Episode 9 Junior Vets on Call

Pets, wildlife and farm animals across the UK are in trouble.

But don't worry, because coming to the rescue are today's team of...

Today, a big cat...

Two VERY big cats...

And... Hello, welcome to the animal gym, how can I help you?

DOG BARKS

Oh, I'm ready.

This is going to be a day of heavy-duty keep fit vetting.

Oh, yeah, it's going to be a tough day!

I'm going to need junior vets

that are ready to push these pets to the peak

of their physical condition.

Well, junior vets? Where are you?

BOTH: Junior vet, standing by.

If we meet any Gaelic-speaking animals, then I'll be really useful.

I'm scared of... Aah!

Now, Eilidh, what was that about? Explain.

SHE SPEAKS GAELIC

-You what?

-I'm fluent in Scottish Gaelic.

Oh, right. I generally just eat it.

Junior vets, let's go.

Well, this place is all about good eating and exercise.

We're getting physical at the brand-new

Inglis Healthy Pet Centre in Fife.

Toby Wilson?

Ah, here's the junior vets' first patient.

Toby the tubby terrier.

What can you notice about Toby straightaway?

Does he look like how you'd expect a normal Westie to look like?

-No.

-No, he's a bit overweight.

He was a very cute and funny little dog.

Well, big dog!

Before Mrs Wilson spoilt him with a few too many treats,

our Toby had a really horrible time with previous owners.

He was kept in a cage for 4½ years, and wasn't let out at all,

so he had no muscles.

No sense of play.

He was very depressed...

And when he was rescued, he was in a very bad way.

I felt really sorry for him when, like, the way that he was treated.

Yeah, why would somebody want to do that to a pet?

Oh, no. It's the moment Toby must dread.

It's not the walk of shame, Toby, it's not the walk of shame.

The weigh-in.

How heavy is Toby?

13.80.

When we weighed Toby, he was, like, really heavy.

He was four kilos overweight.

Whoa, four kilos! Over!

That's like a bag of dog biscuits.

Hey, don't mention dog biscuits.

Seriously, though, an overweight dog can develop life-threatening

health problems. They can.

I really wanted to help Toby - he needed to lose weight,

and if he's not going to lose weight,

then he's going to get very ill,

-so...

-He probably needed less treats, more exercise.

More exercise? Well, allow me to introduce the hydro tank.

It's OK!

Basically, it's a doggie running machine thing...

Press the green button in the middle.

..underwater! Ha, good luck, Toby!

We ain't talking fluffy kittens here.

Everything here has sharp teeth, pointy beaks and big claws!

I'm going to need some junior vet help.

BOTH: Junior vet, standing by.

I love the outdoors and I don't mind getting my hands dirty.

I can't have pets at home, but I really want some animal experiences.

You guys better go first, anyway.

I'll follow.

If it's British and it's wild, you'll find it here.

Wild Wood in Kent is crammed full to the brim with species that live

or once lived in the UK.

So, what big beasts have keeper Vicky

and vet Laura got for Kathleen and Alfie?

Hiya, guys.

Hello. Junior vets, we have here a water vole.

What? He's not that big.

But these little water voles are also known as water rats,

and I don't like rats.

I had not really ever heard of a water vole,

-or seen one.

-No, I've seen pictures of them,

but I've never really seen them up close, so it was really good.

I mean, the fact it's got slightly different ears doesn't do it for me.

It's still too similar to a rat.

They look cuter than a rat, though.

So why do Vicky and the team think these guys are so special?

So, water voles have reduced in numbers by 90% in Britain.

It means they're Britain's fastest declining mammal.

And because of this, we now have to reintroduce them into local places.

Oh, so the problem is that loads of other animals

like to eat water voles.

The rotters! And without places like this,

they might not be around much longer.

OK, I feel sorry for them now.

Our aim is to release them back into the wild,

so what we need to do is to make sure they have the biggest chance of

surviving and thriving is make sure that they're all fit and healthy.

So these water voles need junior vetting

before they can go back to the wild.

That stethoscope must look massive to a water vole.

What will be junior vets be listening out for?

