0:00:02 > 0:00:05Hello, I'm Rory. I'm near Blackpool to meet Austin,
0:00:05 > 0:00:08who has some unusual animals that need help from the vet.
0:00:08 > 0:00:11- This will be interesting. - And I'm Ferne.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14I'll be finding out how the vets at a zoo in Winchester
0:00:14 > 0:00:18are helping to care for one of their gorgeous baby animals.
0:00:23 > 0:00:28# Ferne and Rory telling you the story of some poorly pets
0:00:28 > 0:00:33# We will take them, show you how to make them better at the vets
0:00:33 > 0:00:37# Vet tales These are our vet tales
0:00:37 > 0:00:42# Vet tales Ferne And Rory's Vet Tales. #
0:00:45 > 0:00:47Hi, my name's Austin.
0:00:48 > 0:00:50My dad runs a small zoo.
0:00:51 > 0:00:55We have lots and lots of animals here.
0:00:55 > 0:00:57Some are scaly.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59Some are fluffy.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01And some are even slimy.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04I help look after them all.
0:01:06 > 0:01:08I love animals so much.
0:01:16 > 0:01:20- Hi, Rory.- Hey, Austin. And you must be Dad, Neil. Hello.- Hello.
0:01:20 > 0:01:22Austin, you've got loads of animals here,
0:01:22 > 0:01:26- including these lovely capybara and mara.- Yes, we do.- It's amazing!
0:01:26 > 0:01:28Do you want to see some more?
0:01:28 > 0:01:32- I would absolutely love to. Shall we get going?- Yeah.- Yeah, come on!
0:01:36 > 0:01:40Austin, you have got animals from all over the world here, don't you?
0:01:40 > 0:01:44Yeah, we've got an alpaca from South America
0:01:44 > 0:01:47and we've got some wallabies from Australia.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50- They're very cute, aren't they? - Yeah.- What else have you got?
0:01:50 > 0:01:53We've got some little egrets.
0:01:53 > 0:01:55Little egrets, where are they from?
0:01:55 > 0:01:59- From all over the world. - Beautiful. And who's this?
0:01:59 > 0:02:01A snowy owl.
0:02:01 > 0:02:05- They're from the Arctic, aren't they?- Yeah.- Gorgeous.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08- We've got some black-faced ibis. - Very nice.
0:02:08 > 0:02:12There are lots of different birds and animals here at your dad's
0:02:12 > 0:02:16zoo and you know so much about all of them. Right, who's in here, then?
0:02:16 > 0:02:18Some vulturine guinea fowl.
0:02:18 > 0:02:22Brilliant! You've got farm animals here as well. Who's in here?
0:02:22 > 0:02:27We've got some sheep and we've got some chickens and a duck.
0:02:27 > 0:02:29A duck as well!
0:02:29 > 0:02:32You and your dad look after all these animals
0:02:32 > 0:02:36so that people can come and learn all about them.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39There are so many animals, Austin, how do you keep them fit
0:02:39 > 0:02:43- and healthy?- Well, a vet visits and she's coming today.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46- Would you like to meet her? - That sounds great. Brilliant.
0:02:46 > 0:02:48Come on, then.
0:02:55 > 0:03:00This is a vet Shona. She's been a vet for 27 years.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03She often looks after exotic animals.
0:03:03 > 0:03:07The most unusual creature she has treated is a seahorse who had
0:03:07 > 0:03:08a gas bubble in his pouch.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11And one time she treated a lizard, which was the same
0:03:11 > 0:03:14length as a motorbike.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16We're off to meet vet Shona,
0:03:16 > 0:03:19who's taking a look at a very unusual animal.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22Hello, Austin and Rory, how are you both today?
0:03:22 > 0:03:24We're doing well, aren't we?
0:03:24 > 0:03:28Shona, you're the zoo's vet and you look after all the animals here.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31- Who is this little guy? - This little chap is Albert
0:03:31 > 0:03:34and he is a southern three-banded armadillo from Brazil.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36He is very cool.
0:03:36 > 0:03:40Armadillos are incredible animals with this armour on their backs.
0:03:40 > 0:03:44They use the bony plates to protect themselves from predators
0:03:44 > 0:03:47in the wild and he'll roll up so nothing can get to him.
0:03:47 > 0:03:49So, what are you checking him for today?
