Dr. Lara Rasmussen

Dr. Lara Rasmussen is a board-certified surgeon practicing and enjoying both general/soft tissue and orthopedic surgery. A graduate of the University of California-Davis, Dr. Rasmussen received her Bachelor’s Degree in Biological Sciences and Policy Studies in 1988 and continued at the UC Davis College of Veterinary Medicine, completing her veterinary medical degree in 1993. She finished a small animal medicine and surgery internship at South Shore Veterinary Associates in Massachusetts in 1994 and went on to complete a three-year small animal surgical residency and Masters Degree at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Rasmussen taught clinical surgery at Washington State University in 1998-99, and clinical skills and problem-based learning with the College of Veterinary Medicine at Western University of Health Sciences in California from 1999 to 2006. Dr. Rasmussen completed her surgery credentials and was awarded Diplomate status with the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1999. The longest sojourn of her career has been practicing surgery under the mobile surgery model and managing her own business, Direct Veterinary Surgery, in the Twin Cities, MN for 18yrs until 2024. Her professional interests include laryngeal paralysis, pain management, gastrointestinal surgery, trauma surgery, critical care, multimodal anesthesia and veterinary education. Her personal interests include CaniCross, growing and preserving food, reading and writing, and teardrop trailering.