Merkel Veterinary Clinic

11/19/2025

The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) received confirmation of equine herpes myeloencephalopathy (EHM), the neurologic disease linked to equine herpes virus (EHV-1), in a Texas Quarter Horse on November 18, 2025.
The horse attended the 2025 WPRA World Finals and Elite Barrel Race event in Waco, Texas on November 5-9, 2025. TAHC staff are working closely with event coordinators, equine owners, and veterinarians to respond to the outbreak, take measures to protect equine, and prevent the further spread of the virus. Additional participants of this event have been notified by the TAHC and are currently being monitored under hold orders.

AUSTIN, TX – The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) received confirmation of equine herpes myeloencephalopathy (EHM), the neurologic disease linked to equine herpes virus (EHV-1), in a Texas Quarter Horse on November 18, 2025.

The horse attended the 2025 WPRA World Finals and Elite Barrel Race event in Waco, Texas on November 5-9, 2025. TAHC staff are working closely with event coordinators, equine owners, and veterinarians to respond to the outbreak, take measures to protect equine, and prevent the further spread of the virus. Additional participants of this event have been notified by the TAHC and are currently being monitored under hold orders.

View the full press release here:https://www.tahc.texas.gov/news/2025/2025-11-19_EHM-Waco.pdf

11/12/2025

We started scheduling spays and neuters for dogs and cats again at Merkel Vet Clinic today. Sorry but we will NOT be accepting any low cost vouchers. Starting in January, we won't be open on Saturdays.

12/11/2024

Sorry everyone, I just realized that my home phone number isn't working -325- 928-4176. And evidently hasn't been since Nov 22nd. I looked and the last record of a call is that date. So during the day please call the clinic at 325-928-5235 during the day and my cell phone at 325-665-3346 after business hours if you need to talk to me. I thought it was weird that I wasn't getting anyspam calls. :)

I tried calling the home from my cell and it rang and rang and rang. When I try to call out I have a dead sounding line. Not open, just dead. Plugging in an old phone that use during power outages had the same results. Calling Windstream about it tommorrow.

07/03/2024

I got an email from TVMA about the entry and re-entry of dogs from other countries (including Mexico) rabies requirements. Basically our clients shouldn't take theri dogs with them out of country unless they are ready to jump through multiple hoops. These are CDC rules. The rules include - the dog has to be 6 months old. The rabies certificate has to be approved by the USDA and in some places it says the dog has to have its titer done by a CDC approved lab. AVMA provides some guidance here - https://www.avma.org/blog/avma-resource-helps-decode-new-dog-importation-rules Basically don't take your dogs on trips to Mexico. The rules do not apply to cats. Read the comments on the AVMA page to see what people are saying about the new rule which takes effect August 1, 2024. .

Are you prepared for the new federal importation regulations that take effect August 1 for all dogs entering and re-entering the United States?

02/06/2024

(The phones are working this Wednesday morning 2-7-24!)

Our phones at Merkel Vet Clinic are messed up again. We can call out and receive calls from 928 numbers, but not any other exchange. And my cell phone with AT&T only has two bars at the most and it usually has 4, But if you need something right now you can try calling my cell phone at 665-3346.

12/26/2023

Merry Christmas from me and Jean Oliver Banner and Barbara Banner

05/16/2023

Merkel Veterinary Clinic's office phone is experiencing our near monthly outage. If the clinic number 928-5235 doesn't work for you can call my cell phone at 665-3346.

01/20/2023

Merkel Veterinary Clinic's phone is down right now. It seems like it this happens every month or two. When we can't get calls at 928-5235 or can't call out then usually Pizza Pro, Dosser Grage, Merkel ISD, and my house are also affected (that I know of) the same way. In the meantime you can call my cell phone at 325-665-3346 .

07/13/2022

Evidently, Merkel Vet Clinic's phone is among others in town that are going in and out. If the number 928-5235 doesn't work when you call please call my cell phone at 665-3346.

04/12/2022

Merkel Vet Clinic's phones aren't working today 4-12-22. Please call my cell phone at 665-3346. My home landline is having the same problem so it is probably an area outage again.

02/14/2022

Merkel Vet Clinic's phones worked Saturday, but they are not working again today - Monday Feb 14th. Please call my cell phone at 665-3346.

02/10/2022

It looks like area 928 numbers can't receive or send calls from outside 928 or other exchanges that are considered local. So Merkel Vet Clinic can't receive calls from anything but 928 and other local exchanges (I don't know what those are) It also means our credit card machine isn't working. So until this is fixed you can call my cell phone at 325-665-3346 to make appointments and stuff at Merkel Vet Clinic.