So, we want it to be a nice stable rhythm.

-How quick is it going?

-Quite fast.

I was quite surprised how fast the water vole's heartbeat was.

Yeah. Especially how it was so small,

you wouldn't have thought it would have gone that fast.

It is going really quite fast, but we're all in a normal rhythm,

aren't we? We haven't got any funny beats or anything like that,

and the chest sounds nice and clear, doesn't it?

Good start. And there's another water vole that needs vetting.

But first, you've got to catch him using a very fancy piece

of hi-tech kit.

An old crisp tube.

There he is.

Who's going to try and get Mr Vole into the tube?

-OK.

-Go for it.

I think you was, like, really brave when you went straight into it.

There we go, he's in.

I think, like, it was more scared of me and the tube than I was of it.

Oh, definitely, yeah.

Right, what's next, Lara?

Have any of you seen anything like this before?

Do you have pets at home?

Yeah, I've got a cat, and it's...

You put it on the back of their neck so it stops fleas.

Yeah, so we want to part the fur and then get it right on the skin,

so that it can be absorbed into the body and around the bloodstream.

Just do it nice and quickly.

And then we can pop him back.

Good work, Alfie.

There'll be no fleas on this fella - or any other nasty bugs.

So this is fantastic, this does your fleas, most of your worms,

and your mites. There we go, beautiful.

What does he weigh, junior vets?

230.

Which is a really good weight for the water vole,

which means he's all fit and healthy for release.

Well done.

We were sort of getting it prepared to go back to the wild.

-Yeah.

-And so it was definitely making a big difference to its life.

Definitely, yeah.

One fit and healthy water vole, vetted.

-Ready...

-Go.

-Steady, and go.

In Fife, Eilidh and Emily are

putting Toby the overweight Westie through his paces.

This way, Toby.

Check out doggy hydrotherapy.

This underwater treadmill is making

Toby work twice as hard as he would do walking normally.

Toby was really cute when he was in the tank,

because he was just going like that.

Toby's four kilos overweight.

Hydro nurse Kayleigh knows if that isn't sorted,

he could run into serious trouble.

So when they're overweight, they can get a lot of problems,

health problems, so it can affect their heart,

it can affect their joints when they get older.

Oh, we don't want that!

The junior vets and nurse Louise need to make sure Toby's properly

walking the walk.

We don't want to see him doing short little steps.

We want to see him stretching his legs right back,

to make sure that he's walking nice and straight.

He's doing good. His legs are moving right back,

and he's putting them up and down right.

-He's placing them nicely, isn't he?

-Yeah.

Toby's owner, Mrs Wilson, can relax.

He's loving this now.

When he first got in, he was all, like, tired and miserable.

Mm-hm. And then when he got into the, like, the zone, he was, like,

"Speed it up, somebody, I want to run!"

Toby's workout is done, and the boss is back.

Right, junior vets, how's Toby got on?

Good.

He was taking the right strides to make sure that he was actually

losing the fat that he's put on, and he's done really well.

OK. Right, Eilidh, you'd better open the gate

so we can let him out, then.

-The water!

-Oh, no, we have to let the water out first!

That's right! Well reminded! Well done, junior vets!

Nice one, Eilidh.

Without our junior vets, everyone could have got very wet.

Strawberry lemonade.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

And Toby is now a strawberry-lemonade-smelling...

-Doing great.

-..blow-dried...

..worked-out Westie.

Ha! No pain, no gain, Toby.

One cute dog...vetted.

Now, you lot love giving us a mental workout

-with your animal truth-seeking.

-Yep.

And here's a King Kong-er of a question.

Take it away, Naima.

I would like to know if it's true

that gorillas can catch a cold and other

viruses from humans.

Get this, Naima. It's true!

Gorillas and other primates, like monkeys and chimps,

can catch human diseases, and we can catch stuff from them, too.

But don't worry. Colds can't pass between people and regular pets -

although you still shouldn't sneeze on your dog!

-It's not nice.

-Achoo!

Or on your friends.

At the wild animal Park in Kent,

junior vets Kathleen and Alfie are about to meet a couple of cute cats.

Doesn't sound too wild to me.

GROWLING

Whoa! Spoke too soon.

Sisters Cara and Shria are Eurasian lynx,

the third largest predator in Europe.

A little bit bigger than your cat, I imagine?

Yeah. Quite a bit bigger.

Lynx haven't been wild in this country for over 1,000 years,

but Cara and Shria could become part of a breeding programme that might

help see these big cats roaming our woodlands once more.

Definitely our most stunning patient.

Definitely our most dangerous patient, as well.

Don't worry, junior vets, lynx can be trained,

so it's easier for vets to treat them when they're sick.

And you're going to be helping Lloyd

with a new routine for Cara and Shria.

This is what we use to bring the lynx to what we want them to do.

Once the lynx touch the target stick with their nose,

we then click on the clicker here.

-CLICK

-Like that.

If the lynx can follow these commands,

it will mean the vets can examine them or give them medicine.

Once we click, we move the target stick away from the fence,

and replace it with the treat.

But I'm really not sure about bringing these hungry girls closer.

Now, I actually prefer my fingers on the end of my hands,

rather than in there with the lynx.

-Me too.

-Yeah.

Our fingers look safe.

Cara and Shria seemed to be full up!

Which doesn't help the training.

Shria seems confident, I thought.

The two of them weren't, like, interested in the meat or anything.

But they're a wild animal so you don't really know

what they're going to do, you can't control them.

Right. We need a change of strategy.

If the lynx won't come to us, we're going to have to go to the lynx.

And check out Kathleen boldly going into the big cat's den.

Yet again, you went straight in, didn't you?

Once her nose touches the ball, you push your thumb down on the clicker.

-Mm-hm.

-And replace it with the meat.

-CLICK

-Like that.

-You ready to give it a go?

-Mm-hm.

Now, the other hand.

-Use the target.

-Look at that!

Kathleen didn't even flinch.

It was just like treating a bigger version than my pet cat.

Bigger? You mean huge!

-Now, click it.

-CLICK

And then replace it with the meat.

Expertly done, Kathleen, but this big kitty doesn't want to know.

Alfie, you're up.

Bit nervous, but I'm going to be all right.

Don't think she seems to be bothered about it.

I didn't really have any better luck, either.

Well, for the record, mate, I still think you were very brave.

Well, unfortunately that didn't go as planned, with the training,

but the key thing to remember is

this is only their third attempt at the training.

You need to keep saying over and over again that it's not always

-going to work.

-That's the spirit, junior vets!

Just the way it goes sometimes, when you work on the wild side.

OK. What have we got here?

Looks like another portly patient heading to see Eilidh and Emily

at Adam's pet gym.

Now, can you tell us a bit about Cassie?

Cassie is a golden lab, she's a bit overweight.

Oh, Cassie, that is one wobbly walk.

No wonder owner Jan's a bit worried.

Can you see the way she's walking now?

Do you think she's walking with that back leg -

is she walking nice and straight or walking a bit...?

-She was walking a bit...

-Her back legs were a little bit, like...

-Wonky.

-..bent. Well, they were bent...

It was like this.

BOTH: Doot, doot, doot, doot.

THEY LAUGH

That's it, that's it.

So, Labradors are particularly prone to having hip problems, OK?

So it's really important that we can get weight off her.

Best way to find out what's happening with a pet, junior vets?

Ask the right questions.

What changes have you made from the diet?

She doesn't get as much food in the morning and night-time any more,

and treats are really cut right down.

I would say, instead of treats,

maybe pat her on the head and tell her how good she was and that.

Instead of treats, just because that would take off some of the fat.

Nice tip, Emily!

She's keeping you clean, there, Eilidh, hey?

Cassie was such a character.

A new receptionist!

LAUGHTER

"What can I do for you today?!"

-Whee!

-Whee!

"Hello, I'm here, I'm here, look at me, look at me,

"I'm coming for my checkup!"

-"And I want a treat!"

-"Yeah, give me treats, give me treats!"

No, Cassie, you can't work reception!

You know where you're going, girl.

Good girl. Sit. Sit.

-Cassie.

