0:00:02 > 0:00:04This time on Vets 24/7...
0:00:04 > 0:00:06there's an angry Tigger in the practice...
0:00:06 > 0:00:07MEOWS AND HISSES
0:00:07 > 0:00:09All right. All right. All right.
0:00:09 > 0:00:13..vet Becky is called out to a collapsed cow...
0:00:13 > 0:00:16Glucose levels would be down, she'd get dehydrated
0:00:16 > 0:00:17and she could die at the end of it.
0:00:17 > 0:00:21..and find out why Tonka the Bulldog's lost his lust for life.
0:00:24 > 0:00:28From Swansea to Neath and the pets that they treat.
0:00:28 > 0:00:30This is a week in the life
0:00:30 > 0:00:33of one of the largest veterinary practices in South Wales.
0:00:36 > 0:00:38This is Vets 24/7.
0:00:44 > 0:00:48For over 120 years, St James Veterinary Group in Swansea
0:00:48 > 0:00:51has been caring for all creatures, great and small.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57This morning, partner Gareth Field has an urgent case.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59Come straight through.
0:00:59 > 0:01:03Roxy the Staffordshire bull terrier has suddenly stopped walking
0:01:03 > 0:01:05and her owners, Babs and Neil, want an explanation.
0:01:05 > 0:01:09- Very worried about her cos she seems to be not using her back legs. - She's paralysed.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12- She's only young, isn't she? - Yeah, she's two.- Oh, dear.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15- And she was a little bit off... - Today, she can't do anything.
0:01:15 > 0:01:17She can't sit up? Good girl. Good girl, Rox.
0:01:19 > 0:01:23It's obviously a big worry when they're suddenly paralysed.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26- I've been awful upset this morning. - I can imagine. It's...
0:01:26 > 0:01:29- I would be too. It's a worry, isn't it?- I still am!
0:01:29 > 0:01:30Oh, darling.
0:01:32 > 0:01:35- And the front legs seem fine, do they?- Yep.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40- She's not happy with that, obviously not.- No. No
0:01:40 > 0:01:44I'm just turning her toes over, she should put them back properly.
0:01:44 > 0:01:48- She can't.- But she can't. Things they can get...
0:01:48 > 0:01:50They can get something called a slipped disc.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53Usually, that's old dogs that happens to.
0:01:53 > 0:01:55Otherwise, they can get something called an embolism,
0:01:55 > 0:01:57like a blood clot, on the spine.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01That can happen in young, healthy dogs. No-one knows why it happens.
0:02:01 > 0:02:05I think, really, we probably want to have her in today
0:02:05 > 0:02:08to try and find out what's going on with her if we can.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11- OK.- OK?- Bye-bye, darling.
0:02:11 > 0:02:15If you haven't heard from me in a couple of hours, just give us a ring.
0:02:15 > 0:02:17- All right. OK.- OK? - Thank you.- Bye-bye.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20Gareth is going to have to do some detective work
0:02:20 > 0:02:23to get to the bottom of Roxy's problem.
0:02:23 > 0:02:25There are some nasty things that we really need to try
0:02:25 > 0:02:27and rule out today, really.
0:02:27 > 0:02:31The next few hours, we'll hopefully have a few more results,
0:02:31 > 0:02:34a few more answers. It's a bit of a worry, but we'll see what we can do.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42The care of small animals like cats and dogs makes up
0:02:42 > 0:02:4580% of the work at the practice.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50In the kennels, Tigger the cat has been having treatment
0:02:50 > 0:02:53for his long-term waterworks problem.
0:02:54 > 0:02:58Because he's been in so much pain, he's not a big fan of vets.
0:02:58 > 0:03:00MEOWS AND HISSES
0:03:00 > 0:03:02All right. All right. All right.
0:03:02 > 0:03:03Sh, sh, sh, sh.
0:03:04 > 0:03:08Vet Becky Bradshaw is trying to get him ready to go home...
0:03:08 > 0:03:09It's all right, sweetheart.
0:03:09 > 0:03:13..and he's given the letters WI a whole new meaning.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15WI means watch it, basically.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18Some animals, they meow when you stroke their head
0:03:18 > 0:03:20and then you can see how quickly they change.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23and it's just for safety reasons...
