0:00:02 > 0:00:05Coming up... Homeless hound Jessie faces life-changing surgery.
0:00:08 > 0:00:12Kira the mare has a heart problem that needs investigating.
0:00:12 > 0:00:16And Gandalf the falcon has urgent surgery on his lumpy foot.
0:00:21 > 0:00:25When pets are poorly, wildlife gets wounded or farm animals feel unwell,
0:00:25 > 0:00:27they need top vet help.
0:00:29 > 0:00:31The really lucky ones come here,
0:00:31 > 0:00:35to Edinburgh University's amazing super-high-tech vet school.
0:00:41 > 0:00:44And now, six kids chosen from one thousand
0:00:44 > 0:00:47have become the first ever children allowed to enrol here...
0:00:49 > 0:00:50I'm all ready.
0:00:50 > 0:00:54..and work alongside the school's top vets.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57Who wants to take this cow's urine?
0:00:57 > 0:01:00They're facing an intense training programme...
0:01:00 > 0:01:03- Have you done that anaesthetic before?- What is this? What's that?
0:01:03 > 0:01:07..and are being pushed to the limit at animal hospitals, vet practices,
0:01:07 > 0:01:11wildlife parks and working farms.
0:01:11 > 0:01:12I'm Paul Manktelow.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15It took me five hard years to train to be a vet,
0:01:15 > 0:01:20but this lot have only weeks to show me what they're made of.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23My junior vets have hardly been around animals before.
0:01:23 > 0:01:24That's so cool.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27Now they're facing real heavy duty vet work.
0:01:27 > 0:01:28SHEEP BLEAT
0:01:28 > 0:01:32It's like everything's just so...bonkers.
0:01:34 > 0:01:36- That is amazing.- That's cool.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38Have they got the stomach to succeed?
0:01:38 > 0:01:40I feel like a real vet.
0:01:40 > 0:01:44And can they stay calm under extreme pressure?
0:01:44 > 0:01:45SHE LAUGHS
0:01:45 > 0:01:48Six raw recruits.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53But I can only choose...
0:01:54 > 0:01:55..one winner.
0:01:55 > 0:02:03The first ever junior vet to win the prestigious head vet title is...
0:02:14 > 0:02:18Day three, and my junior vets are taking real vet work
0:02:18 > 0:02:20in their stride.
0:02:20 > 0:02:22Welcome back to vet school.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24Your working pairs are...
0:02:25 > 0:02:28Lauren and Amblessed.
0:02:28 > 0:02:29Will and Saira.
0:02:29 > 0:02:31Sam and Morgan.
0:02:31 > 0:02:32Let's get down to business.
0:02:32 > 0:02:37Today my junior vets will be facing up to a hard day's work
0:02:37 > 0:02:42helping top professionals here at vet school and at a safari park.
0:02:43 > 0:02:45I'll be getting regular progress reports,
0:02:45 > 0:02:48and I'll only reward the very best junior vets
0:02:48 > 0:02:50with today's vital vet work award,
0:02:50 > 0:02:54which counts towards my final decision - who to name as head vet.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57So how's the competition shaping up?
0:02:58 > 0:03:01Junior vet, Morgan, is performing well,
0:03:01 > 0:03:03but hasn't managed any wins yet.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06He's shown he has a keen eye...
0:03:06 > 0:03:08- Look at that. - ..and a steady hand.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11But he does need to prove to me he can concentrate
0:03:11 > 0:03:15across a full working day if he wants to win a vital vet work award.
0:03:16 > 0:03:18Saira, on the other hand, can't stop winning,
0:03:18 > 0:03:22even though she's got very little animal experience.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27But can her impressive performance continue today?
0:03:27 > 0:03:30She arrived at vet school with a long-term fear of dogs,
0:03:30 > 0:03:34and her new-found confidence is about to be put to the test.
0:03:42 > 0:03:46This is Jessie, a three-year-old Staffie cross.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49She's a stray, and was found wandering the streets of Edinburgh
0:03:49 > 0:03:50all on her own.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54Today, she faces an important operation.
0:03:54 > 0:03:55She's going to be spayed,
0:03:55 > 0:03:58which will prevent her having unwanted puppies,
0:03:58 > 0:04:00and will hopefully help her find a new home.
