SUMMERFIELD, FL (352today.com) – Given the greater Ocala area’s status as the Horse Capital of the World, we are rich in veterinarians who specialize in equine and large animal medicine.
But what about when your other furry family members need some TLC?
In the Summerfield and southeastern Marion County area, Central Florida Veterinary Hospital is here to offer full service for your pets in a caring, family-oriented atmosphere.
A family affair
Central Florida Veterinary Hospital owner Dr. Cara Erwin-Oliver, her family and staff have been familiar faces in the Belleview/Summerfield area for decades. Dr. Erwin-Oliver was born in Miami, but her family relocated to Belleview when she was only a year old, and she grew up on a local farm surrounded by animals of all sorts.
“My father is a veterinarian and he and my mother loved the rural atmosphere of North Central Florida,” Dr. Erwin-Oliver says. “They decided to settle here and start their business. I grew up on a farm and had a true love for animals that was evident to everyone around me as a toddler. I surrounded myself with dogs, cats and horses since the time I could walk.”
Her mother trained racehorses, and Dr. Erwin-Oliver was involved in 4H and barrel racing from a young age. Once she finished her own clinical veterinary training, she returned to her hometown to practice.
A wealth of experience
Upon graduation, Dr. Erwin-Oliver joined the “family business,” pursuing a career in equine medicine. However, it didn’t take long for her to switch gears when she began to receive a particular sense of enjoyment and satisfaction from working with members of the local community, and their pets.
“Very quickly I realized that, not only did I have a love for internal medicine, I enjoyed even more the interaction and friendships I was developing with my pet parents after switching to small animal medicine full-time,” she says. “I truly love the conversation I have, and time spent with all of my clients during each of their visits to our hospitals.”
Familiar faces from a team that cares
Dr. Erwin-Oliver opened Belleview Veterinary Hospital in 1993. Since then, the population and needs of the surrounding community have grown exponentially; just this February, Dr. Erwin-Oliver opened a second practice, Central Florida Veterinary Hospital, in order to better serve pet owners across the region.
“As our beloved city grew, so did the demand for a full service animal hospital. Because of the demand, BVH patient base has outgrown our small building on our home farm. Plans for expansion are in the works but due to the need for such care, the idea for CFVH arose. In February this idea become a reality to offer more appointments and serve our community on a larger scale at a more convenient location closer to the homes of many of our clients in The Villages,” she said.
“CFVH along with BVH are both owned solely by myself and family. We are truly a family practice demonstrated by the long-term employment of our support staff and family connections of our veterinarians. When you bring your fur babies for their appointments, you will always see several familiar faces that have been with me for over 10 years. These dedicated employees are more than staff members they are part of my family and the base these hospitals were built on. Their love for our patients and their owners will shine in every interaction you will have with them.”
A very special open house
Dr. Erwin-Oliver and her staff are extremely excited to invite their clients and the entire community a very special open house at the new facility this Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 from noon until 3 p.m.
“We are excited about the opportunity to “Open Our Home” to all of our current clients along with those looking to join our hospital family,” she said. “We will not only promise an enjoyable afternoon full of fun and giveaways, but we will also give educational tours of our facility with a photo op backdrop for you and your pets. We will have meet-and greet-opportunities for you and your fur babies to meet our staff and doctors in an environment that will limit the stress that is sometimes involved in a first-time sick patient visit.”
Central Florida Animal Hospital is located at 17950 S. US 441, Suite 103 in Summerfield. Call 352-831-3700 for more details, or to schedule an appointment.