0:03:23 > 0:03:25Dogs and cats can strike very quickly.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27If you're pre-warned that they can be like that,
0:03:27 > 0:03:30you're taking precautions to protect yourself and the animal.
0:03:30 > 0:03:31Goodness me.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36Tigger's owner, Mrs Harris, has arrived to take
0:03:36 > 0:03:38her beloved cat home.
0:03:38 > 0:03:39There's a good lad.
0:03:39 > 0:03:41Go on. In you go.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44Don't like it, I know you don't.
0:03:44 > 0:03:45Go on. That's a good lad.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48He'll be happy to come out of there at home, wouldn't he?
0:03:48 > 0:03:50Oh, yes. He hates this thing.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53Just monitor him now, the next couple of days, OK?
0:03:53 > 0:03:56Keep an eye on his weeing.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59- Are you looking forward to getting him home?- Yes. Yes.
0:03:59 > 0:04:03I miss him like hell. He's not the friendliest of cats at all,
0:04:03 > 0:04:07he can be quite aggressive but...
0:04:07 > 0:04:11I miss him when he's not there. I miss being bitten, for God's sake!
0:04:11 > 0:04:13- He's good company, isn't he? - Yes, he is.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15Oh, yes.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18I had him from Llys Nini, the RSPCA rescue centre,
0:04:18 > 0:04:22but I didn't know what on earth I was getting into then.
0:04:22 > 0:04:24He was just a pretty, black cat.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28You can't send him back, then, if he doesn't prove to be a lap cat.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30He's a little tinker, he really is.
0:04:30 > 0:04:32I've always got scratches and bruises
0:04:32 > 0:04:35and God knows what.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37Just take it as him now. It's just the way he is.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40- Bye, now. Bye-bye. - Bye-bye, Mrs Harris.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46There are 17 vets at the practice
0:04:46 > 0:04:50and senior partner Dai Roberts has put in over 30 years of service.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52Come on, then. Out you come.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56At his clinic today, Clara the cat has arrived with her owner, Mike,
0:04:56 > 0:04:59for a checkup and a manicure.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02- Her appetite now seems good, does it?- Yeah, it's OK.
0:05:02 > 0:05:03It's better than it has been.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06I'm more pleased about her breathing more than anything.
0:05:06 > 0:05:08MEOWS
0:05:08 > 0:05:11It would be a shame if she couldn't hear all the noise she was making!
0:05:11 > 0:05:14There you are, little 'un. Let's have a look, then.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24- When cats get older, they don't work on the nails so well.- She's lazy.
0:05:27 > 0:05:32- How old is she?- 14. We've been coming here for 27 years.
0:05:32 > 0:05:36Since 1980... Well, 1982, 1983.
0:05:36 > 0:05:40So we've known Mr Roberts since he's been quite young.
0:05:40 > 0:05:41MEOWS
0:05:41 > 0:05:46Some cats know how to deafen vets in the stethoscope.
0:05:48 > 0:05:49Good girl.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53In particular, she's got a bad thyroid, hasn't she?
0:05:53 > 0:05:55We reckon that that bad thyroid
0:05:55 > 0:05:58has caused her heart to have problems, so...
0:05:58 > 0:06:00MEOWS
0:06:00 > 0:06:02LAUGHTER
0:06:02 > 0:06:05There you are, look. Sian will be proud of her.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12Old age and a thyroid problem won't be stopping Clara.
0:06:12 > 0:06:16And with medication, she is living life to the full.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24Roxy the Staffordshire bull terrier has been sedated
0:06:24 > 0:06:26and is having an X-ray.
0:06:27 > 0:06:28OK.
0:06:29 > 0:06:34Gareth needs to discover the cause of her paralysed back legs.
0:06:34 > 0:06:36OK.
0:06:37 > 0:06:42These are the ribs. There's no fractures, there's no dislocations.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45The little black spaces in between each...
0:06:46 > 0:06:50You can see almost like a grey bridge between the two?
0:06:50 > 0:06:53It's quite faint, quite subtle,
0:06:53 > 0:06:56but that can be signs of spinal arthritis and things
0:06:56 > 0:06:58which she's very young for
0:06:58 > 0:07:01and something's happened to sort of tip her over the edge
0:07:01 > 0:07:03and make her paralysed overnight.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05It's a bit of a worry, really.
