0:00:02 > 0:00:06It's a big day of firsts on Junior Vets. A birth in a barn...
0:00:06 > 0:00:08major surgery for this poor old chap...
0:00:08 > 0:00:13..and super-huge, super-fast birds need their medicine.
0:00:13 > 0:00:16I'm Alex Riley. This is Junior Vets.
0:00:18 > 0:00:21Pets...wildlife...
0:00:21 > 0:00:23farm animals.
0:00:23 > 0:00:25All in need of expert help.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29And at Edinburgh's amazing Vet School,
0:00:29 > 0:00:31six raw recruits have arrived.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36They're working alongside the school's top-notch team.
0:00:39 > 0:00:41Ah! As if I just did that!
0:00:41 > 0:00:45- And they are being pushed to their very limit...- Whoa!
0:00:47 > 0:00:51..as they help to save the lives of sick and injured animals.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53Moo!
0:00:53 > 0:00:56Six new Junior Vets.
0:00:56 > 0:01:01But I can only chose one...winner.
0:01:01 > 0:01:05This year's head vet is...
0:01:24 > 0:01:26Hiya, Junior Vets.
0:01:26 > 0:01:27- You all right?- Hey, Alex.
0:01:27 > 0:01:28That's it. Budge up a bit.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31Now, are you all enjoying mending poorly animals?
0:01:31 > 0:01:33- ALL: Yes.- Nice one.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36So here are today's pairings. Nyatepe and Josh.
0:01:38 > 0:01:40Molly and Robyn.
0:01:40 > 0:01:44So that means that Jamie and Bonte are working together.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47And you have an urgent case right here at Vet School.
0:01:47 > 0:01:49So we'd better get on with it.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53I know, they've all had massive jobs already,
0:01:53 > 0:01:56but I'm cranking things up even more now.
0:01:57 > 0:02:02Molly's had no problems dealing mainly with farmyard animals so far.
0:02:02 > 0:02:04I don't think I'll do that again unless I'm a vet.
0:02:04 > 0:02:06So I'm going to mix it up a bit today.
0:02:06 > 0:02:08Can Molly keep on impressing?
0:02:08 > 0:02:09There we go!
0:02:11 > 0:02:12Nyatepe gets his head down,
0:02:12 > 0:02:15rolls his sleeves up and just gets stuck in.
0:02:15 > 0:02:16He's just really friendly.
0:02:16 > 0:02:18He's had no problem so far,
0:02:18 > 0:02:22but his next case could challenge even some experienced vets.
0:02:23 > 0:02:27Make no mistake, sensational vet work is coming your way.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30Good luck, all of you!
0:02:34 > 0:02:36At Bowsden Moor Farm in Northumberland,
0:02:36 > 0:02:41there's a very pregnant cow in need of some very urgent help.
0:02:41 > 0:02:43Her calf needs to be delivered today,
0:02:43 > 0:02:46so Josh and Nyatepe have been called in to help vet Graeme
0:02:46 > 0:02:48from RentonSwan Vets with the birth.
0:02:48 > 0:02:50Does she have a name?
0:02:50 > 0:02:53She doesn't have a name as yet, no, but you can probably give her one.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55I think Cheddar.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57She looks quite Cheddar-ish!
0:02:57 > 0:03:00Cheddar? A little bit cheesy, but a fitting name for a cow.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03- Take a glove each.- OK. - Right up your arm.
0:03:03 > 0:03:08I think my Junior Vets might have a good idea where those are going.
0:03:08 > 0:03:10- Is it up her bum? - Well, it's not really her bum.
0:03:10 > 0:03:13- Oh!- It's the female bit where the calf comes out of.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15CHUCKLING
0:03:15 > 0:03:17Graeme is concerned Cheddar's calf
0:03:17 > 0:03:20is too big for her to give birth naturally,
0:03:20 > 0:03:24so he wants to confirm this with an internal examination.
0:03:24 > 0:03:26Ew, that's right up!
0:03:26 > 0:03:29Oh, I knew that hurt!
0:03:29 > 0:03:32Right. I can feel two feet and a nose of a calf.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35- OK.- And it's big.
0:03:35 > 0:03:39Whoa! This is a massive moment for Nyatepe.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42No Junior Vet has ever attempted this before.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45- That's it. Good lad. That direction, down there.- Oh!
0:03:45 > 0:03:47We don't want any noise.
0:03:47 > 0:03:49Oh, yeah. I can feel some teeth, I think.
0:03:49 > 0:03:51- Watch it doesn't bite you. - Does it feel weird?
0:03:51 > 0:03:54Yeah. It feels really weird.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57I think I felt the calf's nose. It was quite big.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00And it felt... I was so dizzy, like...
0:04:00 > 0:04:03That's the first time I've ever come close to, like, fainting.
0:04:03 > 0:04:05- I can feel something.- Good.
0:04:05 > 0:04:07Yeah, I can feel feet.
0:04:07 > 0:04:09If you pinch the feet, it'll go like that.
0:04:09 > 0:04:12And that tells you that the calf's alive.
0:04:12 > 0:04:14Yeah.
0:04:14 > 0:04:19It was really amazing feeling a cow's baby, um...
0:04:19 > 0:04:21- That's not born yet.- Yeah.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25The team confirmed what Graeme feared.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27Cheddar's calf is huge.
0:04:27 > 0:04:31A natural birth could put her and her unborn baby's life in danger.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34We're not going to get her out that end,
0:04:34 > 0:04:37so we'll have to do an operation. A caesarean.
0:04:37 > 0:04:38- OK.- OK?
0:04:38 > 0:04:41Now, a caesarean means, brace yourselves,
0:04:41 > 0:04:45the team have to get the calf out by cutting into Cheddar's belly.
0:04:45 > 0:04:47It sounds like a big op. It is a big op.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49But it's the safest way.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51Is she going to be awake, or, like, asleep?
0:04:51 > 0:04:52No, she's going to be awake.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55- She'll be no different to what she is there.- OK.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57She won't feel a thing, though.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59Not after this injection numbs her side.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06I feel so bad.
0:05:06 > 0:05:08She must feel really, really scared.
0:05:10 > 0:05:15With Cheddar now chilled, Nyatepe clips her side for surgery.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20You need to get rid of that bit because that's got muck on it.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23That's it. Over the whole area.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26And Josh makes sure her belly is completely germ-free.
0:05:26 > 0:05:27All the bits that's clipped.
0:05:29 > 0:05:30While Graeme scrubs in.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32As clean and as sterile as possible.
0:05:36 > 0:05:37She's not liking this, is she?
0:05:37 > 0:05:40She wants to get it out the back end now.
0:05:40 > 0:05:44Mum's all ready to go, so Graeme makes the first cut.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47- Oh!- Is that the baby?
0:05:47 > 0:05:50- Ah, no, that's the fat.- So we're going through the muscle there.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53I have never seen this before.
0:05:53 > 0:05:55No, not many people have, Josh.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01It was, like, the goriest thing I've ever seen.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03Because you saw all of its intestines
0:06:03 > 0:06:05and it was all hanging out.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07Ooo, there's blood squirting out.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12How badly could you get injured if she kicked you?
0:06:12 > 0:06:14- Quite badly.- Whoa!
0:06:18 > 0:06:20Coming up, can the Junior Vets
0:06:20 > 0:06:23help the newborn take its very first breath?
0:06:23 > 0:06:26Poke some straw up its nose and get it breathing.
0:06:31 > 0:06:3411-year-old Guinness and his owner, Alistair,
0:06:34 > 0:06:35are no strangers to Vet School.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39And sadly, yesterday, a scan revealed
0:06:39 > 0:06:43the poor lurcher has a huge growth inside his body
0:06:43 > 0:06:45attached to an organ called the spleen.
0:06:46 > 0:06:50Everyone's worried it could be cancerous and life-threatening.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56So today, he faces major surgery.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58And Junior Vets Bonte and Jamie
0:06:58 > 0:07:00will be looking after the nervous patient.
0:07:00 > 0:07:01- Hi.- Hello.
0:07:01 > 0:07:03We're going to be taking care of him today.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05Great.
0:07:05 > 0:07:06And I'm sure he'll be OK.
0:07:06 > 0:07:10He doesn't like being in the vets. He gets quite scared.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13Don't worry, Alistair, your old pal is in safe hands.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16My Junior Vets know just how important today's operation is.
0:07:16 > 0:07:19We're going to take him away now for surgery
0:07:19 > 0:07:20and spend a bit of time with him.
0:07:20 > 0:07:22- OK?- OK. Thank you.
0:07:24 > 0:07:27He had a big, huge tumour on his spleen.
0:07:27 > 0:07:29Spleen, yeah. And we had to perform...
0:07:29 > 0:07:32So we had to remove that, perform an operation to remove that.
0:07:32 > 0:07:34- A splenectomy.- Yeah.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37You're taking part in major surgery.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40I know. It's really exciting, but nerve-racking as well, yeah.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43How dangerous an operation is this?
0:07:43 > 0:07:46I expect it's quite dangerous if it goes wrong.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49- But I don't think it's too bad.- Yeah.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52And what will happen if Guinness doesn't get this operation?
0:07:52 > 0:07:55Well, I think it might spread and get bigger.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57Because he can't feel it or anything.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00It doesn't affect him right now. He's a really good dog, though.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07First, the team need to prepare their patient for surgery.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10One, two, three. All right, sweetheart.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12- Aw!- There's a good boy. All right.
0:08:14 > 0:08:18He's given an injection to make him unconscious.
0:08:18 > 0:08:20- Good boy.- All done.
0:08:21 > 0:08:25He's a bit nervous, but Bonte does a fab job of settling him.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28Guinness? You're such a good boy!
0:08:30 > 0:08:32As the anaesthetic works its magic,
0:08:32 > 0:08:35Jamie keeps watch on his patient's heart rate,
0:08:35 > 0:08:38while Bonte helps put a tube into his airways
0:08:38 > 0:08:40- so he can breathe during his op. - Perfect.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43A quick clip and tummy trim...
0:08:46 > 0:08:49..and then the team scrub in for surgery.
0:08:49 > 0:08:50So, if you want to open your brush?
0:08:50 > 0:08:54This careful process makes sure no dangerous germs
0:08:54 > 0:08:57are brought into the operating theatre.
0:08:57 > 0:08:59Don't touch anything, Junior Vets.
0:08:59 > 0:09:03Dry those hands and carefully drop your towels on the floor.
0:09:04 > 0:09:06Chuck that away.
0:09:06 > 0:09:07Oh, no, no, no!
0:09:07 > 0:09:10N-o-o-o-o-o!
0:09:10 > 0:09:13Went to chuck the towel over my shoulder,
0:09:13 > 0:09:16it went on the table and contaminated it.
0:09:16 > 0:09:20- Yeah. That was...a bit awkward. - Yeah.
0:09:20 > 0:09:24Everything on the table will now have to be replaced.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27Come on, Junior Vets, there can be no more slip-ups from now.
0:09:27 > 0:09:28This is sterile, as well.
0:09:28 > 0:09:32The operation to remove Guinness's massive growth
0:09:32 > 0:09:33and spleen must get underway.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36Hands up, hands up. That's it.
0:09:37 > 0:09:39And later, how are these two going to cope
0:09:39 > 0:09:41with the pressure of major surgery?
0:09:41 > 0:09:45If at any point you don't feel well, you need to tell us.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53Robyn and Molly have been called down
0:09:53 > 0:09:56to Lightwater Valley theme park near Ripon,
0:09:56 > 0:10:00where some very unusual birds need their vet skills.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06My Junior Vets' patients today are rheas.
0:10:06 > 0:10:10A couple of big girls called Stilts and Stretch.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13They kind of made me laugh but also, I was a bit nervous
0:10:13 > 0:10:16because I was, like... Because they were so big and...
0:10:16 > 0:10:19Yeah, it was just a bit scary.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22- They're amazing! - They're really tall!
0:10:23 > 0:10:28- They're like them emu things that you get in deserts.- Yeah!
0:10:28 > 0:10:31Good spot, Robyn. Rheas are related to emus
0:10:31 > 0:10:33and ostriches and come from South America.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37These birds are at risk from tiny parasites called gapeworm
0:10:37 > 0:10:39that can be deadly to rheas.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42So today, vet Jason from Westway Vets
0:10:42 > 0:10:46is hoping to give them some medicine to stop them getting worms.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49- How big do they grow?- They are about fully-grown at the minute.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52The birds can get to, um...when stood upright
0:10:52 > 0:10:55with their heads up, nearly five foot.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57- That's taller than us.- I know!
0:10:57 > 0:10:59Stilts and Stretch are 18 months old
0:10:59 > 0:11:02and they've never needed vet treatment...until today.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05We plan to give them a full health check
0:11:05 > 0:11:08and we'll attempt to worm them, as well.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11And also, before we can do anything, we need to catch them,
0:11:11 > 0:11:12which will be very interesting.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14Are we actually going to catch them?
0:11:14 > 0:11:17- Well...- We'll try! - The proof is in the pudding.
0:11:17 > 0:11:20It's quite interesting because it was, like, the first time
0:11:20 > 0:11:23those two had ever had, like, a vet check.
0:11:23 > 0:11:26Extra help over here, please.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29Oh, good. Expert bird handlers, Chris and Phil,
0:11:29 > 0:11:31from the park's bird-of-prey centre.
0:11:31 > 0:11:32Is this going to be easy?
0:11:32 > 0:11:35I'm not too sure, Robyn, how easy it's going to be
0:11:35 > 0:11:37because it's the first time we've ever done it.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39- So we're not too sure what the rheas are going to do.- Ever?
0:11:39 > 0:11:41No, we've never done it before.
0:11:41 > 0:11:43So it's new to us and it's new to them.
0:11:46 > 0:11:48- So, does that make you more nervous? - Yeah.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51- Well, don't be, OK? We're professionals.- OK.
0:11:51 > 0:11:53- It makes me more excited.- Excellent.
0:11:53 > 0:11:54Right, well, let's go and try it.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57They look like they're quite active down there.
0:11:57 > 0:12:02Phew! They're active all right, Chris. Carefully does it.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05Rheas can run at speeds of over 30 miles an hour.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07And if they panic, those big, powerful feet
0:12:07 > 0:12:10can deliver a dangerous kick.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13And later, the rheas kick up a fuss
0:12:13 > 0:12:17as we try to give them potentially life-saving treatment.
0:12:20 > 0:12:24At the small animal hospital, 11-year-old lurcher, Guinness,
0:12:24 > 0:12:26is about to have important surgery.
0:12:26 > 0:12:28And Junior Vets, Bonte and Jamie
0:12:28 > 0:12:30are part of the team that's trying to help him.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33He needs a huge growth and his spleen,
0:12:33 > 0:12:36an organ that stores blood, removing
0:12:36 > 0:12:39because the vet team are worried the growth is life-threatening.
0:12:39 > 0:12:44This surgery is going to need focus and concentration, you two.
0:12:44 > 0:12:46- It was our first operation we did at Vet School.- It was, yeah.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49So it was quite... I was quite nervous before it.
0:12:49 > 0:12:52And I didn't want to do anything wrong.
0:12:52 > 0:12:54- Are you comfy?- Yeah.
0:12:54 > 0:12:56This is going to be a very gory operation.
0:12:56 > 0:13:00Even experienced vet students faint in ops like this.
0:13:00 > 0:13:05If at any point you don't feel well, you need to tell us, OK?
0:13:05 > 0:13:08Because I don't want you to fall into the dog.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10I don't want you to fall off, away from the dog.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13I don't want any injuries. OK? So I'm going to start.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19We're underway. Surgeon Sam and the Junior Vets
0:13:19 > 0:13:21make the first cut on their patient.
0:13:24 > 0:13:29He's an old dog. Being unconscious for a long time could be dangerous.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34The team need to work quickly and carefully.
0:13:37 > 0:13:40We don't know what it is. We know there is a growth there,
0:13:40 > 0:13:42so we know its got a lump on its spleen,
0:13:42 > 0:13:49but until we've sent the lump off to be looked at, we don't know.
0:13:52 > 0:13:53This your big moment, Bonte.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56She's actually operating the cauteriser,
0:13:56 > 0:13:59which is a machine that burns through blood vessels
0:13:59 > 0:14:01and stops patients from bleeding too much.
0:14:01 > 0:14:03Keep holding until it gives you a nice beep.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05Keep going, keep going, keep going.
0:14:05 > 0:14:08- BEEP! - That's it.
0:14:09 > 0:14:13- Is that the lump? - So this is the lump.- Whoa!
0:14:15 > 0:14:18Jamie, can you put your hand on there and just hold that for me?
0:14:18 > 0:14:20Perfect.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23So, did you think that you would be holding a dog's spleen?
0:14:23 > 0:14:25- No.- No.
0:14:26 > 0:14:30The lump is almost out. Jamie needs steady hands now.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34So Bonte can help Sam make the final cut.
0:14:34 > 0:14:39And I just want you to cut from here to the end with your tips. OK?
0:14:41 > 0:14:45Now, this is a heads-up. Look away if you're squeamish
0:14:45 > 0:14:48because the growth and spleen is huge and bloody.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51- There we go.- Yay! - You've removed a spleen.- I told you.
0:14:51 > 0:14:55Though the spleen's useful as it stores blood,
0:14:55 > 0:14:57a dog can live quite happily without it.
0:14:57 > 0:14:59Now the wound can be rinsed
0:14:59 > 0:15:02to make sure they get rid of any blood clots.
0:15:02 > 0:15:04It's called lavaging.
0:15:04 > 0:15:08Yeah, we're lavaging. We're removing any remaining blood.
0:15:08 > 0:15:11Fancy! Jamie's sounding like a fully-trained vet already!
0:15:11 > 0:15:14It was all right, really. I thought I would be sick, but I'm not.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17- You did really well.- Thank you.
0:15:17 > 0:15:21- After 90 minutes, surgery is finished.- It is quite heavy.
0:15:21 > 0:15:23Jamie gets the growth and spleen
0:15:23 > 0:15:26ready to be sent off to the lab for tests.
0:15:33 > 0:15:35There's the dog we know and love.
0:15:35 > 0:15:37There you go. You see?
0:15:37 > 0:15:39I thought they did really well.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42I think it was quite a gory surgery, if you like,
0:15:42 > 0:15:44for them to all of a sudden be involved in,
0:15:44 > 0:15:46having never seen anything like it before.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49And I was a bit worried that they might, you know,
0:15:49 > 0:15:52they might not get through it, but, no, they were both great.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57It's not an everyday job that, like, a 12-year-old gets to do.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01- Yeah.- And it gives you, like, a real insight of being a vet
0:16:01 > 0:16:03and it's just amazing.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09You have to have some skill to do that. And I think we did it well.
0:16:11 > 0:16:15It's going to be a good few days before Guinness's results come back.
0:16:15 > 0:16:16Good luck, old boy!
0:16:20 > 0:16:22Back at the theme park's bird centre,
0:16:22 > 0:16:25Robyn and Molly are about to go where no Junior Vet,
0:16:25 > 0:16:28in fact, no vet, has ever gone before.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31Stilts and Stretch, two big, beaky, South American rheas,
0:16:31 > 0:16:34are about to have their first ever vet check
0:16:34 > 0:16:37and need worm treatment to prevent dangerous parasites.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40Before all of that, they need catching.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46We were just excited about it. They were quite scared of us.
0:16:48 > 0:16:50Whoa!
0:16:50 > 0:16:55Now, rheas can run quicker than the fastest person on earth,
0:16:55 > 0:16:56so the team need somebody who can match
0:16:56 > 0:16:59rheas' long-legged natural athleticism.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06Oh, yeah. I'm up for this job, all right!
0:17:06 > 0:17:07Um...sort of.
0:17:07 > 0:17:09So, we'll push 'em round here.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11Give 'em no means of escape.
0:17:11 > 0:17:12No, definitely not.
0:17:12 > 0:17:14Coax them towards the pen.
0:17:14 > 0:17:18The worming treatment is vital, it could save their lives.
0:17:18 > 0:17:19But we can't get near them.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24It's not going quite according to plan at the moment.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26They're just basically running away as soon as they see us,
0:17:26 > 0:17:29feeling spooked and going off into the corner. Oh hang on,
0:17:29 > 0:17:32- here they come, here they come. - You're all right, don't worry.
0:17:32 > 0:17:34Are they liable to peck aggressively?
0:17:34 > 0:17:37- They can kick, can't they?- Yeah, kicking's the worst, yeah.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40They've got really powerful feet.
0:17:41 > 0:17:45Yeah. Those big clawed feet wouldn't half do some damage.
0:17:45 > 0:17:47But it's not putting my junior vets off.
0:17:47 > 0:17:49Quick, quick, quick, come on, before they run away.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51They're running away. Come on. Quick!
0:17:53 > 0:17:57And, finally, we get Stilts and Stretch into the holding pen.
0:17:57 > 0:17:59That's it. Yes! Yes.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03Now, be warned, birds do poo when they're nervous.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05- That was a wet one!- Oh, it stinks!
0:18:06 > 0:18:09You know what that is? Rhea diarrhoea.
0:18:09 > 0:18:10Oh...
0:18:12 > 0:18:15We can't start the treatment until the poo piles are cleared,
0:18:15 > 0:18:18so the pooper really does need scooping.
0:18:18 > 0:18:19Junior vets!
0:18:19 > 0:18:22- Right. You can scoop.- Thanks!
0:18:23 > 0:18:25There's loads of it!
0:18:25 > 0:18:27- Beautiful!- Urgh, it stinks!
0:18:29 > 0:18:31- Go on, then.- Urgh-ee!
0:18:32 > 0:18:33Now the tricky bit.
0:18:33 > 0:18:37Actually getting to grips with those strong birds so we can treat them.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40Thankfully, vet Jason hatches a plan.
0:18:42 > 0:18:44I think if all three of us come in this corner
0:18:44 > 0:18:45and move on them fairly quickly.
0:18:51 > 0:18:52Yikes!
0:18:53 > 0:18:54As long as there's no poo in that.
0:19:01 > 0:19:02What are you doing with the socks?
0:19:02 > 0:19:05What we're doing with the sock is by covering their eyes, it calms
0:19:05 > 0:19:08the birds right down and makes it a loss less stressful for the birds.
0:19:08 > 0:19:10But, to me, that would make me worse.
0:19:10 > 0:19:14Cos if I can't see anything, I just start panicking.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18Before Stilts and Stretch can have their worming medicine,
0:19:18 > 0:19:21Robyn and Molly need to give them their first ever medical.
0:19:24 > 0:19:26- Aw, amazing!- It's going a bit faster than normal,
0:19:26 > 0:19:27cos it's a little bit stressed.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29That's one healthy heartbeat.
0:19:29 > 0:19:31See that little ring at the back?
0:19:31 > 0:19:35- Yeah.- Yeah, and a tongue. It all looks healthy.
0:19:35 > 0:19:36And a tiptop mouth.
0:19:38 > 0:19:40- Right. Who wants to have a go at worming them?- Ah!
0:19:40 > 0:19:42Me, please.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45This medicine will prevent them getting dangerous parasites
0:19:45 > 0:19:47called gapeworm.
0:19:47 > 0:19:51Into there and squirt it, yeah. Beautiful. And that's it wormed.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53- Can I worm this one, please? - Yeah.
0:19:55 > 0:19:57- There?- Yeah.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00Done. Our rheas are medicined and cleared for take off
0:20:00 > 0:20:01from the holding pen.
0:20:04 > 0:20:07Stilts and Stretch are fit, healthy and will be worm free,
0:20:07 > 0:20:12thanks to the work of my fearless, though rather cheeky, junior vets.
0:20:14 > 0:20:18- Alex?- Yeah.- You know these, erm, rhea birds?- Yeah.
0:20:18 > 0:20:20They've got quite a look about yer.
0:20:20 > 0:20:24Molly, do you think I look like a rhea?
0:20:24 > 0:20:26- Yeah.- Is there any more poo that needs cleaning up?
0:20:26 > 0:20:30- Yeah. There's just some there. - Yeah. Go on. Get on with it then.
0:20:31 > 0:20:35Molly and Robyn did really well today. Their enthusiasm was great.
0:20:35 > 0:20:36They both wanted to get involved.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39I think they potentially could both make great vets.
0:20:39 > 0:20:42- It was really good. They made you feel like proper vets.- Yeah.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45When we were like worming them and stuff. I didn't even think
0:20:45 > 0:20:49that we'd be that close to them. And putting the worming stuff in their mouth.
0:20:49 > 0:20:51Picking who was the best out of two I think would probably be
0:20:51 > 0:20:54a bit unfair to them. I think they were both really great.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56And they both stepped up to the mark.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05At the farm in Northumberland, Josh and Nyatepe are preparing
0:21:05 > 0:21:07for the ultimate vet job.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09Aw.
0:21:09 > 0:21:13Cow, Cheddar, is about to give birth to her first ever calf.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16But her calf is huge and it's not safe for her to give birth
0:21:16 > 0:21:19naturally, so the team need to help get her baby out by cutting
0:21:19 > 0:21:21through her tummy.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27What I've found in here is the back legs of the calf.
0:21:27 > 0:21:32- Wow!- That's a back foot, there, and that's another one there.
0:21:32 > 0:21:34Jonathon puts the ropes onto the feet.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39I've just put a little bit of pressure on there.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47Wow! That is so beautiful.
0:21:47 > 0:21:52It was amazing cos, like, a new life, has never smelt before,
0:21:52 > 0:21:56has never seen before, and it looked really healthy.
0:21:56 > 0:22:01Cheddar's calf is alive but she needs help to start breathing.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04Poke some straw up its nose and get it breathing.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15Josh tickles the newborn's nose.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18The calf takes her first ever breath.
0:22:20 > 0:22:22She looks really cute.
0:22:22 > 0:22:23I want to take it home.
0:22:28 > 0:22:33When it started...breathing and it just made me
0:22:33 > 0:22:35feel a bit excited and happy.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38While Mum is being stitched, Josh and Nyatepe take charge of
0:22:38 > 0:22:40caring for her baby.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44Brush that on his back and it helps him breathe better as well.
0:22:47 > 0:22:49It's such a cutie.
0:22:51 > 0:22:55I've got some antibiotics in this syringe. That's to stop the calf
0:22:55 > 0:22:57picking up infection and to help fight it.
0:22:57 > 0:22:59Over to you, Nyatepe.
0:22:59 > 0:23:01OK, squirt it in slowly.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06My junior vets have got this calf off to a great start.
0:23:10 > 0:23:12But now she needs her mum.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15It's OK, Cheddar. You'll be with your baby soon.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18Boys, do you just want to come see... You take that leg, Nyatepe,
0:23:18 > 0:23:22- and Josh, you talk to her. - It's slippery.
0:23:22 > 0:23:23It's all right.
0:23:26 > 0:23:27Look, you got loads of hay there.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32The vet team move out so that Mum can move in and meet her calf
0:23:32 > 0:23:34for the very first time.
0:23:36 > 0:23:37It's OK, Cheddar.
0:23:41 > 0:23:43Cheddar must bond with her baby so the calf
0:23:43 > 0:23:45will take the all-important milk
0:23:45 > 0:23:48that will protect her from nasty diseases.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51What we're looking for is the cow to be looking after the calf
0:23:51 > 0:23:54and the calf to be looking to get a suckle off her mother,
0:23:54 > 0:23:57- so how do you think we're doing? - Ooh, I think it's...
0:23:57 > 0:24:01No, the calf's trying to find the udder to get a suckle of milk...
0:24:01 > 0:24:06- Yeah.- ..and the cow isn't too happy about him doing that.
0:24:06 > 0:24:07Come on, Cheddar.
0:24:12 > 0:24:17They had to get the calf and put it next to the teat
0:24:17 > 0:24:18so it could have the milk.
0:24:21 > 0:24:22Oh, what if she kicks its head.
0:24:22 > 0:24:24- Yeah.- That might be fatal.
0:24:26 > 0:24:28Ooh, she's sucking.
0:24:30 > 0:24:32- Does that mean she's bonding? - Yeah.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35If she didn't like it, she would be kicking and jumping about.
0:24:35 > 0:24:38She's been very quiet all the way through the whole procedure.
0:24:38 > 0:24:41She only tried to kick me once.
0:24:43 > 0:24:47It's still early days for Mum and her baby but Josh is confident
0:24:47 > 0:24:49that Cheddar will make a great mum.
0:24:49 > 0:24:53I think she's got a feeling inside that it's my baby
0:24:53 > 0:24:57and I want to look after it for my life...
0:24:57 > 0:24:59and love it to bits.
0:25:02 > 0:25:06Do you want to go over and see now it's had a suckle and make sure it's full?
0:25:07 > 0:25:09Does that feel full?
0:25:10 > 0:25:13Oh, yeah. It's definitely full.
0:25:14 > 0:25:18When I was finished, I was so proud of myself cos now
0:25:18 > 0:25:23I can say to people that I've helped bring a calf into the world.
0:25:24 > 0:25:28Both Josh and Nyatepe have been unbelievably impressive.
0:25:30 > 0:25:32Very interested in what we were doing
0:25:32 > 0:25:35and I would have to put them both on an even standing.
0:25:35 > 0:25:37They both did really well in my eyes
0:25:37 > 0:25:39and it's been a pleasure being with them today.
0:25:49 > 0:25:53Ah, nice to see this lot all clean and germ free.
0:25:54 > 0:25:56It's been a day of ground-breaking firsts for everyone.
0:25:56 > 0:26:00So how am I supposed to pick out a winner from those top efforts?
0:26:00 > 0:26:03- Junior vets!- Hi! - Welcome back to Vet School.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06The stuff that you did earlier was incredible.
0:26:06 > 0:26:08Some of it was unusual, some of it was quite gory.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10Some of it was actually unusual and gory.
0:26:10 > 0:26:14Robyn and Molly had to first catch and then give live wire rheas,
0:26:14 > 0:26:19Stilts and Stretch, their first ever vet check and medical treatment.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22Bonte and Jamie became my first junior vets to take part in
0:26:22 > 0:26:24Vet School surgery.
0:26:24 > 0:26:27Lurcher Guinness needed a huge lump removing but it was no sweat
0:26:27 > 0:26:28for these two.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31And they don't get bigger than this.
0:26:31 > 0:26:34Cheddar the cow needed surgery to help her give birth for the first
0:26:34 > 0:26:38time, and Nyatepe and Josh helped her calf take its first breath.
0:26:40 > 0:26:44The toughest of calls but vets of the day must be picked.
0:26:44 > 0:26:47And the vet that was helping the junior vets on this one
0:26:47 > 0:26:51was completely blown away by their performance.
0:26:51 > 0:26:55So, our vets of the day today are Nyatepe and Josh.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58Congratulations lads. Well done!
0:26:58 > 0:27:00That was brilliant, that was.
0:27:00 > 0:27:02Truly breathtaking vet work
0:27:02 > 0:27:05that deserves, well, a breather and a break.
0:27:05 > 0:27:09- I thought we done best...- Yeah. - Cos...- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11Because... Number one, that's it.
0:27:13 > 0:27:15But it's not a sweeping statement to say the other's
0:27:15 > 0:27:18were unlucky this time. Great work all round.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21Fancy getting vetting yourself?
0:27:21 > 0:27:24Well, hit over to the CBBC website right now,
0:27:24 > 0:27:27and you'll find a special patient needing your expert help.
0:27:30 > 0:27:33Next time on Junior Vets...
0:27:33 > 0:27:35things get all flappy and cracky...
0:27:35 > 0:27:38..furry and scanny...
0:27:38 > 0:27:40..and wriggly and clippy.