US vet fixes turtle shells, opossum toothaches and other interesting cases

Senior veterinarian and director of veterinarian education Dr Leslie Reed examines a wood turtle that was struck by a car. Shell repair is among her specialties. Photo: Tribune News Service

For an opossum with a toothache, a swan with lead poisoning or a box turtle with a broken shell, Dr Leslie Reed is a true lifesaver.

The veterinarian delights in the sheer variety and challenge that each day brings at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota, in Roseville, the United States. There, she has created a dentistry practice, cultivated a specialty in turtle shell repair, and built a training programme that draws students from around the world.