Titles and Education

1. Current position:
   Clinical Professor, Anesthesia and Pain Management, and Research Anesthesiologist, University of Wisconsin
   Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia, 1997
   
   ● Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Veterinary Science (emphasis: Respiratory Neurobiology), University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 2002
   ● Master of Science (MS), Veterinary Science, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 1997
   ● Residency Program in Veterinary Anesthesiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 1997
   ● Small Animal Rotating Internship, Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital, Akron, OH, 1994
   ● Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), cum laude, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 1993

Research

The main goal of my research is study new and more efficacious means of providing anesthesia and analgesia to exotic and laboratory animal species. My lab focuses on improving pharmacologic options and techniques to improve animal care in client owned pets as well as research animals

Clinical Interests

Dr. Johnson's nterests include: 1) investigating novel anesthetic and analgesic techniques for companion, exotic and laboratory animals and 2) providing education on pre-hospital emergency care and the unique anesthetic and analgesic requirements of law enforcement K9s.

Recent Publications

1. Rastas J, Zhao Q, Johnson RA. (2025). Comparison of two active warming techniques on body temperature in healthy, anesthetized dogs premedicated with acepromazine or dexmedetomidine: a pilot study. PLOSOne 20(1): e0317997.
2. Swanton E, Zhao Q, Johnson RA, Schroeder CS (2024). Oral trazodone results in quantifiable sedation, but does not result in a xylazine-sparing effect in healthy adult horses. Am J Vet Research Sep 6: 1-6. PMID: 39241804. Recipient of the Outstanding AJVR Resident Manuscript Award 2025.
3. Collins EJ, Zhao Q, Baker TL, Johnson RA (2024). Physiologic and behavioral effects of long-acting subcutaneous and transdermal buprenorphine in rats. Am J Vet Research Jul 15: 1-9. PMID: 39013396. Honorable mention for the Outstanding AJVR Student Manuscript Award 2025.
4. Savage-Gibson MF, Johnson RA, Baker TL, Schroeder CA (2024). Anatomic assessment of external oblique intercostal (EOI) block in rabbit cadavers. J Exotic Anim 49: 35-40.
5. Anderson RA, Chu AK, Rylander H, Binversie E, Duncan I, Baker L, Salamat S, Patterson M, Gruel J, Kohler N, Kearney H, Ale S, Momen M, Muir P, Svaren J, Johnson RA, Sample SJ (2024). Pathologic classification of a late-onset peripheral neuropathy in a spontaneous Labrador retriever dog model. J Comp Neurol 532(3): e25596. PMID: 38439568. PMCID: PMC10914337.
6. Johnson RA, Kelm-Nelson C, Ciucci MR (2020). Changes to ventilation, vocalization, and thermal nociception in the Pink1-/- rat model of Parkinson's disease. J Parkinsons Dis 10(2): 489-504. PMID: 32065805. PMCID: PMC8142388.

7. Radkey DI, Writt VE, Snyder LBC, Jones BG, Johnson RA (2019). Gastrointestinal effects following acupuncture at Pericardium-6 and Stomach-36 in healthy dogs: a pilot study. J Sm Anim Prac 60(1): 38-43. PMID: 302811551.

8. Allen MR, Johnson RA (2018). Evaluation of self-injurious behavior, thermal sensitivity, food intake, fecal output, and pica after injection of three buprenorphine formulations in rats (Rattus norvegicus). Am J Vet Res 79(7): 697-703. PMID: 29943638.

9. Johnson RA, Kierski KR, Jones BG (2017). Gastric emptying, gastrointestinal transit time, sedation and nausea associated with intravenous lidocaine constant rate infusions in normal dogs. Am J Vet Res 78(5): 550-557. PMID: 28441056.

10. Johnson RA (2016). Voluntary running wheel activity, arterial blood gases and thermal antinociception following three different buprenorphine preparations in rats. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci 55(3): 306-311. PMID: 27177564. PMCID: 4865692.

11. Drees R, Johnson RA, Stepien RL, Del Rio AL, Saunders J, Francois C (2015). Quantitative planar and volumetric cardiac measurements using 64 MDCT and 3T MRI versus standard 2D and M-mode echocardiography: Does anesthetic protocol matter? Vet Radiol Ultrasound 56(6): 638-657. PMID: 26082285. PMCID: In Progress. Supported by the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) program, through the NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), grant UL1TR000427 and grant KL2TR000428.

12. Johnson RA (2014). Maropitant prevents vomiting but not gastroesophageal reflux in anesthetized dogs premedicated with acepromazine-hydromorphone. Vet Anaesth Analg 41(4): 406-410. PMID: 24330310. PMCID: 4296575. Supported by the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) program, through the NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), grant UL1TR000427 and grant KL2TR000428.
13. Schroeder CS, Johnson SM, Johnson RA (2013). Intracoelomic fos-propofol induces long-lasting general anesthesia in painted turtles. J Zoo Wildl Med 44(4): 941-950. PMID: 24450053. PMCID: 4296583. Supported by the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) program, through the NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), grant UL1TR000427 and grant KL2TR000428.
14. Nichols NL, Duncan ID, Punzo AM, Mitchell GS, Johnson RA (2012). Cervical spinal demyelination with ethidium bromide transiently impairs respiratory (phrenic) and forelimb motor behavior in rats. Neuroscience Jan 15; 229: 77-87. PMID: 23159317. PMCID: 3534904.
15. Johnson RA, Lam M, Punzo AM, Li H, Lin BR, Ye K, Mitchell GS, Chang Q (2012). 7,8-dihydroxyflavone exhibits therapeutic efficacy in a mouse model of Rett syndrome. J Appl Physiol March; 112(5): 704-710. PMID: 22194327. PMCID: 3643819. Supported by the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) program, through the NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), grant UL1TR000427 and grant KL2TR000428.
16. Johnson RA, Baker-Herman TL, Duncan ID, Mitchell GS (2010). Ventilatory impairment in the dysmyelinated Long Evans shaker (les) rat. Neuroscience Sep 1; 9(3): 1105-1114. PMID: 20542092. PMCID: 2927872.