In Memory of Dr. Chris Barlow

In March 2025, we said goodbye to Dr. Christopher Barlow—a man whose legacy is stitched into the hearts of animals, colleagues, friends, and family alike. After a courageous battle with stage 4 pancreatic cancer, Chris passed with the same quiet strength and sharp humor that defined the way he lived.

Raised in the heart of rural North Louisiana, Dr. Barlow’s love for animals began early and never let go. From bottle-feeding barn kittens to caring for the crankiest of critters, he seemed born with the rare ability not only to love animals—but to get them to love him back. Even the stubborn ones. Especially the stubborn ones.

A proud graduate of the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Barlow brought to the table a mind brimming with medical expertise and a soul grounded in compassion. He had a special knack for radiology and integrative medicine. He somewhere along the way decided that poking animals with needles (a.k.a. veterinary acupuncture) would be part of his healing toolkit. And somehow, they let him.

Before stepping into the world of four-legged medicine, Chris spent over 15 years as a Radiologic Technologist in human healthcare. Simply put, he could read your X-ray like a bedtime story—and probably tell you what you had for lunch based on your MRI. That blend of brilliance and dry humor never left him.

At University Veterinary Hospital, Dr. Barlow was best known for his love of morning rounds—not just for the challenging cases, but for the collaboration, the teaching moments, and the occasional dad joke dropped at just the right time. His dedication to his patients was only rivaled by the deep respect he had for his teammates.

But beyond the clinic, Chris was a family man first. He shared his life—and his signature mix of sarcasm and heart—with his amazing wife, Kerri, and their three kids: Mallory, Zane, and Madelynn. Each of them carries his legacy in their big hearts, sharp minds, and yes—just a dash of that Barlow stubborn streak. Whether he was casting a line, planning the next road trip, or cheering too loudly at a school event, Chris lived for the moments that mattered.

He leaves behind a trail of laughter, wisdom, and probably enough animal fur on his clothes to knit a memorial sweater. But more than that, he leaves behind a life well-lived—full of purpose, humor, love, and healing.

Dr. Barlow was many things: a veterinarian, a teacher, a prankster, and a friend. But above all, he was a good man who made this world kinder—for the people and pets who were lucky enough to cross his path.

We’ll miss his jokes, his smarts, his stories, and his steady presence. But we’ll carry his spirit forward—with every solved case, every comforted client, every rescued soul.

Rest easy, Dr. Barlow. We’ll take it from here.