Big Bear Veterinary Clinic

11/19/2025

Please be aware folks!
Dr. L

🔺Important Update: EHV-1 Outbreak in Barrel Horses
There is an evolving EHV-1 outbreak affecting barrel horses, with initial cases traced back to Texas. As more information emerges, we want horse owners to stay alert and take practical steps to reduce risk.
A few key reminders:
• Vaccination is still strongly recommended — but it does not guarantee a horse won’t show symptoms.
EHV-1 vaccines reduce viral shedding and severity, which helps limit spread and complications, but horses can still become ill or neurologic.
• Quarantine is essential.
This virus spreads through close contact, shared equipment, tack, water buckets, trailers, and airborne droplets.
If your horse has been to an event with known exposure, or was around horses that have traveled, strict isolation measures are the best way to break transmission.
• Monitor closely.
Typical early signs include fever, nasal discharge, lethargy, hind-end weakness, incoordination, or difficulty urinating/defecating. Call your veterinarian immediately if you notice any neurologic changes.
• Reduce risk at home and on the road.
Avoid nose-to-nose contact, don’t share equipment, disinfect frequently, and limit travel until more information is available.
We’ll continue to share updates as the situation develops. If you have travel plans with your horse or are concerned about potential exposure, reach out — we’re here to help.
Stay safe and keep your horses safe. ❤️🐴

11/09/2025

COLD WEATHER ALERT:

As you all know, the cold weather is coming. With temperatures getting below freezing, we want to ensure we are taking some extra precautions so that we can avoid an emergency visit with our large animal friends.

1. Ensure that they have some extra hay. Hay keeps our large animal friends warm during the cold.

2. Avoid sudden diet changes to the hay. If they are not used to it, they need to be slowly introduced.

3. Add a handful/palmful of salt to their grain, along with some water to help encourage thirst during this time (electrolytes are also okay).

4. Add a small amount of alfalfa to their feeding plan to help the gut keep moving and to encourage thirst.

5. Ensure they have access to fresh water at all times and ensure you use a heating element if needed to keep the water from freezing.

If your large animal is an ACTIVE PATIENT with our hospital and an issue arises, please call our emergency line. We are always here for you!

Of course we cannot forget about our small animal patients either. Please bring them inside if possible. If this is not possible, a dog house with straw is also okay.

Make sure they have access to fresh water at all times.

Ensure that they have a collar with tags and more importantly a microchip, in the event that they run off in this cold weather. This way they have a better chance of making their way home quickly to get out of the elements.

If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to reach out! Enjoy the beautiful day today and stay warm in the days to come!

Dr. Lawlor and Staff 🐻

10/31/2025

Our Big Bear Vet Team had a blast celebrating Halloween together and passing out candy, toys and snacks to our amazing community.

We love our little town and the amazing people and pets in it! Thank you to everyone that came out!

Thanks to Deinna, Chris, Dr. Flynn, Autumn, Abby, Alexa and Faith for passing out candy while my family and I walked around.

Colton had an ABSOLUTE blast.

Goodnight everyone!

Dr. Lawlor 🐻

10/30/2025

Little Lucy got herself into some trouble with an animal stuffed squeaky toy. She needed to have the squeaker removed from her intestines due to it causing obstruction and the rest of the toy was removed from her stomach. This is a hard hit on this lovely rescue.

Please donate if you can. You can use the link in their post or you can donate directly to the medical bill at Big Bear Vet or via phone.

She is the sweetest little girl and she won’t be out of the woods for another 3-5 days, but we are hoping for her to make a quick and full recovery.

Dr. Lawlor and Staff ❤️

🆘🆘 IMMEDIATE RESCUE FUNDS NEEDED! 🆘🆘
(Xrays included in comments)

💔 Little Lucy — our sweet 34-pound pittie battling Addison’s Disease — is undergoing emergency exploratory surgery today for a possible blockage. The vet believes it may be due to foreign material. They will do everything possible to save her.

This surgery is estimated to cost between $3,000–$5,000, depending on what they find and the extent of the work required.

Lucy has already been through so much, and we’re fighting for her with everything we have — but we can’t do it without you.

🙏 Every single dollar helps and goes directly toward Lucy’s life-saving care. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to everyone who continues to stand by us — we truly couldn’t save lives without your support. ❤️🐾

10/25/2025

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYONE AT OUR OPEN HOUSE TOMORROW MORNING!!

We know our parking lot is small, but we have overflow parking options at the Ivy Funeral Home and Crossroads Garage Parking!!

If you have any trouble, please flag one of us down in the parking lot for assistance!!! We so look forward to this event and I have attached the schedule of events below.

Come on out, enjoy the beautiful weather, learn more about Big Bear Vet and eat some food!!

OH, I ALMOST FORGOT, I will be in the dunk tank from 12:30-1pm! Come get me!!

Dr. Lawlor and Staff 🐻

10/23/2025

Two more days until our OPEN HOUSE AND FIVE YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION!

We are excited to have Dragon Ass Smoked BBQ at our event. Our first 100 guests eat free. We are so excited they are helping us celebrate this milestone with our clients and patients, as their food is THE BEST!

We are literally counting down the days!! We look forward to seeing everyone there!

Dr. Lawlor and Staff 🐻

10/22/2025

We are excited to have Sunny Sips available for purchase at our open house THIS SATURDAY from 10am-2pm. They will be sporting a fabulous Big Bear Vet menu!!!

Arent these just the cutest drink options you’ve ever seen!!

We look forward to seeing everyone there!

Dr. Lawlor 🐻

10/21/2025

Hey Guys!!
We look forward to seeing everyone at the open house on Saturday. This is just a reminder that we will be closed this Saturday for our open house. If any issues arise, we will be available for emergency calls.

Also, we will be having a PET HALLOWEEN COSTUME CONTEST! If you are bringing your pet to the open house, dress them up for a chance to win a prize basket!

Check out Little Bruno in his pajamas!! We are so excited to get into the Halloween Spirit with you!

Dr. Lawlor and Staff 🐻

10/19/2025

Come on out to Punkin Chunkin and dress warm. We are still launching pumpkins and the local businesses that are enduring the weather would love your support!

Your very own will be working the front gate again! See you all there!

Dr. L

10/17/2025

All of us over here at Big Bear Vet are counting down the days until our Open House and Five Year Anniversary Bash.

Some of the most important work we do focuses on preventative medicine and care. This is especially important in our equine patients.

Horses have somewhere around 60 to 68 teeth (depending on mare versus stallion/gelding) that must all play nice over their lifetime. This includes 24 baby teeth and somewhere between 36-44 adult teeth.

All of these teeth must be evaluated AT LEAST annually, both when they are young to ensure everything comes in normal and continues to shed normally, and when they are older to ensure we catch any dental abnormalities early.

At the Open House, we will be demonstrating a summarized and shorter version of what is done on the farm when we perform our complete oral examination and dental float on a patient.

Come out and join us to better understand why we recommend that each horse be evaluated at least once a year!

There will be raffle prizes, food and more!

388 Highway 64 Business
Hayesville, NC

Dr. Lawlor 🐻

https://facebook.com/events/s/big-bear-vet-open-house-and-fi/1589591482447167/

10/14/2025

YALL!!!
Are you ready for it?

OPEN HOUSE AND FIVE YEAR ANNIVERSARY!
October 25th from 10am-2pm!!!

We hope to see you all there!

Dr. L

10/13/2025

Hey Guys,
Although I am out of town this week for some Continuing Education, I want to shout it out to all of my amazing staff for their incredible work.

As most people know, we are no ordinary clinic. We are constantly moving, working and pushing ourselves. Constantly helping one more person, one more pet.

NONE of this would be possible without the support of my crew. Day in and day out, they show up. They know it will be hard, but they are there, giving it their all.

This week is National Veterinary Technician Week. At our clinic, we recognize ALL of our staff members for their hard work and dedication, not only to our clients and patients, but also to the animals that don’t have a voice. Our staff play a vital role in helping the many rescues that we take in and it would not be possible without their commitment to that cause.

Please join me in recognizing them this week. If you are in our office, please thank them for all that they do, as we would not be where we are today without all of them!

Love you all!
Enjoy the photo dump from out first annual Equine Dental Clinic.

Dr. Lawlor 🐻