0:00:02 > 0:00:03We Brits love our animals...
0:00:05 > 0:00:09..from livestock in the fields to pooches in the park.
0:00:11 > 0:00:15It's the job of the nation's fits to keep them healthy.
0:00:17 > 0:00:19Whether consulting in the countryside...
0:00:19 > 0:00:22There is something very nice about being next to a nice cow.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29..or horsing around in the stables...
0:00:29 > 0:00:32I spend all my job outwitting animals.
0:00:32 > 0:00:34Got him!
0:00:36 > 0:00:39..they're passionate about their patients.
0:00:40 > 0:00:41Little miss...
0:00:41 > 0:00:43I am now known as the mad chicken lady.
0:00:49 > 0:00:53On call when the animals need them the most.
0:00:53 > 0:00:54If we leave it any longer,
0:00:54 > 0:00:57he almost certainly is going to not make it.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02They're the dedicated vets, patching up pets
0:01:02 > 0:01:07and caring, every day, for more creatures great and small.
0:01:18 > 0:01:20Coming up...in Teesdale,
0:01:20 > 0:01:25equine vet Kerry battles to save a very sick foal.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28The first 24 hours is critical, and a lot don't make it.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31Farm vet Richard makes do with an outdoor operating theatre.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34It's now looking horribly like it's going to pour with rain.
0:01:34 > 0:01:39And in Fife, small animal vet Adam has some unusual visitors.
0:01:39 > 0:01:41She doesn't look well, does she?
0:01:41 > 0:01:43She looks quite miserable, actually.
0:01:49 > 0:01:51In the rolling farmland of County Durham
0:01:51 > 0:01:55is the market town of Barnard Castle...
0:01:55 > 0:01:56and Castle Vets.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00Hi, Paul, how you doing? Nice to see you.
0:02:00 > 0:02:01Good to see you again.
0:02:01 > 0:02:03A busy country practice,
0:02:03 > 0:02:06their outdoor office covers over 500 farms.
0:02:09 > 0:02:11Doing my daily round,
0:02:11 > 0:02:15I feel a little like I am on the set of James Herriot.
0:02:16 > 0:02:20And looking after their 1,600 clients is the equine team,
0:02:20 > 0:02:24who clock up hundreds of miles every week...
0:02:24 > 0:02:26- Got a pony with a dodgy leg?- Yeah.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29Excellent, we're at the right spot.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32..dealing with routine calls and emergencies.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35Hello. Oh, dearie me.
0:02:35 > 0:02:39Those needing intensive care are treated in the equine clinic.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45There's no job too big or too small...
0:02:45 > 0:02:47OK, back up into canter.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49..for senior vet Sybil and the rest of the team.
0:02:49 > 0:02:50Good girl.
0:02:52 > 0:02:56Vet Kerry joined the practice two years ago.
0:02:56 > 0:02:58Right, missy, we'll let you have a good sleep.
0:03:02 > 0:03:04I'm pretty much there on where everything is.
0:03:04 > 0:03:06Occasionally, I will get lost,
0:03:06 > 0:03:09trying to find particular farms and things.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12It's quite nice to be out and about, as well, unless it's raining.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16It's physical work but emotional too.
0:03:16 > 0:03:17Good lass!
0:03:17 > 0:03:19You do certainly become attached,
0:03:19 > 0:03:21and it does get to you a little bit sometimes.
0:03:21 > 0:03:23You're ready for a glass of wine
0:03:23 > 0:03:26and a bar of chocolate at the end of the day!
0:03:32 > 0:03:35This morning, an emergency case has been rushed in.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38Luna is a miniature donkey foal who collapsed in the early hours.
0:03:40 > 0:03:44This way, please.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46Severely dehydrated from diarrhoea,
0:03:46 > 0:03:49she won't survive without immediate treatment.
0:03:52 > 0:03:5410.6 kilos.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57This patient is a first for Kerry.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02I haven't worked with a miniature donkey foal before.
0:04:02 > 0:04:04I think the great difference in this case is she's so young,
0:04:04 > 0:04:06so she's very tiny.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10Owner Janice found Luna in a bad way.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15Usual morning - six o'clock start. Went out to the stables,
0:04:15 > 0:04:20and the foal was laid on the concrete, which wasn't normal.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23Her ears were back, and she was quite lethargic.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26And I knew something was wrong.