0:04:02 > 0:04:04Soft tissue surgeon Ana Marques
0:04:04 > 0:04:08will be working with junior vets Will and Saira.
0:04:08 > 0:04:09This is a big day for Saira.
0:04:09 > 0:04:12Her anxiety about dogs goes very deep,
0:04:12 > 0:04:14and she is nervous about meeting Jessie.
0:04:14 > 0:04:15I don't really like dogs,
0:04:15 > 0:04:18because I've had a bad experience with them before in the past,
0:04:18 > 0:04:20and I think I've built a fear of them inside,
0:04:20 > 0:04:22coming up and crawling in your face.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25I think the key thing is when you're approaching a dog,
0:04:25 > 0:04:26you stay really calm.
0:04:26 > 0:04:28If you're nervous, they'll feel nervous,
0:04:28 > 0:04:31- so that's the key thing today, all right?- Yeah.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34Hopefully, Saira's ready to face her fears and say hello to Jessie.
0:04:34 > 0:04:36- Hi, Ana.- Hi, Paul. Good morning.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39Would you like to meet Jessie?
0:04:39 > 0:04:40Yeah.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43Come on, darling.
0:04:45 > 0:04:51Jessie couldn't be friendlier. She's keen to meet the whole team.
0:04:51 > 0:04:52Good girl.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56And Saira is staying put and staying calm.
0:04:56 > 0:05:01She just wanted to play, really, but I still was a little bit unsure.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05How are you feeling, Saira?
0:05:05 > 0:05:08- OK now.- Are you OK, yeah? You feel better now.
0:05:08 > 0:05:10- Yeah.- She's nice and friendly, isn't she? Yeah.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13With Saira and Jessie now best of friends,
0:05:13 > 0:05:16the junior vets head for the small animal theatre
0:05:16 > 0:05:19to get Jessie ready for her operation.
0:05:21 > 0:05:25First, she's anaesthetised, so she's unconscious during the op.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29Will, do you want to tie that tube in for us?
0:05:29 > 0:05:30Will then connects a tube
0:05:30 > 0:05:33that will pump anaesthetic gas and oxygen into her lungs
0:05:33 > 0:05:35throughout her surgery.
0:05:35 > 0:05:37Saira has to attach the devices,
0:05:37 > 0:05:40which will allow the team to check on Jessie's heart rate
0:05:40 > 0:05:42and health during the operation.
0:05:42 > 0:05:43I was really worried for Jessie,
0:05:43 > 0:05:47because I thought that if it went wrong, she might not make it.
0:05:47 > 0:05:48The other thing we can do is pass down -
0:05:48 > 0:05:51this is called an oesophageal stethoscope.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54So it goes down her food pipe, and lies just next to her heart
0:05:54 > 0:05:57in the middle of her chest so that we can have a listen to this,
0:05:57 > 0:05:59and hear her heart beating through this.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02Saira's given the job of putting the special internal stethoscope
0:06:02 > 0:06:05down Jessie's throat and inside her chest.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07Right, so if you want to pass it down.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10- If you just go from there... - So there?- Yeah.
0:06:10 > 0:06:11That's good.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13What happens if you aim it wrong?
0:06:13 > 0:06:15It just won't go, that's all.
0:06:15 > 0:06:17Before the operation can go ahead,
0:06:17 > 0:06:21Saira must check that the scope is positioned correctly.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23- Yeah.- Do you hear it beating? Yeah?
0:06:23 > 0:06:25So that's in the right place. That's perfect.
0:06:25 > 0:06:27Do you want to listen, Will?
0:06:27 > 0:06:30So we're really happy - good heart rate, nice pulses,
0:06:30 > 0:06:33and she's well oxygenated. So we're sorted.
0:06:33 > 0:06:37Jessie's heart is fine, and she's ready for surgery.
0:06:37 > 0:06:41But are both my junior vets ready to help her?
0:06:41 > 0:06:44Later, things get tense as Jessie's op gets under way
0:06:44 > 0:06:46with only one junior vet present.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48What I'm going to do, Will,
0:06:48 > 0:06:50is ask you to cut between these two clumps here.
