Colorado is so clean, and it smells nice too!

I recently spent 2 weeks in Colorado staying with my bestie Anna and working as an extern at Banfield, The Pet Hospital. This is a series of hospitals located in PetSmart stores. I wanted to see what corporate medicine is all about, and mainly to decide if I should persue a career in corporate medicine. The answer to that question... probably not, but maybe. Ha! I enjoyed the high standards shared by all Banfield practices, but I don't like that the hospital will put so much focus on profit -so much that they'll send in corporate officials to coach you on how to better sell vetmed. I understand that vetmed is a business like all others, and in order to be successful the hospital must be profitable, but I believe I want to do what is best for the patient (the pet) and the client (the owner). I could go into detail and explain what I mean with all this, but I won't bore you with that. I really enjoyed the doctors that I worked for, and like I said before: the standard of care and the quality of care provided at Banfield is top notch, so I suppose that is the main reason I'm keeping Banfield in the forefront of my mind as I prepare to find a REAL job!

Anna was one of the best hostesses around. And I'm not just saying that b/c she's my best friend from kindergarten. She made me breakfast, she drove me to work, she would make my lunch sometimes, she ran with me, she let me use her car, I used all of her work out clothes... I could go on and on! She even took me up to Estes Park to see the sights. It was so cute. I got so many souveniers from there- Bentley even got his grown up wardrobe from Estes Bark. I just love The Good Dog Company. Anyway- Thanks so much Anna!!!!! Love you BGMoe!

Running along Equalizer Lake in Loveland, CO

Getting ready to make the Hike to Devil's Backbone

Devil's Backbone

Posing for a BFF photo-op!

"Do not leave trail"..... whoops!

Remember "Friendship Rings" from elementary school? This is our modern day version!

Uno!

She won both times!

Shopping around Estes Park

Enjoying dinner with friends.

real quick update....

- Bentley learned about belly rubs. likes them.

- He got his first toe nail trim. didn't really care.

- Tini is still unsure of Bentley, but they're working on it.

- I finished the Emergency rotation and started & finished the Exotics rotation.

- I got bit by a great horned owl. I'm not afraid of them anymore.

- I caught and held a hawk. I'm not afraid of them either.

- I performed surgery on two owls: one soft tissue, the other orthopedic.

- I treated a snake for anorexia. He didn't make it :(

- I treated an African Grey for seizures. She's doing well. :)

- I worked 12-16 hour days then was on call. boo...

- I fed a 42 year old elephant with degenerative joint disease.

- I saw a transgenetic cat. His genes express a fluorescent gene. Mr. Green Genes.

- I treated a goose (2 actually), both are doing well. I miss one of them a lot.

- I've decided I need a goose.

- I've decided I need a cockatoo.

- I've decided I'm not scared of graduation.

- Shelly moved back to the US. Will be teaching at Conway Christian.

- I went to Julie's baby shower. I poked at her belly...I felt Mollie Anne!

- I'm praying for Julie & her dad every day.

- I'm in Colorado. Enjoying an externship. Spaying and neutering left and right.

- I'm loving the time I get with my bff from Kindergarten, but missing Josh so bad.

- I'm freaking out because I start studying for boards in just 10 days.

- I'm freaking out because I take boards in November.

- I'm working to revamp some of the decorations in my apartment- anyone want my old gold/brown bedspread? see it here.

The left inguinal region on the owl. I removed a huge area of necrotic tissue. It was very infected; I don't expect it will hold well.

The orthopedic owl. She had a complete fracture of the left radius and two complete fractures of the ulna. An IM pin was placed in both bones as well as an external fixator placed on the ulna. Prognosis for flight is poor. :(

Feeding the elephant some grapes.

Mr. Green Genes. Read more about him here.

The leg of a goose that was tangled in fishing line. Luckily we cut off the fishing line and saved his leg.

This guy wasn't so lucky. The fishing line strangled his foot so badly that it fell off (he came in without a foot). They don't do well on one leg.

A bird with pox. Can you count how many pox lesions he has?

The new guest bedroom decor.

Some new pillows to brighten the living room.

Tini being cute.

Bentley being tired.

oooooh-weee! girl you're bump is big!!

The most perfect banner Julie received as a gift- it matches Mollie's bedding!

My favorite girls! If any of you are regular readers, you may recognize this fabric. It's what I brought back from Mood in NYC so Mom could play Project Runway for me. Make it work!

Anna Eberle and me going for a run in beautiful Colorado. I don't even break a sweat!