Proudly serving horse owners in

Northwest
Mississippi

Southwest
Tennessee

Eastern
Arkansas

Our Clinic

The EVA clinic offers our clients and patients quality accommodations, including:

5 In-Patient Stalls

Our stalls feature rubber flooring mats, windows, and overhead fans, and each stall is large enough to accommodate any size horse, even mares and foals.

Surgery Suite

EVA is equipped with a padded surgery suite for minor surgeries performed under injectable anesthesia.

Examination & Treatment Area

The clinic offers plenty of space for evaluation and treatment, including a set of stocks.

Pharmacy

The pharmacy is readily stocked with medications and supplements for our patients.

Lameness Evaluation Area

The outdoor lameness evaluation area allows our veterinarians to properly see the mechanics of gait in order to help diagnose lameness issues.

Laboratory

EVA is proud to be able to run blood chemistry profiles, complete blood counts, and fecal exams in-house for faster results for our clients.

Our Team

Dr. Charles Mercer

Owner, Veterinarian

Dr. Charles Mercer is a 1996 graduate of the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine. He began working in the practice in January of 1996 before eventually buying the practice in 2011 and rebranding it Equine Veterinary Associates of Olive Branch with Dr. Chara Short. In 2002 Dr. Mercer was awarded Young Veterinarian of the Year in Mississippi by the MVMA. When not working, he enjoys hunting, fishing, and watching college sports, particularly the MSU Bulldogs! Dr. Mercer also likes caring for EVA’s clinic cats, “Gracie”, “Callie”, and “Evie”.

 

Dr. Chara Short

Owner, Veterinarian

Dr. Chara Short has been riding and showing horses since the age of 6, and because of such, took an early interest in veterinary medicine. In 2005 she graduated from Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine and began working in the practice soon after. In August of 2011, she and Dr. Charles Mercer bought the practice, and renamed it Equine Veterinary Associates of Olive Branch. She takes a special interest in lameness and sport horse medicine, most likely due to her roots in the show world. In her spare time, she competes on the hunter/jumper circuit and enjoys spending time with friends and family. Chara shares her home with her husband, Dr. Charles Mercer, and their 5 dogs, 1 cat, and several horses.

Dr. Allison Parnell

Veterinarian

Dr. Allison Parnell grew up showing hunter/jumpers in Germantown, TN. She majored in Animal Science at Auburn University before moving on to The University of Tennessee to pursue her veterinary degree. After vet school she completed a year long internship at Kendall Road Equine Hospital in Elgin, IL and worked as an ambulatory vet in the nearby suburbs of Chicago. Her special interests include lameness, medicine, and geriatric care. In her free time, she can be found hiking with her cattle dog mix, Olivia, or doting on her retired Quarter Horse, Nicky.

Client Info

Thank you for considering Equine Veterinary Associates of Olive Branch to assist you with quality care for your equine partner.
We are always ready to welcome new clients and provide them our services.

Clinic Hours

Monday-Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm. However, a veterinarian is available 24/7 for emergencies. If you have an after-hours emergency please call the clinic and leave a message for the on-call vet.

Appointments

We operate by appointment, so please call us ahead to schedule. Appointments can be at your farm/barn or in the clinic.

New Clients

If you are new to our clinic, please stop by the front office to fill out a New Client form. You may also download a PDF copy below to complete and bring with you to your appointment.

New Client Form

Payments

In some cases, a deposit may be asked for at time of treatment. Payments for services are due at the time of pick up. We accept cash, checks, and all major credit cards.

Our Services

Emergency

After normal business hours, please call our main clinic line* at 662-893-2546, and a message will prompt you to leave your name and contact phone number. Our on-call veterinarian will contact you as soon as possible. It is important that you remain off your phone line until our veterinarian is able to contact you. If you do not receive a call-back from one of our veterinarians within 15 minutes, please call the clinic line again to re-page.

Wellness

An annual wellness exam is important to make sure your horse is in good health. Your veterinarian can help you decide which vaccines are most appropriate as well as perform dentals and fecal egg counts. Learn more information about core and risk-based vaccines.

Internal Medicine

EVA has equipment to be able to diagnose and treat sick horses and foals. Gastroscopy allows us to diagnose gastric ulcers, and we are also able to perform abdominal ultrasounds. An in-house laboratory allows us to perform complete blood counts and chemistry panels immediately so that we can better treat your horse.

