Family Road Trip

For some of us, a family vacation isn't the same without our furry, four legged critters too! Traveling however, can be very stressful for both you and your pet. With preparation, your trip can and will be fun and comfortable for everyone involved!

Like their owners, many dogs and cats will exhibit symptoms of motion sickness while traveling which include nausea, vomiting, excessive drooling and lack of appetite. Surprisingly, these symptoms can be a direct effect of stress, and not motion. For some pets, a car trip may only be related to stressful situations such as the groomer, kennel, or even the veterinarian. Subsequently, it is not surprising that a car trip can evoke strong mental and physical responses from your pet. However, there is approximately one out of every six dogs that suffer from true motion sickness. For these pets, relief is available by prescription from your veterinarian to minimize the symptoms, so it is important that you incorporate this detail into your travel plans as well. The timing of administering this medication for motion sickness is imperative in order to achieve its maximal effectiveness for your pets comfort. For instance, our recommendations would likely include:

• Withhold food and water 3-4 hours prior to traveling.
• Administer the motion sickness medication at least 2 hours prior to travel.
• Wrap the medication in peanut butter, deli slices, or spreadable cheese to allow for quicker absorption results.

Given that motion sickness is also often associated with stress, here are a few pointers to help minimize stressful travel situations that may lead to the motion sickness symptoms for your pet:

• Take multiple small trips with your pet in the car to a park, friends house or other places that may be fun for your pet to visit.
• Keep your pets safe and secure in a well ventilated crate or carrier. It is important to get your pet used to the crate or carrier at home prior to long trips.
• Do not feed your pet while driving, even if it is a long drive. Feed your pet during your rest stops, or at your final location for the day.
• Bring your own water in bottles or jugs for your pet. Sometimes, drinking water from an area that your pet is not used to can cause an upset stomach.
• Never leave your pet alone inside a parked vehicle. During the summer, your pet will be at high risk for heat stroke.
• Be prepared with a pet travel kit. These items may include paper towels, food, bowls, leash, waste scoop, plastic bags, grooming supplies, medical records (vaccine information), first-aid kit, and your pet's favorite toy or pillow.
• Be sure your pet has proper identification with collar, tags and a microchip.
• Identify emergency animal clinics close to your locations your plan to visit during your trip. This may be especially important if your dog is enjoying their golden years.

Happy Tails from the staff at Turtle Creek!

Dog Days of Summer

Here are some "beat the heat" tips from our friends on Facebook!

1. Keep a small kid pool accessible to our outdoor pets. – Alicia
2. Save your 2 liter bottles or milk jugs, fill with water and freeze. Place in your water buckets to cool water. – Turtle Creek Staff
3. Frozen yogurt cubes for a cool treat. – Brent
4. Keep a water mister on in a shaded area and also water down the flower beds where your pet likes to lay. Offer ice cubes as treats. – Karen

Pet Insurance:

The struggling economy has affected all of us, including our pets. For some of us, it has become more difficult to afford the preventative care that our pets need to stay healthy. For others, it has kept many pets from receiving veterinary care when they become sick or injured due to the potential financial burden it may cause to their owners.

To help ease the financial expenses of veterinary care, many of our clients have discovered the peace of mind that having pet insurance can give. With monthly premiums starting as low as $10 per month, pet insurance has allowed many pets to receive the veterinary care that we all want, and know our pets deserve. We are pleased to announce an exclusive offer to Pet's Best Pet Insurance. Right now, if you sign up with the link on our website, you will receive an extra 5% off your monthly premiums. Click here to be directed to our website, then click on the Pet's Best Insurance link to get your furry friend(s) enrolled today. Please don't hesitate to call and speak with a friendly member of our staff for more information or guidance on your pet insurance decision.

We are going green!

In an effort to lessen our "paw print" in the environment, we are beginning a paperless reminder system for your pet. We will no longer be mailing post cards for your pet's wellness visits, immunizations, and recommended services. Instead, we will now email these reminders to you. Please be sure to contact our office at (903) 454-6222 or reception@turtlecreekvmc.com with a current email address so that you and your pet will continue to receive this important information regarding their veterinary care.

Changes to our Financial Policy

To further achieve our "going green" goals, we have decided to phase out acceptance of personal and/or business checks as payment from clients who are new to Turtle Creek. However, we will continue to accept checks as form of payment from our established clientele with good account history. Other acceptable forms of payment include cash, debit, Visa, Mastercard, Discover and Care Credit. We appreciate your understanding and patience as we make this transition!