Lawrence J. Myers, MS, DVM, PhD Associate Professor of Animal Behavior and Sensory Physiology and Medicine, joined the College of Veterinary Medicine in 1982. He received his M.S. from Oklahoma State University in zoology with emphasis on animal behavior, his Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University in neurophysiology, and his D.V.M. from Mississippi State University.
334-844-5304 myerslj@auburn.edu
Research Interests Dr. Myers began research on detector dogs in 1982, developing new and rapid techniques to determine olfactory thresholds in the dog, as well as measures of visual and gustatory function.  In 1989 he founded the Institute for Biological Detection Systems (IBDS) at Auburn.  The three major prongs for the research program were: 1) detector dog-handler team programs-study, protection and improvement; 2) study of basic sensory functions to feed information to #1 and to #3, and 3) development of artificial biosensor systems.  Some of this and later work included study of odors, odor movement, and methods to deliver odors reliably and accurately.  Of particular interest, 24 different disease conditions in the dog were found that cause loss of the sense of smell in the dog.  In addition, he began training dogs to detect novel targets (estrus in cows termites, off-flavor chemicals), including determination of the odor signatures the dog used to recognize the targets. Selected Publications Myers LJ and Coulter DB.  (2004)  Vision, Dukes' Textbook of Animal Physiology, Reece, WO (ed.), Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, pp. 843-851. Myers LJ and Coulter DB.  (2004)  Smell & Taste, Dukes' Textbook of Animal Physiology, Reece, WO (ed.), Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, pp. 865-870. Shelby RA, Schrader KK, Tucker A, Klesius PH, and Myers LJ.  (2004)  Detection of catfish off-flavour compounds by trained dogs.  Aquaculture Research 35: 888-892. Altom Eric K, Davenport Gary M, Myers Lawrence J, Cummins Keith A.  (2003)  Effect of dietary fat source and exercise on odorant-detecting ability of canine athletes. Research in Veterinary Science 75:149-155. Furton KG, Myers LJ.  (2001)  The scientific foundations and efficacy of the use of canines as chemical detectors for explosives.  Talanta 54(3):487-500. Myers LJ, Hanrahan LA, Swango LJ, Nusbaum KE.  (1988) Anosmia associated with canine distemper.  American Journal of Veterinary Research, 49:1295-1297. Additional Links Animal Behavior Clinics