Barrow Veterinary Service

Barrow Veterinary Service The veterinary practice by horse people for horse people, offering performance & medical care for your noblest companions. Always there when you need us.

We have regular office hours as well as avaiable 24-hour emergency care for all breeds and disciplines of horses. Our services include Sports Medicine & Lameness, Podiatry, Digital Radiography, Ultrasound, Endoscopy, Preventative Medicine, Neonatology, Ophthalmology, Regenerative Medicine, and Dentistry. We also offer Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. We maintain a professional, confid

ential client relationship within a friendly, service-based atmosphere. Our main office is staffed from 8am - 5pm Monday through Friday. There is always doctor on call for those things that can't, or shouldn't wait. Emergencies will be seen in order of urgency. We strive for total customer satisfaction. We do that by maintaining the health, soundness, and happiness of your horses at fair prices and with honest communication. Let us show you why you won't be disappointed.

EHV Outbreak Alert• Possible exposure of EHM/EHV-1 at WPRA event in Waco, Texas that took place Nov. 5-9th• If your hors...
11/19/2025

EHV Outbreak Alert

• Possible exposure of EHM/EHV-1 at WPRA event in Waco, Texas that took place Nov. 5-9th
• If your horse(s) were at the event or has come into contact with any horse(s) that were at that event, you should quarantine at home for at least 14 days. Temperature should be monitored daily, with 101.5 triggering a call to your veterinarian.

EHV Transmission Facts
• Direct contact between horses
• Inhaling aerosolized particles from nasal secretions
• Contact with contaminated equipment, ie stalls, water buckets, bits.
• Humans can also act as carriers by touching infected horses and then noninfected horses.
• Horses can act as carriers and spread the virus without appearing sick.

EHV Biosecurity Facts
• Isolate horses that are sick or exposed or returning from events.
• Prevent any nose to nose touching or other direct contact.
• Do not share equipment.
• Disinfect water buckets, feed buckets, stall cleaning equipment and trailers using bleach 10% solution. DO NOT submerge water hoses in buckets and clean hose.
• Wash hands between all horses. Change clothes and sanitize between handling horses that are quarantined and any other horses on the property.
EHV Monitoring and Health
• Symptoms can include: fever, nasal discharge, cough or neurologic signs like hind leg weakness or ataxia.
• Temperatures greater than 101.5F should be reported to your veterinarian.
• Vaccination with EHV 1&4 routinely (every 6 months).
o Horses that are exposed should not be vaccinated during their quarantine.
o Vaccination may be advised by your veterinarian during an outbreak. Consult with them on type and frequency.
o There are no vaccines currently available for EHM (EHV 1 mutation). There is no consensus for whether vaccination with EHV 1&4 are recommended.

As always, please reach to Barrow Veterinary Service with any questions or concerns with travel and the health of your equine companions.

👑 Happy National Princess Day from Barrow Veterinary Service! 👑Every clinic has that one true royal… and here, her majes...
11/18/2025

👑 Happy National Princess Day from Barrow Veterinary Service! 👑

Every clinic has that one true royal… and here, her majesty is none other than Honey Cat.

From gracefully supervising paperwork to judging us from her throne (aka the warmest spot in the clinic), Honey Cat keeps the team in line with a perfect blend of cattitude and charm. 😼✨

Today we celebrate the real princess who rules our barn aisle — and our hearts. 💛

Drop a pic of your barn princess (horse, dog, cat, goat… we don’t judge royal lineage)! 👑📸

— Barrow Veterinary Service 💙🐴

🧠🐴 Let’s Talk About Cushing’s Disease (PPID) in HorsesWhat every horse owner should knowCushing’s disease — formally cal...
11/14/2025

🧠🐴 Let’s Talk About Cushing’s Disease (PPID) in Horses
What every horse owner should know

Cushing’s disease — formally called Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID) — is one of the most common endocrine disorders we diagnose in older horses. It happens when the pituitary gland becomes overactive and produces excessive hormones, which in turn disrupt many body systems.

Here’s what that means for your horse:

🔍 Common Signs of PPID

PPID can look different from horse to horse, but these are some of the most consistent clues:

A long, wavy, or non-shedding haircoat (hirsutism)

Muscle loss, especially along the topline

Increased drinking and urination

Chronic or recurring laminitis

Pot-bellied appearance

Lethargy or decreased athletic performance

Recurrent skin infections, hoof infections, or delayed wound healing

Excessive sweating

If your horse is showing more than one of these signs, it may be time to test.

