Ingrid L. Taylor

Photo by Marián Šicko on Pexels

Companion Animals and Veterinary Medicine

AAHA •

Science and the heart: Remembering Jane Goodall

Goodall was well known for her studies of chimpanzees in Gombe National Park and subsequent conservation advocacy (including founding the Jane Goodall Institute and Roots and Shoots). Beyond her scientific studies and conservation work, Goodall inspired generations of young women, including veterinarians, to devote their lives to helping animals. By changing our understanding of animal emotions and capacities, she left an indelible impact on veterinary medicine.  
“I wouldn’t be here today if it...
AAHA •

Help! I love my new shelter dog, but this is harder than I thought

Bringing a shelter dog home to join the family is a wonderful feeling. But whether your clients adopt a puppy or an older dog, a purebred or a Heinz 57, welcoming a new dog into the home is bound to come with some road bumps along the way.  
Clients often have expectations that the dog doesn’t know how to, or isn’t capable of, meeting. For example, a family may end up with a dog who is timid or reactive, which conflicts with their plans for outings and activities. Or a client with a sedentary li...
AAHA •

Safe haven: Housing displaced pets during a disaster

Natural disasters present intense challenges, ranging from mass displacements to disruptions in infrastructure and services. Animals are equally affected. In recent disasters, reports of companion animals being left behind or out of reach of rescue teams are common. And if given the choice, individuals will often risk their own lives to remain with their pets. In addition to the physical devastation caused by climate-change-induced natural disasters, disruptions to the human-animal bond results...
Photo by Mike Bird on Pexels
AAHA •

Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus

by Ingrid Taylor, DVM
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease, the deadly virus that emerged in North America in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, is showing up again in 2022, this time with cases in Florida and a first-time appearance in Ontario, Canada. This virus affects both domestic and wild rabbits, leading to sudden death, liver failure, neurological signs, and bleeding from the nose and genitourinary tract.
A diagnosis of rabbit hemorrhagic disease is heartbreaking for families who have welcomed pe...
Photo by IslandHopper X on Pexels
AAHA •

What Is Photobiomodulation Therapy?

by Ingrid Taylor, DVM
Therapeutic laser therapy is becoming an increasingly available option that veterinary practices can offer their patients. It has many beneficial uses in veterinary patients, including providing analgesia as part of a multimodal pain management plan, promoting wound healing, and reducing inflammation. With the proper training, it is a relatively easy and noninvasive therapy that can be added to a number of treatment protocols.
The therapeutic lasers most commonly used in cl...
The Spruce Pets •

These First Aid Techniques for Choking May Save Your Puppy's Life

Puppies are full of curiosity about the world around them, and they like to explore their surroundings by tasting, chewing, and picking up objects in their mouths. A puppy can chose when it plays with or tries to eat a bone, toy, or ball but accidentally inhales it instead.

Normally, when a puppy swallows something, such as a bite of food or a treat, it travels down the esophagus into the stomach. The windpipe—or trachea—is located just below the opening of the esophagus in a puppy’s neck, and
The Spruce Pets •

Gallbladder Infection in Cats

A gallbladder infection can occur in cats of any age or breed. It can develop suddenly with severe symptoms in some cats, while others may have more mild symptoms. It’s often caused by a bacterial infection of the gallbladder and bile duct. Cats with gallbladder infections will show symptoms like loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. They may also exhibit a yellow tint to their skin and gums. Gallbladder infections aren’t contagious, but usually occur when bacteria
The Spruce Pets •

Meet the Egyptian Mau, the Mini Cheetah of the Cat World.

The Egyptian mau may have descended from ancient Egyptian domestic cats, though definitive genetic linkages are difficult to trace. Egyptian art dating back to 1900 BCE depicted cats with similar spotted markings in the homes of Egyptians, and by 1450 BCE cats were commonly shown in many domestic situations, where it was likely that they formed close, mutually beneficial relationships with humans. Cats also became associated with the Egyptian goddess Bastet. The worship of Bastet remained popula
The Spruce Pets •

Megaesophagus in Cats: What Is It and How Is It Treated?

Megaesophagus is a condition that can occur in cats of all ages and breeds, either as an acquired disease or a condition they are born with. Siamese and Abyssian cats may be prone to an inherited form of megaesophagus. Cats with megaesophagus can’t swallow their food properly, and the most common symptom they’ll show is regurgitation. Alternatively, they'll spit up undigested food before it gets to the stomach. Megaesophagus is not a contagious condition. It may be caused by an underlying diseas