Big Bear Veterinary Clinic

06/02/2024

Hey there,
Unfortunately, no one has claimed this sweet baby. Therefore, we will be rehoming her as of Monday.
If anyone is interested in adopting her, please call our office next week. She is a sweetheart and would really love the right home that allows her to work off all that energy !

Dr. Lawlor

05/29/2024

Hey Guys,
We’ve got this sweet baby that was brought in by a Good Samaritan after being found near the dump and Oak Forrest Road in Hayesville. Three collars but no tags and no microchip.

Please reach out to our office if you own this dog or you know who does. Proof of ownership will be required.

Thanks
Dr. L and Staff

04/12/2024

Hey Guys,
Big Bear Vet has taken in 7 young souls in the last 9 days. Of course you guys know about the five Parvo Puppies (which are all doing better, update coming soon), but you haven’t heard about this sweet girl yet.

This is Sheena! She is a 12 week old chow chow mix that was rescued as a stray with her two other siblings and her mom by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and our clinic.

Originally, she had a home; however, that is no longer an option and therefore, she was surrendered over to Big Bear Vet.

She is available for adoption via our clinic. She will have an adoption fee of $200, which will all go towards the care of our current Parvo Puppies.

She will be getting her second set of shots tomorrow and we dewormed her yesterday due to her having a hookworm infection.

If you are interested in adopting Sheena, please call our office for more information.

Of course we could not help near as many animals as we do without the support of this community and the continued generous donors. I know our primary purpose is to serve as a veterinary clinic, but all of our staff are so passionate about the rescue work we are able to do.

We thank all of you for that.

Dr. L and Staff

04/12/2024

REMINDER: RABIES CLINIC THIS SATURDAY!

Our clinic will be held this Saturday April 13th, from 1-3pm at the Clay County Health Department. All vaccines will be available, along with microchips and heartworm testing, all at discounted rates.

If you are interested in pre-registering so that you do not have to wait as long, we welcome you to call the office and provide your information, along with your pet’s information and we will get you into our system. If you have been to one of our clinics previously, no need to re-register, as your information is likely in our system.

As always, please feel free to call our office with any questions or concerns. We look forward to seeing everyone this weekend.

828-415-1668

Dr. Lawlor and Staff

04/03/2024

Hey there,
Unfortunately it’s that time of year again. Parvo Virus is out and present in our environment.

These five sweet soles were left abandoned at a fire department in the ranger area (likely because someone knew they were sick). A Good Samaritan found them and called our office looking for help, as the local shelters were unable to take them. At least one of them had already started vomiting.

Of course, after examinations and testing, they are Parvo Virus positive. We have stepped up again to provide care for these babies and help them fight against the virus.

We are looking for donations to help offset the cost. We couldn’t stand to think about their chances if we didn’t step up. Please consider donating directly to our clinic to help support these guys.

Parvo puppies require extensive care and treatments, sometimes around the clock. Not only does it cost us for medications and supplies, but also additional hours worked by the staff to help pull them through.

It is early in the disease process; therefore, we hope with management they do not get too sick. But as we know all too well, Parvo Virus can be unpredictable.

Please consider donating to our clinic or sharing this post. We are so thankful to those who have already helped and those who have also helped in the past. We couldn’t do this without you!

You can call the office to place donations via phone or in person at the clinic (preferred), or you can use my personal Venmo Account to donate to: -Lawlor-4

Also, please keep your dogs up to date on this vaccine. This disease is preventable.

Thank you so much!
Dr. L and Staff

03/15/2024

So excited to finally have our website up and running. We will continue to add content and update it frequently!

Check it out!!!
Bigbearvet.com

Dr. L

Big Bear Veterinary Clinic offers the highest quality care through preventative, sick, and emergency services for both small and large animals. It is our mission to treat every animal as if it were our own. We are always accepting new patients!

03/08/2024

Hey Guys,
It’s that time of year again. Spring is coming and so is our annual Rabies Clinic at the Clay County Health Department.

