Meet Our Team

Sheilah A Robertson, BVMS (Hons), PhD, Diplomate ACVA, Diplomate ECVAA, CVA, MRCVS
Professor, Section of Anesthesia and Pain Management
College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida
robertsons@vetmed.ufl.edu

Dr. Robertson’s research interests focus on the use of opioids in cats, assessment of pain in cats, and the unique response of this species to many drugs. Her clinical interests include comprehensive pain management for all species. She is also active in developing anesthetic protocols that are suitable for large scale feral cat clinics. She participates in spay and neuter clinics in rural Mexico once a year. She is a member of the American Association of Feline Practitioner’s Welfare Committee.

Dr. Robertson has published numerous journal articles and book chapters on anesthesia and pain management for a wide variety of species.

Education:

• Certificate in Animal Welfare CEI; Cambridge e-Learning Institute, UK, 2007
• Certificate in Veterinary Acupuncture Chi Institute of Chinese Medicine and Traditional Chinese Veterinary Society, 2002
• Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists, 1989
• Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Anaesthesia, 1997
• PhD, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bristol, England, 1985
• Certificate of Veterinary Anesthesia The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, 1983
• BVMS, (with honors) University of Glasgow, Scotland, 1980

Awards:

• Douglas Houghton Memorial Scholarship – Douglas Houghton Scholar in Animal Welfare, 2004
• Superior Accomplishment Award (division – level), University of Florida, 2002
• Carl J. Norden Distinguished Teacher Award, 1998
• Merck Agvet Award for Creativity in Teaching (Co-Winner with anesthesia faculty), 1993

Selected Publications:

• Sanchez LC, Elfenbein JR, Robertson SA. Effect of acepromazine, butorphanol, or N-butylscopolammonium bromide on visceral and somatic nociception and duodenal motility in conscious horses. Am J Vet Res 2008;69:579-585.

• Shih AC, Robertson S, Isaza N, et al. Comparison between analgesic effects of buprenorphine, carprofen, and buprenorphine with carprofen for canine ovariohysterectomy. Vet Anaesth Analg 2008;35:69-79.

• Giguere S, Sanchez LC, Shih A, et al. Comparison of the effects of caffeine and doxapram on respiratory and cardiovascular function in foals with induced respiratory acidosis. Am J Vet Res 2007;68:1407-1416.

• Sanchez LC, Robertson SA, Maxwell LK, et al. Effect of fentanyl on visceral and somatic nociception in conscious horses. J Vet Intern Med 2007;21:1067-1075.

• Robertson SA. A review of feral cat control. J Feline Med Surg 2007.

• Hellyer P, Rodan I, Brunt J, et al. AAHA/AAFP pain management guidelines for dogs and cats. J Feline Med Surg 2007;9:466-480.

• Hellyer P, Rodan I, Brunt J, et al. AAHA/AAFP pain management guidelines for dogs & cats. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 2007;43:235-248.

• Taylor PM, Robertson SA, Dixon MJ. Evaluation of the use of thermal thresholds to investigate NSAID analgesia in a model of inflammatory pain in cats. J Feline Med Surg 2007;9:313-318.

• Johnson JA, Robertson SA, Pypendop BH. Antinociceptive effects of butorphanol, buprenorphine, or both, administered intramuscularly in cats. Am J Vet Res 2007;68:699-703.

• Lascelles BD, Court MH, Hardie EM, et al. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in cats: a review. Vet Anaesth Analg 2007;34:228-250.

• Murrell JC, Robertson SA, Taylor PM, et al. Use of a transdermal matrix patch of buprenorphine in cats: preliminary pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data. Vet Rec 2007;160:578-583.

• Wegner K, Robertson SA. Dose-related thermal antinociceptive effects of intravenous hydromorphone in cats. Vet Anaesth Analg 2007;34:132-138.

• Wellehan JF, Gunkel CI, Kledzik D, et al. Use of a nerve locator to facilitate administration of mandibular nerve blocks in crocodilians. J Zoo Wildl Med 2006;37:405-408.

• Niedfeldt RL, Robertson SA. Postanesthetic hyperthermia in cats: a retrospective comparison between hydromorphone and buprenorphine. Vet Anaesth Analg 2006;33:381-389.

• Pypendop BH, Ilkiw JE, Robertson SA. Effects of intravenous administration of lidocaine on the thermal threshold in cats. Am J Vet Res 2006;67:16-20.

• Robertson SA. Assessment and management of acute pain in cats. Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care 2005;15:261-272.

• Robertson SA. Managing pain in feline patients. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 2005;35:129-146.

• Robertson SA, Lascelles BD, Taylor PM, et al. PK-PD modeling of buprenorphine in cats: intravenous and oral transmucosal administration. J Vet Pharmacol Ther 2005;28:453-460.

• Robertson SA, Sanchez LC, Merritt AM, et al. Effect of systemic lidocaine on visceral and somatic nociception in conscious horses. Equine Vet J 2005;37:122-127.

• Robertson SA, Taylor PM, Sear JW, et al. Relationship between plasma concentrations and analgesia after intravenous fentanyl and disposition after other routes of administration in cats. J Vet Pharmacol Ther 2005;28:1-7.

• Gunkel CI, Valverde A, Morey TE, et al. Comparison of non-invasive cardiac output measurement by partial carbon dioxide rebreathing with the lithium dilution method in anesthetized dogs. Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care 2004;14:187-195.

• Wegner K, Robertson SA, Kollias-Baker C, et al. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic evaluation of intravenous hydromorphone in cats. J Vet Pharmacol Ther 2004;27:329-336.

• Robertson SA, Taylor PM. Pain management in cats--past, present and future. Part 2. Treatment of pain--clinical pharmacology. J Feline Med Surg 2004;6:321-333.

• Taylor PM, Robertson SA. Pain management in cats--past, present and future. Part 1. The cat is unique. J Feline Med Surg 2004;6:313-320.

• Lascelles BD, Robertson SA. Use of thermal threshold response to evaluate the antinociceptive effects of butorphanol in cats. Am J Vet Res 2004;65:1085-1089.

• Gunkel CI, Valverde A, Robertson SA, et al. Treatment for a severe reaction to intravenous administration of diatrizoate in an anesthetized horse. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2004;224:1143-1146, 1112.

• Lascelles BD, Robertson SA. Antinociceptive effects of hydromorphone, butorphanol, or the combination in cats. J Vet Intern Med 2004;18:190-195.

• Paul-Murphy J, Ludders JW, Robertson SA, et al. The need for a cross-species approach to the study of pain in animals. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2004;224:692-697.

• Robertson SA, Taylor PM, Lascelles BD, et al. Changes in thermal threshold response in eight cats after administration of buprenorphine, butorphanol and morphine. Vet Rec 2003;153:462-465.

• Robertson SA, Andrew SE. Presence of opioid growth factor and its receptor in the normal dog, cat and horse cornea. Vet Ophthalmol 2003;6:131-134.

• Robertson SA, Taylor PM, Sear JW. Systemic uptake of buprenorphine by cats after oral mucosal administration. Vet Rec 2003;152:675-678.

• Robertson SA. How do we know if they hurt? Pain assessment in small animals. Veterinary Medicine 2003;98:700-709.

• Robertson SA, Lerche P. Inhalant agents in small animal practice. Veterinary Medicine 2003;98:664-674.

• Robertson SA, Moon PF. Anesthetic management for cesarean section in bitches. Veterinary Medicine 2003;98:675-696.