Welcome to Big Creek Animal Hospital

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Dr. Garner and dogs, Veterinarian at Big Creek Animal Hospital

About Us

Big Creek Animal Hospital in Millington, TN, is a full-service veterinary care facility dedicated to providing the finest care for each animal that comes through our doors. Our knowledgeable staff works diligently to provide each family and animal with extraordinary treatment in a relaxed environment. Contact us today to learn more.

For over 20 years, Dr. Garner and her staff have been serving the Millington community and surrounding areas with veterinary wellness services for pets at an affordable price. When you choose Big Creek Animal Hospital, you’re choosing to receive:

  • The highest quality of veterinary medicine and surgery through a caring and professional staff
  • Client education about health, preventive medicine, and nutrition for companion animals
  • Compassion for a pet and their family when the pet is ill or at the end of their journey

Dr. Kim M. Garner DVM: Veterinarian

Dr. Garner is a 1991 graduate of Kansas State University and did and internship at the University of Missouri before she moved to Millington in 1992. She bought the practice in 1997 and has been practicing ever since. She has been married for 7 years to Kenneth Cunningham and has two dogs, Sofia and Larson and one cat Luna. As a service to the veterinary community, she works at the Animal Emergency Center to provide emergency care to those pets who are in need of emergency care.

Dr. Barbara Wowk DVM: Veterinarian

Dr. Wowk was born in New Jersey but moved to Dickson, TN when she was 6 years old and has lived in Memphis since 1976. Dr. Wowk graduated high school in 1970 went to UT Martin from 1970 – 1972 then she attended Auburn University School of Veterinary Medicine 1972-1976. Dr. Wowk has 2 children and 1 grandchild whom she sees every chance she gets. She has 4 cats Dara, Julie, Maggie and Tigger. She has a border collie named Finn and 4 horses Tess, Azilook, Sky and Charm. She is also 2nd degree black belt in Krav Maga which is the Israel form of self-defense. She plays timpani in the Bartlett Community Center Band. Her value is to treat everyone the way she’d like to be treated. Her favorite book is “Winds of War & Remembrance” by Herman Wouk (no relation they have different last names). She loves most about her job is diagnostics and healing. Her favorite quote is It’s not the destination but the journey that matters. Her personal motto is You’re only young once but can be immature forever!!

Renee: CEO / Office Manager

Renee grew up in Southaven, MS, and moved to Drummonds, TN in 1986 when she married her husband, Keith. They have 2 children Syndi Clemmons and Amanda Peterson, sons-in-law Colt Clemmons and KC Del Peterson. She also has 3 grandchildren Rowe Clemmons, Coltley Clemmons, and Howdie Vae Peterson. Renee has been at Big Creek Animal Hospital since September of 1997 when it was purchased by Dr. Garner. Renee has completed CEO training at Fortis Business Solutions. She loves spending time and having fun with her grandkids. She has 4 pets Ellie, Xavie, Mean Cat, and Jersey. Her favorite quote is “The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is the little extra.” – Jimmy Johnson. Her personal motto is If you are going to do something give it your all. Her skills are that she can momma everybody.

Renee, CEO & Office Manager at Big Creek Animal Hospital

Misty: Director of Administration / Receptionist

Misty is from Drummonds, TN and a graduate from Munford High School, Concorde Career College and Fortis Business Solutions. She has been married for 15 years, has 3 beautiful children, 3 dogs Stella, Salem and Steely Dan and 1 cat SK. Misty enjoys spending her time with family and traveling. She likes to watch documentaries and listening to music. She has so many favorite songs that she just can’t name one. What she loves most about her job is working with great people and helping animals that are in need. Her favorite quote is “Life has no limitations; except the ones you make.” – Les Brown

Leah: Veterinary Assistant

Leah is from Millington, TN, and has been in veterinary medicine for 10 years. She studied from 2000 – 2003 at Wood Jr. College in Mathiston, MS with a concentration in equine studies. She is also K laser and food management certified. Leah is a Conservative Christian and loving mother of 3 beautiful children and she has 2 Chiweenies Kricket and Momo.

Leah is also a camp counselor at Camp Sunshine in Little Rock, AR. She loves to play the guitar, and mandolin and riding horses. Her favorite book is the Bible and her favorite song is Gace Like Rain. Her goal is to be better today than she was yesterday and to take each day as a new start. What she loves most about her job is helping animals and working with awesome people. Her favorite quote is “Don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do today.” – Benjiman Franklin

Leah, Veterinary Assistant at Big Creek Animal Hospital with Kricket the dog

Sara: Veterinary Assistant

Sara is from Millington, TN and graduated high school in 2021. Her accomplishments are National Honor Society, graduating high school and getting into the University of Memphis. She is a national champion with two solo dances in Ames, Iowa. She is the youngest sibling and grew up as a competitive dancer and grew up with many pets and cattle which inspired her to work in this field. Her goals are to graduate with a degree in biology and go to vet school. She has been a vet assistant since 2021. She values honesty and loyalty. She has 4 dogs Blue, Millie, Gentry and Baxter. 3 cats Binx, Odie and Bentley and she has 8 cows. Her favorite quote is “I do not and will not fear tomorrow because I feel though today has been enough.” – Zach Bryan. Her personal motto is Live every day like it’s your last, you aren’t promised tomorrow. Her favorite book is The Great Gatsby. Her hobbies include crocheting, going to the gym and running. Her favorite song is Hey Driver by Zach Bryan. What she loves most about her job is that she loves the people and the environment. She loves to watch the animals grow and get better. She loves to comfort our clients when they are making tough decisions, and loves the connections we make with our clients and or patients.

Sara, Veterinary Assistant at Big Creek Animal Hospital

Jayden: Veterinary Assistant

Jayden is from Memphis, TN but moved every few years growing up. She is a graduate of Munford High School.  She was in the band and color guard and says that by being in the color guard gave her the work ethic she has today. This clinic has taught me you can have a loving community. She is currently enrolled in school to get her CVT license. She has 2 dogs Prim and Olive. Her accomplishments are marching 8 miles in the Rose Bowl Parade and Self Love which helps her spread her empathy to patients, clients and coworkers. One day her goal is to work with livestock. Jayden believes that every being on this earth deserves to have a least 1 person with your best interest at mind. She values honesty and compassion in this field. “Every day you have to put your emotions on the back burner and worry about your patients.” “You CANNOT do this job without honesty or an instinct to nurture.” Before she started her career her at Big Creek Animal Hospital, she had no experience in vet medicine. She had dogs her whole life and 1 dog Brutus that she had since middle school was diagnosed with bone cancer. Her mother and herself did all they could to keep him comfortable by cooking his meals and making his bed as comfortable as possible to even sleeping next to him each night. Jayden does this job for Brutus and she treats every patient the way she and her mom treated Brutus. Jayden has been a technician for about 1 ½ years. She is wonderful at handling pets physically and emotionally, drawing blood, monitoring pets during surgery and taking x-rays. Her greatest skill is her compassion. She tries her hardest to make sure every client and pet that is under her care is taken care of. Her clients are just as important as their pets. Her hobbies include painting and spinning flags. Her favorite book is Reminders of Him Colleen Hoover. Her favorite music is too many to list because it changes weekly. Her favorite quote is “He looks like he drinks peanut butter.” Personal Motto is “It is what it is.” And what Jayden loves most about her job is that “I can clock into my job and still have the feeling that I’m surrounded by family. Each and every woman at this clinic including myself takes care of each other. We are a team through and through. Surrounding yourself or your place of business with kind humans, I believe really does help with nurturing our patients. I am blessed to give back to animals. Our duty is to make sure our pets in our community have people looking out for them.

Kristen: Veterinary Assistant

Kristen is from Jackson, Tennessee, grew up in Germantown, TN, and now lives in Munford, TN. Kristen is a graduate of Houston High School, UT Martin, and Southwest TN Community College. She worked in pediatrics before switching to veterinary medicine. She has been in the veterinary field for 9 years. She has two dogs Bruce Wayne and Baby Girl. She is a great listener and hard worker. She strives to do the best job she can do, live life to the fullest, and make it count. She likes doing puzzles. Her favorite song is My Little Girl by Tim McGraw. Her favorite book is Tattooist of Auschwitz. Her favorite quote is “Boy that escalated quickly, I mean that really got out of hand FST!” – Anchorman. Her personal motto is Due what makes you happy. And what she loves most about her job is her co-workers and being able to help as many animals as she can.

Kristen, Veterinary Assistant at Big Creek Animal Hospital
Kristen and Bruce Wayne the dog

Emily: Receptionist / Kennel Assistant

Emily is from South Carolina but her father was in the military and moved a lot growing up. She is a graduate of Munford High School. She has 1 dog Gracie Butt and 2 cats Skibby and Toby. She loves working with animals and has started beekeeping. She loves anything to do with the outside, gardening and beekeeping. Her favorite quote is “Though she be little she is fierce.” – Shakespeare. Her personal motto is I came I saw and I missed my dog so I went back home. What she loves most about her job is that she enjoys working with animals and greeting them as they come in.

Dakota: Receptionist

Dakota is from Memphis, TN, and is attending college to finish her associate’s degree in psychology at Dyersburg Community College. She has 4 dogs Layla, Boseph, Vega, and Iris. Her goal in life is to be able to help children and families through hard times to make a difference in their lives. Her favorite quote is “Everything that you love you will eventually lose. But in the end, love will return in a different form.” Her personal motto is to see stray dogs and feed stray dogs. What she loves most about her job is having the opportunity to see and meet new animals and clients who come in.

Caelen: Kennel Assistant

Caelen is from the Tipton County, Shelby County area. She graduated from high school in 2020 and is deciding if she would like to go back to school to get her veterinary technician license. She has been a Kennel Assistant for 2 years and has owned many types of pets growing up. Caelen has 1 cat Ruth and 4 leopard geckos Nugget, Nagini, Percy and Phoenix. She loves to sing, read, write, play guitar and learning a foreign language. Her favorite books are the Percy Jackson series, Harry Potter series and anything related. She has to many favorite songs to list but what she loves most about her job is that she gets to spend her time in the presence of animals because they are always loving and nonjudgmental. Her values are honesty, loyalty, kindness to animals, sympathy, empathy and kindness in general. Caelen’s favorite quote is “When I look into the eyes of an animal, I do not see an animal, I see a living being, I see a friend, I feel a soul.” – A.D. Williams

Caelen, Kennel Assistant at Big Creek Animal Hospital

Sydney: Groomer

Sydney is from Germantown, TN and went to Germantown High School and graduated in 2012. She has been grooming since 2016. She grew up with 3 sisters and 2 brothers. She also has 2 beautiful boys, 3 dogs Ashe, Brody and Tripp. She also has 4 cats Iris, Tulip, Jasper and Lazlo. Sydney enjoys reading, playing with her children and watching scary movies. Her favorite books are the Harry Potter series, The Hunger Games and Wuthering Heights. Her favorite song is The World is Ugly by My Chemical Romance. What she loves most about her job is that she loves her clients. She has been grooming them for many years and does her best to take care of them. Her favorite quote is “It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.” – Albus Dumbledore

Vector image of pet owners

We know what it’s like care for pets, sick and healthy, so we know what you’re going through. We treat your animals as if they were our own. At Big Creek Animal Hospital, we’re dedicated to our patients and will do everything in our power to ensure they lead a healthy and happy life.

Testimonials

Amazing staff! My cat needed emergency surgery and we had been turned away by two different veterinarian clinics due to overload of patients. I called Big Creek and they were overloaded as well but told me to bring my kitty in anyways! They not only saved my sweet girl but were so compassionate with her and me. They called me before her surgery and after to keep me updated. They all went above and beyond even though they were super busy. The staff is so nice and I noticed while sitting in the lobby as each pet arrived for their appointment they greeted each pet by their name. It’s the small things that matter to me. They did an excellent job and my kitty is already back to her old self and it’s only been a week! I will be using Big Creek from now on for all of our pets. For an added bonus the cost was not bad at all either!! I would definitely recommend this place to everyone!

– Jacs

Testimonials

My wife & I trust all our pets care at Big Creek. The doctors and entire staff are the BEST. They really care.
– Michael

Testimonials

I have been taking my pups here since I moved to millington in 2013. The best I have found in 10+ years. Everyone has been kind, loving and care so much for the animals that come in. I know they have been amazing with my two puppies. Amazing care and help.
– Ray

Testimonials

Enjoyed our experience! Good & attentive listeners, very good with our pets. Annual checkup for both. Reasonably priced!!!
Would recommend them for your pet’s care.
– Marshall

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you know it is a true emergency:

Priority 1 Cases:

  • Excessive bleeding:
  • Difficulty Breathing
  • Poisoning  – Call Pet Poison Hotline @ 800-213-6680
  • GDV (Canine bloat) 
  • Heat Stroke
  • Collapsed pet (Unable to hold themselves up or their head.)
  • Possible Urinary Blocked Cat 
  • Hit by car (HBC) or Gun Shot Wound (GSW)
  • Attacked by dog or another animal (ABD)
  • Bone broken through skin
  • Snake bite
  • Seizures
  • Anything from MVS / AEC
  • Eyes (scratched, bulging etc..)

Priority 2 Cases:

  • Urinary Tract Problems
  • Birthing difficulties
  • Closed Fractures (Cat/Dog)
  • Possible Bowel Obstruction
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea / Bloody Diarrhea
  • Bloody Nose (NEVER GOOD) / Bloody Mouth
  • Non-Weight Bearing Lameness (CAN NOT PUT WEIGHT ON LEGS)

Priority 3 Cases:

  • Skin Conditions – Does this happen seasonally? ______________ If yes, they can wait till first available. Are they scratching themselves to the point of bleeding?
  • Sore Ears 
  • Abscess (Unless pus is seen then priority 2)
  • Weight – Bearing Lameness (can still put weight on legs)
  • Minor Wounds
  • Chronic Illness or Disease
  • Broken Toenail

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT WE ARE 3-4 WEEKS BOOKED OUT.

When to Spay and Neuter Your Pet

Cats after 5 months old

Dogs < (Less than) 25lbs 6-9 months old

Medium Dogs 25-50 lbs 9-12 months old

Large Dogs 50-75 lbs 9-18 months old

Giant Breeds 75lbs + 12-24 months old

        (Age is based on estimated adult weight)

Puppy Package:

$397.10
5-7 Weeks
-New puppy exam
-DHP #1 Distemper, hepatitis, Parainfluenza)
-Parvovirus Vaccination #1
-Coronavirus Vaccination #1
-Fecal Exam
-Deworming
-Triheart Single
8-10 weeks
-New puppy exam
-DHP #2
-Parvovirus #2
-Coronavirus #2
-Bordetella Vaccination #1
-Flu # 1
-Fecal exam
-Deworming
-Triheart Single
11-13 Weeks
-New puppy exam
-DHLP #1
-Parvovirus #3
-Coronavirus #3
-Bordetella #2
-Flu # 2
-Lymes #1
-Fecal exam
-Deworming
-Triheart Single
14-16 Weeks
-DHLP #2
-Lymes #2
-Parvovirus #4
-Coronavirus #4
-Rabies
-Fecal exam
-Deworm
-6 month Heartworm prevention

When you purchase this package, this will entitle you to 25% off the spay or neuter surgery if you choose to spay or neuter your pet. The discount is for the total bill of the spay or neuter surgery. (NOTE: This offer is available for under 6 months of age. Spay or neuter must be performed prior to 1 year of age (some ages may vary). Includes all physical examinations and fecal examinations from the time of purchase until the puppy is 16 weeks old. Puppy Package does not include rabies tag or flea & tick control.)

Kitten Package:

$305.00
8-10 Weeks
-New kitten exam
-FVRCP/C #1 (Feline distemper)
-Fecal Exam
-Deworming
-FIV/FeLV Test
11-13 weeks
-New kitten exam
-FVRCP/C #2
-FeLV #1
-Fecal exam
-Deworming
14-16 Weeks
-New kitten exam
-Feline Leukemia #2
-Rabies
-Fecal exam
-Deworming

When you purchase this package, this will entitle you to 25% off the spay or neuter surgery if you choose to spay or neuter your pet. The discount is for the total bill of the spay or neuter surgery. (NOTE: This offer is available for under 6 months of age. Spay or neuter must be performed prior to 1 year of age (some ages may vary). Includes all physical examinations and fecal examinations from the time of purchase until the puppy is 16 weeks old. Puppy Package does not include rabies tag or flea & tick control.)

NO SHOW / CALCELLATION POLICY

Our office has a policy on missed appointments. We understand that inadvertently missing appointments can sometimes happen. However, we must consider how these missed appointments impact the ability of other patients to make appointments. Missed appointments often delay or prevent patients from receiving timely care. To be fair to all our patients, the following policy is in place:

 

  1. Please call to cancel an appointment at least 24 hours in advance. Calling to cancel within an hour of the appointment time will automatically be considered missed.

 

  1. Patients should arrive no later than 10 minutes after their scheduled appointment time. If patients are more than 10 minutes late, the appointment will be considered missed but every effort will be made to reschedule. (NOTE: We are staying 3-4 weeks booked out at a time.)

 

  1. ALL missed appointments will result in a reminder phone call notifying you of the missed appointment. A second missed appointment will result in a mailed letter restating the policy with a $35.00 no show fee. 

 

We understand everyone has emergencies that necessitate missing appointments. Our goal is to accommodate all patients but a pattern of recurrent missed visits prevents other patients from seeing the veterinarian in a timely manner. Please feel free to call our office with any questions.

GROOMING NO SHOW POLICY

It is the same as our NO SHOW / CANCELLATION POLICY except in order to book your next grooming appointment you must pay a non-refundable deposit. If your animal gets groomed (meaning that it gets cut with scissors and/or clippers) the deposit is $50.00 if it is a bath then the deposit is $30.00.

 

NOTE: The deposit will go towards your groom/bath if you make it to your appointment on time. If you do not make it to your appointment NO REFUND will be given and you will be asked to reschedule your appointment with another deposit to be made.

 

WE DO NOT SEE WALK-INS WE ARE APPOINTMENT ONLY

 

WE ONLY ALLOW CHARGING IF PREVIOUS ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE AND YOU HAVE EXCELLENT PAYMENT HISTORY. WE WILL INVESTIGATE BEFORE APPROVAL OR DENIAL OF CHARGING!

PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS

IF YOUR PET DOES NOT HAVE A PATIENT / DOCTOR RELATIONSHIP WITHIN 365 DAYS NO MEDICATIONS WILL BE PRESCRIBED. Your pet must be examined at least once every 365 days by the doctor to continue any prescription medications. This includes flea/tick and heartworm medications. THIS IS STATE LAW

If you need a refill of medications please call 901-872-2281. We will get the message to our technicians and they will call you when your medication is ready for pick up.

To schedule an appointment, please contact us at 901-872-2281. We look forward to meeting you and your pet!

Phone: 901-872-2281
Email: bigcreekanimal@aol.com

Hours:
Monday - Friday
7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
Open the 1st & 3rd Saturday
8:00 am - 2:00 pm
(unless it falls on a holiday)

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