0:04:26 > 0:04:30Just days old, Luna can't be separated from her mum, Sophia.
0:04:30 > 0:04:33I need to act really quite quickly
0:04:33 > 0:04:36and get her stabilised. The first few hours can be really
0:04:36 > 0:04:39critical in treating these poorly foals.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41So what we do is take a blood sample
0:04:41 > 0:04:44to have a look and see how dehydrated she is.
0:04:44 > 0:04:48And we'll give her a painkiller, and also she has got a high temperature.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51- That will also bring down her temperature.- Right.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54And we will give her antibiotics for the diarrhoea
0:04:54 > 0:04:56and we'll also start her on fluids to rehydrate her,
0:04:56 > 0:04:59because she is obviously quite weak and dehydrated at the moment.
0:04:59 > 0:05:00OK?
0:05:06 > 0:05:09She was just so bright yesterday morning.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12- I can't believe the difference. - Foals are absolutely like that.
0:05:12 > 0:05:16- They are right as rain one minute and then on the floor the next.- Yes.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20Come on, sweetheart. Come on. Don't put your ears back.
0:05:21 > 0:05:25We're going to get you better. Won't be long now.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27Luna is Janice's first foal.
0:05:29 > 0:05:33She was born two weeks ago last Saturday.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36She was born in the evening at ten to ten.
0:05:36 > 0:05:38Hence, that's her name. She was born under the moon.
0:05:38 > 0:05:40So hence Luna is her name.
0:05:42 > 0:05:44I am just like a mum with any young baby, really.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46You think it's beautiful.
0:05:51 > 0:05:53Kerry must get fluids into Luna's bloodstream
0:05:53 > 0:05:55or she could die within hours.
0:05:56 > 0:06:00The most crucial thing is to get a catheter into her vein.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03She's got tiny, little veins, so it won't be easy.
0:06:03 > 0:06:05Are you OK with her there or do you want to...?
0:06:05 > 0:06:07No, I'm all right. I'm just... just get on with it.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19- It's there. You're in. - It's there. It's in.
0:06:21 > 0:06:25Luna's blood tests have been rushed through. The results are worrying.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30So the white blood cells are low.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32That's often a sign that they are
0:06:32 > 0:06:34- going somewhere for some sort of infection.- Right.
0:06:34 > 0:06:38- So I'll go and work out some fluid doses for her. OK?- Yep, lovely.
0:06:39 > 0:06:41Right.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49We just have to cross our fingers and hope for the best,
0:06:49 > 0:06:52but she's in a good place, and we've done all we can.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56Kerry was due to finish her shift but, worried about Luna,
0:06:56 > 0:06:58she's not going anywhere.
0:06:59 > 0:07:03The plan through the night is to continue as we are with the fluids.
0:07:03 > 0:07:06The vets will be checking her through the night,
0:07:06 > 0:07:07so...a long night ahead of us.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11The next 24 hours will be critical.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15She's still very, very poorly. It's a big responsibility for me,
0:07:15 > 0:07:18but I am going to do my absolute best to make her better.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36It's a busy morning for the farm vets of the practice.
0:07:39 > 0:07:42Senior vet Richard knows all about life in the country.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47I was brought up on a dairy farm in Yorkshire.
0:07:47 > 0:07:52I had worked for seven years in farming of various sorts.
0:07:52 > 0:07:56I was 27 when I actually went to vet school.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58All right, girl. Come on.
0:07:58 > 0:08:02Becoming a vet gave me the chance of working
0:08:02 > 0:08:07with both my mind and with my hands with animals,
0:08:07 > 0:08:09which I knew I wanted to do, outside.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14Today the sun's shining on Teesdale,
0:08:14 > 0:08:16and Richard's on his way
0:08:16 > 0:08:19to a mixed farm, owned by John and his family.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25The Herberts have been clients of the practice for decades
0:08:25 > 0:08:27and decades, so people that we know well.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32This morning he's carrying out a vasectomy.
0:08:32 > 0:08:37Once the male sheep is infertile, he'll be known as a teaser tup.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41Strangely, he'll still help Farmer John to fill his 290 acres
0:08:41 > 0:08:43with lambs, come spring.
0:08:44 > 0:08:49Generally, we use the teasers to try and bring all sheep...
0:08:49 > 0:08:52to synchronise them, basically...
0:08:52 > 0:08:54to get the hormones going, I suppose,
0:08:54 > 0:08:57and to get them in mood, should we say?
0:08:57 > 0:09:00Then the teaser tups are swapped with fertile ones,
0:09:00 > 0:09:03so John's 40 ewes get pregnant at the same time.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08During lambing time, obviously, you live with sheep 24/7,
0:09:08 > 0:09:11so the sooner you can get them all lambed
0:09:11 > 0:09:14and moving on to the next stage, the better.
0:09:14 > 0:09:18Sounds simple, but giving the tup the snip has its challenges.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21Whenever we operate on any animal, whether it is a dog,
0:09:21 > 0:09:26cat, horse or a lamb, obviously we are trying to do it
0:09:26 > 0:09:29in as sterile and hygienic a way as we can.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32We have to try and do the best we can with what we have,
0:09:32 > 0:09:36and farms are not the cleanest places in the world.
0:09:36 > 0:09:38It certainly is a challenge.
0:09:41 > 0:09:46John has very cleverly manufactured an operating table
0:09:46 > 0:09:49using his pallet forks and some buckets,
0:09:49 > 0:09:52so we'll work round that as best we can.
0:09:53 > 0:09:55Can we get just a couch of straw or something
0:09:55 > 0:09:57just to save my aged knees?
0:09:57 > 0:10:00Open-air operating room complete,
0:10:00 > 0:10:02Richard checks his patient
0:10:02 > 0:10:04is fit to go under the knife.
0:10:05 > 0:10:07Can you just move this thing?
0:10:07 > 0:10:09I'm just going to have a feel of his tackle.
0:10:11 > 0:10:13That's perfect. Good. Lovely.
0:10:14 > 0:10:16Transferred to the table...
0:10:16 > 0:10:19You comfy? The big lever.
0:10:24 > 0:10:26..and adjusted for Richard's knees...
0:10:28 > 0:10:29he's anaesthetised.
0:10:30 > 0:10:35Good boy. That should send him to beddy-byes. Fast asleep.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39It's a straightforward op, but in a working farmyard,
0:10:39 > 0:10:44it's not easy to keep the client and tools sterile.
0:10:44 > 0:10:46It's all about working out what he needs
0:10:46 > 0:10:48and making sure you have got it.
0:10:48 > 0:10:52And not leaving too many things behind in the car boot,
0:10:52 > 0:10:55because, obviously, once I have scrubbed my hands up
0:10:55 > 0:10:58and I am wearing gloves, I want to stay sterile,
0:10:58 > 0:11:03so I want to get everything ready before I start.
0:11:03 > 0:11:08It is going to pour with rain next, isn't it?
0:11:08 > 0:11:11This tup's slow in falling into a deep sleep.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14Whoa...go to sleep.
0:11:14 > 0:11:16It is just about going to be on my eye level,
0:11:16 > 0:11:19so I don't want his foot in my face, ideally.
0:11:19 > 0:11:22But as much as anything, he needs to sit very still,
0:11:22 > 0:11:25because the vas deferens I'm going to take out
0:11:25 > 0:11:27is a fairly small structure, and there's no way
0:11:27 > 0:11:31in the world you could do it if you were jumping about.
0:11:32 > 0:11:36Having been glorious sunshine when we started,
0:11:36 > 0:11:40it is now looking horribly like it is going to pour with rain,
0:11:40 > 0:11:43just to add to the challenge of operating outside.
0:11:45 > 0:11:49The tup is almost ready for the snip, but with dark clouds
0:11:49 > 0:11:53gathering, Richard's outdoor operating theatre is under threat.
0:12:03 > 0:12:07It's an early start at the equine hospital, where vet Kerry
0:12:07 > 0:12:09is fighting to keep little Luna alive.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13It's been 24 hours since she was rushed in,
0:12:13 > 0:12:17suffering from a life-threatening stomach infection.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20We just have to cross our fingers and hope for the best.
0:12:21 > 0:12:23It's a big responsibility for me,
0:12:23 > 0:12:27but I'm going to do my absolute best to make her better.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30Kerry nursed Luna late into the night.
0:12:32 > 0:12:33Did you get any sleep?
