Soft Tissue Surgery has come and gone. This week finds me in northern VT at Vermont Large Animal Clinic on an externship. The practice is exclusively equine with an ambulatory division and an in-house surgery suite. It's been a good first day and I'm looking forward to the remainder of the week.

On Thursday, I drive back to Broadalbin to spend the night with the family, then it's off to Syracuse airport, for a weekend trip to St. Louis courtesy of the Purina company. I will be attending the Purina Equine Nutrition Conference, Purina is paying to fly 4th year veterinary students interested in equine practice to St. Louis for the weekend. They are also paying for our hotel and food for the weekend - I will recommend Purina products for the remainder of my career - I'm obviously not easily swayed with all the commercial gimmicks =-)

On Sunday evening, when I return from St. Louis, I will drive to Scottsville, NY - just south of Rochester to extern at Genesee Valley Equine Clinic for the week - then it's back to Ithaca and the next rotation - Ophthalmology.

The following are some shots from my two-week Large Animal Soft Tissue Surgery rotation, some interesting cases, very hands on.

A view of my 1390 pound Angus bull's claw - following removal of a bone fragment from the bottom of his foot. The bony sequestrum was initiated by a wood screw penetrating the bottom of the foot - months ago.

Alicia and "fuzzy bear" - it's actually a lamb.

"Fuzzy bear" chatting with the piggies.

The pinkest little belly - views of my umbilical hernia surgery calf - pre and post-op. The surgery was extremely straightforward and a huge confidence builder of what I will be able to accomplish in the field.

Greg & his extremely attractive Red & White beauty. A success story for the Medicine rotation.

We also get trained how to drain giant abscesses. An extremely gratifying experience.

Live twin heifer calves (not identical) delivered by Cesarean section - worth all the work.