Veterinary Specialty Center

Veterinary Specialty Center (VSC)

An affiliate of the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine

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1207 Highway 182 W, Suite D
Starkville, MS 39759

Office: 662-325-7339
Fax: 662-325-3436

The Veterinary Specialty Center (VSC) is a satellite facility located at Premier Health Complex in Starkville,MS and is affiliated with the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

VSC provides expert veterinary care for your pet. Just as your family physician may refer you to a specialist when you need advanced or specialty care, your family veterinarian may suggest that your pet needs to be seen by a specialist at VSC. Currently, our center offers advanced imaging such as MRI and CT scans, radiation therapy using a linear accelerator, and advanced neurologic and ophthalmologic care for your pets. The advanced imaging equipment allows doctors an internal view of animals without the use of invasive procedures.

Our dedicated medical team use their specialized skills to provide the best possible care for your pet. Whether your pet has a brain tumor or suffered a traumatic spinal injury or has a cataract or other ocular trauma, our staff works closely with pet owners and referring veterinarians to ensure optimal treatment and case management.

Care does not end after diagnosis and treatment at our center. We keep referring veterinarians informed from start to finish, and communicate with them about the cases they have referred to us so they can keep clients on treatment plans after we have provided care. We also provide practicing veterinarians a second opinion on their more difficult cases.

Because VSC is affiliated with the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine, patients can be assessed and diagnostics can be performed at our facility, and then the pet can be easily transported to MSU-CVM for surgical procedures. The pet stays under the care of a VSC specialist and the surgical team can utilize the college’s Animal Health Center staff, including anesthesiologists and radiologists.

Staff

	ANDY SHORES, DVM, MS, PhD Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Neurology) Service Chief and Clinical Professor, Neurology/Neurosurgery Dr. Shores received his DVM from the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine and then completed a small animal surgical residency at Purdue University and a neurology/neurosurgery residency at Auburn. The author of more than 100 scientific publications, Dr. Shores’ clinical interest is spinal and intracranial surgery. Dr. Shores has recently been recognized among the first group of veterinary neurologists to receive the ACVIM Neurosurgery Certificate of Training and is a founding member of the Veterinary Neurosurgical Society. Dr. Shores makes frequent mission trips to Honduras and his wife and he share their home with their gato, Elsa.

	CAROLINE BETBEZE, DVM, MS Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists Assistant Clinical Professor, Ophthalmology Dr. Betbeze received her DVM from the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine and completed her Master of Science degree and residency in comparative veterinary ophthalmology at Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine. Her master’s research focused on fungal keratitis. Dr. Betbeze has practiced veterinary ophthalmology for over 10 years and has extensive clinical expertise, so as to offer the highest level of eye care for all species. Commonly treated conditions include dry eye, glaucoma, cataracts, ocular inflammation, eyelid and corneal diseases. Dr. Betbeze also performs surgeries, such as cataract removal, eyelid and corneal surgeries, for all pet species. Dr. Betbeze shares her home with her husband, a cat named Fish and her dog, Tess.

	MICHAELA BEASLEY, DVM, MS Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Neurology) Assistant Clinical Professor, Neurology/Neurosurgery Dr. Beasley received her DVM from the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine and completed her Master of Science degree and rotating small animal internship at the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. Her master’s research focused on extended release Keppra® in canines. Her neurology/ neurosurgery residency was split between Auburn University and Mississippi State University. She also holds the ACVIM Neurosurgery Certificate of Training. Dr. Beasley’s menagerie includes a cat, horse and donkey.

	TALISHA MOORE, DVM *Assistant Clinical Professor, Neurology/Neurosurgery* Dr. Moore received her DVM and completed a rotating small animal internship at the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She is a PhD candidate with research focusing on the role of Nurr1 in the regulation of dopamine function in a combined environmental and genetic mouse model of disrupted sensorimotor gating. Her neurology/ neurosurgery residency was completed at Purdue University where she also completed a Clinical Instructorship.