0:12:33 > 0:12:36Some. I went to bed about 12 o'clock.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39Often with foals that are as poorly
0:12:39 > 0:12:41as she was yesterday, the first 24 hours are critical,
0:12:41 > 0:12:43and a lot don't make it,
0:12:43 > 0:12:45so the fact that she is still here today
0:12:45 > 0:12:47is absolutely brilliant news.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50So fingers crossed that we're going in the right direction.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52But Luna's not out of the woods yet.
0:12:52 > 0:12:54A vital test will show
0:12:54 > 0:12:58if she's getting enough fluids to survive the devastating infection.
0:12:58 > 0:13:00I've got this much... That's enough.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03We have been trying to catch a sample for the last 24 hours.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07Testing the urine for its concentration
0:13:07 > 0:13:09is a really good way of checking how well hydrated they are,
0:13:09 > 0:13:12as well as just looking at the bloods.
0:13:12 > 0:13:16The refractometer shows the concentration of Luna's urine.
0:13:16 > 0:13:20If it's too concentrated, it means she's still dangerously dehydrated.
0:13:20 > 0:13:24It's something called specific gravity that we look for.
0:13:24 > 0:13:29So hers is...10.14. So that is brilliant.
0:13:29 > 0:13:34We are definitely on the right track with that drip we have got our on.
0:13:34 > 0:13:38Small signs of hope for owner Janice, who's had an anxious night.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41They said they would text me about midnight,
0:13:41 > 0:13:44so I couldn't rest at all until I had had the text
0:13:44 > 0:13:47to say at least she was stable and that they were monitoring her,
0:13:47 > 0:13:50so I couldn't think about anything else
0:13:50 > 0:13:53than getting here this morning. I am pleased now that I am here.
0:13:53 > 0:13:57So, all in all, you think it was like a human's tummy bug?
0:13:57 > 0:14:01Yes, basically. She's picked up a bug from somewhere -
0:14:01 > 0:14:03most likely the environment.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06It is one of those things that, you know, they live outside,
0:14:06 > 0:14:08and because she's so tiny, it takes hold really quickly,
0:14:08 > 0:14:12especially when, you know, they get dehydrated very, very quickly.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18Luna, like all young foals, is vulnerable to infection,
0:14:18 > 0:14:21because, at the tender age of two weeks old,
0:14:21 > 0:14:24she's already spending much of her time outdoors.
0:14:24 > 0:14:27She lives on Janice's farm with her mum
0:14:27 > 0:14:29and two other miniature donkeys.
0:14:29 > 0:14:31Hello, sweetie.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37We were all there for Luna's birth.
0:14:37 > 0:14:38We were on foal patrol.
0:14:38 > 0:14:42A few little pushes and she was out. She stood up.
0:14:42 > 0:14:45She is certainly very close to my heart.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48Just such a sweet little foal, running about the paddock.
0:14:50 > 0:14:51Bought a couple of years ago,
0:14:51 > 0:14:53her donkeys have quickly become pets.
0:14:55 > 0:14:58I've only had them a very short amount of time.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01I had no idea how attached I was going to become to them.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04They are so endearing and so loving.
0:15:04 > 0:15:06They are so genuinely pleased to see you.
0:15:06 > 0:15:08They're like an equine version of a dog, really.
0:15:17 > 0:15:22It's just 48 hours since she was brought in, and Luna is, at last,
0:15:22 > 0:15:24showing some fighting spirit.
0:15:24 > 0:15:26We're just putting in another catheter
0:15:26 > 0:15:27to the other side of her neck,
0:15:27 > 0:15:32so it is quite a fiddly job, partly because she is so little,
0:15:32 > 0:15:33and also because now she's feeling
0:15:33 > 0:15:36a bit better about herself, she's much jumpier
0:15:36 > 0:15:38and more aware of what we're doing.
0:15:40 > 0:15:43Just put a small stitch in there.
0:15:43 > 0:15:45Did she head-butt you?
0:15:45 > 0:15:49Luna putting up a fight for her second catheter to be placed
0:15:49 > 0:15:50was great to see.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53She is really bright and feisty, so hopefully this a turning point
0:15:53 > 0:15:55for her in her stage of getting better.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03Luna's little strops are all good signs.
0:16:03 > 0:16:05Looks like Kerry may have pulled her through.
0:16:14 > 0:16:16In Scotland...
0:16:16 > 0:16:18on the banks of the Firth of Forth,
0:16:18 > 0:16:22Inglis Veterinary Hospital is open for morning consults.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26Inglis Vets, Dunfermline. Leanne speaking.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28With over 100 patients a day,
0:16:28 > 0:16:30everyone's kept on their toes.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33Joanne, can you give us a hand to hold this?
0:16:33 > 0:16:39Small animal vet Adam treats everything from peacocks...
0:16:39 > 0:16:41to poodles.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44We get a huge caseload coming through our door.
0:16:44 > 0:16:48It makes our job really interesting and totally exhausting.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51You have got no idea what the next client coming in is going to be.
0:16:51 > 0:16:56It's like being on University Challenge every day.
0:16:56 > 0:17:00And Adam's first challenge is just arriving with owner Sean.
0:17:01 > 0:17:05This is Jojo. She's a jungle blazer leopard gecko
0:17:05 > 0:17:07and she's 15 month old.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11Toddler Jojo could live up to 20 years.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16So we've got a gecko waiting outside with sore eyes,
0:17:16 > 0:17:19which is quite scary, because we don't see many geckos.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21- So who have we got today?- Jojo.
0:17:21 > 0:17:23So what is the problem with her?
0:17:23 > 0:17:26She's been shedding her skin. It's got stuck over her eyes.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29She's still got a little bit over one of her eyes.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32Geckos shed their skin around 12 times a year,
0:17:32 > 0:17:35which they turn into vitamin-enriched meals.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40Oh, gosh - she's well-handled, isn't she?
0:17:40 > 0:17:41Fantastic.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43Right, I am going to shine a light.
0:17:43 > 0:17:45Now, this might just frighten her a little bit.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48It's really quite opaque.
0:17:48 > 0:17:50And also it's slightly sore,
0:17:50 > 0:17:54and you can see she is not able to shut her eyelids.
0:17:54 > 0:17:58I think it's because there is still quite a lot of matter in her eye.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01Pop in her box a second. She is certainly very lively, isn't she?
0:18:01 > 0:18:03Let's pop her in.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06That's it. Do you know what it is?
0:18:06 > 0:18:08She has sat in your hand for the last minute or two,
0:18:08 > 0:18:10and that's kind of warmed her up.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13I am just going to put that over the top.
0:18:13 > 0:18:15Did you try and remove those things at all?
0:18:15 > 0:18:18Just the skin that was over her actual head.
0:18:18 > 0:18:20Just dripping water onto her head.
0:18:20 > 0:18:24The other thing you can do is to make the environment quite steamy.
0:18:24 > 0:18:26You only need to do that for...
0:18:27 > 0:18:30- until the skin disappears, really.- Uh-huh.
0:18:30 > 0:18:34Some antibiotic drops will clear up her eye infection,
0:18:34 > 0:18:38but holding natural-born wriggler Jojo still may not be easy.
0:18:43 > 0:18:45Now, this is the tricky bit.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48You have got to be very careful.
0:18:48 > 0:18:49You just peel it in like that.
0:18:49 > 0:18:52And it sort of sits on the eye lids like that.
0:18:52 > 0:18:53That is absolutely fine.
0:18:55 > 0:18:59So I am just going to pop a wee drop... That is it. Brilliant.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02- And that's gone on perfect. - Excellent.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10- OK.- Thank you. - No problem. Bye-bye.- Bye.
0:19:13 > 0:19:16With expert handling, Jojo's on the road to recovery.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20As for Adam...next!
0:19:26 > 0:19:30In Teesdale, farm vet Richard is in the middle of a delicate operation.
0:19:32 > 0:19:37He's attempting a vasectomy on a tup, in the open air.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40We have to try and do the best we can with what we have,
0:19:40 > 0:19:44and farms are not the cleanest places in the world.
0:19:44 > 0:19:48Having been glorious sunshine when we started,
0:19:48 > 0:19:51it is now looking horribly like it is going to pour with rain.
0:19:51 > 0:19:55He's pushing on with the op before the heavens open
0:19:55 > 0:19:58and before the anaesthetic wears off.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01There is a bit of our breeze in the operating theatre.
0:20:01 > 0:20:02That doesn't help.
0:20:06 > 0:20:10That little white shiny thing is the vas deferens,
0:20:10 > 0:20:13so that is the bit that we need to remove.
0:20:13 > 0:20:18I want to cut out a goodish chunk so that there is no chance
0:20:18 > 0:20:19that it can join up again.
0:20:21 > 0:20:23But the weather is ever threatening.
0:20:25 > 0:20:29I'm hoping it will keep off for long enough that we can get
0:20:29 > 0:20:31the job done.
0:20:31 > 0:20:33That is the other end of the cord tied off.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36That's the first drop of rain, by the feel of it.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39I'm just going to pull all that together,
0:20:39 > 0:20:42ideally without my drape blowing away.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44And that, hopefully, is the last one.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49Job done. The tup can now sleep it off.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54There we go. Good. We'll just leave him.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56That seemed to go all right.
0:20:56 > 0:20:58He seemed quite happy with the operation.
0:20:58 > 0:21:00No big problems or anything.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03It is never quite as clean or as light as you would like,
0:21:03 > 0:21:05and I guess, in an ideal world,
0:21:05 > 0:21:09you wouldn't be operating on your knees,
0:21:09 > 0:21:12but we just have to make do and do the best we can,
0:21:12 > 0:21:14and, no, it worked fine.
0:21:14 > 0:21:18And for once, the Great British weather has behaved.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28At the equine hospital, vet Kerry is still nursing little Luna.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35Luna came in with a devastating stomach infection.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38The first 24 hours is critical.
0:21:38 > 0:21:42Kerry had never treated a miniature donkey before.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45It was a lot of responsibility on my shoulders.
0:21:46 > 0:21:51But four days later, all the hard work has paid off.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53Little Luna is better.
0:21:54 > 0:21:59It's stethoscopes at dawn, though, as to who gets to hold her.
0:21:59 > 0:22:00It's my turn. My turn.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08Right. All set, miss?
0:22:08 > 0:22:11We've taken Luna through to small animals to weigh her again.
0:22:11 > 0:22:15We have had a little argument to see who was going to carry her,
0:22:15 > 0:22:18because she is ever so sweet, and everyone wants a cuddle.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20So we did half and half.
0:22:20 > 0:22:24Her weight has remained stable, which is brilliant.
0:22:24 > 0:22:26Now fully on the mend, she can go home.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29Kerry has done a remarkable job.
0:22:29 > 0:22:32And although she didn't tell me in so many words,
0:22:32 > 0:22:36we both knew it was touch and go, really. And she did everything -
0:22:36 > 0:22:38more than would be expected.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41Tonight will be my first night of sleeping through the night
0:22:41 > 0:22:43since Luna arrived, so...
0:22:43 > 0:22:45we have been checking her through the night every day.
0:22:45 > 0:22:48And sat with her all day as well.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51Yes, it is pretty difficult not to get attached to her.
0:22:51 > 0:22:53She is absolutely adorable.
0:22:57 > 0:22:59Come on, sweetheart. This is Grandma.
0:23:01 > 0:23:03Look at those little hooves.
0:23:03 > 0:23:08Look at her little jump. Bless you.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11It is brilliant that she is going home, and I'm really pleased
0:23:11 > 0:23:14but also quite sad, because I am going to miss her.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17I don't think I will ever forget Luna.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22See you later!
0:23:25 > 0:23:28Happy endings like this are probably the main reason
0:23:28 > 0:23:32all of us wanted to become vets in the first place,
0:23:32 > 0:23:34so it's great. I'm ready for a good sleep tonight, though.
0:23:44 > 0:23:48In Dunfermline, vet Adam is still busy in the animal hospital.
0:23:48 > 0:23:50Ah, that's my finger!
0:23:52 > 0:23:55Up next is another test of his knowledge.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57With Lee is Nina.
0:23:57 > 0:24:01Tortoises are slow, but this one's not moving much at all.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05Can I have Nina, please? After you.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12- How old is Nina? - Nina, I believe, is three.
0:24:12 > 0:24:14And what seems to be the problem with Nina?
0:24:14 > 0:24:18Over the past couple of weeks, she has been getting quieter than usual.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21Where do you keep her?
0:24:21 > 0:24:24In a sort of wooden enclosure which has got three parts to it.
0:24:24 > 0:24:28- Is that indoors or outdoors? - Indoors.- It's all indoors.- Yes.
0:24:28 > 0:24:30The reason I am sort of asking a million questions
0:24:30 > 0:24:34is because most tortoise issues come from the husbandry, you know.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37So, in other words, if they're not getting enough daylight,
0:24:37 > 0:24:39they might have a vitamin D deficiency,
0:24:39 > 0:24:40which can cause bone problems.
0:24:40 > 0:24:42It depends on their diet as well,
0:24:42 > 0:24:44if they're getting enough calcium as well.
0:24:44 > 0:24:49I would like to get an X-ray of her. We can look at the bone density.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52Also, I'm going to start to hydrate her as well,
0:24:52 > 0:24:56so what we do is we pop her in a tray with warm water.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00Tortoise shells are made of bones fused together
0:25:00 > 0:25:03with a layer of leathery skin.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05Fortunately, X-rays can penetrate through,
0:25:05 > 0:25:08revealing the bones underneath.
0:25:08 > 0:25:09Great X-rays, by the way.
0:25:11 > 0:25:16I'm trying to look at the bone density. They're very light
0:25:16 > 0:25:18and thin as well.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23That's a sign that there is less calcium in the bones,
0:25:23 > 0:25:26and again a sign of vitamin D deficiency.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31She's also looking a bit dehydrated.
0:25:31 > 0:25:33So into a nice, warm bath -
0:25:33 > 0:25:35not too deep, though.
0:25:35 > 0:25:39Unlike their aquatic turtle cousins, tortoises can't swim.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41She's enjoying her bath.
0:25:41 > 0:25:45She's really enjoying that - she's all stretched out in there.
0:25:45 > 0:25:47She's feeling a lot happier.
0:25:47 > 0:25:51It's like a nice hot water bottle and a nice cup of Lemsip.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54Right, let's go and get your dad, shall we?
0:25:57 > 0:25:58She's really enjoying her bath.
0:25:58 > 0:26:01- Is she?- She's loving her bath.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03Let's go down to what I think is causing
0:26:03 > 0:26:06the problem at the moment, OK?
0:26:06 > 0:26:09Well, certainly underlying it is calcium deficiency.
0:26:11 > 0:26:13Have a good luck at the diet your giving her
0:26:13 > 0:26:16and just make sure that you're giving her all the right things.
0:26:16 > 0:26:22And secondly, the light. Vital.
0:26:22 > 0:26:23Good lighting internally.
0:26:23 > 0:26:25And there's no better thing for her than...
0:26:25 > 0:26:29- Direct sunlight? - Direct sunlight is fantastic.
0:26:29 > 0:26:32Obviously, it is the fact that... the temperature thing.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35You can't put her out for long periods of time.
0:26:35 > 0:26:36But I think, with these things,
0:26:36 > 0:26:38she should improve dramatically.
0:26:41 > 0:26:45So it's more sunshine and regular warm baths for Nina.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47Nice work, if you can get it!
0:26:56 > 0:26:58And it's more sunshine for Kerry too,
0:26:58 > 0:27:00who's checking up on her favourite patient.
0:27:03 > 0:27:07Just two weeks ago, she was battling to save Luna's life.
0:27:07 > 0:27:09Come on. Yeah.
0:27:11 > 0:27:13- Hello.- Hello.
0:27:13 > 0:27:17Right, little lady - how are we doing?
0:27:17 > 0:27:19- Absolutely fantastic. - She looks super, doesn't she?
0:27:19 > 0:27:22Her little neck is coming back, isn't it?
0:27:22 > 0:27:25There you go. It's nice to see those ears forward, isn't it?
0:27:25 > 0:27:27And where are you off to, little lady?
0:27:27 > 0:27:29She's gone.
0:27:29 > 0:27:30With the all-clear from Kerry,
0:27:30 > 0:27:33Luna is set free back into the paddock with her mum.
0:27:36 > 0:27:38Off she goes!
0:27:38 > 0:27:41She looks fantastic. She's come out with a little skip and a jump.
0:27:41 > 0:27:45She is just having a little nibble at the grass.
0:27:45 > 0:27:48She looks absolutely brilliant. It is wonderful to see her.
0:27:48 > 0:27:52Two weeks ago, neither of us thought this would be happening,
0:27:52 > 0:27:55so super. You wouldn't know at all now, would you?
0:27:55 > 0:27:57You wouldn't, no. It is just us.
0:27:57 > 0:28:02We're traumatised - I've aged about ten years in a week.
0:28:02 > 0:28:04So, er...
0:28:04 > 0:28:08- I never remember feeling like this about my human children.- Do you not?
0:28:08 > 0:28:10No, no.