Bar W Equine Veterinary Services LLC

06/25/2025

Rosa says she’s new here and she’s not sure this is how you’re supposed to wear this thing!

06/18/2025

Hey everyone! The 4th of July is fast approaching. If your horses or pets need pharmaceuticals to handle firework season (because let’s be honest it’s not just on the 4th that the celebrating occurs 🎆🎇🧨) reach out to your veterinarian soon!! Have fun and be safe out there!

06/11/2025

***P.S.A. For the day…I DO NOT recommend these treats for horses of any age or size.****

Against my better judgement (due to their size and denseness) I gave a few of these treats to my personal horse yesterday and he immediately choked (esophageal obstruction). It took me a few very worrisome hours to get him unchoked and he is on close observation and antibiotics to help prevent aspiration pneumonia. My horse is only 3 and has great teeth (and *mostly*chews his food 😅).

I have reached out to the business that I purchased them from and to the manufacturer of these treats. Please do not use these treats!

Other things I discourage folks from feeding their horses because if they do get them lodged in their esophagus they are extremely difficult to get out since they do not dissolve…carrots (unless cut very small) and whole or large slices of apples.

01/07/2025

Part One:
Sleep and Horses

We all know how crucial sleep is to our health and well being. Well our equine companions also need quality sleep! Let’s visit about some of the similarities and some of the differences between horses and humans when it comes to sleep.

-Humans have 4 stages of sleep. Horses have 3 stages of sleep-two of which are NON RAPID EYE MOVEMENT (NREM) and one which is RAPID EYE MOVEMENT (REM)

-Horses have an evolutionary adaptation which allows them to sleep standing up-pretty neat right???
However…..

-Horses can experience NON REM sleep while standing or while recumbent (laying down), BUT in order to experience REM sleep horses MUST be recumbent!
Look in comments to see a short video of my horse “Huckleberry” and comment whether he’s in REM or NREM sleep. More on sleep and horses later….🤩

09/09/2024

Chanel wishes everyone a happy, joyful Monday morning….(actually she wishes/demands that we give her some breakfast so she can maintain her girlish figure)

06/20/2024

Friendly reminder to horse owners….the 4th of July is rapidly approaching and with it comes FIREWORKS!! I feel like every year there are more and bigger fireworks displays. Some horses don’t seem to be bothered and others are frightened by them. If you think your horse may react adversely to them, here are some thoughts/tips….

Fireworks can be particularly stressful for horses due to their heightened sensitivity to loud noises and sudden, bright lights. This stress can manifest in various ways, including anxiety, attempts to escape, and even injury. Here are some tips to help manage horses during fireworks displays:

1. **Stable Environment**: Keep horses in a familiar, secure environment. If possible, stable them to reduce the visual impact of fireworks.
2. **Companionship**: Ensure they have the company of other horses or familiar animals, which can provide comfort.
3. **Sound Masking**: Play soothing music or white noise in the barn to help mask the sound of fireworks.
4. **Calming Products**: Consider using calming supplements or pheromone diffusers designed for equine use, following veterinary advice.
5. **Safety Checks**: Ensure all fencing and gates are secure to prevent escape if horses become panicked.
6. **Stay Calm**: If you are present, stay calm and composed. Horses can pick up on human emotions, and your calm demeanor can help reassure them.
7. **Routine**: Maintain as normal a routine as possible. Sudden changes can add to their stress.
8.**equine ear plugs** available on Amazon
9.**pharmaceuticals** if you think your horse needs an oral sedative there are safe options but you need to be contacting your veterinarian NOW to discuss options and obtain them before you actually need them

By taking these steps, you can help reduce the anxiety and potential dangers associated with fireworks for your horses.

06/20/2024

Sharing this post again because I feel like there are always misconceptions about cooling horses off.

This study demonstrated that the essential feature for cooling hot horses is not the water temperature or the use of scraping but that the horse is kept covered in water cooler than its body temperature over an extended period. So a continuous shower with cool tap water, no sweat scraping necessary!

A recent study, conducted in Japan, compared various methods for cooling horses after exercise in hot and humid conditions. Thoroughbreds were exercised until their pulmonary artery temperature reached 108°F. The time until the pulmonary artery temperature returned to

04/03/2024

Dr CJ will be out of town for a continuing education event from April 18th-April 23. Please see comments for emergency coverage options.

03/18/2024

Thank you to everyone who attended the Rockingham Cooperative Equine Expo and Bar W Equine vaccine clinic at the fairgrounds on Saturday! We did several vaccines and coggins tests.
-Thank you Dr Hannah Plaugher for a great talk on equine chiropractic and the benefits it conveys to your horse.
-Thank you Marcus Wise for visiting with us about farrier practice and tips for bandaging.
-Thank you Rockingham Cooperative, Triple Crown Feed and Purina!
-Thank you Rose Brown for helping organize and hauling Copper Bell for us!
Bring on spring!

03/15/2024

Hope to see you tomorrow! I’ll be there administering vaccines and pulling blood samples for coggins testing. I can also microchip your horse if you like!
No farm call and 2023 prices!!

02/24/2024

This should be a great event! Bring your horse along and get your spring vaccines and coggins! Lots of great deals, educational seminars and free lunch!!!

02/20/2024

***important announcement regarding online pharmacy requests****

Bar W Equine clients... We are rolling into spring-always a very busy time for equine veterinarians!

I am finding that I spend an increasing amount of time every week approving online pharmacy requests. Starting March 1, 2024 I will only be approving online Chewy.com requests. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. I always appreciate each and every one of you.

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