0:03:49 > 0:03:53Well, we're going to give Albert a health check today
0:03:53 > 0:03:56- but first, we're going to weigh Albert.- Great.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59As I pick him up, Albert will naturally go into his shell.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02This is him curling up into the ball? Amazing!
0:04:02 > 0:04:05Perfectly adapted just to fold up in a tight ball.
0:04:05 > 0:04:09It means that predators would find it very difficult to eat him.
0:04:09 > 0:04:10So cool! Isn't that amazing?
0:04:10 > 0:04:14- Let's put Albert on the scales and we'll see what he weighs.- OK.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17- There we go. - How's his weight looking?
0:04:17 > 0:04:21Looks good, he's 1.38 kilograms, which is similar to the last time.
0:04:21 > 0:04:25And that's what you'd expect from an armadillo of his age and size?
0:04:25 > 0:04:29Yes. We weigh him regularly so we can keep an eye on any changes.
0:04:29 > 0:04:33- And what's next?- We'll have a wee look at his eyes to make sure there
0:04:33 > 0:04:37- is no discharge, so no pus coming out of them.- That's nasty gunk?
0:04:37 > 0:04:39Yes, that's correct. Same with his ears.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42He's shivering because he's feeling a bit cold.
0:04:42 > 0:04:46So we won't keep him out for too long, he needs to get back
0:04:46 > 0:04:48- to his enclosure. - Where it's nice and warm.
0:04:48 > 0:04:52We could put the stethoscope to listen to Albert's heart
0:04:52 > 0:04:54but I suspect he will just curl up.
0:04:54 > 0:04:58If we had to do anything more serious we'd have to sedate him,
0:04:58 > 0:05:01- but we don't have to do that today. - OK.- But we can look at his plate
0:05:01 > 0:05:06we've got our machine here and I can show you the bristles on his neck.
0:05:06 > 0:05:10These are specialised hairs. Do you know what are the hairs for?
0:05:10 > 0:05:13- Is it to sense stuff?- Exactly. Even though he has these plates,
0:05:13 > 0:05:16he has specialised hairs like a cat's whisker,
0:05:16 > 0:05:20so he can feel his way through the bushes when he's looking for food.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24- Is there anything else you need to check today?- We're going to give
0:05:24 > 0:05:28- Albert a microchip.- Have you ever seen that before?- Never!
0:05:28 > 0:05:30Let me explain...
0:05:30 > 0:05:34The microchip is tiny, about the size of a grain of rice
0:05:34 > 0:05:36and contains a unique number.
0:05:36 > 0:05:40It's injected under the skin of the animal and sits there safely.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43It doesn't hurt them and, once the chip is in place,
0:05:43 > 0:05:45it can be checked with a scanner.
0:05:45 > 0:05:49The microchip number is stored in a computer system along with
0:05:49 > 0:05:53each animal's owners' information. Microchipping is very important
0:05:53 > 0:05:58because it means each animal can be identified if lost or sick.
0:06:02 > 0:06:06Firstly, we've got to prepare the area so we put some surgical spirit
0:06:06 > 0:06:10on a little bit of cotton wool and we have to clean along the back
0:06:10 > 0:06:13of his neck in between the plates where there's skin.
0:06:13 > 0:06:17Then we're going to check his microchip to make sure this
0:06:17 > 0:06:21- has a number.- And that's an individual code only for Albert.
0:06:21 > 0:06:25That's right and only Albert will have this number. So...
0:06:25 > 0:06:27That's it. There we go. Good boy.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29There you go. That's him.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32Would you like to do it Austin?
0:06:32 > 0:06:35- There you go.- Perfect. - And that's his number.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38You've done amazingly well, Albert. Who's next, Austin?
0:06:38 > 0:06:42- The baby meerkat.- This is going to be good!- How exciting.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45Right, Albert, get you back and we can get the meerkats in.
0:06:45 > 0:06:49Neil, we've got you here as an extra pair of hands to help.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52They're wiggly little things, so I'll hold it and Shona will
0:06:52 > 0:06:56insert the microchip and then we'll give them a health check.
0:06:56 > 0:07:00- They're going to be so cute! How many meerkats have you got?- 13.
0:07:00 > 0:07:04That's brilliant because meerkats are sociable animals that live in
0:07:04 > 0:07:08groups known as mobs and clans, which are led by a dominant female.
0:07:08 > 0:07:12These guys are a few months old, so we can microchip them?
0:07:12 > 0:07:16Yes, we can only microchip an animal that's over a certain weight.
0:07:16 > 0:07:18Right, let's begin the task.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21Vet Shona carefully injects the microchip under the baby
0:07:21 > 0:07:25- meerkat's skin and then gives it a test.- There we go, all done.
0:07:25 > 0:07:27Great, microchip done.
0:07:27 > 0:07:31So, this is similar to Albert except a bit more wriggly.
0:07:31 > 0:07:35- And easier to put in as well.- Now she checks if it's a boy or a girl.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38- Male.- I think so. - So that's a boy?- This is a boy.
0:07:38 > 0:07:42Vet Shona uses a special tool called a stethoscope to listen to
0:07:42 > 0:07:46the baby meerkat's heart. Are you checking the heart rate?
0:07:46 > 0:07:49Yes. They haven't been examined or handled before.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52- Great, pop that one back in. - Remember who's who.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55- Have you got names for them? - There's too many to name.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58I think Rory would be a great name for a meerkat!
0:07:58 > 0:08:00- Maybe we've got a Ferne here! - Who knows?
0:08:00 > 0:08:04- There we go.- Did very well there. That was really good.
0:08:04 > 0:08:08I try to be gentle. There we go. That's it. Excellent.
0:08:08 > 0:08:12- Microchip's in, perfect.- Oh, my word. You're a right wriggle-lump!
0:08:12 > 0:08:16- Very noisy! All good?- That looks good, yes, very good.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19And are you going to check the sex as well, to see
0:08:19 > 0:08:23- if it's a boy or a girl?- Oh, a little boy.- So it's not Ferne!
0:08:23 > 0:08:27- No! Two Rorys.- Two Rorys, great choice of name!
0:08:27 > 0:08:30- Well, Austin, how do you think they did?- Really good.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33They were wriggly, but they were very good.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36While we get these guys ready to go back to their mums,
0:08:36 > 0:08:39let's see who else Shona's been helping today.
0:08:42 > 0:08:46Here at the zoo, there are lots of potential patients for vet
0:08:46 > 0:08:48Shona to see today.
0:08:48 > 0:08:52But her first appointment is with these fruit bats.
0:08:52 > 0:08:56Vet Shona puts a special ring on their leg.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58Just like a microchip,
0:08:58 > 0:09:02this is another way for the zoo to tell each fruit bat apart.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05Next up is Bluey the blue-tongued skink.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08Using this ultrasound machine,
0:09:08 > 0:09:12Shona is able to listen to Bluey the skink's heart.
0:09:12 > 0:09:13All sounds good.
0:09:13 > 0:09:17Austin, it's been awesome meeting you and some of the amazing
0:09:17 > 0:09:21animals you've got here at the zoo, including this stick insect.
0:09:21 > 0:09:25I'm looking forward to coming back soon and seeing Albert
0:09:25 > 0:09:29- and the meerkats to find out how they're doing. Is that cool?- Sure!
0:09:29 > 0:09:31I wonder what Ferne's been up to?
0:09:37 > 0:09:39Here at this zoo near Winchester,
0:09:39 > 0:09:42there are lots of animals to look after.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45Today, vet Justine is going to introduce me to one of them.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47Come on!
0:09:50 > 0:09:53This is Denny and he's a baby white-faced saki monkey.
0:09:53 > 0:09:57We're checking him over for the first time to have a close-up look
0:09:57 > 0:10:01at him and we're going to microchip him so we can tell who he is in the
0:10:01 > 0:10:03- future if he ever leaves here.- Perfect.
0:10:03 > 0:10:07Denny has been given some medicine called anaesthetic to make him
0:10:07 > 0:10:10sleepy so Justine can check him over.
0:10:10 > 0:10:12So I'm going to have a listen to his heart.
0:10:12 > 0:10:16I'm checking that it's beating regularly with the anaesthetic.
0:10:16 > 0:10:21I'm checking there's no problems, so it's not going too fast or too slow.
0:10:21 > 0:10:25It would be very unusual because he's such a baby
0:10:25 > 0:10:28but just to make sure everything's normal.
