0:00:02 > 0:00:04We Brits love our animals...
0:00:05 > 0:00:08..from livestock in the fields
0:00:08 > 0:00:10to pooches in the park.
0:00:12 > 0:00:15It's the job of the nation's vets to keep them healthy.
0:00:17 > 0:00:19Whether consulting in the countryside...
0:00:19 > 0:00:22It's one of the better parts of the job, really,
0:00:22 > 0:00:23when you can help create new life.
0:00:27 > 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 > 0:00:40..they're passionate about their patients.
0:00:40 > 0:00:41Hey, little miss.
0:00:41 > 0:00:44I am now known as the mad chicken lady.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53On call when the animals need them most...
0:00:53 > 0:00:55If we leave it any longer,
0:00:55 > 0:00:58he almost certainly is going to not make it.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03..they're the dedicated vets patching up pets,
0:01:03 > 0:01:09and caring every day for more creatures, great and small.
0:01:18 > 0:01:20Coming up...
0:01:20 > 0:01:24in Dunfermline, vet Adam's patient has him bucking up his ideas.
0:01:24 > 0:01:26HE YELLS
0:01:26 > 0:01:31In Teesdale, farm vet Graham is called to an emergency.
0:01:31 > 0:01:3350% of them, we don't save,
0:01:33 > 0:01:35because we haven't got there quickly enough.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38Whilst small animal vet Steve is on puppy patrol,
0:01:38 > 0:01:40and helps a seriously sick mum.
0:01:40 > 0:01:43Motherhood not so much fun, after all.
0:01:43 > 0:01:46But I want you to see marked improvement over 24 hours.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53The kingdom of Fife in Scotland,
0:01:53 > 0:01:56home to the vets of Inglis veterinary practice.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59There's no way this calf's going to come out the proper way.
0:01:59 > 0:02:03With 370 square miles of agricultural land,
0:02:03 > 0:02:07there's plenty of livestock to keep the team busy.
0:02:07 > 0:02:13Senior vet Adam's latest patient is his very own Shetland pony.
0:02:13 > 0:02:15PONY WHINNIES
0:02:15 > 0:02:17No, that's not good, chap.
0:02:17 > 0:02:19Being a sucker for a stray animal
0:02:19 > 0:02:23has led to a house, and field, full of pets.
0:02:23 > 0:02:27We've got two guinea pigs, two cats, and we've got Hector, as well.
0:02:27 > 0:02:29But this adopted stray
0:02:29 > 0:02:31has been more of a gamble.
0:02:31 > 0:02:35One of the nurses said, "I hear you've got a bit of grass
0:02:35 > 0:02:38"that needs eating." I went, "Yeah, yeah," and she said,
0:02:38 > 0:02:41"Would you fancy looking after a Shetland pony?" I went, "Yeah, OK."
0:02:43 > 0:02:48At 34 inches, Hector is a little pony with a big personality
0:02:48 > 0:02:50and an even bigger attitude.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56You're a bit of a nuisance, though, at the moment, hey?
0:02:56 > 0:02:58Hector's big problem is, he's very friendly,
0:02:58 > 0:03:01but maybe a wee bit over-friendly, aren't you, Hector?
0:03:01 > 0:03:04I think a lot of that's down to the fact that he's 14 years old
0:03:04 > 0:03:06and still entire. He's got testosterone flowing
0:03:06 > 0:03:09round the system, he doesn't quite know which way
0:03:09 > 0:03:10to outlet that at the moment.
0:03:10 > 0:03:14Unlike most male ponies his age, Hector hasn't been castrated,
0:03:14 > 0:03:17which can make him unpredictable.
0:03:17 > 0:03:19He's scaring Adam's children.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23Ten-year-old Thea is wary of him.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25As for her brother...
0:03:25 > 0:03:27Freddie doesn't really like coming in the field
0:03:27 > 0:03:30cos Hector gets a wee bit too excited.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35And he's too unpredictable for animal company.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38Poor old Hector. He's got this big field, and he's pretty lonely,
0:03:38 > 0:03:40and he'd love to have some friends.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43Come on, come on. Are you fed up now?
0:03:43 > 0:03:46To take away some of these troublesome hormones,
0:03:46 > 0:03:50Adam has decided it's time for the snip.
0:03:50 > 0:03:54Want a wee mint? Let's have a look, shall we, hey?
0:03:54 > 0:03:56Are you good?
0:03:59 > 0:04:02Normally, you'd castrate a pony at a much younger age.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05But we didn't have him when he was younger,
0:04:05 > 0:04:08so we've only had him the last year, and we're guessing his age at 14.
0:04:08 > 0:04:12But it's not going to be an easy job.
0:04:12 > 0:04:14I can feel that they are pretty large.
0:04:14 > 0:04:16All right, Hector?
0:04:16 > 0:04:18HE YELLS
0:04:18 > 0:04:21All right, little man. OK.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24Right, Hector, you ready? We're going to do this in one...
0:04:24 > 0:04:27Go, go, go. Come on.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30Whoa! Come on, Hector, come on.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34Castrating an older pony is a big operation,
0:04:34 > 0:04:39so Adam has arranged to get it done at Loch Leven Equine Hospital.
0:04:39 > 0:04:40HORN BEEPS REPEATEDLY
0:04:42 > 0:04:45We're hoping to do the operation sort of mid-afternoon tomorrow.
0:04:45 > 0:04:49There'll be an anaesthetist, and an LS.
0:04:49 > 0:04:54There'll also be a surgeon, and I'm the co-surgeon for the day,
0:04:54 > 0:04:59on the basis that I've not done a horse castration for about 15 years.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03It's a serious operation, but Adam knows it's for the best.
0:05:03 > 0:05:08I absolutely adore Hector, he's such a lovable little rogue,
0:05:08 > 0:05:11and I'm hoping after this operation,
0:05:11 > 0:05:14he's going to be more of a cuddly bear.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20But Hector's not too keen.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23HECTOR WHINNIES
0:05:25 > 0:05:28He's OK.
0:05:28 > 0:05:32Hector, Hector, shh, shh! Calm down, calm down.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35Come on, then, gorgeous. You've not been inside for ages, have you?
0:05:35 > 0:05:37OK, OK. All right.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40He normally lives out in the wind, and the rain,
0:05:40 > 0:05:42and the storms, and the snow,
0:05:42 > 0:05:43so he's not been inside,
0:05:43 > 0:05:45I don't think, ever.
0:05:45 > 0:05:51So it's five-star accommodation for Hector tonight, hey?
0:05:51 > 0:05:55Adam leaves Hector to have a good night's sleep before the big day.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10In County Durham, Castle Vets
0:06:10 > 0:06:13have over 500 farms on their books,
0:06:13 > 0:06:16looked after by large animal vets like Graham.
0:06:19 > 0:06:21Yeah, stings a bit.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24He works at the practice alongside his girlfriend,
0:06:24 > 0:06:27and fellow farm vet, Erica.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29It's actually the first time that we've co-habited
0:06:29 > 0:06:33and worked at the same time.
0:06:33 > 0:06:34You're fairly good to work with.
0:06:34 > 0:06:36SHE CHUCKLES
0:06:36 > 0:06:39Easier to work with than live with, you'd probably say.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43Graham's been qualified for four years,
0:06:43 > 0:06:45but only moved to Teesdale nine months ago.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47I'm Graham.
0:06:47 > 0:06:49Nice to meet you.
0:06:49 > 0:06:51As a large animal vet,
0:06:51 > 0:06:54I guess you really are thrown out on your own to begin with.
0:06:54 > 0:06:58I don't think there's a lot, really, that can prepare you for that.
0:07:01 > 0:07:05And today, Graham's thrown straight into an emergency.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10He's on his way to a 200-acre cereal and cattle farm.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13One of the herd of 100 cows has suddenly collapsed
0:07:13 > 0:07:18with a case of magnesium deficiency, known as staggers.
0:07:18 > 0:07:22You just have to drop everything when it's a case of staggers,
0:07:22 > 0:07:24because timing's absolutely crucial, really.
0:07:24 > 0:07:27Farmer Alan knew to call the vet straightaway.
0:07:27 > 0:07:31I was just putting some feed in the feeders for the calves,
0:07:31 > 0:07:33and she was just laid on her own.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36So I came down to see what was amiss.
0:07:36 > 0:07:40The cow's nervous system needs magnesium to function.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43Low levels in her bloodstream have led to muscle spasms
0:07:43 > 0:07:45and convulsions.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49Possibly in another half-hour to an hour, she could be dead, you know.
0:07:49 > 0:07:53That's how quickly it can get hold of them.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57But with swift treatment, it can be completely cured.
0:07:58 > 0:08:02We need to get something into her straightaway, which we've done.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05Got some magnesium and calcium and glucose into her vein
0:08:05 > 0:08:09in her neck here, and we've just given some under the skin, as well.
0:08:11 > 0:08:12This one that I've put in under the skin,
0:08:12 > 0:08:15I'm just spreading out over a larger area
0:08:15 > 0:08:17so that it'll get absorbed into the body a bit quicker.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20Magnesium deficiency is common in autumn.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23At this time of year, the grass is still growing
0:08:23 > 0:08:24because it's quite warm,
0:08:24 > 0:08:28but it's not picking up a lot of magnesium out of the soil.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32Now, cows need to eat magnesium every day from their diet,
0:08:32 > 0:08:34they can't store it in their body,
0:08:34 > 0:08:37and when they get deficient in it, they go down like this,
0:08:37 > 0:08:40with tremors and staggering about,
0:08:40 > 0:08:43which is why it's called staggers.
0:08:43 > 0:08:45Hopefully, we've got to it early enough.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48He checks his cows a couple of times a day, at least.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50We'll just try and get her sat up,
0:08:50 > 0:08:53see if we can make her look a bit more comfortable.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56They always look a bit better when they're sat up.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59Good thing here is that she's bright and alert,
0:08:59 > 0:09:01and she's responding to the other cows.
0:09:01 > 0:09:03But she's still quite shaky.
0:09:03 > 0:09:07If you can just look at her head there, she's still wobbly
0:09:07 > 0:09:10so, you know, that's part of the staggers.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17She's probably just not quite aware of where she is.
0:09:17 > 0:09:19She has had a sedative injection,
0:09:19 > 0:09:23which probably doesn't help with her muscle coordination,
0:09:23 > 0:09:26so it'll be part of the muscles filling themselves up
0:09:26 > 0:09:29and getting the balance of salts right in them,
0:09:29 > 0:09:33which is why she's not just 100% on those legs.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36Probably 50% of them, we don't save,
0:09:36 > 0:09:38just because we haven't got there quickly enough.
0:09:38 > 0:09:43Graham's quick intervention means this cow is recovering already,
0:09:43 > 0:09:48although it will take time for her magnesium levels to rebalance.
0:09:48 > 0:09:50Might just go and right her again, maybe.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01Right, we're going to beat a hasty retreat now.
0:10:02 > 0:10:04..I hope so, yeah.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08Alan has already been leaving mineral tubs
0:10:08 > 0:10:09with magnesium for the herd.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12Graham suggests a new technique.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15It comes as a powder, which you can put into the water troughs.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18So long as it's the only source of water on the pasture,
0:10:18 > 0:10:20then the cows will go to that.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23With additional magnesium supplements,
0:10:23 > 0:10:26Alan's herd will hopefully stay free of staggers.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29And this cow will be up in a few hours.
0:10:44 > 0:10:46At the equine hospital in Kinross,
0:10:46 > 0:10:50Adam's pet pony Hector is about to undergo a castration.