Ultrasonography

Ultrasonography is useful in diagnosing soft-tissue problems in musculoskeletal structures such as the flexor tendons, suspensory ligament, and stifle joint.

Ultrasonography can be used for lameness diagnoses, abdominal scans for diagnosing colic, thoracic scans for diagnosing pneumonia, jugular scans, and ophthalmic scans. Ultrasonography is also an effective method of locating foreign material that may have been left behind from a puncture wound. Additionally, a second unit is available for in-house reproductive procedures.

Radiography

Radiographs, also known as x-rays, are used as a diagnostic tool for bone-related problems such as fractures, navicular changes, and Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCDs). Radiographs are also commonly used for pre-purchase exams.

Our digital x-ray machine displays radiographs the instant they are taken, allowing our vets the ability to diagnose problems on the spot. Our machine is also portable, making it convenient to capture radiographs at your own barn.

Endoscopy & Gastroscopy

Endoscopy is a diagnostic procedure that provides a non-invasive way look at a horse's internal organs. The endoscope is comprised of a flexible fiberoptic cable with a video camera and light on the end, allowing for the visual examination of internal structures such as the pharynx, trachea, esophagus, and stomach.

Some conditions that may require endoscopic/gastroscopic diagnostic procedures include gastric ulcers, guttural pouch infections, and respiratory disorders.

Lameness & Sports Medicine

Lameness evaluation in the performance horse is crucial for proper treatment and recovery. Our veterinarians offer an extensive lameness evaluation, and utilize diagnostic tools such as nerve blocks, ultrasounds, and radiographs to pinpoint the cause of your horse's lameness. In addition to joint injections, laser therapy, and shockwave therapy, EVA is proud to offer regenerative therapies such as PRP, stem cell injections, and IRAP.

Laser Therapy

Laser therapy uses an infrared laser light to harmlessly penetrate deep into tissues to reduce pain, reduce swelling, reduce inflammation, and speed healing. The energy emitted by the beam of laser light is absorbed by the cells, and this energy is converted into chemical, not thermal, energy. This chemical change stimulates the cells to help reduce pain, swelling, inflammation, and speeds healing. Laser therapy also reduces inflammation by increasing vasodilation, activating the lymphatic drainage system, and reducing pro-inflammatory mediators. Learn more about laser therapy.

Shockwave Therapy

Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive procedure that stimulates healing in musculoskeletal and soft-tissue injuries. Shockwave therapy utilizes high-intensity shocks that send pulses to the injured area to promote healing by stimulating an anti-inflammatory response and inducing an immediate analgesic effect. Our shockwave unit is portable, making it convenient to use both in the clinic and on farm calls.

Reproductive Services

We are pleased to be able to provide reproductive services to our patients, including ultrasounds, artificial insemination, and foal care.

EVA is equipped with a reproductive ultrasound, which allows us to verify pregnancies and check for the occurrence of twins. The ultrasound is also useful in diagnosing reproductive issues such as uterine infections, and can help our veterinarians determine what cyclic phase a mare is currently in.

After your mare has foaled, be sure to have a mare and foal exam to ensure your foal is on the fast track to a successful and healthy life. Should your mare have a difficult labor, one of our veterinarians is always on-call for emergencies. Just call our clinic line and leave a message for the on-call veterinarian.

Dental Services

Proper and consistent dental maintenance is an important aspect of your horse's overall health and well-being. Overgrown teeth can cause sharp edges to form, which can interfere with the bit and cause your horse to have difficulty chewing.

The average horse generally requires annual dental care, but the frequency can vary from horse to horse. You should discuss your horse's age, diet, and activity with your veterinarian to determine an appropriate dental care routine.

Dental exams and teeth floating can be performed both in-clinic as well as at your barn or facility.

We are pleased to work in conjunction with Dr. Stephen Galloway, board-certified Equine Dentistry Specialist.

Physical Address

6740 Center Hill Road
Olive Branch, MS 38654

Mailing Address

P.O. Box 1890
Olive Branch, MS 38654

Phone, Fax, & Email

(P) 662-893-2546
(F) 662-890-5764
info@equinevetob.com