“It doesn’t matter if medicine is old or new, as long as it can cure.” Jen Hsou Lin, DVM, PhD

About Dr. Tanya Higgins

DVM, CVA, CVCH, CVFT, CVT (TCVM/Anthroposophic Veterinary Medicine Practitioner)
Founder, Guided by Paws Integrative Vet

Born in Toronto, Ontario, and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, Dr. Tanya Higgins brings a global perspective and a deep compassion for animals to her work. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Animal Health and Poultry Science from the University of Georgia and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from the Atlantic Veterinary College at the University of Prince Edward Island, Canada in 2001.

After several years in the fast-paced world of small animal emergency medicine, Dr. Higgins felt called to expand her healing approach beyond conventional care. In 2005, she became certified in Veterinary Acupuncture under the guidance of world-renowned TCVM expert Dr. Huisheng Xie at the Chi University in Florida. She went on to earn additional certifications in Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine, Tui-na (spinal manipulation), and Food Therapy. In 2015, she was accepted into the Master’s Program in Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine—one of only a handful of veterinarians selected worldwide.

Dr. Higgins has also served on national veterinary emergency response teams, including deployments for Hurricane Katrina, which she describes as one of the most transformative experiences of her career.

Today, through Guided by Paws Integrative Vet, she blends the best of Western medicine with the time-honored wisdom of TCVM and other holistic modalities to help pets achieve balance, vitality, and lasting wellness. Her approach honors the bond between animals and their families, offering care that heals not just the body, but the spirit as well.

At home, Dr. Higgins shares her life with her son, Luke, her beloved mother, and their beloved pack of three dogs, each one a daily reminder of the joy and purpose behind her work.