0:06:54 > 0:06:56At the Blair Drummond Safari Park,
0:06:56 > 0:06:59Gandalf the saker falcon is grounded.
0:06:59 > 0:07:03He's usually a star performer at the park's flying displays.
0:07:03 > 0:07:06But today, he needs urgent veterinary attention.
0:07:06 > 0:07:08That's so cool!
0:07:09 > 0:07:11Junior vets Sam and Morgan have arrived
0:07:11 > 0:07:14to help local vet Colin Scott get Gandalf back in action.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17Gandalf.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20Poor Gandalf has a painful-looking growth on his foot,
0:07:20 > 0:07:22and it needs removing.
0:07:22 > 0:07:23When did you spot that?
0:07:23 > 0:07:26I think we noticed it a couple of months ago,
0:07:26 > 0:07:28and as time goes on, it'll start to get bigger.
0:07:28 > 0:07:32And it will interfere with the way his feet move.
0:07:33 > 0:07:37Falcons use their feet to pick up and keep a firm hold on their food.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40If the growth is not removed, Gandalf might struggle to eat.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43The only solution is surgery.
0:07:43 > 0:07:45So here's the lump here.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48Imagine having one of them in between your fingers.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50I've never been this close to a bird before.
0:07:50 > 0:07:54- What do you think of him?- I thought he'd be flying about in your hand,
0:07:54 > 0:07:55but he seems calm.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58- It's because he's got that on. - Because of the hood, exactly.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01When you come face to face with a falcon, it's really strange,
0:08:01 > 0:08:04because people say that they're dangerous, but Gandalf wasn't,
0:08:04 > 0:08:06he was calm.
0:08:06 > 0:08:10- How are you finding it, Sam? - This is amazing, this.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12It's such a great experience.
0:08:12 > 0:08:16Just to have, like, a bird on your hand.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19Surgery is a big deal for a bird.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22It could also mean another big ordeal for Sam.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27He had to sit out his last operation after feeling a bit sick,
0:08:27 > 0:08:31so how will he cope today?
0:08:31 > 0:08:38I was really, really excited, because I wanted to prove to myself
0:08:38 > 0:08:40that I could do an operation,
0:08:40 > 0:08:43and I was really determined to get through it.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46Sam, back in the operating theatre. How are you feeling?
0:08:46 > 0:08:49I think I'm going to feel a bit more confident this time.
0:08:49 > 0:08:51I'm more comfortable with everything,
0:08:51 > 0:08:52so I think I'll do a good job.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55Excellent. Morgan, you've got a really important job today.
0:08:55 > 0:08:57You're monitoring the anaesthetic.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00- Now, are you going to be able to stay focused?- Yeah.
0:09:00 > 0:09:04OK, guys, let's get started. First, Gandalf needs anaesthetic gas
0:09:04 > 0:09:06so he's unconscious throughout his op.
0:09:06 > 0:09:10Morgan needs to concentrate, because he'll be monitoring Gandalf
0:09:10 > 0:09:12while he's anaesthetised during surgery.
0:09:12 > 0:09:16Not enough gas, and Gandalf could wake up in the middle of the op.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18Too much gas, and he wouldn't wake up at all.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23Later, Gandalf's under the knife.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26But will Sam make it through the surgery this time?
0:09:26 > 0:09:27What does it look like?
0:09:27 > 0:09:29Like a pea.
0:09:32 > 0:09:34At the vet school's horse hospital,
0:09:34 > 0:09:37a poorly pony has been brought in for treatment.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41Kira is 21 - a ripe old age for a pony.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43She has recently lost all her energy,
0:09:43 > 0:09:45and doesn't want to be ridden any more.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48Kira has a long-term condition called a heart murmur.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52Her owner, Louise is worried it's making her feel tired and unwell.
0:09:53 > 0:09:58Lauren and Amblessed are teaming up with equine expert John Keen.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03John suspects Kira's heart murmur may have got worse,
0:10:03 > 0:10:06and he wants my junior vets to help him investigate.
0:10:07 > 0:10:11First of all, do you want to see if you can feel the heart there,
0:10:11 > 0:10:13just gently pop that there, and have a wee feel.
