Robert Poppenga, DVM, PhD
Adjunct Professor
Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences
Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
Profile
Research/Clinical Interests
My focus is veterinary clinical and diagnostic toxicology. Areas of interest within clinical and diagnostic toxicology include wildlife toxicology, development of biomarkers of exposure to environmental contaminants and, more recently, issues related to the safety of foods and feeds (both human and animal) from a chemical contamination perspective.
Education
- 1974-1978: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, College of Veterinary Medicine, D.V.M.
- 1982-1985: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, College of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Toxicology Residency
- 1982-1987: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, College of Veterinary Medicine, Ph.D.
Biography/Professional Experience
2004-2025: Professor of Clinical Veterinary Toxicology, Step 9, University of California at Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Molecular Biosciences and Head, Toxicology Section, California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory (CAHFS)
2005: Professor of Toxicology, Clinician-Educator Track, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathobiology and Chief, Pennsylvania Animal Disease Laboratory System at New Bolton Center’s Toxicology Laboratory
2001-2004: Adjunct Appointment, Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine (teaching veterinary toxicology)
1998-2004: Associate Professor of Toxicology, Clinician-Educator Track, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathobiology and Chief, Pennsylvania Animal Disease Laboratory System at New Bolton Center’s Toxicology Laboratory
1993-1997: Assistant Professor of Toxicology, Clinician-Educator Track, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathobiology and Chief, Pennsylvania Animal Disease Laboratory System at New Bolton Center’s Toxicology Laboratory
1987-1993: Assistant Professor, Michigan State University, College of Veterinary Medicine; joint appointment in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology (1987 to 1991), the Department of Pathology (1991 to 1993) and the Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory
1978-1982: Small animal private veterinary practice in the St. Louis, MO and Springfield, IL areas
Awards and Honors
- 2013 American Board of Veterinary Toxicology Service Award
- 1985 Phi Zeta: veterinary scholastic honorary
- 1972 Alpha Zeta: agricultural scholastic honorary
- 1972 Phi Kappa Phi: scholastic honorary
Professional/Academic Affiliations
Diplomate, American Board of Veterinary Toxicologists
Membership and Service
- American Academy of Veterinary and Comparative Toxicology
- American Academy of Clinical Toxicology
- American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians
- American Veterinary Medical Association
- International Assembly for the Recognition of Toxicologists (IART)
- Council on Agricultural Science and Technology
- Sierra Nevada Fisher Working Group (SNFWG)
- Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
- Society of Toxicology
Other
- California University Associated Veterinary Medical License
- Illinois Veterinary Medical License (Inactive)
- Missouri Veterinary Medical License (Inactive)
- Michigan Veterinary Medical License (Inactive)
Publications
Selected Publications
- Marin, R.E., Schild, C.O., Oliveira, L.G.S., Sant, C., Poppenga, R., Uzal, F.A., Riet-Correa, F. (2025): Gastrocnemius muscle rupture associated to selenium deficiency in beef cattle. Vet Res Commun. 49(4):245. doi: 10.1007/s11259-025-10797-7.
- Gornatti-Churria, C.D., Poppenga, R., Jerry, C.F., Stoute, S.T. (2025): Sodium toxicosis in chickens: case series (2014-2023) and literature review. J Vet Diagn Invest. 37(1):114-118. doi: 10.1177/10406387241300476. Epub 2024 Dec 19.
- Wehrle-Martinez, A., Dittmer, K.E., Back, P.J., Rogers, C.W., Weston, J.F., Jeyakumar, P., Pereira, R.V., Poppenga, R., Taylor, H.S., Lawrence, K.E. (2025): The association between fluoride concentrations and spontaneous humeral fracture in first-lactation dairy cows: results from two New Zealand studies. N Z Vet J. 73(2):143-147. doi: 10.1080/00480169.2024.2418929. Epub 2024 Nov 17.
- Klainbart, S., Pérez-López, M., Filigenzi, M. and Poppenga, R.H. (2025): Bromethalin exposure in dogs and cats: a 14-year retrospective study (2010-2023) from the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System. J Vet Intern Med 39(3):e70057, doi: 10.1111/jvim.70057.
- Greening, S.S., Ellis, J.C., Lewis, N.L., Needle, D.B., Tato, C.M., Knowles, S,. Shearn-Bochsler, V., Miller, J.L., Grear, D.A., Lorch, J.M., Bleher,t D.S., Burrell ,C., Murphy, L.A,. Miller, E.A., Ogbunugafor, C.B., Ayala, A.J., Thomas, W.K., Sevigny, J.L., Gordon, L.M., Baillargeon, T., Mwakibete, L., Kirchgessner, M., Casey, C.L., Barton, E., Yabsley, M.J., Anis, E., Gagne, R.B., Klein, P., Driscoll, C., Sykes, C.A., Poppenga, R.H., Nemeth, N.M. (2025) An Enigmatic Wild Passerine Mortality Event in the Eastern United States. Vet Sci. 12(1):48. doi: 10.3390/vetsci12010048.
- Williams, A., O'Reilly, A., Yabsley, M.J., Garrett, K.B., Poppenga, R., Sykes, C., Berry, R., Nemeth, N.M.. (2024): Diagnostic investigation of American robins (Turdus migratorius) with fatal ethylene glycol toxicosis and concurrent Plasmodium spp. infection with retrospective review of 44 years of diagnostic data. J Zoo Wildl Med. 55(4):926-935. doi: 10.1638/2024-0041.
- Klainbart, S., Sykes, C.A., Poppenga, R.H. (2024): Dog and cat exposures to drugs of abuse identified by the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System. Front Vet Sci. 11:1372614. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1372614. eCollection.
- Langston, J., Stump, S., Filigenzi, M., Tkachenko, A., Guag, J., Poppenga, R., Rumbeiha W.K. (2024): Extensive evaluation of a new LC-MS-MS method to quantify monofluoroacetate toxin in the kidney. J Anal Toxicol. 48(4):210-216. doi: 10.1093/jat/bkae032.
- Watson, K.D., Affolter, V.K., Gardhouse, S., Guzman, D.S., Poppenga, R.H., Li, C.F., Phillips, K., Kol, A., Woolard, K.D. (2024): Neurodegeneration in a domestic rabbit with severe malnourishment and low hepatic copper. J Vet Diagn Invest. 2024 Aug 5:10406387241258461. doi: 10.1177/10406387241258461.
- Saggese, M.D., Bloom, P.H., Bonisoli-Alquati, A., Kinyon, G., Overby, N., Koedel, A., Eagleton, A., Blumhagen, E., Maestas, J.M., Casalins, L., Ojeda, V. and Poppenga, R.H. (2024): Turkey vultures (Cathartes aura) from Southern California are exposed to anticoagulant rodenticides despite recent bans. Journal of Raptor Research, 58(4):1-8.