Our clinic will be held on Saturday April 13th, from 1-3pm. All vaccines will be available, along with microchips and heartworm testing, all at discounted rates.

If you are interested in pre-registering so that you do not have to wait as long, we welcome you to call the office and provide your information, along with your pet’s information and we will get you into our system. If you have been to one of our clinics previously, no need to re-register, as your information is likely in our system.

As always, please feel free to call our office with any questions or concerns. We look forward to seeing everyone next month.

828-415-1668

Dr. Lawlor and Staff

02/13/2024

UPDATE ON EMERGENCY SERVICES:

Hey Guys, C**ton here with another informative post!!!

We know it’s a struggle for owners in this area to find emergency care when they desperately need it. I heard my mom talking about it, so obviously, I should address it!

As you guys know, my mom and the staff at Big Bear do the best they can to fit in every urgent case that’s calls, but realistically and honestly, there comes a point where they must say no. They cannot take on every emergency that calls at the expense of their current hospitalized patients and scheduled clients.

As pet owners, everyone must have a plan for emergency situations. For clients at Big Bear Vet, this may be drastically different from clients at other local practices. At Big Bear Vet, we offer emergency/urgent care for our clients and patients, 24 hours a day, 365 days per year!

With emergency care options locally continuing to decrease, I strongly recommend getting established with our practice by coming in for a wellness examination and getting your annual routine care (vaccines, heartworm test and prevention) through our clinic. This is what classifies you as an established client.

If you guys do this, you will have access to our doctors in the event of an emergency. We know emergencies are stressful and we strive to be there when it matters most.

Of course, the first step is a plan. The second part of that plan comes the financial planning in the event of emergency. Do not wait for something to happen. Start planning now.

Set savings aside for pet emergencies
Get registered and set up for pet insurance
Look into Care Credit to see if this is feasible for you

Of course, if anyone has any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out! My mom is constantly talking about her plans to continue to help the community and of course, her and her staff look forward to developing new relationships and being able to be the predominant health care provider for all of our wonderful community pets in the TriState area.

It’s time for dinner and then bedtime for me.
But hey, you might see me at the clinic soon, splashing in puddles and following mom around!

Night Night
C**t Boy

02/07/2024

**DENTAL MONTH IS EXTENDED UNTIL MARCH 15th!***
Our entire surgery schedule has already been filled for February Dental Month! So we are extending this offer until March 15th. Call our office as soon as possible to get booked before the spots fill up!

February is National Pet Dental Health Month. Dental health is a huge part of your pet’s overall health. Dental problems can cause, or be caused by, other health problems, which is why annual dental exams are so important for your pet.

Approximately 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have some form of periodontal disease by the age of 3, and this will only worsen if effective preventive measures aren’t taken. Preventive care can help protect your pet and catch problems before they become more serious.

Left untreated, dental disease isn’t just bad for your pet’s teeth; it can actually damage internal organs, including the heart, liver and kidneys. That’s why regular dental exams are so important.

Routine dental cleanings are typically recommended to help prevent periodontal disease and allow a complete oral exam that can detect hidden health problems. Your pet’s teeth and gums should be checked at least once a year by your veterinarian and if recommended a dental prophylaxis under anesthesia should be performed.

Have we recommended a dental procedure for your pet but you are concerned about your pet undergoing anesthesia? This is completely understandable; however, it is necessary for some veterinary procedures – including dentistry. Find out more about pets and anesthesia here, and talk to us about any concerns you have during your next appointment.

https://www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/Whenyourpetneedsanesthesia.aspx

We can also show you how to get your pet used to having their teeth brushed! Brushing is the best way to prevent tartar build up and decrease the risk of periodontal disease. Stop in today for a demonstration and to set up an appointment for your pet’s annual examination and cleaning.

