificing quality is a significant factor. Choosing Dr. Cays is choosing a practice that is deeply rooted in the St. Louis community, highly experienced, technologically capable, and profoundly compassionate—a true partner in your pet's life journey.

Deborah Cays, DVM

9418 St Charles Rock Rd, St. Louis, MO 63114, USA