0:10:28 > 0:10:30And then we'll check his hands.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33Saki monkeys like Denny come from South America.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37These long fingers help them to climb through the tree tops.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40And this tail, would they use that then to help them climb
0:10:40 > 0:10:44- and hang onto branches? - Absolutely and for balance as well.
0:10:44 > 0:10:48So, I'm feeling his tummy to check that there's no lumps and bumps that
0:10:48 > 0:10:51shouldn't be there and it feels really good.
0:10:51 > 0:10:53Great. And how old is he?
0:10:53 > 0:10:57So he's about eight months now, so not quite a year old,
0:10:57 > 0:11:00so still very young, so he's still with his mum and dad,
0:11:00 > 0:11:03although he's feeding from her less these days.
0:11:03 > 0:11:07So we'll have a look at his eyes, just that they're nice
0:11:07 > 0:11:11and looking normal, that there's no problems there and his nose
0:11:11 > 0:11:15is clear and look at those baby teeth, all lovely and clean.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18- Yeah.- So, I'm just preparing his microchip now.
0:11:18 > 0:11:22- This is just a special chip that gives them a number.- Exactly.
0:11:22 > 0:11:26Then there's lots of information available on them, so who he is,
0:11:26 > 0:11:28where he's from, when he was born.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30That links back to his records at the zoo.
0:11:30 > 0:11:35We just pop this in the scruff, like you would with a puppy or kitten.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38If we can get through his lovely coat! He's got a beautiful coat.
0:11:38 > 0:11:42And then when we scan him, the number comes up straight away
0:11:42 > 0:11:45- so we know it's him. - So that's Denny's ID.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48And we'll just finish off by weighing him as well, so...
0:11:48 > 0:11:53- Come on, Denny. - Thank you. 1.05 kilos.
0:11:53 > 0:11:57As a male, he's probably going to get a lot more bulky.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00When he was born, Denny had a little brown face,
0:12:00 > 0:12:03but around six weeks in, he started getting these white cheeks
0:12:03 > 0:12:07and that's how you can tell the difference between boys and girls
0:12:07 > 0:12:11and as he gets bigger, his cheeks are going to get even bigger, too.
0:12:11 > 0:12:15- He's a fantastic monkey. - Yeah!- Well done, Denny.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18We'll pop him back into his box and then we just keep an eye on him
0:12:18 > 0:12:22- while he's waking up.- This has been amazing and it's been wonderful
0:12:22 > 0:12:27finding out the work that you do to check on saki monkeys like Denny.
0:12:27 > 0:12:31Thank you very much for letting me see it. Once Denny wakes up, he can
0:12:31 > 0:12:35go back to playing with his friends and family in the trees.
0:12:37 > 0:12:41Not long ago, I met Austin, his dad Neil and some of the amazing
0:12:41 > 0:12:45animals they look after the zoo. Now, I'm back to see how Albert
0:12:45 > 0:12:48the armadillo and the meerkats are getting on.
0:12:50 > 0:12:53Austin, it's so good to see you again
0:12:53 > 0:12:56and brilliant to see this little guy as well, he's so cute!
0:12:56 > 0:13:00- How are the meerkats doing?- Good. - All fine since they've had the
0:13:00 > 0:13:04- microchips?- Yes.- What about Albert here?- Just been running around.
0:13:04 > 0:13:08That's brilliant. I think we should let him run around because he's
0:13:08 > 0:13:13- keen to get down there, isn't he? - Yeah.- I'll pop him down.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16- He's quite fast!- Yeah!
0:13:16 > 0:13:19Austin, I've had a great time meeting this little guy,
0:13:19 > 0:13:21all the animals here and you as well.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24- Thanks very much for having me. - You're welcome.
0:13:24 > 0:13:28I hope you've had fun finding out all about Albert the armadillo
0:13:28 > 0:13:31- and the meerkats here as well. - See you next time for more
0:13:31 > 0:13:34- Ferne And Rory's Vet Tales. - BOTH:- Bye!
0:13:41 > 0:13:45# Ferne and Rory telling you the story of some poorly pets
0:13:45 > 0:13:50# We will take them, show you how to make them better at the vets
0:13:50 > 0:13:55# Vet tales These are our vet tales
0:13:55 > 0:13:59# Vet tales Ferne And Rory's Vet Tales. #