Barrow Veterinary Service

09/08/2025

It’s only Monday and you’re already done with the week. 😴🐎

If your horse could text you right now, what would this guy be saying? 📱😂
A) ‘Don’t call me, I’ll call you.’
B) ‘Bring snacks or don’t bother.’
C) ‘Tell my farrier I’m out of office.’

Drop your vote (or your own funny caption) in the comments — we love seeing your creativity! ⬇️

09/03/2025

😂🐴 Wednesday Fun Question! 🐴😂
If your horse had a job outside the barn, what would it be?

▪️Professional grass taste-tester 🌱👅

▪️Full-time nap specialist 😴

▪️Fence destruction engineer 🪵💥

▪️Olympic-level treat beggar 🍪🏅

▪️Or maybe even a part-time escape artist 🔓🐎

Tell us your horse’s “career path” in the comments – the sillier the better! 👇
— Barrow Veterinary Service

08/29/2025

Friday Fun Fact – Labor Day Edition! 🐴

Did you know? Horses have been some of the hardest working laborers throughout history! 💪 From plowing fields and hauling heavy loads to serving as partners in transportation, farming, and even war efforts—horses were truly the original "workforce" long before trucks and tractors came along. Today, while many horses enjoy more leisurely jobs like showing, trail riding, or being beloved companions, we still celebrate their incredible role in building the world we live in. 🐎✨

This Labor Day weekend, we hope you and your horses get a chance to relax and enjoy a little break—you’ve all earned it! 🌾🍎

📌 Holiday Hours Reminder:
Barrow Veterinary Service will be closed for regular business on Monday, September 1st in observance of Labor Day.
🚨 As always, we are available 24/7 for emergencies—just call 770-464-0890 and press #1 for the doctor on call.

Wishing everyone a safe and happy Labor Day! ❤️🐴

08/25/2025

📱💘 I’ve got a text! 💘🐴

Since the Love Island reunion is tonight, we couldn’t resist joining in the fun — horse edition, hosted by none other than Dr. Barrow & Dr. Connelly! 🌴🐎

If your horse had a dating app profile… what picture would they choose, and what would their bio say?

Would it be:
✨ "I like long gallops on the beach"
😎 "Let's get baths and then roll in the mud together"
🥕 "There is nothing more romantic than a bouquet of carrots"
👀 "I'm not like other red mares"

Drop your horse’s best “dating profile pic” in the comments and tell us their bio — we’re ready to see which of our patients would couple up in the villa. 💕

— Barrow Veterinary Service

08/22/2025

🦴✨ Friday Fun Fact with Barrow Veterinary Service! ✨🦴

Did you know that horses are actually walking on the tips of their fingers and toes? 🐎👣

This diagram shows how the horse’s leg bones compare to ours. What looks like a single strong hoof is really the distal phalanx (or coffin bone) – the same bone that makes up the tip of your finger! The long and short pastern bones above it help absorb concussion, while the cannon bone provides strength and support.

Over time, horses evolved to lose most of their “extra toes” (shown in gray on the left). What remains is a highly efficient structure designed for speed, weight-bearing, and shock absorption.

Understanding this anatomy is one reason hoof care and regular farrier/veterinary visits are so important. Any imbalance or injury in these bones can affect the entire limb and your horse’s comfort.

So next time you watch your horse gallop, remember – they’re essentially running on a single finger, protected by a hoof! 💨🐴

08/20/2025

✨💊 Did you know not all online pet pharmacies are created equal? 💊✨

At Barrow Veterinary Service, we’re proud to offer our own Covetrus online pharmacy. Here’s why we recommend using it over third-party options like Chewy or Valley Vet:

✔️ Trusted source – Every medication from our online pharmacy comes directly from the same distribution warehouse that supplies our clinic. That means you can trust it’s the exact same safe, effective product we use every day.

✔️ Manufacturer-backed guarantees – Because our products come straight from approved distributors, they carry full manufacturer warranties. Third-party pharmacies can’t always guarantee that.

✔️ Peace of mind – With some outside pharmacies, there’s no way to know where their medications are sourced from, or if they’ve been stored properly. With Covetrus, you can rest easy knowing your horse is getting medications that are safe, effective, and exactly what was prescribed.

💻 Ordering through our pharmacy is convenient, reliable, and ensures your horse’s health always comes first. 🐴💙

Ready to see for yourself?
Visit our Covetrus pharmacy now:
barrowvets.covetruspharmacy.com

Let us help you give your pets the same reliable care they get in-clinic—delivered straight to your door.

08/14/2025

Case of the Week – Answer 🐴👁️
Yesterday we shared a photo of our handsome mule patient here at Barrow Veterinary Service with one very telling clue—his eyelashes on one eye were pointing straight down. This is a classic sign of eye pain in horses and mules.

Thankfully, there was no corneal stain uptake, meaning he hadn’t scratched the surface of his eye. Instead, he had rubbed it and caused some irritation, leading to mild conjunctivitis.

With a few days of treatment from Dr. Barrow and Dr. Connelly—Atropine, Triple Antibiotic ointment, and a little Banamine for comfort—he’s back to feeling like his happy self again. 🥳

Remember, any change in the way your horse’s eye looks (or how those eyelashes are sitting!) can be an important sign to have it checked promptly. Eye issues can worsen quickly, so early intervention is key!

08/13/2025

🩺 Case of the Week
Meet our handsome model for this week’s case 😍. At first glance, he might just look curious about the camera… but take a closer look at what’s going on.

If you walked into the barn and saw this, would your first thought be, “Better call the vet – and fast!”?
Could this be something minor, or is it a sign of a more serious condition that requires immediate attention?

Tell us:
1️⃣ Would this warrant an emergency call?
2️⃣ What do you think the diagnosis could be?

Drop your guesses below – we’ll reveal the answer, along with the treatment plan tomorrow!

08/08/2025

🦶 Friday Fun Fact from Barrow Veterinary Service! 🦶

No hoof, no horse—and here’s why:

A horse’s hoof may look small, but it supports 100% of their body weight, and each hoof can bear over 1,000 pounds of pressure with every step! 😱

Each hoof supports a massive amount of weight and endures tremendous force—up to 2,000 lbs of pressure per foot at a gallop. But what’s inside the hoof is even more fascinating.

🔹 The frog isn’t just there for traction—it plays a major role in circulation. Every time your horse steps down, the frog compresses and helps pump blood back up the leg, supporting venous return and reducing fatigue.
🔹 The digital cushion and lateral cartilages provide shock absorption and structural stability, helping prevent concussion injuries.
🔹 The laminae, a complex interlocking system inside the hoof wall, suspends the coffin bone. This area is critical—and it’s what becomes inflamed during laminitis, a painful and potentially devastating condition.
🔹 Regular trimming is vital—uneven or overgrown hooves can lead to long-term lameness issues, including tendon strain and joint damage.

So next time you're picking out hooves, remember—those feet are biomechanical masterpieces. 🐎

08/04/2025

🔍 Case of the Week – The Answer Revealed! 🔍

Last Wednesday, we asked what could cause a horse’s beautiful blue eye to suddenly turn green… and many of you guessed, but only a few got it right!

🟦➡️🟩 Answer: Prolonged high fever in horses with blue eyes.

In rare cases, when a horse with blue eyes experiences a significant fever for an extended period, it can cause inflammation in the tissues of the eye — specifically the iris. This inflammation can lead to pigment changes, shifting that signature blue into a bright green hue.

This isn’t something we see every day, but it’s a real and fascinating consequence of systemic illness — and just one more reminder of how important it is to monitor and manage fevers in our equine patients.

Have you ever seen a green-eyed horse in real life? Let us know below! 👇

07/30/2025

🔍 Case of the Week – Can You Guess? 🐴
This lovely filly came in with something eye-catching—literally! 👁️💚
Her normally bright blue eye had turned green. What could cause such a dramatic color change?

Drop your guesses below! ⬇️
(Hint: It's not a new contact lens trend. 😉)

Stay tuned—we’ll reveal the answer tomorrow and dive into the veterinary side of this fascinating case!

07/25/2025

🌊 Friday Fun Fact! 🐎
Did you know that horses are natural swimmers?

Even though you don’t see it often, horses can swim instinctively! As soon as their hooves leave the ground in water, they begin a paddling motion that keeps them afloat. Their powerful legs help propel them through the water, and their large lungs give them natural buoyancy.

🏖️ Swimming can be great low-impact exercise for horses recovering from injury or needing a break from hard footing. It's used in equine rehab centers to:

Improve fitness

Build muscle without stress on joints

Aid in recovery from tendon or ligament injuries

But remember:
🚫 Not all horses love the water, and safety is key! Never force a horse into deep water, and always supervise swimming sessions.

💡 Bonus fun fact: Horses often snort when swimming—to clear their nostrils above water, just like people blow out through their nose!

Stay cool and stay safe this summer!
—Your team at Barrow Veterinary Service

Horses are truly incredible creatures — not only for their power, grace, and endurance on land, but also for their remarkable ability to swim confidently and naturally. 🌊🐎

Many people don’t realize that swimming is an instinct for horses. They don’t need to be taught — when a horse enters deep water, it immediately begins to paddle with strong, rhythmic leg movements that keep it afloat.

✅ Fascinating facts:

Horses can swim at a speed of about 4–6 km/h (2.5–3.7 mph).

Depending on their fitness and health, they are capable of swimming from 300 meters up to several kilometers without rest.

Their large lungs, strong heart, and muscular build allow them to handle mild currents with ease.

Swimming is also highly beneficial for their health: it strengthens muscles, relieves stress on joints, and helps with relaxation and recovery.

But perhaps the most awe-inspiring part is the calm and trust you see in a horse’s eyes while it swims. Swimming isn’t about escape or fear — it’s about freedom. In every powerful stroke, there’s harmony with nature. In every breath, there's raw, living strength.

Watching a horse glide through deep water, you don’t just see an animal. You see a spirit that doesn’t fear the depth — because it was born to move through it.