0:07:05 > 0:07:10With Roxy's X-ray inconclusive, a second opinion is of benefit.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15Gareth calls on the experience of partner Dai.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18Basically, she's a two-year-old Staffie,
0:07:18 > 0:07:21absolutely fine, no problem. Came down this morning
0:07:21 > 0:07:23and she was off her back legs, so paralysed on her back end.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26I'm a little bit concerned there might be some spondylosis.
0:07:26 > 0:07:27It's quite marked.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30You get the impression there's more than just that.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32Somewhere between there and there,
0:07:32 > 0:07:37there's probably a disc or something pushing into the spinal canal.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40By using an MRI scan, just going down it slowly,
0:07:40 > 0:07:45a specialist using that equipment will tell us exactly what's wrong.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48It doesn't come cheap, though. Some owners...
0:07:48 > 0:07:51You're talking £1,500 to have that done.
0:07:52 > 0:07:53Going backwards.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58There isn't an MRI animal scanner in Wales -
0:07:58 > 0:08:00the nearest is in Bristol.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05Roxy's owners made the decision to take her there later that day.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13The practice never sleeps.
0:08:13 > 0:08:15It's staffed 24 hours a day.
0:08:16 > 0:08:18And tonight, vet Becky is on call.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24It's 2am and Mr and Mrs Rees have arrived
0:08:24 > 0:08:27with their prize-winning corgi, Cherry Blossom
0:08:27 > 0:08:29who has some rather alarming symptoms.
0:08:29 > 0:08:33Put her up on the table. So she noticed a discharge, yes?
0:08:33 > 0:08:38- When she looked, first of all, it was green, then pus-y.- Yeah?
0:08:38 > 0:08:44For your information, she is Champion Stadwen Cherry Blossom.
0:08:44 > 0:08:47She's one of the best bitches in the country.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50She's a show bitch.
0:08:50 > 0:08:54It doesn't... It's quite a lot of pus, really.
0:08:54 > 0:08:56Becky's using an ultrasound scanner
0:08:56 > 0:08:59as she suspects that Cherry Blossom has a severe womb infection
0:08:59 > 0:09:01called pyometra.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05It's not a massive pyometra but there is one.
0:09:05 > 0:09:10It looks like it's going to be surgery for her.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13I'm awful sorry you won't be able to breed from her
0:09:13 > 0:09:15- but at least we caught it. - As long as she's all right.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18As long as she's all right, that's the most important.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21- We know very well it's a killer. - I know.
0:09:21 > 0:09:25I'll take you back out to reception now and we'll do a form, OK?
0:09:25 > 0:09:28You can say goodbye to her and see her in a few hours.
0:09:30 > 0:09:32She is a lovely, lovely girl.
0:09:32 > 0:09:34Aren't you, Cherry Blossom?
0:09:34 > 0:09:36Yes. Yes.
0:09:36 > 0:09:38Good girl.
0:09:38 > 0:09:40See you later, OK?
0:09:41 > 0:09:45Time is of the essence. A burst pyometra can be fatal.
0:09:48 > 0:09:50Becky needs to operate immediately,
0:09:50 > 0:09:52so Cherry Blossom is given an anaesthetic.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57The longer it's left there, the more dangerous it is.
0:09:57 > 0:10:01I've certainly seen dogs die of this condition,
0:10:01 > 0:10:06so I think it's really important that when you do see the signs,
0:10:06 > 0:10:09they are brought into us as soon as possible.
0:10:10 > 0:10:12Blade.
0:10:13 > 0:10:17Hundreds of dogs die from pyometra each year in the UK,
0:10:17 > 0:10:20so Becky needs to get to the infection fast.
0:10:20 > 0:10:22BEEP
0:10:22 > 0:10:23Small problem.
0:10:29 > 0:10:31There we go.
0:10:31 > 0:10:35So, I've taken all ovaries out now so, unfortunately,
0:10:35 > 0:10:39she won't be any longer able to have puppies, but she'll be alive
0:10:39 > 0:10:43and, no doubt, back in the showing world as a healthy dog.
0:10:47 > 0:10:51Cherry Blossom now needs to recover from her night-time operation.
0:10:51 > 0:10:55And, hopefully, Becky can get a few hours' sleep.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04The bread and butter of any vet's practice
0:11:04 > 0:11:07is the neutering of pets to stop them breeding.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09Come on, Tonks.
0:11:09 > 0:11:13Tonka the Bulldog has arrived with his owners Aled and Andrea.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18He's going to be neutered today to stop him getting so frisky.
0:11:20 > 0:11:24- He's normally a lot more bouncy than this, isn't he?- I think he knows.
0:11:24 > 0:11:28And partner Dai is going to do the dastardly deed.
0:11:28 > 0:11:32- So, it's not been an easy decision this one, has it?- No.
0:11:32 > 0:11:34But I think it has to be done.
0:11:34 > 0:11:38- You've tried to avoid the evil hour, mate, but...- The time has come.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41Oh, he's terrible. Whenever we go anywhere.
0:11:41 > 0:11:43I mean, he's brilliant, you can let off the lead
0:11:43 > 0:11:47and he's friendly, but he just wants to mount everything.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50He's looking so sorry for himself this morning.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53- I mean, he's normally quite... - I'm sure he knows.
0:11:53 > 0:11:57- He's normally really bouncy and happy.- He hasn't moved all morning.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00- I'll give you a ring when we've done him.- Brilliant.
0:12:00 > 0:12:02I'll walk him through, I think.
0:12:03 > 0:12:04Argh.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06Come on, fella.
0:12:13 > 0:12:15Being so close to the rural Gower Peninsula,
0:12:15 > 0:12:18the vets are often called out to care for large animals.
0:12:23 > 0:12:25Just five hours after performing
0:12:25 > 0:12:27Cherry Blossom's life-saving operation,
0:12:27 > 0:12:30vet Becky is at East Pilton Farm.
0:12:32 > 0:12:34One of farmer Brian Jones's cows is in trouble
0:12:34 > 0:12:38and has collapsed with suspected milk fever.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40But she hasn't been bothered since last night?
0:12:40 > 0:12:43Well, she's gone down in the night, hasn't she?
0:12:43 > 0:12:47- I can't give an answer on that, really.- OK, that's all right.
0:12:48 > 0:12:49This condition can be fatal.
0:12:49 > 0:12:53It's due to a lack of calcium, so Becky's injecting a supplement,
0:12:53 > 0:12:56directly into the cow's vein for maximum impact.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00- Do you want to put it up? - Yes, put it up and see.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03- You got it? Stretch, there's an air bubble in it at the moment.- Yeah.
0:13:03 > 0:13:05Calving time is the prime-time this happens,
0:13:05 > 0:13:07sort of, just after calving.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09It's when their calcium demand is the highest.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11- Still going in?- Yeah, it's going in.
0:13:12 > 0:13:14If we weren't to treat cow,
0:13:14 > 0:13:18her calcium levels would just fall rock bottom, really.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21You know, she's not getting up, she wouldn't eat.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24She would... Then, her glucose levels would be down,
0:13:24 > 0:13:28she'd get dehydrated and she could die, really, at the end of it.
0:13:28 > 0:13:32It's all down to the good observation by the farmer, really, of his cattle.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34And just to be on his toes,
0:13:34 > 0:13:36when he notices something's not right,
0:13:36 > 0:13:38to get attention as soon as possible.
0:13:39 > 0:13:43Working with large animals can be a physically demanding job
0:13:43 > 0:13:44for any vet.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47It's always going to be more of a challenge than if I was,
0:13:47 > 0:13:48you know, a guy, I think.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51I'm not going to have the strength that they have.
0:13:51 > 0:13:55You know, still can do everything technically the same,
0:13:55 > 0:14:00just sometimes have to rely on, sort of, farm help, really,
0:14:00 > 0:14:03and the farmers to, sort of, give us that extra muscles, really,
0:14:03 > 0:14:05in the time of need.
0:14:05 > 0:14:09You don't have to be a man or female, it's just,
0:14:09 > 0:14:11it's confidence with large animals, isn't it?
0:14:11 > 0:14:14- Animals pick up if you're not confident, too.- Yeah, they do,
0:14:14 > 0:14:18- pick up on your nerves. - If you get stuck in, you're fine.
0:14:18 > 0:14:20I don't find any different myself.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23- I think she's all right now, isn't she?- Yeah. Good.
0:14:24 > 0:14:29After Becky's medical intervention, the cow should make a full recovery.
0:14:36 > 0:14:37Back at the practice.
0:14:40 > 0:14:42It's time to put an end to Tonka's wandering ways.
0:14:45 > 0:14:47Although neutering is a routine procedure,
0:14:47 > 0:14:50senior vet Dai has his hands full,
0:14:50 > 0:14:54as Bulldogs often have breathing difficulties under anaesthetic.
0:14:57 > 0:15:01Sherry's monitoring the respiration.
0:15:01 > 0:15:05She's monitoring the heart rate and the oxygen
0:15:05 > 0:15:10and I am determined that Tonka doesn't get too deep because that is,
0:15:10 > 0:15:12to me, and you, Sherry, isn't it?
0:15:12 > 0:15:15What we're trying to avoid here, at the moment.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19It's a fast, clean operation.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22The vets perform around 50 of these procedures each week.
0:15:23 > 0:15:24Do you want me to turn it down?
0:15:24 > 0:15:28Yeah, put him down to one and a half, now, cos I really...
0:15:28 > 0:15:32I know it sounds a strange thing, but, basically, we want Tonka...
0:15:32 > 0:15:34Another two knot, go on.
0:15:34 > 0:15:38I want Tonka to, actually, practically walk off the table
0:15:38 > 0:15:40cos I want him to come round very quickly.
0:15:42 > 0:15:44Well, it'll improve everyone's quality of life
0:15:44 > 0:15:46around Tonka, hopefully.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49But we shall have to wait and see.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52- Off?- Yes, you can turn him off.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55You see, this is what I was saying about having a good nurse,
0:15:55 > 0:15:58they're one step ahead of you on the anaesthetic.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01There we are. And that's it.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10Mrs Harris has returned to see Gareth with Tigger.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13The cat's water works are still getting blocked.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16And he now needs major surgery.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18- Not doing so well really, is he? - Not really, no.
0:16:18 > 0:16:22- He can't go to the toilet again? - No, he's having difficulties.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25- I think it's best to just deal with it now, once and for.- OK.
0:16:25 > 0:16:27- See if we can cure it.- OK.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30So, what we'll do is, the operation that were going to do
0:16:30 > 0:16:34is, basically, sort of, amputates his penis, in effect.
0:16:34 > 0:16:36- So, sounds horrendous. - He'll be a bit of a girl now.
0:16:36 > 0:16:39He's a bit butch, isn't he? Don't know how he's going to cope.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42He'll be looking and wondering where it's gone to.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45He will, but he won't get the blockage
0:16:45 > 0:16:47and that's the life-threatening one, the blockage.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50- Yeah.- So, we'll stop him having that in future.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52It's not going to solve the underlying problem,
0:16:52 > 0:16:55but we've tried solving the underlying problem
0:16:55 > 0:16:57- with diet and drugs and it hasn't worked.- No.
0:16:57 > 0:16:59So, I think we're getting to the point, really, where,
0:16:59 > 0:17:01if we didn't do the operation,
0:17:01 > 0:17:04potentially having to put him to sleep which is not what we want.
0:17:04 > 0:17:08- Apart from this problem, he's a very fit cat.- Yes.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10Be a good boy, Tiggy-boo.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13Be a good boy for Mum, won't you?
0:17:13 > 0:17:14You'll be a better boy, afterwards.
0:17:14 > 0:17:18- He'll probably be in couple of days, we'll see how he gets on, OK?- OK.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21- You're welcome to visit. - Thanks very much.- OK.- Cheers.
0:17:21 > 0:17:22- Speak to you later.- Bye.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27It's half an hour since Tonka's operation,
0:17:27 > 0:17:30and he's still out for the count,
0:17:30 > 0:17:32so Dai's dogsitting.
0:17:32 > 0:17:34As you can see...
0:17:35 > 0:17:41..having great difficulty breathing through his nose.
0:17:41 > 0:17:42If I pull his tongue, he'll chew on it,
0:17:42 > 0:17:45so I'm just keeping an eye on him,
0:17:45 > 0:17:49just making sure he doesn't go blue or anything like that.
0:17:51 > 0:17:53TONKA SNORES
0:17:53 > 0:17:56I could go and have a cup of tea if he was another breed of dog,
0:17:56 > 0:17:57at the moment.
0:17:58 > 0:17:59But not you, mate, is it?
0:18:01 > 0:18:04I think it's going to be his revenge on me, today.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07I think I'll probably being have my sandwiches here, knowing my luck.
0:18:07 > 0:18:09But everything's all right.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11You know, he's just... This is what we expected
0:18:11 > 0:18:13and we just hope it's going to last five minutes,
0:18:13 > 0:18:16not 55 minutes, as it were. But we'll have to wait and find out.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20Mrs Thomas will probably tell me he snorts like this
0:18:20 > 0:18:22at home all the time, but...
0:18:23 > 0:18:24Come on.
0:18:26 > 0:18:27There, good boy.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36Mr and Mrs Rees have come to collect champion corgi
0:18:36 > 0:18:39Cherry Blossom after her life-saving surgery.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43And vet Alex Franklin is on duty to discharge her.
0:18:44 > 0:18:46- There we go.- All right, lovely girl?
0:18:46 > 0:18:49She came out the kennel looking a little happier,
0:18:49 > 0:18:51- but I think she's a little bit nervous.- What's the matter?
0:18:51 > 0:18:54I'm going to pick her up for you, so I can show you her wounds.
0:18:54 > 0:18:56- She's usually quite cheeky.- Aw.
0:18:58 > 0:19:03- Ooh.- OK.- See that?- So, she's made a lovely job of it.- She has, yeah.
0:19:03 > 0:19:05But, you know, just that area, she will lick and clean, OK?
0:19:05 > 0:19:07- And that's absolutely fine.- Yeah.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10She's a little bit of a spoilt girl, you know.
0:19:10 > 0:19:15Well, she can go home and have lots of TLC. There we are, sweetheart.
0:19:15 > 0:19:16There we go.
0:19:17 > 0:19:22- Oh. There we go. That's for you. All right, then, Cherry.- Miss Blossom.
0:19:22 > 0:19:24LAUGHTER
0:19:24 > 0:19:28- There we go.- Thank you. - OK.- Thank you.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31As long as she's all right, that's the main thing.
0:19:31 > 0:19:36She's a lovely girl and she'll just retire.
0:19:36 > 0:19:41She'll be in the house, wandering around, sleeping, drinking, eating.
0:19:47 > 0:19:49Paralysed Roxy, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier,
0:19:49 > 0:19:52is back from her MRI scan in Bristol.
0:19:52 > 0:19:56And Dai and vet Ellie Bowen are examining the results.
0:19:56 > 0:20:00This is her spinal cord.
0:20:00 > 0:20:02- What you see black here is bone. - Yeah.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05What you see white is the spinal cord.
0:20:05 > 0:20:10You can just see there that it's more white than normal,
0:20:10 > 0:20:13- which is inflamed, I would imagine. - Yeah.
0:20:13 > 0:20:17- But the nice thing is you can see the spinal cord isn't squashed.- No.
0:20:17 > 0:20:22It's much more of a blood vessel problem rather than a disc problem.
0:20:22 > 0:20:24It means the blood supply is temporarily lost
0:20:24 > 0:20:28to that area of the spinal cord and that can then cause the dog to be
0:20:28 > 0:20:32non-ambulatory, to lose all function in its back legs.
0:20:32 > 0:20:34But the good thing is that because it's only a clot,
0:20:34 > 0:20:38the blood supply re-routes and they recover very quickly from it.
0:20:38 > 0:20:42Roxy will need to stay at the hospital
0:20:42 > 0:20:44and have intensive physiotherapy.
0:20:49 > 0:20:50Hello, Rox.
0:20:50 > 0:20:55- She can't move her legs at the back.- Give her a kiss.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57Roxy has been missed by her owner, Babs,
0:20:57 > 0:20:59and grand-daughter, Kayla, too.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02So they visit the vets every day to check on her progress.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05- She had quite strong pain relief last night.- Right.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08This morning I looked at her and she wasn't really that painful,
0:21:08 > 0:21:12so I've switched her onto something a little bit less sedative.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15She's much more comfortable and she's been fine.
0:21:15 > 0:21:17She looks a little bit better around the eyes today.
0:21:17 > 0:21:21- She's a bit happier in herself. - Yeah.- Just happy to be back in Wales.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24Yes, she is, obviously.
0:21:24 > 0:21:26My eyes are watery.
0:21:26 > 0:21:29She's been upset. We've all been so upset.
0:21:29 > 0:21:31- Look, darling.- What?
0:21:33 > 0:21:36She always has the scraps. She loves the scraps and the pizza.
0:21:36 > 0:21:40(Is that nice?) She's enjoying that,
0:21:40 > 0:21:43after all the things she's been through in the last week.
0:21:45 > 0:21:50That's nice, darling, isn't it? Shall we say goodbye to her now?
0:21:50 > 0:21:52There you are, Roxy.
0:21:52 > 0:21:56You come out, darling, and I'll put the blanket down at the back for her.
0:21:58 > 0:21:59Goodbye, Roxy.
0:21:59 > 0:22:01Love you.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05Roxy stayed a week and the vets for treatment
0:22:05 > 0:22:06and was then allowed home.
0:22:10 > 0:22:14In the operating theatre, Tigger the feisty feline is going to
0:22:14 > 0:22:18have his waterworks problems sorted by vet Gareth.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21The risk with this operation is if they do get an infection
0:22:21 > 0:22:26and the site breaks down, it can be catastrophic, really, fatal.
0:22:26 > 0:22:28So I want to do as good a job as I can do
0:22:28 > 0:22:32to keep him... Give him the best chance of recovery.
0:22:32 > 0:22:35Gareth is hoping the surgery will stop the severe pain
0:22:35 > 0:22:38that Tigger has been experiencing.
0:22:38 > 0:22:40You've to be quite gentle and delicate
0:22:40 > 0:22:44because there are nerves and muscles you don't want to cut...
0:22:45 > 0:22:48..in the process of doing all this.
0:22:50 > 0:22:54Nurse Shelly is again responsible for monitoring the anaesthetic
0:22:54 > 0:22:56throughout the operation.
0:22:57 > 0:23:02What I'm doing here is just to see if there's any reflex in his eyes.
0:23:02 > 0:23:07By pressing the inside of the eye if there's any blink or reflex
0:23:07 > 0:23:10that tells me the sort of depth of anaesthesia.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13If he did have a little blink or a little squint,
0:23:13 > 0:23:15that will tell me he's quite light in anaesthesia.
0:23:15 > 0:23:19But as you can see he hasn't got any reflex at all.
0:23:21 > 0:23:26Without this surgery, Tigger's urinary difficulties would continue
0:23:26 > 0:23:29and he would probably have to be put to sleep.
0:23:33 > 0:23:38There we go. Now we just need to put another little stitch in the bottom.
0:23:40 > 0:23:43Basically we've re-feminised him.
0:23:43 > 0:23:45Hopefully that will solve his problems.
0:23:46 > 0:23:48Is that Mrs Harries?
0:23:48 > 0:23:51Yeah, your boy is doing very well, he's doing very good.
0:23:51 > 0:23:53Yes, the operation...
0:23:53 > 0:23:57I know, we can't really call him your boy any more, can we?
0:23:57 > 0:23:58Yeah.
0:23:58 > 0:24:03He's doing really well. So far, so good, everything's gone to plan.
0:24:09 > 0:24:14Back at East Pilton Farm Farmer Jones' collapsed cow
0:24:14 > 0:24:17is now back on her four legs.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20As you can see, she's eating, the calf is sucking,
0:24:20 > 0:24:23so I think she'll be fine now. Yeah, it's a worry.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26She's been out and she was obviously under stress with the calf
0:24:26 > 0:24:29so we brought her in and she won't go back out again.
0:24:29 > 0:24:31She'll be in until the spring.
0:24:31 > 0:24:33Yeah, she... It is a worry.
0:24:33 > 0:24:38You've got to watch them twice a day every day, maybe three times a day.
0:24:38 > 0:24:40We're happy now because she's a valuable cow
0:24:40 > 0:24:44and the calf is valuable, so it's all well and good now.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57Tonka has fully recovered from his operation,
0:24:57 > 0:25:00but he's being a bit grumpy and refusing to budge.
0:25:01 > 0:25:05Come on, then, Tonk. Right, I'll do it this way, I think.
0:25:05 > 0:25:11If we can pull you forward, then hopefully you'll launch into mid air.
0:25:11 > 0:25:16Hopefully, Mr and Mrs Thomas will now have a less frisky bulldog.
0:25:16 > 0:25:18OK, come on in.
0:25:21 > 0:25:23He's not going to talk to us ever.
0:25:23 > 0:25:28I just hope he'd be able to not be rude when he's on the beach.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31He'll never be the same.
0:25:31 > 0:25:33- I suspect he's going to run out of here...- I think so.
0:25:33 > 0:25:36..in two minutes' time.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39- There you are. - Thank you very much.- No problem.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44I decided to become a vet when I was 16,
0:25:44 > 0:25:47but I can't think of anything else I would have done.
0:25:47 > 0:25:48I wanted to do medicine
0:25:48 > 0:25:51and then I thought one day, I like animals
0:25:51 > 0:25:54and I thought medicine, animals, vet and that was it.
0:25:54 > 0:25:58One long pathway which has lasted for many years.
0:25:58 > 0:26:03# Happy birthday to you Happy birthday dear... #
0:26:03 > 0:26:07Partner Dai is the longest serving member of the team.
0:26:07 > 0:26:11Today they're all celebrating. It's his birthday.
0:26:11 > 0:26:13CHEERING
0:26:15 > 0:26:18It's taken 30 years to get a cake off you lot.
0:26:18 > 0:26:22- Is there any special occasion? - It's your birthday.
0:26:22 > 0:26:24Thank you very much.
0:26:29 > 0:26:34Since Tigger's operation, Gareth has noticed the cat is a lot happier and friendlier.
0:26:35 > 0:26:39Come on, show me you're not nasty, come on.
0:26:39 > 0:26:41Good boy, eh?
0:26:41 > 0:26:43Come on.
0:26:43 > 0:26:47- Are you surprised by how well Tigger has done?- Very surprised.
0:26:47 > 0:26:51When he came in he was really aggressive,
0:26:51 > 0:26:53he was attacking the owner, let alone us,
0:26:53 > 0:26:57whereas now he's not completely there,
0:26:57 > 0:27:02but he's looking a lot more happy and content and better than I expected.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05You certainly do see changes in cats' and dogs' character
0:27:05 > 0:27:08if they'd been in pain, or if they've been ill
0:27:08 > 0:27:11and that's why it's important whenever somebody comes in
0:27:11 > 0:27:14and they know their pets and they say, "He's changed."
0:27:14 > 0:27:17To some people, "Don't be silly, he can't have changed."
0:27:17 > 0:27:20But they know their cat and little changes in their personality
0:27:20 > 0:27:23can actually mean quite big things sometimes.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27And Tigger's owner Mrs Harries is looking forward
0:27:27 > 0:27:29to taking her beloved cat home.
0:27:29 > 0:27:31There he is.
0:27:31 > 0:27:33Hello, sweetie.
0:27:33 > 0:27:34Who is this?
0:27:34 > 0:27:36- Hello, my baby.- Who's this?
0:27:36 > 0:27:38Hello.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41Ooh, Tigger Boo. Little Tigger Boo.
0:27:44 > 0:27:48'I find it amazing the lengths people go to help their animals
0:27:48 > 0:27:52'and treat their animals and it's lovely to be part of that.'
0:27:52 > 0:27:55Why we're like that, I don't know.
0:27:55 > 0:27:58Until you've got an animal, you'll never understand,
0:27:58 > 0:28:02but when you own a cat or a dog or a hamster or a rat,
0:28:02 > 0:28:05I think then you understand the pleasure they give you
0:28:05 > 0:28:10and you repay that favour they're doing you by treating them as best as you can.
0:28:14 > 0:28:17Next time On Vets 24/7,
0:28:17 > 0:28:21an emergency operation drags vet Geraint out of bed.
0:28:21 > 0:28:25Good morning. I'm probably going to need a hand.
0:28:25 > 0:28:29There's no intestine involved but it's very close to being involved.
0:28:29 > 0:28:33Ifan has to test a herd of cattle for TB.
0:28:33 > 0:28:35Don't inject me now, Ifan.
0:28:35 > 0:28:37It'll be a first.
0:28:37 > 0:28:41And Ianto, the frisky alpaca, goes under the knife.
0:28:54 > 0:28:57Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd