0:00:02 > 0:00:03Coming up on Junior Vets -
0:00:03 > 0:00:06Benji has a painful wee problem that needs help...
0:00:09 > 0:00:12..Tina the calf has surgery in a barn,
0:00:12 > 0:00:14and Gary the axolotl arrives at the vet school hospital
0:00:14 > 0:00:16with a mysterious lump.
0:00:21 > 0:00:23When pets are poorly, wildlife gets wounded
0:00:23 > 0:00:27or farm animals feel unwell, they need top vet help.
0:00:28 > 0:00:30The really lucky ones come here,
0:00:30 > 0:00:34to Edinburgh University's amazing super high tech vet school.
0:00:40 > 0:00:44And now, six kids, chosen from 1,000,
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 > 0:00:53..and work alongside the school's top vets.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56Who wants to take this cow's urine?
0:00:56 > 0:00:58They're facing an intense training programme...
0:00:58 > 0:01:01Have you done that anaesthetic before?
0:01:01 > 0:01:02What is this? What's that?
0:01:02 > 0:01:06..and are being pushed to the limit at animal hospitals,
0:01:06 > 0:01:10vet practices, wildlife parks and working farms.
0:01:10 > 0:01:12I'm Paul Manktelow.
0:01:12 > 0:01:16It took me five hard years to train to be a vet,
0:01:16 > 0:01:19but this lot have only weeks to show me what they're made of.
0:01:19 > 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 are facing real heavy duty vet work.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30It's like everything's just so bonkers.
0:01:34 > 0:01:35- That is amazing.- That's cool.
0:01:35 > 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 > 0:01:45THEY LAUGH
0:01:46 > 0:01:48Six raw recruits...
0:01:51 > 0:01:54..but I can only choose...
0:01:54 > 0:01:55one winner.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58The first ever Junior Vet
0:01:58 > 0:02:02to win the prestigious Head Vet title...
0:02:02 > 0:02:03is...
0:02:14 > 0:02:18Day four. The race for the Head Vet title is warming up,
0:02:18 > 0:02:22And I'm seeing real potential in every single one of the contenders.
0:02:23 > 0:02:25Junior vets, welcome back.
0:02:25 > 0:02:29So Sam and Amblessed...
0:02:29 > 0:02:32..Saira and Morgan...
0:02:32 > 0:02:34..Will and Lauren.
0:02:34 > 0:02:35Let's get down to business.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40Each day my junior vets are sent out to work, in pairs,
0:02:40 > 0:02:43with a top vet, where they deal with real animals
0:02:43 > 0:02:45with real problems that need fixing.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49I'll be keeping tabs on their every move.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53Only those who I decide have given their all to helping animals
0:02:53 > 0:02:56are in with a chance of winning one of my Vital Vet Work awards.
0:02:58 > 0:03:02Current front runner Saira has won two Vital Vet Work awards
0:03:02 > 0:03:04and a Vet Skills credit.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07She is closely followed by Amblessed, Will and Sam.
0:03:08 > 0:03:10Only Morgan and Lauren are yet to win
0:03:10 > 0:03:13one of these Vital Vet Work awards.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16That's surprising,
0:03:16 > 0:03:18because Lauren had clocked up lots of experience
0:03:18 > 0:03:20helping out at her local veterinary practice
0:03:20 > 0:03:22before she even came to vet school.
0:03:22 > 0:03:26And although she worked very hard during Stella's surgery
0:03:26 > 0:03:28and in the training zone,
0:03:28 > 0:03:32she hasn't yet managed to convince me she should win
0:03:32 > 0:03:34one of my precious Vital Vet Work awards.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36Unlike city girl Amblessed,
0:03:36 > 0:03:40who got an award for a top job on the vet school farm.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43Amblessed's brilliant focus means she's been the star performer
0:03:43 > 0:03:45in the training zone too.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48And she's happy to work with all kinds of animals,
0:03:48 > 0:03:49which is just as well.
0:03:58 > 0:04:00The vet school's small animal hospital
0:04:00 > 0:04:03doesn't just fix furry and purry pets.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10This mysterious alien-like creature is called...