0:10:50 > 0:10:52He's a sweetheart, isn't he?
0:10:54 > 0:10:59This should remove the testosterone that's making him antisocial.
0:10:59 > 0:11:01ADAM YELLS
0:11:01 > 0:11:03..and scaring Adam's children.
0:11:03 > 0:11:07The kids love him, but are slightly terrified of him at the same time.
0:11:07 > 0:11:12But fond of his little rogue, Adam is nervous about the operation.
0:11:12 > 0:11:17Hector being older means there's more risks with this kind of surgery,
0:11:17 > 0:11:20so we have to be jolly careful.
0:11:20 > 0:11:24Being a vet, Adam will be helping with the procedure.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27Just putting a catheter in Hector's neck,
0:11:27 > 0:11:30and they'll need a catheter in his neck
0:11:30 > 0:11:32so when they administer the anaesthetic,
0:11:32 > 0:11:34they can give it straight into the vein.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37So you're taking this like a real man, aren't you?
0:11:42 > 0:11:46Hector is taken to a special padded room called a knock-down box.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49The cushioned walls and floor should stop him hurting himself
0:11:49 > 0:11:53as he collapses after the anaesthetic.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56I would probably just push him against the wall that way,
0:11:56 > 0:11:58and then when he comes down, he's got the catheter up.
0:12:16 > 0:12:18Now anaesthetised,
0:12:18 > 0:12:22the safest way to move 210kg Hector to the operating table
0:12:22 > 0:12:24is by winch and pulley.
0:12:31 > 0:12:32In general, one in 100 horses
0:12:32 > 0:12:35suffers complications under anaesthetic,
0:12:35 > 0:12:38so anaesthetist Jenny is kept on her toes.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40Just trying to monitor him,
0:12:40 > 0:12:42keep a standard heart rate all the way through,
0:12:42 > 0:12:43make sure that the pulse ox
0:12:43 > 0:12:45is telling me that he's breathing enough,
0:12:45 > 0:12:48and make sure he's maintaining his blood pressure
0:12:48 > 0:12:50to prevent any problems with the anaesthetic.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53The potentially risky operation
0:12:53 > 0:12:56is run by equine surgeon Hugh Sommerville.
0:12:56 > 0:12:58Adam is co-surgeon.
0:13:01 > 0:13:03That's the midline incision,
0:13:03 > 0:13:06which we're just stroking through the top layers first.
0:13:06 > 0:13:10Just sealing off...the tunic,
0:13:10 > 0:13:13which has got the testicle and all of the blood vessels inside it.
0:13:13 > 0:13:15One of the problems, as the horses get older,
0:13:15 > 0:13:18is the guts coming out of the same hole,
0:13:18 > 0:13:20because the inside of this sac communicates with the abdomen,
0:13:20 > 0:13:23inside the belly. And that is the main thing to avoid.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26So this is called a closed castration, So, in effect,
0:13:26 > 0:13:29with this first suture there, I've shut off his abdomen
0:13:29 > 0:13:32so his guts can't come out of the same hole.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36Large blood vessels feed the testicles,
0:13:36 > 0:13:39which are cut through and sealed with special clamps.
0:13:39 > 0:13:42Some pretty major blood vessels in here
0:13:42 > 0:13:47which, you know, if you were not to seal off properly
0:13:47 > 0:13:50would almost certainly cause Hector to bleed to death.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56After the refresher from Hugh, it's now Adam's turn.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01I've done plenty of castrates in dogs in the last few years,
0:14:01 > 0:14:04but I've not done one in a horse for a long time.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07Everything's just much bigger and much more, er,
0:14:07 > 0:14:09kind of slightly more dangerous.
0:14:12 > 0:14:14How long are you going to be now, please?
0:14:14 > 0:14:16Anaesthetist Jenny keeps an eye on the time.
0:14:16 > 0:14:20Hector's been under for almost an hour already.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23Three minutes, by the time we've de-robed him.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25The last stitches are tied off...
0:14:27 > 0:14:30..and Hector is winched to the padded recovery area.
0:14:33 > 0:14:37But he could still injure himself as he comes round.
0:14:39 > 0:14:41We keep an eye on them as much as we possibly can do.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44Adam and the team can't relax just yet.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48Well done. Well done, you've done yourself proud.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55And there's no let-up in Barnard Castle,
0:14:55 > 0:15:00where small animal vet Steve has a full day of consults.
0:15:00 > 0:15:01Dougie Smith, please.
0:15:01 > 0:15:06I feel kind of that my working life is divided into ten-minute slots...
0:15:06 > 0:15:09- Reuben James, please. - Come on. Reuben.
0:15:09 > 0:15:11You sort of spend your time looking to the next one
0:15:11 > 0:15:15and, before you know, the day is gone and suddenly, the week's gone again.
0:15:17 > 0:15:19Steve's been in the job for 17 years,
0:15:19 > 0:15:22almost a lifetime for some.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26I've now been here long enough that I actually have seen
0:15:26 > 0:15:29quite a lot of animals from puppyhood or kittenhood
0:15:29 > 0:15:31all the way through to old age
0:15:31 > 0:15:34and, you know, I've taken that journey with them.
0:15:36 > 0:15:40And starting her journey into motherhood is Steve's next patient.
0:15:40 > 0:15:44Border Collie Ola has just had her first litter,
0:15:44 > 0:15:46but owner Lynn is deeply worried about her.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50She's just had pups,
0:15:50 > 0:15:52three days old,
0:15:52 > 0:15:54and she's not right.
0:15:54 > 0:15:58I don't know what's the matter with her. She's not eating or anything.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00So I'm panicking. She'd be trying
0:16:00 > 0:16:03to have a go at everything in here, normally.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09HE TALKS SOOTHINGLY TO DOG
0:16:09 > 0:16:12Motherhood not so much fun, after all.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15- You see how red her ears are, really hot.- Mmm.
0:16:18 > 0:16:22It's reading 40.5 Centigrade.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25It should be 38.5, so, yeah,
0:16:25 > 0:16:29that's a good, horrible, achy temperature.
0:16:29 > 0:16:33Ola's high temperature indicates a nasty infection.
0:16:33 > 0:16:37Where we'd instantly go looking would be womb.
0:16:37 > 0:16:42I think she's infected, or she is brewing an infection in the womb.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46All right, my sweetheart. Let's just get her to stand, if we can.
0:16:46 > 0:16:48Ola, come, baby, come.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51That's it, my sweetie. Go on.
0:16:51 > 0:16:54That's it. I know, it's a bit odd, isn't it?
0:16:54 > 0:16:56Let's have a feel of the back end.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59Very empty, obviously, without the eating.
0:16:59 > 0:17:01Intestines are...
0:17:01 > 0:17:03are empty as well.
0:17:05 > 0:17:07This mum's been off her food for two days,
0:17:07 > 0:17:10but she needs calories to make the half pint of milk
0:17:10 > 0:17:13her seven puppies suckle daily.
0:17:13 > 0:17:15So I'm going to put her onto antibiotics and give her
0:17:15 > 0:17:17something to bring her temperature down as well,
0:17:17 > 0:17:19so we get her eating. I want you to see
0:17:19 > 0:17:23marked improvement in 24 hours. She really must be...
0:17:23 > 0:17:28bright and eating. That's very important for those pups.
0:17:28 > 0:17:30We don't want her milk to dry up.
0:17:30 > 0:17:33She's got milk there, it's just that it will deplete
0:17:33 > 0:17:37so quickly with a temperature like that, so we'll get her back.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39- All right?- Yep.- There you go, Ola.
0:17:39 > 0:17:41- Thanks a lot.- You're welcome.
0:17:44 > 0:17:46- I've got it.- Spare hand.
