Center for Bird and Exotic Animal Medicine
DVM, DABVP (ECM), CertAqV, Co-Medical Director
Dr. Alicia McLaughlin
DVM, DABVP (ECM), CertAqV, Co-Medical Director
Dr. Alicia McLaughlin
Dr. McLaughlin received her DVM degree from Oklahoma State University in 2011, and has practiced exotic animal medicine exclusively ever since. In 2025, she achieved board certification in Exotic Companion Mammal Practice through the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP). Dr. McLaughlin is a managing veterinarian at CBEAM, as well as a relief veterinarian for the Seattle Aquarium. She has been involved in veterinary leadership throughout her career, and has authored/co-authored articles in both professional journals and national conference proceedings. Dr. McLaughlin co-authored both the Fear Free™ Veterinary Professional Avian Certification Program and the Fear Free™ Addressing Fear & Aggression in Avian Patients: A Constructional Approach course; she is passionate about providing low stress veterinary visits for all of her patients. Dr. McLaughlin was the first veterinarian in the United States to successfully import a vaccine for Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease from France to help control the local 2019-2020 outbreak.
In her spare time, Dr. McLaughlin likes to relax with her veterinarian husband, young daughter, and dogs in the great outdoors. Her hobbies include hiking, dog sports, foraging for truffles and other wild mushrooms, reading, and providing environmental enrichment for her menagerie of pets. She currently shares her home with 2 giant schnauzers, 1 standard schnauzer, 1 white bellied caique, 1 blue throated macaw, 3 leopard geckos, 1 gargoyle gecko, 1 New Caledonian Giant Gecko, 2 ball pythons, 1 rainbow boa, and multiple freshwater fish.
Publications:
McLaughlin A, Strunk A, Heidenreich B, Clark P, Welle K, Hennigh M, Speer B, van Zeeland Y. Minimizing fear and stress during the physical examination. Current Therapy in Avian Medicine and Surgery, 2nd edition, 733-761.
McLaughlin A. Herpesvirus (Passerine Birds). P. 213-214 Blackwell’s 5-minute Veterinary Consult, Avian, 2nd edition. Beaufrère H, Graham JE (eds).
McLaughlin A. Herpesviruses (Columbid Herpesvirus 1 in Pigeons and Raptors). P. 208-209. Blackwell’s 5-minute Veterinary Consult, Avian, 2nd edition. Beaufrère H, Graham JE (eds).
McLaughlin A. Amyloidosis. P. 15-16. Blackwell’s 5-minute Veterinary Consult, Avian, 2nd edition. Beaufrère H, Graham JE (eds).
McLaughlin A, Hadfield C. Retrospective mortality review of sixteen rockfish species (genus Sebastes) in managed care (2017-2023). Proceedings AAFV October 2024.
Lezama KL, Music MK, McLaughlin A, Fogelson SB, Strunk A. Chronic Intermittent Esophageal Prolapse in a Red-Eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans). Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery. 2024 Sep 24. https://doi.org/10.5818/JHMS-D-23-00017
McLaughlin A, Tripp C, Hostnik E, Travis AM, LaDouceur E. Diagnosis and treatment of metastatic uterine lymphoma in a chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera). Veterinary Record Case Reports.:e886.
Lezama K, McLaughlin A, Tripp C. Use of electrochemotherapy for high-grade scent gland adenoma in a gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus). Proceedings ExoticsCon 2023.
Music M, McLaughlin A, Strunk A. Stayin’ Alive Part 3: you can’t always get what you want: applications of contextualized care in exotic emergency medicine. Proceedings ExoticsCon 2023 (Master Class).
Eichel K, McLaughlin A. Liquid gold – review of urinalysis in exotic companion mammals from a private practice. Proceedings ExoticsCon 2023.
McLaughlin A, Emanuele A, Hadfield C, Snekvik K. Pigmentary keratitis and mixed chromatophoroma in a betta fish (Betta splendens). Aquaculture, Fish and Fisheries. 2022. 2(6):587-592 https://doi.org/10.1002/aff2.74
McLaughlin A, Music M. Pandemic-Era Exotic Medicine in Review. Proceedings ExoticsCon 2022.
Music M, McLaughlin A, Strunk A. Stayin’ Alive Part 2: exotic emergency triage, medicine, and surgery. Proceedings ExoticsCon 2022 (Master Class).
Heidenreich B, McLaughlin A. Addressing Fear and Aggression in Avian Patients. https://fearfreepets.com/courses/addressing-fear-aggression-in-avian-patients-a-constructional-approach/. Published online April 2022.
McLaughlin A, Tripp C, Bertram CA, Kiupel M, Thaiwong T, Reavill D. Cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas in domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculi): 39 cases (1998-2019). Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine. 2021. 39: 38-50.
Silpa M, McLaughlin A, Music M, Strunk A. Ultraviolet light induced fluorescence in the captive African Pygmy Hedgehog (Atelerix spp). Proceedings ExoticsCon 2021.
McLaughlin A. Chronic lymphocytic dermatitis in a koi fish (Cyprinus rubrofuscus). The Aquatic Veterinarian. 2020. 14(4):28-31
McLaughlin A, Strunk A, Heidenreich B, Clark P. Fear Free Veterinary Certification Course - Avian. https://fearfreepets.com/fear-free-certification-overview-avian/. Published online April 2020.
Music M, McLaughlin A, Strunk A. Stayin’ Alive: current topics in exotic emergency medicine. Proceedings ExoticsCon 2019 (Master Class).
McLaughlin A, Reavill D. Review of Squamous Cell Carcinoma in the Domestic Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Proceedings ExoticsCon 2019.
McLaughlin A, Strunk A. Salpingotomy in a shingleback skink (Tiliqua rugosa) with subsequent successful parturition. Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery. 2019. 29(1-2):27-33
McLaughlin A, Harr KE. Minimizing Fear During The Avian Veterinary Visit. Proceedings ExoticsCon 2018 (Master Class).
McLaughlin A, Strunk A. Salpingotomy in a shingleback skink (Tiliqua rugosa) with subsequent successful parturition. Proceedings ARAV 2017.
McLaughlin A, Harr KE, Reavill D, Maas A, Strunk A. Ventricular carcinoma in a red lored amazon (Amazona autumnalis) with concurrent fungal infection. Proceedings AAZV Pathology Shortcourse 2017.
McLaughlin A. “Fear Free” avian vet visits: myth, magic, or method? Proceedings Clinical Animal Behavior Conference, December 2016
McLaughlin A. Clinical approach to common parrot behavior problems. Proceedings Clinical Animal Behavior Conference, December 2016
McLaughlin A, Strunk A. Common emergencies in hedgehogs, sugar gliders, and small rodents. Exotic Emergency Medicine. Veterinary Clinics: Exotic Animal Practice. 2016. 19:465-499
Zehnder A, Graham J, Reavill DR, McLaughlin A. Neoplastic diseases in avian species. Current Therapy in Avian Medicine and Surgery, December 2016, Elsevier, Editor Speer B. 107-141
McLaughlin A, Harr KE. Backyard chickens: History, Husbandry, and Social Issues. Published in DVM360 magazine, February 2015. Also published in Vetcom Volume 58, 2017
McLaughlin A. Aspergillus: the fungus among us. Proceedings AFA 2014.
McLaughlin A. Avian cardiac disease. Proceedings AFA 2014.
McLaughlin A, Reavill DR. Management of recurrent squamous cell carcinoma in a cockatiel with a combination of surgery and cryotherapy. Proceedings AAV 2014.