-Cassie.

-You can't dodge those scales here at Furry Fit Club.

-Cassie.

-Cassie.

-Sit.

-And sit.

-Sit.

-Sit.

-Sit.

-Sit, girl.

-Come on, Nurse Louise, let's have those numbers.

Well, the last time that Cassie came in, she was over 40kg.

She should weigh around 30kg.

Oooh. Not good.

-So she is, like, ten off. That's...

-Ten off.

So we'll see today if she's actually been sticking to her diet.

Oh. 37.85.

So, she's been sticking to it all right.

But Cassie still has weight to lose, so wet suits on, junior vets.

You're going in the hydro tank...

..for the doggy paddle.

You ready for some water?

OK. Yep.

It's really warm!

We were having loads of fun, but at the same time

helping Cassie lose weight.

-So...

-BOTH: Win-win!

It's going to help her with her hips when she gets a bit older.

It prevents... If she loses weight,

it it'll help prevent any heart problems.

And it can also help prevent diabetes.

Cassie can even do proper swimming in this tank, and, junior vets,

this is why you're in there with her.

This is her floating.

She needs a lot of encouragement.

And we did the floating dog.

Yay!

The last time she done this, when she was swimming,

she went to sleep.

She was just so, so relaxed.

Can't have a snooze again, Cassie!

Go on, Cassie!

-This is the gym!

-Good girl!

-Go get them, Cassie.

-That's more like it!

We ended up getting her swimming instead of just doing the float.

Good work, Cassie. Keep it up and those kilos will fall right off.

Oh, no, I think I know what's coming.

That's one healthier, drier Labrador.

Vetted.

Barker needs his exercise, too.

A quick spin, then he treats us to another one of your animal-y videos.

Ready? One, two, a-one, two, three, four!

-# Doggy, lift your tail up!

-Doggy, lift your tail up!

# Doggie, Doggie, Doggie, Doggie Doggie, lift your tail up

# Doggy, lift your tail up! Doggy, lift your tail up!

# Doggy, lift your tail up and show us what you've got. #

This is Simon.

Simon has a beautiful spaniel called Millie.

Now, Millie really misses Mum when she's at work,

and loves to say hello when she comes home.

"Good day at work?"

"Yes, thanks."

-"You work too hard, you need to spend more time at home."

-"Oh."

"Hey, this is my time! Wait your turn."

"I miss you, you know?"

Joking aside, that is one affectionate dog

-you've got there, Simon.

-Yup, lovely.

There are no animal cuddles for Kathleen and Alfie

down in the Wildwood.

They're about to help a creature so shy you hardly ever see them.

Oh, there's one. And there's Lara, the vet, who's not shy.

-Hi, Lara.

-Hi, junior vets.

What we have behind us today are pine martens.

It was like another patient that I had never heard of or seen.

Yeah, and it was really good to work with an animal that's kind of rare.

This is Whisper.

Today, her son needs to move to a home of his own.

Now he's fully grown, if they stayed together,

they might end up fighting,

and keeping pine martens healthy and safe is really important.

These pine martens are also in decline, so we're quite concerned,

and that's why breeding is really important.

Cute as they look, pine martens have razor-sharp teeth,

and they're top hunters - they even eat squirrels.

Bit kind of scared at the moment, with the size of these gloves.

I think they're going to be well vicious.

I'm up for the challenge.

Well, the first challenge is actually finding Whisper and Junior.

-Can't see them anywhere.

-I can't, either.

Here, piney-piney!

What about that box?

I think you're right, that they might be in there.

I think they're in the other box.

I know for sure that pine martens are very good hiders.

I wouldn't like to play hide-and-seek with them.

Hide-and-seek?! I reckon that's the pine martens' favourite game.

Down there, there's one of them down there.

Well spotted, Alfie.

Looks like both mum and son are in there.

Now all you have to do is make sure you re-home the right one.

Kathleen, could you please hold down the net behind me?

Close up, they were cute,

but then they could be vicious when they wanted to.

And that's why we had to use the gloves.

See, now, the only thing with animals and that,

they don't realise that you're trying to help them,

so they try and get out of a position

that you're trying to help them in.

Wow, Alfie, that's proper vet speak, that is.

Just time to inject Junior with a microchip containing his own special

code so he can always be identified.

So we've got the chip, it matches up with what we want -

ending at 832.

They can't mess about getting him into his new home.

The stress could be dangerous for the little fella.

I wouldn't have thought the net was going to hold, because if he, like,

used his claws or his teeth, I thought it might have ripped!

Ready for the big release?

Whoa! How fast are pine martens?!

Junior's off to explore.

Happened pretty quickly.

"See you later, Mum!

"This place is great!"

You guys did absolutely fantastically.

"Yeah, thanks, guys."

-Was that exciting?

-My heart was pounding really fast.

So that's one pine marten safe and sound in his new home.

Vetted.

Right, want to see a really big cat?

Eilidh and Emily have one final appointment at the fitness centre.

-Fudge!

-Fudgey!

-Fudge!

Fudge!

Girls, if he wants to chill with me, he wants to chill with me!

Mm. Fudge isn't really one for timekeeping.

-But we have to get him through!

-Yeah!

Hey, hey, you can't force him.

-I mean, me and him chilled out...

-Go through!

-..watching some fish.

He looked so heavy.

Might be a two-junior-vet job.

I don't know how they managed to lift him.

No, I don't know.

Fudge is a Maine Coon cat, and they're biggies anyway.

Good, careful, that's it. OK.

But they're not normally this big.

Impressive powerlifting, girls.

He's got lots of fat in that tummy.

So we're all checking out his heart,

which is more like a drum and bass track.

And it's like... Tsk-tsk, tsk-tsk.

Tsk-tsk, tsk-tsk.

So his heart rate was well over 100, and you're right -

it's really hard to count.

And that's, like, a common thing for the big cat?

Yes.

Like overweight dogs,

fat cats aren't likely to live as long as healthier ones.

The junior vets need to find out all they can from owner Sharon.

Whenever Fudge is outside,

does he normally, like, run around or does he,

like, just lie there in the sun?

He likes to sunbathe, he likes to lie in the garden.

We try and get him to run up and down the stairs quite a lot

with a bit of string to try and get him to exercise more,

but he's quite a lazy cat, he likes to just lie and lounge.

So Emily and Eilidh are now facing the ultimate pet fit club challenge.

Fudge, up the stairs!

-Get Fudge...

-Who's this?

..to go up the stairs.

That was funny! We had, like, the little bird, and then, like,

he wouldn't go up.

Right, Fudge, come on!

-Fudge!

-You can't just lie here.

-Yeah!

-Go up the steps!

But it didn't work.

I think that we might have to carry him up,

I doubt we're going to get him...

I reckon that's cheating if you carry him up the stairs.

So Fudge is not going to budge.

What do we think, is the plan going forward?

You should try and get him to do more exercise,

and keep going with the diet.

But we've seen how getting Fudge to exercise is pretty hard work,

so have you got any suggestions on how she can...

Got it, Adam! Personal trainer!

Personal trainer! Are you offering?!

Glad you think I'm fit enough to be able to do the job.

You're afraid of cats.

-Exactly.

-That's... That's like a minor...inconvenience!

Anyway, we think we've cracked the steps challenge.

Finally! Put the basket at the top...

-Yeah!

-..at the top of the steps.

The wonderful basket!

And he ran!

Oh, he's not lazy at all!

Yay!

Ha! All Fudge needed was an escape route from pet gym.

Bye, Fudge!

One cuddly cat...

vetted.

Junior vets, you've all pulled your weight today,

and done a brilliant job.

-Quite fast.

-Come on, Cassie!

My heart was pounding!

Oh, I tell you what, junior vets, I mean, if it worked for Toby,

it's definitely going to work for us, isn't it?!

Ha-ha-ha! Actually, how do we stop this thing?

Where's the controls?

Best of luck, Inel!

This lot were certainly in luck today.

Job done! All vetted!

Fancy getting vetting yourself?

Well, head to the CBBC website right now and start earning hearts

and points by helping the animals that need you.