Dr. Cynthia Otto

Biography

Cynthia M. Otto is a distinguished faculty member at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, focusing on veterinary emergency and critical care. With a DVM from Ohio State University and a PhD in Veterinary Physiology from the University of Georgia, she has cultivated a robust research profile centered on the health and performance of detection dogs. Her interests encompass genetic and behavioral aspects of these dogs, particularly in the context of search and rescue operations, including significant contributions to the response efforts during the 9/11 attacks. She founded the AKC CAR Detection Dog DNA Bank, which studies the genetics underlying complex behaviors in these working dogs. Otto's laboratory is actively engaged in understanding how hydration strategies affect the performance of detection dogs, as well as conducting clinical research on emergency care for dogs and cats. Her expertise is further demonstrated through her involvement at the Penn Vet Working Dog Center, where scientific principles meet practical application in breeding, training, and deploying dogs for detection tasks. Beyond academia, she is board certified in veterinary emergency and critical care, dedicating her professional efforts to advancing canine sports medicine and rehabilitation, fostering the health and performance of working dogs.

Research Interests