🧪 How PPID Is Diagnosed

Your veterinarian can diagnose PPID with:

A baseline ACTH blood test, or

A TRH stimulation test, which can detect earlier or more subtle cases

These tests help us understand how overactive the pituitary gland has become and guide the best treatment plan.

💊 Treatment & Management

While PPID can’t be cured, it can be successfully managed. The most common medication is pergolide, which helps regulate hormone production.

Most horses respond extremely well with:

Improved energy

Better coat quality

Reduced laminitis risk

Fewer infections

Alongside medication, supportive care is key:
✔️ Regular dental and hoof care
✔️ Deworming and vaccination plans tailored to their immune status
✔️ Appropriate diet (often low sugars/starches)
✔️ Body clipping for horses who don’t shed well

❤️ The Good News

With early detection and consistent management, horses with PPID can live long, comfortable, active lives. Many continue riding, competing, and enjoying normal routines.

If you think your horse may be showing early signs — or you just want a wellness check as they age — we’re here to help.

Barrow Veterinary Service
Keeping your horses healthy at every stage of life. 🐴✨

Honoring Our Heroes — Two-Legged and Four-Legged Today we honor all who have served our country, both people and the inc...
11/11/2025

Honoring Our Heroes — Two-Legged and Four-Legged

Today we honor all who have served our country, both people and the incredible horses who have stood beside them through history. 🐴💙

From cavalry mounts to therapy horses helping veterans heal today, the bond between horse and hero runs deep — built on trust, courage, and heart.

From all of us at Barrow Veterinary Service, thank you to every veteran and to the horses who’ve shared their strength and spirit along the way. ❤️🤍💙

🐴 Happy Friday, friends! 🐴We’ve made it through another week — and we think our horses deserve some weekend plans too! 😄...
11/07/2025

🐴 Happy Friday, friends! 🐴

We’ve made it through another week — and we think our horses deserve some weekend plans too! 😄

If your horse could plan their perfect weekend, what would it look like?
Would they…
🌞 Spend the day napping in the sunshine?
🌾 Indulge in an all-you-can-eat grazing buffet?
🏇 Go on a trail adventure with their favorite riding buddy?
💅 Enjoy a spa day — complete with a good grooming, scratches, and maybe a few extra treats?

No matter what your horse’s ideal weekend looks like, we hope you both get a little extra time to relax, recharge, and enjoy each other’s company. 💕

Drop a photo of your horse living their best weekend life in the comments — we’d love to see those happy faces! 📸

Happy Friday from all of us at Barrow Veterinary Service!

Congratulations to Mary Stuart for winning our pumpkin contest for the second year in a row! Seems like everybody loves ...
10/31/2025

Congratulations to Mary Stuart for winning our pumpkin contest for the second year in a row! Seems like everybody loves food just as much as she does!

🐴🎃Happy Halloween🎃🐴🎃👻 The Scariest Things We See as Equine Vets 👻🎃Forget ghosts and goblins — these are the real nightma...
10/31/2025

🐴🎃Happy Halloween🎃🐴
🎃👻 The Scariest Things We See as Equine Vets 👻🎃

Forget ghosts and goblins — these are the real nightmares that keep equine vets up at night:
💀 Colic – sudden, severe, and always an emergency.
🧛‍♀️ Choke – when your horse’s dinner gets spooky!
🩸 Lacerations – fences and nails love a good jump scare.
👁️ Eye ulcers – tiny injury, big trouble if ignored.
🐴 Foot abscesses – the “it came out of nowhere” limp that makes owners’ hearts drop.

Stay vigilant, horse owners — prevention, quick care, and regular vet visits keep these monsters at bay!

As always Barrow Veterinary Service is on call 24/7 for any kind of scary emergency that is lurking in the dark- Just call 770-464-0890 and press 1 to leave a message for the Dr. on call.

🎃2nd BVS Annual Pumpkin Decorating Contest 🎃In true Veterinary fashion we are all a bit behind in getting our pumpkins s...
10/29/2025

🎃2nd BVS Annual Pumpkin Decorating Contest 🎃

In true Veterinary fashion we are all a bit behind in getting our pumpkins submitted 🫣

Please help us in voting for your favorite pumpkin by commenting a # below.

#1 The Up house
#2 M&Ms
#3 Anxiety from the movie Inside Out
#4 Crazy Cat Lady
#5 The many faces pumpkin

Voting will end on Friday October 31st!

Thanks for playing along with us!

