Your Pet's "Family Doctor"
Pamela Lee Barlow, DVM
540 N Mill St
Bowie, Texas 76230
(940) 872-3400
I’m Pamela Lee Barlow, DVM --- but everyone here calls me Dr. Pam. I was raised in El Paso, Texas, and had animals of nearly every kind while I was growing up. I showed rabbits in 4-H; bottle raised baby calves; kept the usual dogs, cats, birds and fish; and caught lizards and snakes in the desert. Veterinary Medicine is my "calling", and I never dreamed of doing anything else with my life. I graduated from Texas A&M University Veterinary School in 1979. Because I accepted an Army Scholarship to be able to afford my education, I entered the Army after graduation and served on active duty for three years at Fort Sill (Lawton), Oklahoma. I moved into the Bowie area in 1983, and worked fill-in at Veterinary clinics in both Decatur and Boyd initially.
I purchased an old fixer-upper building, and opened Bowie Pet Clinic in 1984. Things have changed a lot since then. The clinic building was built in the early 1900’s. It had been used both as a grocery store and as a complex of three small apartments. As we remodeled, we tried to retain the personality of the building, and add ourselves into it, to create a welcoming atmosphere. We have grown from that initial nothing to what we are today, and we are still a work in progress. Each year we try to make further improvements in facilities and equipment to better serve the needs of our clients and our animal patients.
The clinic is located at 504 N. Mill Street in Bowie, Texas.
Our phone number is (940) 872-3400.
From E Wise, turn north on N Mill Street. You will pass the Junior High School on your right. Start looking to your left. We are the two story rock building just past Elba Street, approximately where the number 9 in the circle is on this map. If you get to the stop sign at the corner of N Mill and Nelson, you have gone too far.
We open at 9AM Monday through Saturday, and close from 12-1PM for lunch on weekdays. We are open until 4PM Monday-Wednesday-Friday; until 6PM on Tuesday-Thursday; and until 1PM on Saturday. Patients are seen by appointment.
Then, the "Sweet Shop" building on Smythe Street in downtown Bowie became available. This building was originally a tractor dealership, and the structure is sound and strong. I checked on it first thing, but it was too expensive at that time. It didn't sell for several months, so on a whim I checked on it again. It was being sold by an estate, and they had just lowered the price drastically to get rid of it. I couldn't afford to pass it up!
When I closed on the "new" clinic building 1 Mar 04, I got a really good surprise -- the building came with 5 additional vacant downtown lots that I did not know were included! The building is 60' x 90', which will give me 5X the space I have now. Click here to review the construction project. The new facility will be a great place to practice, and we look forward to moving into the new building soon!
We enjoy a relaxed atmosphere here! We value your friendship, and see our relationship with you as a team effort to provide your pet with the healthiest life possible. We search out the latest research and recommendations, mixed with the experience from day-to-day practice, to decide the best course of treatment for each of our patients as individuals. We will be glad to discuss any concerns that you have, and we want to provide all the information you need to be an active partner in your pet’s health care decisions.
Sara and Traci are in the front office. They are the smiling faces
that greet you and assist you when you call or come through the front door!
They answer the phones, set appointments, take messages for me, and handle most
of the clinic paperwork. They will be glad to assist you with information and estimates.
Belinda is my technician that helps me in the exam room.
Sharon is also a technician. They are my "extra hands" and do the things that "nurses" do --- like making and taking
phone calls to answer your general pet care questions, or to
keep you informed about your hospitalized pet.
Laurie is in the kennel, and keeps
a close eye on each and every patient. She keeps them clean, comfortable, and as
contented as possible.
Mary works in the back office in collections here.
I am really a "preventive medicine" advocate. It is my goal to prevent as much disease and suffering as possible in the life of your pet --- and there are so many problems that can be prevented with appropriate vaccinations, diet changes, etc. We are committed to helping you keep your animal family members happy, healthy, and living life to its fullest potential. We offer not only Veterinary medical care, but also education, discussion, and handout materials to help you prevent and/or solve your pet’s problems.
But I will try very hard each time. Despite my best efforts, there is no way to predict the response to treatment, and no way to guarantee that your pet will recover from illness or injuries. I will not give up until you are ready to say goodbye, and I will advise you if I see that the lingering is unfair to your animal friend. Although I sometimes quip "My magic wand is broken and the repair parts are on backorder", the truth is that I can do everything I can --- but the outcome is in the Hands of the Higher Authority.