If your pet is scheduled for a dental in February or a dental has been recommended for your patient, February is the time to do it because we are offering 10% off of the dental procedure (oral examination, scaling and polishing (extractions not included)) for the entire month. This does not include examinations, bloodwork and medications to go home. We know dental care can be expensive and we love being able to provide discounts when possible. Please call our office today to schedule your examination.

To read more about pet dental care, please see the link below.

https://www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/Pet-Dental-Care.aspx

Dental health is an important part of a pet's overall health. A pet's teeth and gums should be checked at least once a year by a veterinarian.

12/24/2023

For your entertainment this evening.
Happy Holidays everyone!!

Dr. L

12/22/2023

Hey Friends,

C**t Boy here, posting to inform everyone of our holiday hours. The office will be open through this Saturday with normal business hours. We will be closed Monday December 25th and Tuesday December 26th for Christmas, then reopening on Wednesday December 27th.

If you need any prescription refills or food, please call to get these things prior to closing on Saturday.

For New Year’s, we will be closed for New Year’s Day only and will reopen on Tuesday January 2nd.

If during this time an emergency arises and you are an active client, please call the emergency line and we will decide next steps for your patient and meet you at the clinic if needed.

Of course, we know our furry friends love treats and people food, but these table scraps can cause gastroenteritis, pancreatitis and other issues. Please do not feed fatty foods, bones, sweets or any other human food this holiday season!

Of course, I’ll eat all the snacks I want, cause mom and dad are wrapped around my finger…

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!!

C**ton 👶🏼

11/29/2023

Hello everyone!

I know a few of you have reached out with concerns about the current respiratory outbreak that we’ve all seen in the news.

Below is just a little snippet from the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) concerning this disease. Unfortunately, us veterinarians do not yet know the exact cause of this respiratory outbreak, but we do know that some cases have been severe and can be fatal.

Keeping your pet healthy is the most important defense you can do right now, and this means ensuring your pet is up to date on all vaccinations, including Bordetella (Kennel Cough) and Canine Influenza.

It is true that a lot of cases are related to dogs that have been to the groomer, boarding or at a doggie daycare. However, there are also some case reports of dogs that have had no known exposure.

Until we can figure out the cause of this outbreak, we recommend limiting exposure as much as possible to situations where there are a lot of dogs in one place. If you are not unable to avoid these situations, then please ensure your dogs are up to date and you monitor them closely afterwards for any signs of respiratory disease.

If you have any questions or concerns, we are always here for you guys. Please reach out to us or call to book an appointment.

Stay safe and stay warm!

Dr. Rao and Staff

11/24/2023

Hey Guys,
Alittle late on the post, but did want to wish all of our wonderful clients a Happy Thanksgiving.
We couldn’t do what we do without all of you! I hope everyone had a good day.
Please remember to not feed your pets any table scraps from that fabulous feast you may have had, as they can get sick from this.
Also, we will be closed today (Black Friday) for our staff to get some rest and spend time with family.
If you are an active client and have an emergency, please call the emergency line for assistance.
Dr. L and Staff

11/21/2023

After 4 long months searching for a forever home, Roxanne has finally found it.
Thank you Janet Jett for giving her a chance.

We all have grown very attached to sweet Roxie since her arrival and we are so glad she is able to move on to bigger and better things!!

Dr. L and Staff ❤️😊🐶

11/18/2023

Hey Guys!

I hate to be posting again, as this is unfortunately a familiar situation for us. We are again in the circumstance of providing care for TWO Parvo Positive Puppies and we are pleading for help financially.

As most of you know, Parvo Virus is a severe GI tract virus that is often times fatal. These puppies need around the clock care and life saving support, including the new Canine Parvovirus Monoclonal Antibody Treatment to give them the best chance to recover. All of these treatments carry cost and our fabulous and dedicated staff work hard to provide their care, even after hours!

I absolutely hate to ask, but if anyone could donate to their care, we would be forever grateful. We are committed to giving these guys a shot at life. If you cannot contribute financially, sharing this post is also an awesome way to help.

You can call the office at 828-415-1668 or stop by in person to donate to their treatment!

As always, I am so grateful for this community and how everyone supports us. You guys are amazing!

On a side note, PLEASE vaccinate. The consequences can be devastating!

Dr. L and Staff ❤️

11/01/2023

HAPPY HALLOWEEN 🎃 👻

We had a blast today at Big Bear Vet. Some of our lovely staff got really festive. We also enjoyed getting out into the community and participating in Trick or Treat on the Square!!

Everyone’s costumes were awesome and we even saw some of our patients! We love this small town!!

Dr. L

10/21/2023

As Vet Tech Week (Staff Appreciation Week) comes to a close, I wanted to take a moment to brag on my staff.

Without them, us doctors would not be able to provide all of your pets with the amazing, high quality level of care that we currently provide.

We have had so many critical and challenging cases lately, but these guys stick it out. They put in the extra hours. They help us see several additional emergent cases per day that couldn’t be helped otherwise.

My staff are some of the best, most hard working people I know, and without them, Big Bear Vet would not be what it is today.

Although we continue to grow and we have a lot of new faces, everyone on our team is committed to the same goal of providing the best care possible to ensure your pets live long and happy lives.

So please join me in thanking them. We would not be here without everyone on the team.

Dr. L

09/23/2023

Some good hay information, courtesy of AAEP!

Welcome !🍂

As the the colder temperatures draw near, many horse owners are busy securing their winter hay supply. If you are considering purchasing round bales for your horses this winter—due to their cost-effectiveness and greater convenience for feeding pastured animals— remember that there are a few things to think about when choosing between square or round bales.

• Are you equipped/prepared to store your hay correctly?
Improperly stored round bales can lose much of their nutritional value and are also more susceptible to mold, dust, and bacteria growth, which can cause respiratory issues and even colic.

• Are your horses protected from botulism?
Round bales provide an optimum environment for the development of the botulism neurotoxins, which equines are particularly sensitive to.
Prevention of this disease through vaccination is critical, especially in areas where the condition is prevalent (such as Kentucky, Ohio, Maryland, Pennsylvania, California, and Tennessee).

• Are round bales a good choice for your horse?
Horses prone to respiratory conditions usually have increased problems with round bales due to their higher dust content.

• Can you secure high-quality round bales?
Not all hay is created equal. Be sure to choose high-quality hay to meet your horse's nutritional needs and minimize the risk of impaction colic, which increases with lower-quality, less digestible forage.

As always, your equine veterinarian remains your best source of information and advice—consult your horse doctor on best practices when feeding hay this winter!

08/12/2023

Hi,
I’m Roxanne, a 1.5 year old Anatolian Shepherd mix. I’m 85 lbs of pure love. I am looking for my forever home, ideally in a calm household with maybe one other dog.

My last home proved a little too much for me to handle and the nice folks here at Big Bear Vet took me in with hopes of finding me a perfect home.

Did I mention that I am super smart and already know some basic commands! I can sit, lay down, stay, shake and cannot wait to learn more.

I’ve won over the hearts of staff here at the clinic and can’t wait to win over yours!! Please call the clinic to see if we might be a perfect match!!Paws and Kisses
Roxanne

08/10/2023

We had a blast hosting the monthly Business After Hours put on by the Clay County Chamber of Commerce.

It’s wonderful to get together with the community business owners and show everyone what we do day in and day out to help the pets in our community.

The night was filled with good conversation, delicious food provided by The Ark Food Truck and fabulous desserts provided by JoJo’s Cookie Boutique!!

Thank you to everyone who came out and joined in.

Dr. L, Dr. E and Dr. R 🐶🐕🦮🐩🐕‍🦺🐾🦴🐴🐪🐄🐮🤠🐐🐑🐏🐈🐱🐈‍⬛

07/22/2023

Stray Dog in Clay County! Brought to Valley River Humane Society for Stray Hold!!!
Worked with Clay County Sheriff’s Office to remove this dog from a property due to fear aggression and property owners concern for their dog and children in the house.
Super sweet once offered food and leashed. If this is your dog, please go get him from Valley River. He’s precious!

07/06/2023

C**ton Ryan’s Revelations:

Hi There,
I’m gonna make this Quik…quick…
My mom said I’ve got to get to bed soon. She is so rude! Anyway, my mom has come home over the past several weeks talking about these scary snake creatures. I’ve never seen one, but I heard some are venomous! I heard they can cause some serious issues to our furry friends and some bites are worse than others. She says even I need to be careful crawling around outside.

She always says “THE ONLY TREATMENT FOR SNAKE ENVENOMATION IS ANTIVENIN. I wanted to let everyone know that you guys should bring your babies into your vet IMMEDIATELY if they are bitten by a venomous snake. My mom and the other fabulous animal doctors she works with will fully evaluate your sweetie and based on several factors (swelling, pain, other physical examination findings and bloodwork), will decide whether to start antivenin at that time.

Izzzz also heard my mom talking about this vaccine. She said this one wasn’t for me (thank god), but was made for dogs. I think it was called the Rattlesnake Vaccine. Some people say this vaccine is helpful for pets that get bit by a venomous snake, even by a copperhead or other type of snake. She was telling my Grammy that this vaccine IS NOT recommended by any snake bite experts within the veterinary field, as there is minimal research to suggest efficacy, and could be associated with a worse prognosis after being vaccinated and then envenomated by a snake.

So basically, it doesn’t sound like a good idea. I agree with my mom. I mean, she sounds pretty smart. So, my four sweet pups will not be getting that vaccine. But anyway, please keep an eye out for your pets. We know they like to stick their faces where they do not belong and the snakes are out in full force right now.

Please stay safe. As my mom always says, if you have any questions about the information provided or any concerns, please feel free to call the office. She’d be happy to chat more, or you can leave a message for ME… I only work on Wednesday’s….or maybe it was Thursday’s…I’m not sure what day it is. I check my messages sometimes, when my mom lets me!

Goodnight! 😴
C**t Boy

https://www.aaha.org/aaha-guidelines/2022-aaha-canine-vaccination-guidelines/key-vaccination-considerations-by-antigen/rattlesnake-toxoid/

06/24/2023

We are ready for everyone!!!
Come on down to the open house from 1-3pm!!!
Dr. L

06/22/2023

ANNOUCEMENT!!!
Do not forget about the open house this Saturday at the clinic! The open house will be from 1-3pm THIS SATURDAY JUNE 24th! There will be giveaways, tours of the new addition and you can enter to win a Yeti Cooler filled with all the good things Boehringer Ingelheim provided for us (including some free monthly prevention)!

We will provide some snacks and talk about the services we offer to our clients. Even if you are not currently a client, please feel free to stop by and meet the team. We are so excited to share all the additions we have made. Everything we do at Big Bear Vet is for our amazing patients and their owners. As always, we know we are blessed to be a small part of this amazing community!

We love you all!
See you Saturday.

Dr. L, Dr. E, Dr. R and Staff

06/16/2023

We look forward to seeing everyone at our Rabies Clinic tomorrow. The clinic is at the Clay County Health Department from 1-3pm!!
Dr. L and Staff

06/09/2023

Good Evening,

Unfortunately this is one of those negative posts in order to raise awareness and to express behavioral expectations of our clients and any new clients that might come into our office.

I will not tolerate ANY AMOUNT of disrespect aimed at my associate doctors or my staff. It’s unfortunate that I have to continue to reiterate this fact.

We had a lovely lady today, whom we fit in to help her five puppies that were sick. This person was not an active client, but as you all know, we do our best to fit in as many emergencies as we can handle throughout the day, no matter what. They had Parvo, a disease of unvaccinated dogs. We hospitalized the sickest and this owner elected to take the others home for at home treatment. Our entire staff worked hard, through lunch to start treating these poor cuties.

Two technicians spent the entire shift working in the isolation room to ensure they were taken care of and to give them the best chance possible. My associate vet worked hard to stabilize the very sick puppies and when giving and update and additions to the plan via phone to the owner, she was met with aggression and beratement. After all we continue to do is bust our tails to save animals. This is what we get.

This behavior is literally disgusting to me. It is again, not our responsibility to provide free care and tolerate that sort of aggression. Instead of being at home today, I had to then leave my 10 month old son to come to the clinic to educate an adult on how to be respectful to staff and babysit her while she checks out and takes the sick puppies home against medical advice. Meanwhile, she is telling my staff member she should pray for herself.

Obviously, these clients are few and far between and we are grateful for that. I post these things to give you an insight as to what we have to deal with when these situations occur and as a warning to any possible new clients. We will not accept this behavior. You will be fired as a client and you will not be welcome back in our office.

Please understand that I realize it is scary when you have a sick animal. We are here to help, but we cannot do that without mutual respect and trust in our staff.

With that being said, thank you to all of our fabulous clients that continue to make all that we do worth it. Shout out to Ms. Keller, you must have known our day was not going to end well. The goodies were sooooo appreciated.

If you have any questions or concerns, as always, feel free to give me a call. Thank you again to all of our awesome clients. We will continue doing what we do, because this is what we love!

Dr. Lawlor 🐶
P.S. Just be happy like C**t boy!!

05/29/2023

We will be closed today, Monday May 29th, in observance of the holiday. Remembering and thanking all of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice!!

As always, please call the emergency line should any issues arise.

Dr. L and Staff

05/17/2023

Hey Everyone,
I hope you all had a good weekend this past weekend. I have some exciting news from Big Bear Vet. This past Friday was the Annual Dinner for the Clay County Chamber of Commerce and all the businesses that are part of the Chamber.

Every year the Chamber presents awards for various businesses that have been elected by the other business members and the community. We are so thrilled to announce that Big Bear Veterinary Clinic won the Business Of The Year!!!!

We could not be happier that our community chose us for this award. We are so thankful for this awesome community and how supportive everyone is. We are glad that we are able to provide quality care to your pets and we love coming into work each day. With our new addition, we will be able to provide more services and see more animals in need each day. We love that we are able to continue to grow with this community and we will never stop working hard to ensure your pets have the best care possible.

Thank you to all of our amazing clients and patients. None of what we do would be possible without you all.

Of course, I have to give a shout out to all the awesome ladies that help keep everything running smoothly within the clinic, from our associate doctors, Dr. Elrod and Dr. Rao, to all of our wonderful support staff. I love you all.

Dr. Lawlor ❤️

05/05/2023

Hey Guys!!!
We have lots of exciting things coming in June that we wanted to announce.

First of all, I know that many of you guys wanted a drive through clinic for vaccines, as this is the least stressful way to run a vaccine clinic. We had always planned to do another and we have locked down a date with the Clay County Health Department.

Our Drive In Vaccine Clinic will be held on Saturday June 17th from 1-3pm. If you have any questions or would like to pre-register (saving you some time the day of), please call the office.

As many of you already know, we have moved into our new addition and we are all so thrilled with the change. We of course, want to invite everyone to come on over and take a look at the clinic during our open house on the following Saturday June 24th from 1-3pm.

There will be giveaways 😊

As always, we are so blessed to be in Hayesville and to serve this AWESOME community. Please feel free to reach out with any additional questions or concerns.

Dr. Lawlor, Dr. Elrod, Dr. Rao and Staff ♥️

04/22/2023

We hope to see everyone at the Pet Expo on the square in Hayesville. We will be there from 12-2pm for our Vaccine and Microchip Clinic.

Dr. Elrod, Dr. Rao and Staff