0:17:46 > 0:17:50With antibiotics, Ola will hopefully beat the infection fast
0:17:50 > 0:17:52and get back to feeding her puppies.
0:18:01 > 0:18:03Across the farmlands of County Durham,
0:18:03 > 0:18:06there's another mum in trouble.
0:18:06 > 0:18:08Vet Graham's on an emergency call -
0:18:08 > 0:18:10a cow is having difficulty giving birth.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19Farmer Christopher thinks the calf is badly positioned.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22The head is down, instead of coming up into the birth canal.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24It's going to be diving like that,
0:18:24 > 0:18:26or the head is going to be back to one side,
0:18:26 > 0:18:29so it's going to be a case of correcting it
0:18:29 > 0:18:33and then seeing whether we can deliver it naturally.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36Because if we don't make any progress in the first sort of
0:18:36 > 0:18:40ten, 15 minutes, then we might have to think about alternative options,
0:18:40 > 0:18:42getting the calf out by caesarean.
0:18:42 > 0:18:44At three quarters of a tonne,
0:18:44 > 0:18:46mum is not to be reckoned with.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49So Christopher tries to move her into the crush,
0:18:49 > 0:18:52where Graham can safely examine her.
0:18:52 > 0:18:54At least we'll be able to get my hands in,
0:18:54 > 0:18:57hopefully safely, and just see what the problem is.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03Graham can now check the calf's position.
0:19:03 > 0:19:05But he's in for a surprise.
0:19:05 > 0:19:06All sorts of things could go wrong.
0:19:06 > 0:19:09It's either got two heads or there's twins.
0:19:09 > 0:19:13Twins is usually good because it means the calves will be small.
0:19:13 > 0:19:16The difficulty is, we've got to make sure we get the right legs
0:19:16 > 0:19:18coming with the right head.
0:19:18 > 0:19:23The calves' legs are slippery, so rope helps to get a grip.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26If you want to just grab her tail, that's great.
0:19:26 > 0:19:31Graham has another piece of kit to help pull the calf out.
0:19:31 > 0:19:34This device is the calving aid, or a calving jack.
0:19:34 > 0:19:36You can put a hell of a lot of power on with this,
0:19:36 > 0:19:38so we've got to use it judiciously.
0:19:52 > 0:19:54But then...
0:19:54 > 0:19:55the cow goes down.
0:19:55 > 0:19:57Don't sit down!
0:19:59 > 0:20:03This is the scenario you don't want, where the cow goes down.
0:20:04 > 0:20:06But with two pairs of hands...
0:20:08 > 0:20:10Go on, lass, give us a push.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15..a bull calf is safely delivered...
0:20:16 > 0:20:20That's great. And we'll see if we can get his mate out.
0:20:21 > 0:20:23It's a heifer,
0:20:23 > 0:20:25so we've had one of each there.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27..followed quickly by his sister.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30We'll take her over there, shall we, and...
0:20:32 > 0:20:34Off she goes!
0:20:34 > 0:20:37It's nice to be able to calf one. The last three I've done
0:20:37 > 0:20:38have all been Caesareans.
0:20:38 > 0:20:42So just feel the heartbeat there. There's a little bit of flickering
0:20:42 > 0:20:45on the chest, so she's got a good, strong heartbeat
0:20:45 > 0:20:48and she's breathing as well, so that's good.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52The calves need their mum now.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55The sooner she bonds with them, the better. And, er,
0:20:55 > 0:20:57she'll do as good a job of rousing them as us.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00With a good, sharp tongue, she'll quickly dry them out.
0:21:00 > 0:21:02Hopefully, it'll stimulate them to get them on their feet
0:21:02 > 0:21:04and want to get to suckle from her.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11- Looks like she likes them anyway, doesn't it?- It's promising, anyhow.
0:21:11 > 0:21:15Yes. It's amazing, isn't it? That instinct, you know,
0:21:15 > 0:21:19no-one has taught her that she needs to nurse these calves.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22But as soon as they're born, she's there.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25It's one of the better parts of the job really,
0:21:25 > 0:21:27when you can help create a bit of new life.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30Especially when it's twins, it's a bit more special that way.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33When you sign up to do the job, it's perhaps one of the things
0:21:33 > 0:21:37that you look forward to, that sort of outcome,
0:21:37 > 0:21:40so hopefully, they'll get on and do well.
0:21:45 > 0:21:4920 minutes later, the twins are up and suckling from mum.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00At the Equine Hospital in Kinross, Shetland pony Hector
0:22:00 > 0:22:03is recovering from his castration.
0:22:07 > 0:22:12His hormone overload led to the potentially risky operation.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15So there's some pretty major blood vessels in here,
0:22:15 > 0:22:17where if you were not to seal off properly,
0:22:17 > 0:22:21would almost certainly cause Hector to bleed to death.
0:22:21 > 0:22:23Adam was with him throughout the op.
0:22:23 > 0:22:25We're halfway there, Hector.
0:22:29 > 0:22:32The surgery's gone well, but it's still a dangerous time.
0:22:32 > 0:22:34Horses can injure themselves
0:22:34 > 0:22:37when they come round after a general anaesthetic.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40The padded knock-down box should protect him.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43This is some oxygen that Jenny's going to feed into him as well,
0:22:43 > 0:22:45so it just helps his recovery.
0:22:45 > 0:22:48- You're pretty happy with his anaesthetic?- It's been great,
0:22:48 > 0:22:50he's been breathing really nicely throughout it.
0:22:50 > 0:22:54I'm very proud, Hector. Well done for not letting anyone down.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56You've done yourself proud.
0:22:59 > 0:23:03Jenny and Hugh make a quick exit as soon as Hector begins to wake up.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09Steady, steady.
0:23:09 > 0:23:13And soon, the plucky little fella is standing strong.
0:23:14 > 0:23:18Hector, you did jolly well. I am such a proud dad!
0:23:18 > 0:23:20You got upright. You went to sleep right.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24- I'll just leave him to chill there. - For 20 minutes, half an hour,
0:23:24 > 0:23:26before we take him back in to a stable.
0:23:28 > 0:23:30I was a bit nervous of Hector being
0:23:30 > 0:23:33so much bigger than my normal kind of surgery.
0:23:33 > 0:23:35There were some big blood vessels to tie off.
0:23:35 > 0:23:38I hope he's still my friend.
0:23:38 > 0:23:42Half an hour later, Hector can go back to his stable.
0:23:42 > 0:23:44HECTOR WHINNIES
0:23:44 > 0:23:47Just take it easy, take it easy. Take it easy.
0:23:51 > 0:23:53Uncle Hugh has even made a bed up for you.
0:23:53 > 0:23:55HE WHINNIES
0:23:55 > 0:23:58I know, I know. Isn't that exciting?
0:23:58 > 0:24:00HE WHINNIES
0:24:00 > 0:24:03Adam leaves Hector overnight to recover.
0:24:03 > 0:24:04Night-night!
0:24:17 > 0:24:20Next day, Hector can go home.
0:24:21 > 0:24:27He's had the Ritz of places to stay compared to his field,
0:24:27 > 0:24:31so I think he won't be that happy about coming home maybe,
0:24:31 > 0:24:35but at least he'll know that nothing else nasty's going to happen to him.
0:24:35 > 0:24:36HECTOR NEIGHS I can hear him!
0:24:36 > 0:24:38Hello, Hector, you can hear me!
0:24:42 > 0:24:44Hi, Hector!
0:24:46 > 0:24:48How are you getting on?
0:24:48 > 0:24:50HECTOR NEIGHS
0:24:50 > 0:24:52Run, run, go, go, go! Come on!
0:24:54 > 0:24:56Brilliant!
0:24:59 > 0:25:00You OK, Hector?
0:25:01 > 0:25:04Hector looks absolutely fantastic.
0:25:04 > 0:25:06I am really, really pleased with how he's getting on.
0:25:06 > 0:25:09Greatest concern is when we get back to the field,
0:25:09 > 0:25:12he might suddenly decide to do the Grand National
0:25:12 > 0:25:14round the entire field.
0:25:16 > 0:25:1924 hours after his surgery, Hector's home,
0:25:19 > 0:25:22and desperate to stretch his little legs.
0:25:22 > 0:25:24OK, Hector.
0:25:24 > 0:25:26HECTOR WHINNIES
0:25:28 > 0:25:29Come on, then.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34HECTOR NEIGHS EXCITEDLY
0:25:34 > 0:25:37One, two, three, go, Hector! Go, go, go!
0:25:41 > 0:25:42Really happy to be home.
0:25:44 > 0:25:48It just looks right, as well, doesn't it? He's running around,
0:25:48 > 0:25:50mane flowing. HECTOR NEIGHS
0:25:50 > 0:25:53That's right, that's right! It's great, isn't it?
0:25:53 > 0:25:57Maybe you'll be a little less excited to see people this time, hey?
0:25:57 > 0:26:00It's a great result. I'm really pleased.
0:26:00 > 0:26:04The wound looks great and I think he's very happy to be home.
0:26:04 > 0:26:06Hopefully, this time next year,
0:26:06 > 0:26:08he'll have a few pals in the field with him.
0:26:08 > 0:26:12At 14, Hector could live for another 20 years and,
0:26:12 > 0:26:15with less of those troublesome hormones,
0:26:15 > 0:26:18he won't have to live out his days alone.
0:26:26 > 0:26:28In the surgery at Barnard Castle,
0:26:28 > 0:26:32small animal vet Steve has some new arrivals.
0:26:32 > 0:26:34Yep...
0:26:34 > 0:26:36Amazing, isn't it? And, of course, bruiser,
0:26:36 > 0:26:41getting his big chops in the way... Move, boy.
0:26:41 > 0:26:45In-between consults, he's playing midwife to mum Dixie
0:26:45 > 0:26:47and her first litter.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50You'd think, you know, after you've seen a hundred of them
0:26:50 > 0:26:52that, you know, it's all the same, but it's not.
0:26:52 > 0:26:56There's something incredibly special about watching life begin.
0:26:56 > 0:27:00Well done, poppet. You're being a brilliant mummy.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05But there's another new mum on his mind.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08Steve's checking Ola has recovered from her infection
0:27:08 > 0:27:10and is feeding her puppies.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14How's my girl? Hello, puppy!
0:27:14 > 0:27:18Come on, baby! Oh, look at your babies. How's my girl?
0:27:18 > 0:27:21- She's looking an awful lot better, isn't she?- 100 per cent.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24Look at this pile of happy puppies.
0:27:24 > 0:27:26Hi, babies.
0:27:26 > 0:27:28Are you feeling better now?
0:27:28 > 0:27:31Owners Brian and Lynn are very relieved.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34I know she's looking good and the pups are looking good,
0:27:34 > 0:27:37but it's nice to hear it from the person who saw her
0:27:37 > 0:27:40- when she was ill, if you like. - Lie down, baby.
0:27:40 > 0:27:41Let's turn you over.
0:27:41 > 0:27:43There you go, clever girl.
0:27:45 > 0:27:49Plenty of milk now. That's good.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52You know a litter is doing well when they can pile up like that
0:27:52 > 0:27:56with full bellies and no sound. They are completely content.
0:27:56 > 0:28:00She's done them really well, considering how ill she was.
0:28:00 > 0:28:01Can be proud of you, can't we?
0:28:01 > 0:28:04You've done well, clever girl!
0:28:06 > 0:28:09Steve lets sleeping puppies lie,
0:28:09 > 0:28:12after another day of Creatures Great and Small.