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Plano vet creates iPhone application
By Kim Nguyen, knguyen@acnpapers.com
For years, Plano-based veterinarian Dr. Shawn Messonnier has carved his niche in the veterinary world promoting natural and holistic pet care. Now his expertise can be reached by those outside the North Dallas bubble.
Messonnier and Stacey Turis, a local entrepreneur and founder of PawsforPeace.com, teamed up to develop an iPhone application. “Dr. Shawn’s Natural Pet Therapies” gives pet owners more opportunities to find natural treatments for common diseases and ailments, Messonnier said.
Pet owners with an Apple iPhone or iPod touch can use Dr. Shawn’s database to look up common ailments to find natural and holistic remedies most likely to be recommended by an integrative veterinarian.
“The app will also help open a dialogue with the pet and their veterinarian to find safe and effective ways to treat their pets naturally,” Messonnier said.
But, Messonnier warns that the application should not take the place of a veterinarian to diagnose an animal’s medical condition.
“Nothing can substitute for individual medical care from a qualified veterinarian, and the information presented with the app should be regarded as an introduction or guide,” he said. “The final treatment decision will be best made after evaluation of your pet and consultation with a veterinarian. Herbal supplements can have side effects and reactions.”
Turis, founder of a holistic health care Web site and the owner of one of Messonnier’s patients, came up with the idea for an application after seeing that there were none addressing alternative ways for pet owners to find homeopathic treatments for their pets.
“I have worked with Dr. Shawn before and knew of his level of expertise in holistic health care and approached him about it,” Turis said. “After I pitched the idea, it kind of took off from there.”
So with a team of application developers, Turis and Messonnier went to work condensing information and overseeing software development for the application.
“The application is incredibly exciting for us because it provides such broad access to our educational content for a mere fraction of what a comparable book might cost. Being affordable was extremely important to us,” Turis said. “The proceeds from the application will allow us to have the funding and resources to really reach and touch the millions of pet owners who may have the wrong perception about natural and holistic health for their pets or even for themselves. Once you see that natural therapies work effectively, person or pet, the chemical-based therapies become a last resort. I think it’s a pretty important message that needs to be shared.”
Dr. Shawn’s Natural Pet Therapies launched Nov. 30 and has gotten a steady number of downloads, Turis said.
“It’s an inexpensive, easy and user-friendly application that anyone can use,” Messonnier said.
The application is available for purchase from the Apple iTunes application store for $1.99. Upon downloading the application, buyers will also receive a coupon for $4 off of a purchase of Dr. Shawn’s organic shampoos and ear wash products.
Proceeds from application downloads will benefit www.PawsForPeace.com, Turis’ Web site and non-profit organization dedicated to educating pet owners about the benefits of natural and holistic pet health.
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