0:10:13 > 0:10:15At first, I was a quite nervous,
0:10:15 > 0:10:19because I know some horses can be quite twitchy and scared of humans,
0:10:19 > 0:10:22so they might kick, but Kira was quite a calm horse,
0:10:22 > 0:10:24so that reassured me.
0:10:24 > 0:10:26Do you want to have a go, Lauren, as well?
0:10:26 > 0:10:29I thought, personally, there wasn't something quite right there,
0:10:29 > 0:10:34because it was very irregular - the heartbeat was very irregular.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37Did you hear anything else when you were listening to that?
0:10:37 > 0:10:40- It went, "Huhh-boom."- Did you hear the "huhh," so it went, "Huhh-boom"?
0:10:40 > 0:10:43So that's the murmur that you're hearing there.
0:10:46 > 0:10:48The team's concerned Kira's heart murmur
0:10:48 > 0:10:50has turned into a serious heart problem.
0:10:50 > 0:10:52They'll need to look inside her chest
0:10:52 > 0:10:56with a device called an ultrasound scanner.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59First, Amblessed attaches some sensors.
0:10:59 > 0:11:01Then Lauren clips Kira's hair...
0:11:03 > 0:11:07..so Amblessed can place a probe close to Kira's heart.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09She needs the steadiest of hands.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11Then...
0:11:11 > 0:11:15it slowly reveals live pictures of Kira's beating heart.
0:11:15 > 0:11:16- That is amazing.- That's cool.
0:11:19 > 0:11:24And it also shows the problem with one of her heart valves.
0:11:24 > 0:11:26- Is that a valve there? - And that's a valve there.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29So we've got two valves that we can see in this image here.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32The leaky valve is allowing blood to flow in the wrong direction
0:11:32 > 0:11:34in Kira's heart.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37- Amblessed takes a closer look. - So which is the one that we're...
0:11:37 > 0:11:41So we're particularly interested in this one here on the left.
0:11:42 > 0:11:46Kira's heart could well be the cause of her tiredness.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49John and the team must now investigate this theory.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52I think the next stage is to exercise her,
0:11:52 > 0:11:54look at the heart rhythm during exercise.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00And later, Kira's heart is put to a high-tech test
0:12:00 > 0:12:04as the team move closer to solving her problem.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06Keep an eye on that ECG.
0:12:10 > 0:12:15My junior vets are completing an intensive training programme
0:12:15 > 0:12:17here at vet school.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20And it's here in the training zone where they pick up the skills
0:12:20 > 0:12:23that will help them in real vet work situations.
0:12:23 > 0:12:27For impressive training zone performances,
0:12:27 > 0:12:28I give out vet skills credits,
0:12:28 > 0:12:32which, along with the all-important vital vet work awards,
0:12:32 > 0:12:36will help me decide who will eventually be named head vet.
0:12:36 > 0:12:38And in this training zone session,
0:12:38 > 0:12:41my junior vets are facing a particularly messy challenge.
0:12:41 > 0:12:45If you'd like to lift the lid and reveal today's challenge.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47Ohhh...
0:12:47 > 0:12:51That is disgusting.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53Yep, it's poo.
0:12:53 > 0:12:57All vets need to know what an animal's normal poo, or faeces,
0:12:57 > 0:12:59looks like.
0:12:59 > 0:13:03The colour, smell and texture of poo gives up vital clues to a vet.
0:13:03 > 0:13:05Abnormal poo can mean an animal is unwell.
0:13:06 > 0:13:10So in today's test, my junior vets, working in pairs,
0:13:10 > 0:13:13have got five piles of poo from a local zoo
0:13:13 > 0:13:15that they need to match to specific animals.
0:13:16 > 0:13:20And on hand to help is top horse vet John Keen.
0:13:20 > 0:13:24You need to look at the faeces, you need to examine the faeces,
0:13:24 > 0:13:27and really feel the faeces, and see what's in there.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31OK, junior vets, can you start your challenge now.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34Delving in dung like this can be harmful to humans,
0:13:34 > 0:13:37so it's definitely not something you should try yourself.
0:13:37 > 0:13:40It looks like rabbit poo, but clumped together.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43The teams need to use their brains as well as their hands.