Our fees are more than reasonable, and we will gladly give you an estimate at any time. All fees are due at the time of service, and we do not offer charge accounts. We will discuss treatment options with you, along with expected costs, so that you can decide what will fit your budget. Veterinary medicine is the greatest health care bargain in this country! The fees that you will be charged for your pet's treatments and surgery average less than one-tenth of what your MD and local hospital will charge you for exactly the same thing. Plus, your pet will get plenty of face-to-face, hands-on time and personal care at Bowie Pet Clinic.
This is a "solo" practice, which means I am the only Veterinarian at this clinic. This may be inconvenient for you at times. Unfortunately, I can’t always be available. I get sick, visit family, attend weddings and funerals --- just like everyone else --- and, I am required to attend Continuing Education classes each year to keep my License current. Although we will try very hard to work-in unexpected patients, calling ahead for a scheduled appointment time will provide you with the most satisfactory visit, and save you a trip if I must be unavailable.
By law, there are many things that a Veterinarian must do, and certain things that only a Veterinarian can do. I will not violate the law, even if refusing to do what a client wants means that I will lose their business. The medical laws are put in place for the protection of the patient (your pet) and the general public. I must examine your pet before I can make a diagnosis or start treatment. I can not and will not dispense prescription medications without an examination. There are medical tests that I must run before dispensing certain medications. There are medications that can be safely used in some species but not in others, and there are medications that are specifically prohibited for use in some species --- especially in some food animal species. With your help, I will do everything I can to provide quality medical care for your pet both here at the clinic and through referrals to specialists as medical conditions require. Also, I have gathered a caring and competent staff to help me provide the best care for your animal family members, but they are not able to provide Veterinary treatment when I am away.
We keep a bulletin board in the front office where people can post 3x5 index cards with pets that need homes. Others post notices looking for that special pet to be a part of their family. The bulletin board is available to the public during business hours. Stop in and check out our bulletin board if you are in the neighborhood.
I know, everyone hates answering machines, but what else can we do? I have an answering machine at the clinic, and another one at home. If you get the answering machine at the clinic, please leave a message there first, then try me at home. Usually I am in town, and in-and-out of the clinic, until late in the evening. Your best chance of catching me soonest is with a message at the clinic first --- then leave a message on my home phone. I will return your call as soon as I am able to assist you. Please, if your pet is seriously ill or injured and needs emergency care, do not wait if I am unavailable when you call. There are many other capable Veterinarians in Bowie and surrounding areas that would be glad to help you in an emergency situation.
Obesity is a serious health risk for our very well cared for pets. We keep an accurate digital scale available in the front office, where owners can bring in their pets and weigh them during business hours. Occasionally, we have owners check out the accuracy of our scales personally --- but we never peek! Growing puppies, pets on weight management programs, and dieting owners are all welcome to try the scales during business hours.
After leaving active duty in 1982, I decided to stay in the active Army Reserve as a Citizen Soldier. Once or twice a year, I am called to active duty for a week or two --- and I am subject to extended duty whenever a national tragedy occurs or during a time of conflict. I appreciate your kind understanding when my duty to our country takes me away from the clinic from time to time.
The Greyhounds in the clinic backyard are Blood Donors for our patients that need blood transfusions, and many of our patients owe their lives to these Blood Donors. All of our Greyhounds were adopted from animal shelters or Greyhound Rescue. Most people don't realize that Greyhounds are really wonderful dogs. Just look at their happy faces as they play and run in our yard!
Everyone asks about my animals, so here is my 2004 "personal beastie" list: 2 adorable Rat Terriers, 6 elegant Whippets, 4 assorted cats (aka "mousetraps"), a variety of about 20 finches, 8 aquariums full of Guppies and Killifish, one beautiful orange & pink albino Corn snake, 2 Dwarf rabbits, assorted rats and mice, one tiny native gecko, 40+ Nubian & Boer-cross goats, about 25 head of Beefmaster & Black Angus cows plus calves, 20+ Thoroughbred horses, 6 Cutting-bred Quarter horses, 3 Appaloosa horses, 5 Mini horses, and a llama. I love 'em all!