0:04:10 > 0:04:11Gary.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13And today, Gary needs help
0:04:13 > 0:04:17from exotics vet Emma and junior vets Sam and Amblessed.
0:04:17 > 0:04:19Does anyone know what it is?
0:04:19 > 0:04:20A water lizard?
0:04:20 > 0:04:23It was so cool.
0:04:23 > 0:04:28It was just like a little pink thing in the water.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31It's called an axolotl. It's actually an amphibian.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35Axolotls are rare Mexican creatures.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38In the wild, they are almost completely extinct.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40They're amazing animals.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43If they lose a limb, they just grow one back!
0:04:44 > 0:04:46Gary is a very precious pet
0:04:46 > 0:04:49and his owner is worried about his health.
0:04:51 > 0:04:56He looks like he's been just shaved and his gills look really weird.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58You can see, like... I don't know what it is,
0:04:58 > 0:05:01but it's like all lines all over him,
0:05:01 > 0:05:04whether it's like veins or blood vessels or something.
0:05:05 > 0:05:09It's that growth on Gary's tail that's causing the concern.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12The problem with Gary is there's a bit of a swelling.
0:05:12 > 0:05:13It looks a bit red, doesn't it?
0:05:13 > 0:05:16- Yeah.- Can you see? - Yeah, I can see.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18Gary's growth could be a simple infection,
0:05:18 > 0:05:21or it could be something more serious like a tumour.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23A sample of the growth needs testing.
0:05:23 > 0:05:28Will we be doing this in water or will we take him out?
0:05:28 > 0:05:29What we will do is take him out.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32But we'll have to keep him really moist and wet.
0:05:32 > 0:05:34And that is going to be one of your jobs.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37Because if he dries out, that's really bad news for him.
0:05:37 > 0:05:41Gary will only survive out of his tank for a short amount of time
0:05:41 > 0:05:44and that's only if he's anaesthetised and kept moist.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47Everything's prepped for the procedure
0:05:47 > 0:05:50so Gary can now leave his tank.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53Sam is in charge of checking Gary's breathing and heart-rate
0:05:53 > 0:05:55- while he's unconscious. - You record the rates.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57- Oh, yeah, I can hear that now.- Yeah?
0:05:57 > 0:06:001...2...3...
0:06:00 > 0:06:03And Amblessed must keep Gary moist at all times.
0:06:03 > 0:06:07If he dried out, he would die.
0:06:07 > 0:06:09That was great, brilliant.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12Gary is safely unconscious.
0:06:12 > 0:06:16The team are now ready to take the all-important skin sample
0:06:16 > 0:06:19that will reveal just how poorly he is.
0:06:19 > 0:06:21You see, it's really quite swollen.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23- Yeah, it is, isn't it?- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:06:24 > 0:06:29Later, an internal examination sheds new light on Gary's problem.
0:06:29 > 0:06:33So we're going to have a little look at the back end.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39On a busy dairy farm in South Lanarkshire,
0:06:39 > 0:06:42Tina the four-month-old calf has a serious condition
0:06:42 > 0:06:45and needs an operation. To help her,
0:06:45 > 0:06:48junior vets Lauren and Will have left vet school
0:06:48 > 0:06:51and are teaming up with farm vet Tim Caldwell for the day.
0:06:51 > 0:06:55This is Tina, our little black and white heifer calf.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57As you can see, she's got a hernia underneath her,
0:06:57 > 0:07:00a big pocket that shouldn't be there.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02The aim of today is to repair that.
0:07:02 > 0:07:07Internal organs are normally held in place by muscle, fat and skin.
0:07:07 > 0:07:09If one slips out of position,
0:07:09 > 0:07:12they can form a lump that's called a hernia.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15Tina needs surgery to put the hernia back in place.
0:07:15 > 0:07:17First, Will keeps her steady...
0:07:17 > 0:07:20Just when I'm pulling, it pulls her head up. Is that OK?
0:07:20 > 0:07:21Yeah, that's fine.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24..so Tim can give her a sedative.
0:07:24 > 0:07:25And it's not an easy job.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30Tina weighs nearly 200 kilograms.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32Hold on tight, Will.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35I was quite nervous around the cow because it was quite a big animal
0:07:35 > 0:07:38and you didn't really know what it was going to do.
0:07:39 > 0:07:42We need to work fast to get Tina through surgery.
0:07:42 > 0:07:47I can't believe I'm doing this because it's like a cow upside down.
0:07:47 > 0:07:49And that in itself is a bit...
0:07:49 > 0:07:51Strange.
0:07:51 > 0:07:52Yeah.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57This isn't a natural position for a heavy animal to be in,
0:07:57 > 0:07:59and can put a lot of stress on Tina's body.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04If you kneel on that and put your hands on there for a second, Will?
0:08:04 > 0:08:07Will's straight in there, but Lauren's holding back on this one.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09That's not like her.
0:08:09 > 0:08:14When we were told that we were going to operate on Tina in a barn,
0:08:14 > 0:08:18on the floor amongst all this hay and straw,
0:08:18 > 0:08:20it was absolutely surreal.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22Now Tina's on her back,
0:08:22 > 0:08:26you can see that the hernia has fallen back into her abdomen
0:08:26 > 0:08:28Wow, that's really weird.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32The junior vets need to get to work to make Tina better.
0:08:32 > 0:08:34Yep. You need to hold onto it
0:08:34 > 0:08:37and push it down nice and flat and steady.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41First they trim the hair from the hernia area,
0:08:41 > 0:08:43then clean and sterilise Tina's belly.
0:08:45 > 0:08:46It is an outside barn,
0:08:46 > 0:08:49but Tim has made sure Tina is carefully prepped
0:08:49 > 0:08:52and it's safe to operate.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54So obviously, you have seen some surgery at the vet school.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57- How is this different? - It's so different.
0:08:57 > 0:08:58It's really not very sterile.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01Especially the setting isn't very clean.
0:09:01 > 0:09:03Clean hands, clean gloves,
0:09:03 > 0:09:06everything's completely sparkling clean. It's nothing like it.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11And later, the team need to pick up pace and fix Tina's hernia.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14- So is this the muscle? - Yes, just the muscle layer there,
0:09:14 > 0:09:17that's when you've got a finger underneath it.
0:09:21 > 0:09:23At a vet surgery in County Durham,
0:09:23 > 0:09:25Benji the springer spaniel needs an urgent check-up.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28His owner is worried about his health
0:09:28 > 0:09:30after spotting blood in his wee and vet Jason
0:09:30 > 0:09:33has enlisted the help of junior vets Saira and Morgan.
0:09:33 > 0:09:37And that blood could be coming from anywhere, from his kidneys,
0:09:37 > 0:09:40and obviously your kidneys are connected to your bladder
0:09:40 > 0:09:43and then beyond that there is an organ called the prostate,
0:09:43 > 0:09:47which is quite a common problem in male dogs.
0:09:47 > 0:09:51They'll be using special equipment to check Benji's internal organs.
0:09:51 > 0:09:52We're going to ultrasound Benji
0:09:52 > 0:09:55to see if he's got any problems with his bladder.
0:09:55 > 0:09:59And Jason has a big surprise for one of my junior vets.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01Morgan, this is going to be your case, OK?
0:10:01 > 0:10:04This is the first time Morgan has taken charge of a case,
0:10:04 > 0:10:07and it carries a lot of responsibility.
0:10:07 > 0:10:12I was nervous, because I had never done this stuff before.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14First, they need to clip a patch on his tummy.
0:10:14 > 0:10:16It tickles.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18He obviously enjoyed that!
0:10:18 > 0:10:20Right, Saira, do you want to turn the light out?
0:10:20 > 0:10:22Now a probe is covered in gel
0:10:22 > 0:10:26so that the team can see clear images of Benji's internal organs.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29So what do you think that structure is there?
0:10:29 > 0:10:30Would it be the bladder?
0:10:30 > 0:10:32That's correct, good man.
0:10:32 > 0:10:34So there's no signs of tumours on it and there was no stones.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38Benji's bladder is fine. Next they look for his prostate,
0:10:38 > 0:10:41a reproductive gland near his bladder.
0:10:41 > 0:10:43What would it look like?
0:10:43 > 0:10:46It's like a little white structure. Right.
0:10:46 > 0:10:48- Is that it there? - No. Go the other way.
0:10:48 > 0:10:52- Would it be that there? - Yep, and can you see it there?
0:10:52 > 0:10:54- Yeah.- Little circle and there's a little bit of fluid in it as well.
0:10:54 > 0:10:58- Yes.- So it is enlarged. So it's about five centimetres.
0:10:58 > 0:10:59So that's big.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05What would be the normal size for a prostate?
0:11:05 > 0:11:08Two centimetres. Not as big as that.
0:11:08 > 0:11:12Also, it should be all one colour and all smooth and it's not.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14It's got little cysts in it as well.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17So it's an abnormal prostate as well.
0:11:17 > 0:11:21Poor Benji's prostate is swollen and looks an odd shape.
0:11:22 > 0:11:26Jason's concerned and wants the team to carry out further tests.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30I'd like you both to try and get a urine sample off Benji.
0:11:30 > 0:11:32How exactly do we take a urine sample?
0:11:32 > 0:11:35What you're going to do is take the dog out for a walk
0:11:35 > 0:11:38and I'll give you a dish and when he goes to pee,
0:11:38 > 0:11:39- you're going to catch it.- OK.
0:11:39 > 0:11:41And whatever you do, don't drop it.
0:11:43 > 0:11:45This is a job for Morgan.
0:11:45 > 0:11:47MORGAN LAUGHS
0:11:49 > 0:11:51He needs to jump in and catch some of Benji's pee.
0:11:51 > 0:11:53Are you ready, Morgan? Come on.
0:11:53 > 0:11:55Come on, stay close, stay close to me.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57Which is not quite as easy as it may sound!
0:11:57 > 0:11:59It's going. It's going. Quick, get in there.
0:11:59 > 0:12:00Hold it there.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03He's a strong dog. He's hard to keep hold of.
0:12:03 > 0:12:04It was really hard to catch the wee
0:12:04 > 0:12:07because every time you put the bowl under, he'd stop and walk off.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10I think he was almost too excited to be able to do one.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12If they don't get a sample,
0:12:12 > 0:12:15they won't be able to work out exactly what is wrong with Benji.
0:12:15 > 0:12:16No-one said it was going to be easy.
0:12:18 > 0:12:22Later, the junior vets have a call to make to Benji's owner.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25I'm ringing to tell you about Benji.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34My junior vets are completing an intensive training programme
0:12:34 > 0:12:38here at Vet School. And it's in the training zone
0:12:38 > 0:12:40where they learn essential skills that will help them
0:12:40 > 0:12:44with veterinary work in the real world.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47If I like what I see, I'll give out Vet Skill credits.
0:12:49 > 0:12:52Along with the all important Vital Vet Work awards,
0:12:52 > 0:12:56they'll help me decide who will eventually be named head vet.
0:12:56 > 0:12:58And in this session,
0:12:58 > 0:13:01my junior vets will learn how to take a blood sample.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05They're not qualified to take blood from real animals...
0:13:06 > 0:13:09..so they'll be using these plastic dogs instead.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14I've asked exotics animal vet Emma Keeble to demonstrate.
0:13:18 > 0:13:22First, Emma makes a fake vein bulge by pressing down.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25Place your thumb at the base of the neck and what will happen is,
0:13:25 > 0:13:28the vein will come up and you will be able to see it.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31Then she inserts the syringe...
0:13:31 > 0:13:34Straight away, we've got a little bleb of blood
0:13:34 > 0:13:37and that tells you that you're in the right place.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40..and with one hand only,
0:13:40 > 0:13:44draws out an exact 1ml sample of the red liquid.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48- Junior vets, happy with the demonstration?- Yep.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50- Ready to go?- Yep.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52You can start the challenge now.
0:13:57 > 0:13:58I can't find it.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03I can't do it. That is the vein, that is the vein.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06And Morgan's struggling too.
0:14:06 > 0:14:07Is that going in, yeah?
0:14:07 > 0:14:09It's difficult with one hand.
0:14:09 > 0:14:11Just come out a little bit more.
0:14:11 > 0:14:12Perfect.
0:14:12 > 0:14:14'Saira's found it...
0:14:14 > 0:14:15Oh, no.
0:14:15 > 0:14:16'..and now lost it.'
0:14:16 > 0:14:19I thought it might be a little bit tricky. Sorry, dog.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23Amblessed has her angles all wrong
0:14:23 > 0:14:26and has pushed her needle in way too far.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29I think you've gone straight through the vein there.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33Going straight through the vein on a real dog could cause a blood clot.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37Will needs to take his time and focus.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39Be a bit more patient with it.
0:14:39 > 0:14:41You're just like, "Oh, no, that bit isn't working."
0:14:41 > 0:14:43"Oh, no, that bit isn't working."
0:14:43 > 0:14:46This single-handed challenge is so difficult,
0:14:46 > 0:14:48but Sam is really concentrating.
0:14:48 > 0:14:50It is hard to do it one-handed.
0:14:50 > 0:14:51It is, isn't it?
0:14:51 > 0:14:54Finally, every junior vet has a sample...
0:14:54 > 0:14:55of some sort.
0:14:55 > 0:14:57Perfection.
0:14:57 > 0:14:58Perfect.
0:14:58 > 0:14:59But who was the most accurate
0:14:59 > 0:15:03and managed to hit the precise 1ml target?
0:15:06 > 0:15:07It was Sam.
0:15:07 > 0:15:11Super one-handed syringing skills and, crucially,
0:15:11 > 0:15:15he was deadly accurate with his sample size.
0:15:15 > 0:15:17You can see how you get on as a virtual vet
0:15:17 > 0:15:20in the Junior Vets game on the CBBC website.
0:15:20 > 0:15:21And don't forget to look for
0:15:21 > 0:15:24the special game code at the end of today's show.
0:15:34 > 0:15:39My junior vets are working away from vet school on a dairy farm
0:15:39 > 0:15:42and Tina the heifer calf is about to undergo a big operation.
0:15:43 > 0:15:47She's got a lump hanging out of her tummy, called a hernia.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50For a young cow, this is a life-threatening illness.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54She's now anaesthetised, so it's important for us
0:15:54 > 0:15:57to get the operation finished as quickly as possible.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01Cutting into a lump like this is never going to be pretty.
0:16:01 > 0:16:02Brace yourself, junior vets.
0:16:04 > 0:16:07What we're actually doing here is removing a little bit
0:16:07 > 0:16:08of the spare skin over the top,
0:16:08 > 0:16:11- because the skin's stretched as the hernia's been forming.- Yeah.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14So we'll remove a little bit of that and what we do now is
0:16:14 > 0:16:17separate some of what we call the underlying tissue so we can
0:16:17 > 0:16:23poke it all back through, cos it's all coming out still all attached.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26It was quite a lot of blood
0:16:26 > 0:16:29and there was fluid going everywhere
0:16:29 > 0:16:34and it was quite hard to try and stay focused on the actual animal
0:16:34 > 0:16:36when so much was going on around you.
0:16:38 > 0:16:40So do you think there's more blood or less blood
0:16:40 > 0:16:43- from surgeries you've seen before?- More blood.
0:16:43 > 0:16:44- A bit more blood?- Yeah.
0:16:44 > 0:16:46Bigger animal, though, isn't it?
0:16:46 > 0:16:47Yeah.
0:16:47 > 0:16:49Tim cuts away the extra skin
0:16:49 > 0:16:52and fixes the hernia back into Tina's belly.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55So this is where we start to close the hole.
0:16:55 > 0:16:57Now the tiny neat wound is stitched.
0:16:57 > 0:16:58So is this the muscle?
0:16:58 > 0:17:00- Yes that's just the muscle layer there.- Right.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02- That's why I've got my finger underneath it.- Yep.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05That suture material's massive, isn't it?
0:17:05 > 0:17:06Because it's a bigger animal,
0:17:06 > 0:17:08- it needs to be stronger. - A bit stronger.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10Especially with all that weight pushing down on it.
0:17:11 > 0:17:15How long will it take for these stitches to dissolve?
0:17:15 > 0:17:18These ones in the skin will have fallen out within three weeks.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22Tim puts a cow-sized plaster on her wound.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25And then it's time to wait for Tina to wake up.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27And we don't have to wait long.
0:17:33 > 0:17:35Today's been a real eye opener for Will and Lauren.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38They've come through surgery in a barn with flying colours.
0:17:40 > 0:17:42Will and Lauren did very well today.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45They've been put into a situation which they're very unfamiliar with
0:17:45 > 0:17:48and then seen some surgery that is probably very different
0:17:48 > 0:17:49to what they've met before.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52That was really cool. We operated on a cow.
0:17:52 > 0:17:54How cool is that, like?
0:17:54 > 0:17:56It's not a cat or a dog... it was a cow.
0:17:56 > 0:17:57Just so cool.
0:17:59 > 0:18:01And less than an hour after the operation,
0:18:01 > 0:18:03Tina's awake and back on her feet.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05Excellent work, junior vets.
0:18:12 > 0:18:16In County Durham, Benji's owner has noticed blood in his dog's wee.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19The vet team suspect Benji has a prostate gland problem,
0:18:19 > 0:18:21which could need surgery.
0:18:23 > 0:18:27The junior vets need to collect a pan of pee to complete tests.
0:18:28 > 0:18:30This job has been handed to Morgan
0:18:30 > 0:18:34but it's not pee he's collecting... it's plant life!
0:18:34 > 0:18:36You've got a lot of bush in there.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39Still with no sample, the junior vets try some classic pee spots
0:18:39 > 0:18:42that might encourage Benji to go.
0:18:43 > 0:18:45The car wheel...
0:18:45 > 0:18:47He's thinking about it.
0:18:47 > 0:18:48..the classic lamppost...
0:18:48 > 0:18:50No?
0:18:50 > 0:18:52Back to the bush?
0:18:52 > 0:18:53And then...
0:18:53 > 0:18:54He's going, he's going. Good lad.
0:18:54 > 0:18:56There he goes.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00Great bowl skills, Morgan.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03MORGAN LAUGHS
0:19:03 > 0:19:05Job done for Benji,
0:19:05 > 0:19:08but Saira and Morgan's work has only just begun.
0:19:08 > 0:19:10- All of it?- Yeah.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13Jason wants to check Benji hasn't got a urinary infection.
0:19:13 > 0:19:18Finding crystals in the urine sample would confirm this and be bad news.
0:19:18 > 0:19:23Spinning the wee at high speeds will concentrate any crystals present.
0:19:23 > 0:19:24I think that's it finished.
0:19:24 > 0:19:28And make them easier to see when a red dye is added.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31Right, now I want you to put a drop on there.
0:19:31 > 0:19:33That will do. That's it.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35Morgan checks the slide under the microscope.
0:19:35 > 0:19:37What are we looking for?
0:19:37 > 0:19:40We're having a look for any little crystals.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42Like little squares.
0:19:42 > 0:19:46He spots something in the sample... but is it troublesome crystals?
0:19:47 > 0:19:49There's a lot of things in there.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52Jason checks...and confirms there is something in the wee
0:19:52 > 0:19:56that shouldn't be there. But it's not crystals.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00There are little black bits, but that's something to do with
0:20:00 > 0:20:04Morgan catching a bit of the bushes outside in there, I think.
0:20:04 > 0:20:07That's better news.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10It's just bits of the bush, so Jason asks my junior vets
0:20:10 > 0:20:13to call Benji's owner and explain what they've discovered.
0:20:13 > 0:20:17Hi, Mr Robshaw, this is Saira from Westway Vets.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20I'm one of the junior vets today.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23I was a little scared I might mess up
0:20:23 > 0:20:28what I had to say or I'd completely go wordless.
0:20:28 > 0:20:33I'm ringing to tell you about Benji. It's good news.
0:20:33 > 0:20:35He has an inflamed prostate
0:20:35 > 0:20:38and a simple castration should be the cure of it.
0:20:38 > 0:20:39Phew.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43A simple op for Benji will hopefully cure his prostate problem
0:20:43 > 0:20:45and he should be back to full health in no time.
0:20:45 > 0:20:48- 'Thanks for your help. Bye.' - Thanks very much. Goodbye.
0:20:48 > 0:20:50A slowish start by my junior vets,
0:20:50 > 0:20:53but once they got their sample, they were both off.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56There's been some seriously good handling and communication.
0:20:56 > 0:21:00I enjoyed trying to catch the pee from the dog.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03I made the phone call to Benji's owner.
0:21:03 > 0:21:07I was a little bit nervous at first, but now, by doing that,
0:21:07 > 0:21:09if I have to make another call to an owner,
0:21:09 > 0:21:11I think I will be probably more confident in doing so.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16Great work. Well done, junior vets.
0:21:27 > 0:21:29In the small animal hospital theatre,
0:21:29 > 0:21:32Gary the axolotl is unconscious.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37As vet Emma and junior vets Sam and Amblessed
0:21:37 > 0:21:41are about to take a skin sample from a worrying growth on his tail.
0:21:41 > 0:21:43It is harder working with an animal like Gary,
0:21:43 > 0:21:47because obviously you can't stroke him to calm him down.
0:21:47 > 0:21:49Sam's job is to keep his eyes on the heart monitor.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54It looks really good at the moment. There's not any drastic changes.
0:21:54 > 0:21:57It seems to be just running smoothly.
0:21:57 > 0:22:01His focus on this crucial task has definitely impressed vet Emma.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04You sound like you're an expert axolotl anaesthetist.
0:22:04 > 0:22:07We might need to employ you at the hospital.
0:22:07 > 0:22:09But on close inspection of Gary's tail,
0:22:09 > 0:22:12- it doesn't look good. - You see, it's really quite swollen.
0:22:12 > 0:22:14- It is, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:22:14 > 0:22:18If it's an infection, Gary can easily be treated with medicine.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21If it's a tumour, it could be incurable.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27The growth might be causing him internal problems.
0:22:27 > 0:22:32Emma must insert a camera, called an endoscope, up Gary's rear end.
0:22:32 > 0:22:34And is this the camera that you're going to be putting in?
0:22:34 > 0:22:36Absolutely, yes. So we're going to have
0:22:36 > 0:22:39a little look at the back end.
0:22:40 > 0:22:42Is that its bottom?
0:22:42 > 0:22:43Yep, that is its bottom.
0:22:43 > 0:22:47But then Sam gets distracted. He's looking at the endoscope images
0:22:47 > 0:22:50when he should be keeping an eye on Gary's heart rate.
0:22:50 > 0:22:54I think Sam lost his concentration, because it's not every day
0:22:54 > 0:22:57you see an endoscope go up an axolotl's bum.
0:22:57 > 0:22:59You could see the black camera
0:22:59 > 0:23:02working it's way up the pink body
0:23:02 > 0:23:05and I completely forgot about taking the heart rate.
0:23:05 > 0:23:10The images show Gary's growth has not spread inside. Good news.
0:23:10 > 0:23:12Amblessed now tackles his outside.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15- Just roll it over. - She swabs the lump.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18It will be tested for a possible infection later.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20That's perfect. So now what we're going to do is,
0:23:20 > 0:23:24we're actually going to take a sample from that site.
0:23:24 > 0:23:26So we'll need to keep a really close eye on him.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31Then they remove a small piece of flesh from Gary's growth.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33And we slice off a bit.
0:23:33 > 0:23:34This is called a biopsy,
0:23:34 > 0:23:37and will be tested to see if it's a cancerous tumour.
0:23:37 > 0:23:38There we go.
0:23:40 > 0:23:43So is this the sample, then, that will be analysed?
0:23:43 > 0:23:48Yep, so that's what's going to be looked at in the laboratory.
0:23:49 > 0:23:50With the sample taken,
0:23:50 > 0:23:53Gary needs to return to the safety of his tank immediately.
0:23:55 > 0:23:58There you are, OK? And he'll hopefully wake up really quickly
0:23:58 > 0:24:01because he's in nice fresh water without any anaesthetic.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04The junior vets leave Gary alone to recover
0:24:04 > 0:24:07and the sample is sent to the lab for testing.
0:24:11 > 0:24:14At the end of the day, Amblessed and Sam check up on Gary.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20There we are, there's Gary.
0:24:21 > 0:24:24- He looks well.- How are you, Gary? He does, doesn't he?
0:24:24 > 0:24:27He looks quite calm and relaxed, doesn't he?
0:24:27 > 0:24:29Hopefully, he's going to be OK.
0:24:33 > 0:24:37A very unusual case, but my Junior Vets took it in their stride.
0:24:37 > 0:24:40Being with Gary today was really cool.
0:24:41 > 0:24:43Amblessed was very good, actually.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46She just got on with the job that we'd given her
0:24:46 > 0:24:48and I could almost leave her to get on with that
0:24:48 > 0:24:50and do the procedures that I needed to do.
0:24:50 > 0:24:54It was quite a responsibility, but then with any animal,
0:24:54 > 0:24:57whatever you're doing, there is quite a big responsibility.
0:24:57 > 0:24:59And if you're wondering about Gary's lump,
0:24:59 > 0:25:02then the good news is that it was caused by a minor infection,
0:25:02 > 0:25:04and was easily treated.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18My junior vets have made it through another non-stop day at vet school.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24But now, I have to decide who has done enough
0:25:24 > 0:25:27to clinch a vital Vet Work award.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30Saira and Morgan never gave up as they tried to get a sample
0:25:30 > 0:25:34to help them diagnose Benji's worrying health problem.
0:25:35 > 0:25:37Sam and Amblessed were calm and collected
0:25:37 > 0:25:40as they got to grips with Gary the axolotl
0:25:40 > 0:25:43and helped solve his mystery illness.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46And Will and Lauren dealt brilliantly with surgery
0:25:46 > 0:25:49as Tina the calf had to have her tricky hernia operation
0:25:49 > 0:25:51in an open barn.
0:25:51 > 0:25:55They've all done really well, so I've got a tough decision to make.
0:25:55 > 0:25:59Today, it has been impossible to pick out a stand-alone winner.
0:25:59 > 0:26:02So today's top junior vets are...
0:26:10 > 0:26:13Will and Lauren...
0:26:13 > 0:26:14and...
0:26:14 > 0:26:15and...
0:26:16 > 0:26:18..Saira and Morgan.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24Morgan worked hard to get his precious pee sample
0:26:24 > 0:26:26and Saira showed top communication skills,
0:26:26 > 0:26:30While Lauren and Will bravely faced up to Tina's gory hernia op
0:26:30 > 0:26:32when others might have struggled.
0:26:32 > 0:26:36They all deserve their Vital Vet Work awards.
0:26:36 > 0:26:40It felt awesome because it's my first time winning. I'm so pumped.
0:26:40 > 0:26:41Excellent.
0:26:41 > 0:26:45I'm really proud that I managed to help the cow and also win the task.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47It was all a bit mad but it was just so good.
0:26:47 > 0:26:51I don't care if I win any more, but I won today's so I'm really psyched.
0:26:51 > 0:26:53It means everything, this win does, to me,
0:26:53 > 0:26:56because I know that it can also go towards me
0:26:56 > 0:26:58getting a chance to be Head Vet.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00ALL: Yes!
0:27:04 > 0:27:07Think you can cut it as a top vet and make animals better?
0:27:07 > 0:27:11Head over to the CBBC website now and use today's game code,
0:27:11 > 0:27:13sand373,
0:27:13 > 0:27:14to unlock a special case
0:27:14 > 0:27:16in your very own waiting room.
0:27:19 > 0:27:21Next time on Junior Vets -
0:27:21 > 0:27:25homeless Finbar is tested for deadly diseases...
0:27:25 > 0:27:28a pony in pain needs top-level surgery...
0:27:28 > 0:27:32and a VIP patient requires hi-tech treatment.
0:27:46 > 0:27:49Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd