Dr. Johnson first became interested in alternative veterinary medicine  when her dog Timber became ill. He was suffering from a severe and chronic case of inflammatory bowel disease and pancreatitis. He had been hospitalized many times and conventional treatments were no longer working. She took an herbal medicine course and her dog was so ill, she had to bring him along. His case became part of the course and within 1 week with acupuncture, herbal medicine, and a special diet, he was on the road to recovery. Timber lived a long and happy life until the age of 17.
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Her favorite things in Austin are paddle boarding, cycling, skating, art, and spending time with her rescue pup, Hippo. 

Laurie Johnson graduated from Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2008. She became certified in veterinary acupuncture through the Chi Institute in 2009 and practiced integrative (a combination of conventional and alternative) small animal medicine in Portland, Oregon and later Melbourne, Australia. She holds a graduate diploma in Chinese Veterinary Herbal Medicine through the College of Integrative Veterinary Therapy and is certified in Food Therapy from the Chi Institute.