Bruner was an internationally recognized authority on the enteric diseases of animals and humans, including salmonellosis.
His teaching, which he began as an instructor at Cornell in 1931 and continued at the University of Kentucky, was interrupted by World War II. He served as a bacteriologist in the U.S. Army, rising to the rank of major. He returned to Cornell in 1949 and served as department chair from 1965 to 1972, the year he was appointed professor emeritus.
After earning D.V.M. (1933) and Ph.D. (1937) degrees at Cornell, he published more than 140 scientific papers. He was the author or co-author of the first five editions of the text Hagan and Bruner's Microbiology and Infectious Diseases of Domestic Animals and editor of the Cornell Veterinarians for 20 years.
In 1972, Bruner's achievements in bacteriology were recognized with the awarding of the American Veterinary Medical Association's 12th International Congress Award.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Dorsey W. and Beatrice F. Bruner Scholarship Fund at the Veterinary College.