0:13:43 > 0:13:47And thinking about an animal's diet will help my junior vets.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50Look at the hairs. Look...can you see the white hair?
0:13:50 > 0:13:53I think cos it's, like, more grassy, it looks more like an elephant.
0:13:53 > 0:13:55Elephants are vegetarian.
0:13:55 > 0:13:57Good thinking, Sam and Lauren.
0:13:57 > 0:14:02Elephants can eat over 130 kilograms of vegetation every single day!
0:14:02 > 0:14:04And the other junior vets
0:14:04 > 0:14:06are thinking about the animals' diet, too...
0:14:06 > 0:14:10If they both eat grass, the insides look kind of the same.
0:14:10 > 0:14:12..and matching them up to the five pongy piles.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15- Look at all the grass in that. - So shall we say that's deer?
0:14:15 > 0:14:17- Probably, yeah.- Yeah.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20Wrong Morgan and Will... That's zebra poo.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23It's wet, so I think it's the otter.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25Correct!
0:14:25 > 0:14:27Otters have moist, sticky poos.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30- But there's a problem. - Are you not bothered by the smell?
0:14:30 > 0:14:33The dollops of dung are getting right up Morgan's nose.
0:14:33 > 0:14:37If he doesn't focus fast, his team are going to lose this task.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39- I'm going to be sick. - Sure you don't want a feel?
0:14:39 > 0:14:41No, I don't. That's the smelly one.
0:14:41 > 0:14:42MORGAN COUGHS
0:14:42 > 0:14:44Junior vets, you have 20 seconds left,
0:14:44 > 0:14:46this is the last chance to change your minds.
0:14:46 > 0:14:50That's probably the deer, because if you open it up it's really grassy.
0:14:50 > 0:14:51Right again, Amblessed!
0:14:51 > 0:14:53Deer poo it is.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56It's been one smell of a vet school challenge.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00But which pair have made the best dung detectives?
0:15:00 > 0:15:02Full marks for Saira and Amblessed,
0:15:02 > 0:15:03and Sam and Lauren.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05It's an easy call.
0:15:05 > 0:15:09All four win vet skill credits. Well done.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12You can see how YOU get on as a virtual vet
0:15:12 > 0:15:15in the Junior Vets game on the CBBC website.
0:15:15 > 0:15:17And don't forget to look for the special game code
0:15:17 > 0:15:19at the end of today's show.
0:15:27 > 0:15:31Back at Blair Drummond Safari Park,
0:15:31 > 0:15:33Sam and Morgan are preparing to operate on Gandalf,
0:15:33 > 0:15:37a nine-year-old saker falcon with a worrying lump on his foot.
0:15:37 > 0:15:41Last time wannabe surgeon Sam went into an operation,
0:15:41 > 0:15:43it all got a little bit too much for him.
0:15:43 > 0:15:45So this op is going to be a big test.
0:15:45 > 0:15:50I was really excited and I just really wanted to just get stuck in.
0:15:50 > 0:15:54The lump could make it difficult for Gandalf to hold his food firmly.
0:15:54 > 0:15:58That's a big problem for a bird of prey, so it needs to be removed.
0:16:00 > 0:16:04So this is the lump here, in between his toes.
0:16:04 > 0:16:07You can actually see I can move it about.
0:16:07 > 0:16:08It's like a wee pea.
0:16:08 > 0:16:12So what we're going to do is just run the scalpel over the top
0:16:12 > 0:16:16to get through to the tissue below, and then try and dissect it out,
0:16:16 > 0:16:18and then we'll put a couple of stitches in
0:16:18 > 0:16:20just to hold it in place.
0:16:20 > 0:16:25As this is Morgan's first ever op, I help him sterilise Gandalf's foot.
0:16:26 > 0:16:29Start on this lump, which is where he's going to operate.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34And then you work your way around...
0:16:34 > 0:16:36..and get further and further away from it.
0:16:36 > 0:16:38Give it a good scrub.
0:16:43 > 0:16:44Top job, Morgan.
0:16:45 > 0:16:46Now he needs to move on
0:16:46 > 0:16:49to monitoring Gandalf's heart and breathing,
0:16:49 > 0:16:51while Colin and Sam can get to work
0:16:51 > 0:16:54removing the nasty lump from the falcon's foot.
0:16:54 > 0:16:57So Sam and Morgan are really having to pick up the pace now.
0:16:57 > 0:16:59Bird anaesthetics are really risky,
0:16:59 > 0:17:03and the longer they take, the greater the risk of death.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06Look away if you're squeamish, here comes the grisly lump!
0:17:06 > 0:17:08What does it look like?
0:17:08 > 0:17:10It's just like a...
0:17:10 > 0:17:11I don't know really.
0:17:11 > 0:17:13Just a piece of...like a pea.
0:17:13 > 0:17:15And it's out.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18Sam's stayed the course and steps in to carefully clean the wound.
0:17:18 > 0:17:20it's vital he does a perfect job.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23An infection would put Gandalf's life in danger.
0:17:28 > 0:17:30Morgan's all focus now.
0:17:30 > 0:17:33He's carefully monitoring Gandalf's heart rate
0:17:33 > 0:17:34for any sign of a problem.
0:17:34 > 0:17:38- You happy with your patient?- Yeah.
0:17:38 > 0:17:42That's perfect. The team quickly work to sew up the foot wound.
0:17:42 > 0:17:44And Sam finishes off the final stitching.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50Just leave a couple of millimetres from the end of the knot.
0:17:50 > 0:17:51OK, excellent well done.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54It's now safe for Morgan to turn off the anaesthetic gas.
0:17:54 > 0:17:58And in minutes, Gandalf's eyes slowly open.
0:17:58 > 0:17:59His eye opening already.
0:17:59 > 0:18:01Gandalf's made it!
0:18:01 > 0:18:03And so did Sam.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06I'm so proud of him for overcoming his squeamishness.
0:18:06 > 0:18:07Nice work, Junior Vet!
0:18:07 > 0:18:11My last experience in the operating theatre I had a shaky time
0:18:11 > 0:18:14but this experience was much better.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16It were amazing,
0:18:16 > 0:18:18because I've never been up close to a bird of prey before.
0:18:18 > 0:18:21With that experience it boosted my confidence up.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24Morgan and Sam did very well. I'm very impressed with them.
0:18:24 > 0:18:28Hopefully they got the idea of importance of working as a team
0:18:28 > 0:18:30so I'm certainly very impressed with them.
0:18:30 > 0:18:32And Gandalf's now back on his feet -
0:18:32 > 0:18:35ready to return to his starring role in the park's flying displays.
0:18:44 > 0:18:48At the vet school's horse hospital, Junior Vets Amblessed and
0:18:48 > 0:18:51Lauren are investigating Kira's constant tiredness.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54She doesn't seem to enjoy being ridden and they've discovered
0:18:54 > 0:18:57she has a heart murmur caused by a leaky valve.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00Vet John Keen wants Lauren and Amblessed to test Kira's
0:19:00 > 0:19:04heart while she's exercising so they can see just how bad it is.
0:19:07 > 0:19:11If the heart problem is serious, it could mean her riding days are over.
0:19:11 > 0:19:12Keep an eye on the ECG.
0:19:15 > 0:19:20We put sensors under the saddle and it sent images through the computer
0:19:20 > 0:19:24so you see like, her heartbeat when she was doing different
0:19:24 > 0:19:29types of movement like walking or doing a trot or a gallop.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32The more she runs, the harder her valves will have to work, and
0:19:32 > 0:19:35the faster her heart will beat.
0:19:35 > 0:19:36If the Junior Vets see over 240
0:19:36 > 0:19:40beats per minute or Kira's heart beats are irregular, it would
0:19:40 > 0:19:43mean her illness is worse than John initially thought.
0:19:52 > 0:19:54Within ten minutes, the test is complete.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56The team have their results.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59Amblessed volunteers to deliver their findings
0:19:59 > 0:20:01to nervous owner Louise.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04The test shows that her heart's all right even though
0:20:04 > 0:20:08she has the murmur there's no drastic problems.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11- So does this mean she can still be ridden then?- Yeah.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13Exercise is normal she's not reacted badly to the exercise
0:20:13 > 0:20:15so she should be all right.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21Kira's heart problem is not life threatening.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24Generally, there doesn't appear to be anything seriously wrong with
0:20:24 > 0:20:26Kira. I don't think the problem is going to progress,
0:20:26 > 0:20:28so we can give her heart a clean bill of health.
0:20:28 > 0:20:32Her tiredness could be just a bit of old age creeping in.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35Amblessed and Lauren took this job in their stride and I'm impressed
0:20:35 > 0:20:38with how well they worked together.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41I was very happy when we found out that the heart murmur wasn't
0:20:41 > 0:20:44affecting her at all. So I was very happy about that especially as
0:20:44 > 0:20:46it was such a serious condition.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49I think I coped quite well with the challenge today
0:20:49 > 0:20:52because I really wanted to work with horses.
0:20:52 > 0:20:56And now Kira can take life at her own pace for the rest of her days.
0:21:04 > 0:21:08Back in the Small Animal Hospital homeless dog Jessie is in for
0:21:08 > 0:21:11a neutering operation that will stop her having unwanted pups and
0:21:11 > 0:21:13could help her find a new home.
0:21:15 > 0:21:17Will and Saira have just arrived in theatre
0:21:17 > 0:21:19and are getting ready for surgery.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21Turn!
0:21:22 > 0:21:26This is quite tricky, as they mustn't touch the specially
0:21:26 > 0:21:28cleaned gowns or gloves with their hands.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31That's it. Get a good grip on both sides.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35This is Saira's first ever surgery.
0:21:35 > 0:21:39She's a little nervous and is really struggling with her gloves.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42I tried to get them on quite a few times, put them down, put them on.
0:21:42 > 0:21:46But, I was thinking I wouldn't be able to operate or anything
0:21:46 > 0:21:49and I just really wanted to get stuck in and help because it
0:21:49 > 0:21:52was my first operation and I was really looking forward to it.
0:21:52 > 0:21:56Surgeon Ana Marques decides she must get things underway with
0:21:56 > 0:21:58will as her only assistant.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01I had to start the operation before Saira was ready
0:22:01 > 0:22:03because with the dog being under anaesthetic,
0:22:03 > 0:22:07we didn't want to end up harming it more than we had to.
0:22:07 > 0:22:09So we're going to start with a skin incision.
0:22:09 > 0:22:13Ana starts by making a cut with the scalpel on Jessie's tummy.
0:22:13 > 0:22:17They need to remove the organs that would make puppies.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23- And do I pull it out? - Yeah, just pull it out a little bit.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26Good job, Will. Beautiful.
0:22:26 > 0:22:28Will is really hands on here.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31Meanwhile, Saira is still struggling to get her hands in her gloves!
0:22:31 > 0:22:35Saira cannot join the surgery team until her hands are safely covered.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38I think cos Will was there and he was,
0:22:38 > 0:22:41like, already helping to operate, I think that kind of calmed me
0:22:41 > 0:22:45down a bit because I knew that someone was there to at least
0:22:45 > 0:22:49start and then I could join him afterwards and help him out.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52Ana and Will now need to clamp Jessie's blood supply so the
0:22:52 > 0:22:55uterus and ovaries can be taken out without too much bleeding.
0:22:58 > 0:23:02If the op is successful, Jessie's stray days could soon be over.
0:23:02 > 0:23:04Where would you like Saira?
0:23:04 > 0:23:06At last, Saira is here to help Jessie as well!
0:23:09 > 0:23:12Will, I'm going to ask you to cut between these two clamps here.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17Will calmly makes the crucial cut.
0:23:17 > 0:23:18Perfect, one more...
0:23:18 > 0:23:22So if you want to change positions with Saira.
0:23:22 > 0:23:24And it's straight in at the deep end for Saira
0:23:24 > 0:23:26as she helps finish off the job.
0:23:26 > 0:23:30For a first attempt at surgery, this is amazing stuff.
0:23:32 > 0:23:36- It feels like it's going to rip. - I know. OK, perfect.
0:23:36 > 0:23:38You can relax a little bit.
0:23:40 > 0:23:45So next we're going to check that it's not going to bleed?
0:23:45 > 0:23:49The team use a hot tool called a thermocautery which will
0:23:49 > 0:23:51stop bleeding from blood vessels.
0:23:52 > 0:23:54So far so good.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57I'm quite happy with the way things are going, it's going quite well.
0:23:57 > 0:24:01With Jessie's reproductive system safely removed.
0:24:01 > 0:24:03The Junior Vets help clean up,
0:24:03 > 0:24:05before the wound is sewn back up again.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07That's perfect.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10We're just finishing the final line of suture
0:24:10 > 0:24:13so that cut is closed and she'll be back to normal.
0:24:13 > 0:24:17And then, Will, you can just help support it on to the trolley.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22It's been an intense day's work but my Junior Vets have taken
0:24:22 > 0:24:24really good care of Jessie.
0:24:25 > 0:24:29Jessie is still unconscious so my Junior Vets carefully lift
0:24:29 > 0:24:30her into the recovery kennel.
0:24:35 > 0:24:37She needs a few hours to come round.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42And when the Junior Vets check on her...
0:24:44 > 0:24:47she's a bit groggy but well on the road to recovery.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51That was truly incredible.
0:24:51 > 0:24:54Both Junior Vets eventually got fully involved and Saira's
0:24:54 > 0:24:56dog fears are finally fixed.
0:24:57 > 0:25:01I think I did quite a good job helping the people around me
0:25:01 > 0:25:03to make sure that Jessie was safe.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05Well, the operation for me was absolutely amazing
0:25:05 > 0:25:08because to be at my age and do...
0:25:08 > 0:25:10and be in an operating theatre,
0:25:10 > 0:25:12I just feel really cool.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15I hope that Jessie finds a new good owner that will actually look
0:25:15 > 0:25:17after her not abandon her.
0:25:17 > 0:25:19I could always take her in.
0:25:26 > 0:25:29Every one of my Junior Vets has experienced things today
0:25:29 > 0:25:32that they've never had to deal with before.
0:25:35 > 0:25:38And their efforts have left me with a tough decision to make.
0:25:38 > 0:25:43But who has stood out enough to win a Vital Vet Work award?
0:25:43 > 0:25:46Lauren and Amblessed worked so hard with pony Kira and her owner
0:25:46 > 0:25:50Louise to uncover why Kira was suffering from exhaustion.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54Will blew me away with how hands on he got in the op that took
0:25:54 > 0:25:57stray dog Jessie a step nearer to finding a new home.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01And Sam made a determined return
0:26:01 > 0:26:04to surgery helping Gandalf the falcon through his foot op.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11But who went that extra mile to get my precious Vital Vet Work award?
0:26:13 > 0:26:15Up until now you've been judged as pairs,
0:26:15 > 0:26:19but from now on you may be singled out for special praise.
0:26:21 > 0:26:23As is the case today.
0:26:32 > 0:26:34Will.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38Congratulations. You are today's top Junior Vet.
0:26:40 > 0:26:44All my junior vets have overcome early wobbles and applied
0:26:44 > 0:26:47themselves to some seriously difficult tasks today.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50But it was Will who stood out as a super vet in the making.
0:26:50 > 0:26:54He was confident, caring with his patient Jessie,
0:26:54 > 0:26:55and technically brilliant.
0:26:55 > 0:27:00He fully deserves his Vital Vet Work badge for his performance.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03I feel really proud of myself and I think that on the task
0:27:03 > 0:27:04I did quite well.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07So I think I kind of deserve it. So I'm happy.
0:27:07 > 0:27:10Think you can cut it as a top vet and make animals better?
0:27:10 > 0:27:13Head over to the CBBC website now
0:27:13 > 0:27:16and use today's game code - CHEW835
0:27:16 > 0:27:20to unlock a special case in your very own waiting room.
0:27:23 > 0:27:25Next time on Junior Vets...
0:27:25 > 0:27:27Benji has a painful wee problem.
0:27:29 > 0:27:31Tina the calf needs surgery down on the farm.
0:27:32 > 0:27:36And a strange creature with a worrying looking lump arrives
0:27:36 > 0:27:38at the vet school.
0:27:46 > 0:27:49Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd