GENERAL BARROW VETERINARY SERVICE POLICIES:
1. Horses should be caught up and ready for the doctor at the time of the exam. We will make every effort to let owners know if our doctors are running behind schedule. Horses that are refractory to handling or treatment may be sedated or restrained for everyone’s safety.
2. BVS will not be responsible for injuries to owners who are handling their own horses during a visit.
3. Certain treatments, medications, or prescription refills may require additional visits, diagnostics, or evaluation.
4. Prescription items will not be dispensed without proper evaluation or without a doctor-patient relationship.
5. We do not write open-ended prescriptions. Most medication refills will require an authorization from us.
6. Trip Fees will apply to any farm visit, but may always be split between owners if more than one client receives care at the appointment. Emergency or After Hours Fees will be assessed any time a horse needs attention urgently or outside of normal business hours. These fees may not be split on the rare occasions that multiple horses are involved. (Examples: Colic, injury, acute illness, foaling)
7. The adult owner of the animal must be present at the appointment, or a proxy fully authorized to act on the owner’s behalf. Should a proxy be used, BVS has only the information provided to us by the proxy to make decisions regarding the horse’s care. BVS will not be responsible for incomplete or misinformation given by an owner or their proxy. A minor (under 18) cannot act as proxy or as an adult owner. BVS reserves the right to charge a complete Trip Fee if the doctor arrives at the appointment and the owner (or proxy) is a no-show.
8. Coggins do not prove ownership, age, or breed affiliation. Coggins reports cannot be altered to reflect information changes after they have been completed. If a horse’s papers are not presented during an appointment, BVS will not be responsible for any inaccurate listing on any Coggins. Photographs will be taken at time of initial blood draw and be shown on the Coggins report. Horses must be untacked. Any grooming the owner wishes to do for the photos should be completed prior to the doctor’s arrival.
9. While we strive to keep costs low, prices are subject to change at any time based on fluctuations in cost of materials, supplies, or expenses.
10. Payment in full is due at time of service unless other arrangements have been made in advance. Payments accepted are cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover. We do have mobile processing capabilities for credit card payments. We can also accept CareCredit if we can verify that the account is current and that there is enough credit to cover the cost of treatment. Invoices and statements may also be paid by PayPal.
11. Per Georgia law, dishonored checks incur a $35 service charge, or 5% of the total bill, whichever is greater.
12. Accounts that become delinquent (over 30 days) will also incur a 5% interest fee monthly. Should collection measures become necessary, the client will be held responsible for all expenses, court costs, and attorney’s fees resulting from the collections process.
13. BVS reserves the right to refuse or discontinue service to accounts with outstanding dishonored checks or delinquent account balances until all fees are paid in full. No prescription refill authorizations will be submitted to third party pharmacies if a client account is in arrears.
Our Frequently Asked Questions
- Please explain trip fees.
- Can I bring my horse to you?
- What methods of payment are available?
- I want to breed my mare. What next?
- I need a consult. Do you do that?
- I'm horse shopping. How do I find a sound & suitable one?
- The Deal With Dentistry
- My horse is not performing his best. What do I do from here?
- I need to discuss End Of Life care. How do I know if it's time?
1. Please explain trip fees.
A trip fee will be calculated based on distance and time traveled from our office. Please call for a trip fee estimate to your location. This fee can be split between owners at any single location. Patients seen on emergency or after-hours will not incur a greater trip fee, although an emergency or after-hour fee will be assessed. If you move your horse, or want him or her seen at another location, you may want to check with us to make sure your rate has not changed and that we're aware you've moved.
2. Can I bring my horse to you?
Absolutely!
Any service we offer can be seen as a haul-in appointment. Horses staying overnight or boarding should have a current coggins and should not be exhibiting signs of communicable disease, such as diarrhea, runny nose, fever, or cough. Sick patients will not be admitted for general boarding.
Some services are offered ONLY as haul-in options. These include, but are not limited to stallion collection, Pro-Stride treatments, medical colic management, and most endoscopy.
Please call us at 770-464-0890 for haul-in availability.
Any service we offer can be seen as a haul-in appointment. Horses staying overnight or boarding should have a current coggins and should not be exhibiting signs of communicable disease, such as diarrhea, runny nose, fever, or cough. Sick patients will not be admitted for general boarding.
Some services are offered ONLY as haul-in options. These include, but are not limited to stallion collection, Pro-Stride treatments, medical colic management, and most endoscopy.
Please call us at 770-464-0890 for haul-in availability.
3. What methods of payment are available?
We do recognize that unexpected situations occur. Please feel free to ask questions so we can accommodate your needs. For appointments made in advance, we can give you a price based on what services you request. For emergencies or unplanned visits, your doctor can give an estimate prior to performing recommended services, keeping "sticker shock" to a minimum. If you have a budget you need to stay within, please discuss this with our office or the doctor you see. We can accommodate most people, but we must know your needs up front.
Payment is expected in full at time of service unless previous arrangements have been made with our office in advance. We accept cash, check, and Visa/Mastercard/American Express/Discover credit cards. Credit cards can be processed in the field when you see either doctor. We do not accept PrePaid cards unless they are run in full at time of service. We accept CareCredit, and can accept PayPal payments at time of service.
WE WILL NOT MAKE PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS OR PAYMENT PLANS.
WE DO NOT ACCEPT POST-DATED CHECKS.
WE NO LONGER OFFER A "WE'LL JUST BILL YOU AT THE END OF THE MONTH" SERVICE FOR NEW CLIENTS.
By Georgia Law, dishonored checks are will incur a fee of $35 or 5% of the returned check, whichever is greater. We do not redeposit checks. We do prosecute outstanding bad checks after all reasonable attempts at contact have been exhausted.
Accounts that are over 30 days or become delinquent for any reason will incur a 5% monthly finance charge plus billing fees of $2 per cycle. We do not remove finance or billing charges once they have been assessed at 30 days. Accounts with a delinquency of 90 days may be turned over to a collection agency, or to the appropriate Magistrate Court system for recovery. Debtor will be responsible for all fees, attorney costs, court costs, and any other expenses incurred by BVS in the recovery or collection of the debt. Collection measures can be avoided by prompt payment and honest communication with our office.
Payment is expected in full at time of service unless previous arrangements have been made with our office in advance. We accept cash, check, and Visa/Mastercard/American Express/Discover credit cards. Credit cards can be processed in the field when you see either doctor. We do not accept PrePaid cards unless they are run in full at time of service. We accept CareCredit, and can accept PayPal payments at time of service.
WE WILL NOT MAKE PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS OR PAYMENT PLANS.
WE DO NOT ACCEPT POST-DATED CHECKS.
WE NO LONGER OFFER A "WE'LL JUST BILL YOU AT THE END OF THE MONTH" SERVICE FOR NEW CLIENTS.
By Georgia Law, dishonored checks are will incur a fee of $35 or 5% of the returned check, whichever is greater. We do not redeposit checks. We do prosecute outstanding bad checks after all reasonable attempts at contact have been exhausted.
Accounts that are over 30 days or become delinquent for any reason will incur a 5% monthly finance charge plus billing fees of $2 per cycle. We do not remove finance or billing charges once they have been assessed at 30 days. Accounts with a delinquency of 90 days may be turned over to a collection agency, or to the appropriate Magistrate Court system for recovery. Debtor will be responsible for all fees, attorney costs, court costs, and any other expenses incurred by BVS in the recovery or collection of the debt. Collection measures can be avoided by prompt payment and honest communication with our office.
4. I want to breed my mare. What next?
To Culture or Not to Culture? So, you have a mare you'd like to breed. You want to save time and money. Even though it might not seem like it, a uterine culture is usually the best way to proceed.
- Any mare who has previously foaled, had a positive culture, or spent an "open" season may be a candidate. Just because she doesn't look infected or have a tipped vulva doesn't mean she's clean. Culturing prior to beginning the breeding process can certainly save money in the long run. Some stallion owners even require the mare to have a clean culture prior to the first shipment, so be sure to check your contract. Plus, knowing what organisms you may be up against is beneficial - it can save you time and drug costs.
- Maiden mares are not routinely cultured, but any mare that doesn't get pregnant in a timely manner with sound breeding management should be evaluated. Remember: knowing the problem is half the battle.
5. I need a consult or a second opinion. Do you do that?
Consults or second opinions on radiographs, lab results, or even a re-examination are just as common in veterinary practice as they are in human medicine. Don't be afraid to ask questions or tell us that we're giving a second opinon! We can best serve you if we have the complete history, and we can keep your cost lower if we know what's already been done, looked at, or tried. We can receive radiographs or ultrasound images digitally or by email, and we handle each consult or second opinion on a case-by-case basis with the utmost care and confidentiality.
6. I'm horse shopping. How do I find a sound & suitable one?
Of course, there is no horse that will never need care. For your protection we always recommend a prepurchase exam, or PPE. We can make the exam as detailed as you like - you as the buyer control the exam. PPE's can be tailored to include radiographs, endoscopy, ultrasound, breeding soundness evaluations, bloodwork, cultures, toxicology, or any combination of the above. In fact, many insurance policies require some of these for coverage on high value or high-performance animals. Just give us a call for options and pricing.
We do not perform PPE's on horses that are our regular patients without full disclosure and release by the seller.
We do not divulge the findings of any PPE to the seller or any third party without express consent of the person who requested the exam.
Any PPE report or images can be sent to another veterinarian, trainer, or insurance company, but only at the request of the person who orders the exam.
Of course, there is no horse that will never need care. For your protection we always recommend a prepurchase exam, or PPE. We can make the exam as detailed as you like - you as the buyer control the exam. PPE's can be tailored to include radiographs, endoscopy, ultrasound, breeding soundness evaluations, bloodwork, cultures, toxicology, or any combination of the above. In fact, many insurance policies require some of these for coverage on high value or high-performance animals. Just give us a call for options and pricing.
We do not perform PPE's on horses that are our regular patients without full disclosure and release by the seller.
We do not divulge the findings of any PPE to the seller or any third party without express consent of the person who requested the exam.
Any PPE report or images can be sent to another veterinarian, trainer, or insurance company, but only at the request of the person who orders the exam.
7. The Deal With Dentistry
It is actually illegal in Georgia and many other states for a (non-veterinarian) to perform equine dentistry.
Dentistry is a medical practice, and even a specialty in some states. Therefore, non-veterinarians practicing dentistry in Georgia are violating the Veterinary Practice Act. There is no certification course that allows them to provide this service in Georgia, no matter what they say. They are not authorized to administer prescription or controlled drugs, and they do not have a license to purchase them in ANY state. In short, there is no guarantee that should they harm your horse, you will have any recourse. While there are certainly some talented equine dentists with the horse's best interest at heart, they are still not practicing legally if they are in Georgia. There is no mechanism in place to regulate the practices of anyone who claims to be an equine dentist. There is no oversight as to where or how their drugs are obtained, or safety & sterility measures when obtaining or administering them. It is, unfortunately, a common practice for completely untrained individuals to hail themselves as dentists. We have seen more than a few horses with broken teeth, lacerated cheeks, injured tongues, and a reluctance or inability to eat for several days. We have even seen some with fractured jaws. By the time the owners realized the severity of the situation, in every instance the "dentist" was long gone from the area and unreachable. Please, please do your homework before you are tempted by a slightly lower price tag!
It is actually illegal in Georgia and many other states for a (non-veterinarian) to perform equine dentistry.
Dentistry is a medical practice, and even a specialty in some states. Therefore, non-veterinarians practicing dentistry in Georgia are violating the Veterinary Practice Act. There is no certification course that allows them to provide this service in Georgia, no matter what they say. They are not authorized to administer prescription or controlled drugs, and they do not have a license to purchase them in ANY state. In short, there is no guarantee that should they harm your horse, you will have any recourse. While there are certainly some talented equine dentists with the horse's best interest at heart, they are still not practicing legally if they are in Georgia. There is no mechanism in place to regulate the practices of anyone who claims to be an equine dentist. There is no oversight as to where or how their drugs are obtained, or safety & sterility measures when obtaining or administering them. It is, unfortunately, a common practice for completely untrained individuals to hail themselves as dentists. We have seen more than a few horses with broken teeth, lacerated cheeks, injured tongues, and a reluctance or inability to eat for several days. We have even seen some with fractured jaws. By the time the owners realized the severity of the situation, in every instance the "dentist" was long gone from the area and unreachable. Please, please do your homework before you are tempted by a slightly lower price tag!
8. My horse is not performing his best. Where do I go from here?
The first step in any lameness or lack of performance, no matter how large or small, is always to isolate it. Is it in one leg, or more than one? Is it a foot, a fetlock, or something higher? Is it a soft-tissue injury or a bony problem? Answering these questions requires a lameness exam, even if it's obvious which leg the horse is lame in. The foot is always the first place we look in a performance horse, unless there is recent injury somewhere else. Once the lameness has been isolated by leg, which may be accomplished through flexing, longeing, trotting, or palpating the horse, we may "block," or numb the horse by areas, beginning with the foot. We may x-ray or ultrasound joints or tendons.
Sometimes a lameness just needs time off and some NSAIDs, such a bute, banamine, or Equioxx. Sometimes more intensive therapy is needed. We offer traditional options as well as regenerative medicine such as IRAP, PRP/ACP, ProStride and stem cell therapies. If you have a primary podiatry issue, we will work closely with your farrier to ensure that your horse is balanced and is striking the ground in a way that maximizes his ability and minimizes the stress to his underlying structures. Sometimes this requires special shoes, either permanently or temporarily. We encourage chiropractic care and stretching/rehab exercises in many cases. Acupuncture by Dr. Wiley may be used as a primary or adjunct therapy to increase comfort or mobility in our patients. Time off may be required for the horse. Rehab and Physical Therapy are often the keys to returning your horse to work safely and at an appropriate performance level.
Lameness and performance medicine are Dr. Barrow's wheelhouse. She has showed on the AQHA circuit since childhood, and knows how frustrating it can be to have a horse that develops a performance issue. She stays versed in current therapies for all disciplines of performance, including dressage, jumping, speed events, hunters, and western events. Chances are, if you have a performance issue, she can find it. Then you, as the owner, can weigh your options and decide on the best treatment to get your horse back in the ring or on the job as quickly as possible.
The first step in any lameness or lack of performance, no matter how large or small, is always to isolate it. Is it in one leg, or more than one? Is it a foot, a fetlock, or something higher? Is it a soft-tissue injury or a bony problem? Answering these questions requires a lameness exam, even if it's obvious which leg the horse is lame in. The foot is always the first place we look in a performance horse, unless there is recent injury somewhere else. Once the lameness has been isolated by leg, which may be accomplished through flexing, longeing, trotting, or palpating the horse, we may "block," or numb the horse by areas, beginning with the foot. We may x-ray or ultrasound joints or tendons.
Sometimes a lameness just needs time off and some NSAIDs, such a bute, banamine, or Equioxx. Sometimes more intensive therapy is needed. We offer traditional options as well as regenerative medicine such as IRAP, PRP/ACP, ProStride and stem cell therapies. If you have a primary podiatry issue, we will work closely with your farrier to ensure that your horse is balanced and is striking the ground in a way that maximizes his ability and minimizes the stress to his underlying structures. Sometimes this requires special shoes, either permanently or temporarily. We encourage chiropractic care and stretching/rehab exercises in many cases. Acupuncture by Dr. Wiley may be used as a primary or adjunct therapy to increase comfort or mobility in our patients. Time off may be required for the horse. Rehab and Physical Therapy are often the keys to returning your horse to work safely and at an appropriate performance level.
Lameness and performance medicine are Dr. Barrow's wheelhouse. She has showed on the AQHA circuit since childhood, and knows how frustrating it can be to have a horse that develops a performance issue. She stays versed in current therapies for all disciplines of performance, including dressage, jumping, speed events, hunters, and western events. Chances are, if you have a performance issue, she can find it. Then you, as the owner, can weigh your options and decide on the best treatment to get your horse back in the ring or on the job as quickly as possible.
9. I need to discuss End-of-Life care for my horse. How do I decide if it's time?
Thanks to advancements in medicine and management, horses are living longer and more comfortably than ever before. However, they all get old, and sometimes despite everyone's best efforts, their quality of life is no longer what it should be. If it's a younger horse, they may have a serious injury or medical problem that will prevent even reasonable soundness and comfort. This may be something you've battled for a while, or it may be a relatively new development. Whatever the reason, don't be afraid to ask questions when you see our doctors. We can help you navigate symptoms and if you can expect to see improvement. If you decide that it's time to provide humane euthanasia, we can help you with options. We have sources for burial, removal, or cremation. Sometimes, but not always, your county public works will have a burial option. We can save some hair from the tail of a beloved horse to be sent off and made into a bracelet or other keepsake. We will stay with you until you're ready and your questions are answered. Depending on what you decide beforehand, we can also stay until burial or removal is complete. Whatever the reason, we understand how difficult it is to lose as majestic and wonderful a companion as a horse. There is no one in our office that has not been there themselves.
Thanks to advancements in medicine and management, horses are living longer and more comfortably than ever before. However, they all get old, and sometimes despite everyone's best efforts, their quality of life is no longer what it should be. If it's a younger horse, they may have a serious injury or medical problem that will prevent even reasonable soundness and comfort. This may be something you've battled for a while, or it may be a relatively new development. Whatever the reason, don't be afraid to ask questions when you see our doctors. We can help you navigate symptoms and if you can expect to see improvement. If you decide that it's time to provide humane euthanasia, we can help you with options. We have sources for burial, removal, or cremation. Sometimes, but not always, your county public works will have a burial option. We can save some hair from the tail of a beloved horse to be sent off and made into a bracelet or other keepsake. We will stay with you until you're ready and your questions are answered. Depending on what you decide beforehand, we can also stay until burial or removal is complete. Whatever the reason, we understand how difficult it is to lose as majestic and wonderful a companion as a horse. There is no one in our office that has not been there themselves.