Barrow Veterinary Service is proud to partner with GERL to offer another year of Stallions to Geldings castration month....
10/27/2025

Barrow Veterinary Service is proud to partner with GERL to offer another year of Stallions to Geldings castration month.
The owner will pay $100 and GERL will pay $75 for each castration. We can do them on farm or as a haul in at our clinic. Trip fee does apply for farm calls.
Call us at 770-464-0890 to schedule your castration.

“If Your Horse Went Trick-or-Treating…”It’s officially spooky season! 👻If your horse went trick-or-treating, what costum...
10/13/2025

“If Your Horse Went Trick-or-Treating…”

It’s officially spooky season! 👻
If your horse went trick-or-treating, what costume would they wear? 🎃🦄
Would they be a superhero? A princess? Or maybe just a “mud monster” again this year? 😂
Drop your answers (or photos!) in the comments — we can’t wait to see your creative ideas!

🐴 Friday Feature: How to TPR Your Horse! 🩺Want to keep your horse healthy and catch problems early? Learning to take you...
10/10/2025

🐴 Friday Feature: How to TPR Your Horse! 🩺

Want to keep your horse healthy and catch problems early? Learning to take your horse’s TPR – Temperature, Pulse, and Respiration – is an essential skill for every horse owner.

Here’s a quick guide:

1️⃣ Temperature (T):

Use a digital re**al thermometer.

Normal range: 99–101°F.

A fever could signal infection or colic.

2️⃣ Pulse (P):

Listen to your horse’s heart using a stethoscope, just behind the left elbow.

Normal range: 28–44 beats per minute at rest.

A rapid pulse may indicate pain, stress, or illness.

3️⃣ Respiration (R):

Watch flank movements or nostrils.

Normal range: 10-24 breaths per minute at rest.

Labored breathing can signal respiratory or systemic issues.

💡 Tip: Always record your horse’s baseline TPR when healthy. This makes it easier to spot subtle changes early.

Knowing your horse’s normal numbers can help you act quickly if something feels off – and that can save lives.

As always we are here 24/7 for emergencies!

🐴 Case of the Week – Answer! 🩺Thank you to everyone who participated in this week’s Case of the Week! The condition we w...
10/09/2025

🐴 Case of the Week – Answer! 🩺

Thank you to everyone who participated in this week’s Case of the Week! The condition we were treating is Colic.

Colic is a broad term for abdominal pain in horses and can range from mild discomfort to life-threatening emergencies. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including changes in feed, sudden weather shifts, dehydration, or intestinal blockages.

🐴Key signs to watch for include:

🐴Restlessness or pacing

🐴Pawing at the ground

🐴Rolling or lying down repeatedly

🐴Lack of appetite

🐴Sweating or elevated heart rate

Colic can escalate quickly, which is why early recognition and prompt veterinary intervention are essential. Treatment may involve medical management such as pain relief, fluids, and careful monitoring, or in severe cases, surgery may be required.

During major weather changes, colic cases often increase due to changes in pasture availability, water intake, or feeding routines. Preventative measures, including consistent feeding schedules, access to clean water, and careful monitoring of changes in behavior, can help reduce risk.

If you ever suspect colic in your horse, contact your veterinarian immediately. Early action can save lives.

Address

PO Box 126 * 826 Knox Chapel Road, Social Circle
Social Circle, GA
30025

Telephone

+17704640890

Website

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Barrow Veterinary Service has regular office hours as well as available 24-hour emergency care for all breeds and disciplines of horses. Haul in or ambulatory service is available. Our services include Lameness, Podiatry, Sports Medicine, Radiography, Ultrasound, Endoscopy, Wellness, Neonatology, Ophthalmology, Regenerative Medicine, and Dentistry. We are also a full-service reproductive facility offering broodmare management, foaling packages, and stallion training, evaulation, collection & shipping, and preservation/storage. In addition, Vacation Boarding for client horses can be arranged for short-term stays up to one month, based on availability. We maintain a professional, confidential client relationship within a friendly, service-based atmosphere. The 28-acre facility is easy to access for even large trailers, and is gated for equine safety. Our staff are horse owners within a variety of disciplines, so we “speak your language” when it comes to knowledge and communication. Our main office is staffed from 8am - 5pm Monday through Friday. There is always doctor on call for those things that can't, or shouldn't, wait. Emergencies will be seen in order of urgency. We strive for total customer satisfaction. We do that by maintaining the health, soundness, and happiness of your horses with the latest medical knowledge & treatments plus honest communication. Let us show you why you won't be disappointed.