0:00:02 > 0:00:04This time on Vets 24/7,
0:00:04 > 0:00:07partner Gareth Field gives a cat a Hollywood smile.
0:00:07 > 0:00:10We'll leave him with his pointy canines, they look OK.
0:00:10 > 0:00:12So he'll still look tough.
0:00:12 > 0:00:1570-year-old Tommy the tortoise is in trouble.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18He's gone with me through thick and thin.
0:00:18 > 0:00:21Everybody's laughing, I'm getting upset about a tortoise,
0:00:21 > 0:00:23but he's my life.
0:00:23 > 0:00:27And newest vet Rebecca Leigh gets her hands dirty.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29Gosh, she's got...
0:00:29 > 0:00:31BREAKS WIND
0:00:33 > 0:00:37From Swansea to Neath and the pets that they treat, this is a week
0:00:37 > 0:00:42in the life of one of the largest veterinary practices in South Wales.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45This is Vets 24/7.
0:00:54 > 0:00:58Early morning in Swansea and at the St James Veterinary Hospital
0:00:58 > 0:01:02in Sketty, partner Gareth Field is arriving for his first
0:01:02 > 0:01:04consultation of the day.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09Colin is patiently waiting with his cat.
0:01:09 > 0:01:11Tiger Puss, his name is.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14He's come in for an operation today on his gums cos he's got like smelly
0:01:14 > 0:01:18breath and he's got an infection, which is causing the smelly breath.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21It's a couple of hundred quid, but it'll be worth it. Yeah.
0:01:21 > 0:01:25- Colin, come in. How are you doing? - Not bad, thanks.- There you are.
0:01:25 > 0:01:29- This is Puss, is it?- Yeah. Yeah. - So you're saying he's a stray, is he?
0:01:29 > 0:01:32He was a stray, yeah, and we adopted him in November.
0:01:32 > 0:01:36He is chipped and we've traced the owners and they let us keep him.
0:01:36 > 0:01:40- OK.- Yeah.- Brilliant. At least the owners know where he is now.
0:01:40 > 0:01:42- That's right.- That's good.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45- Save worrying. So if we have a quick look at him...- Yeah, by all means.
0:01:45 > 0:01:47Good boy.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50- There we are. Oh, he's off! - Yeah.- Raring to go.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53- There we are.- So he's... What's the matter? He's dribbling...
0:01:53 > 0:01:56Yeah, he's dribbling and you can see he can't eat properly.
0:01:56 > 0:01:57Struggling to eat, is he?
0:01:57 > 0:02:00- How does he seem otherwise? Is he OK?- Yeah, he's fine.
0:02:00 > 0:02:02Let's have a look at your mouth.
0:02:04 > 0:02:08- I think it's on his left-hand side. - It seems sort of quite bad this side.
0:02:08 > 0:02:12- Good lad. You can see redness.- Yeah. - And muck down there.
0:02:12 > 0:02:17Probably just have a few out there. Oh, is that side a bit more sore?
0:02:17 > 0:02:19Yeah, he's really sore on that side.
0:02:20 > 0:02:22Good boy.
0:02:23 > 0:02:25You can see that one at the back.
0:02:25 > 0:02:29- You can see the root's exposed and things.- Yeah.- Good boy.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33- Right, pop him in his box. - There you are. Straight back in.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35So, have a general anaesthetic,
0:02:35 > 0:02:38then sort of have a look at his mouth and his teeth.
0:02:38 > 0:02:42He's probably going to have quite a few removed.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45- Apparently, it's quite common in cats.- Yeah, very common.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48- They often get bad teeth.- Yeah. - They cope really well.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51He'll be able to eat solid food and biscuits,
0:02:51 > 0:02:53just the same as normal, after a few days of recovery.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56- That's fine.- OK.- Thanks.- Bye-bye.
0:03:01 > 0:03:05Being so close to the rural communities around Gower,
0:03:05 > 0:03:08the vets are constantly on call to visit farms and stables.
0:03:10 > 0:03:14Vet Gwen Rees has a passion for the large animal side of the business.
0:03:14 > 0:03:18We've just had a call to a horse that's cut its back leg,
0:03:18 > 0:03:22I think, going to a competition earlier today.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25So we'll go and see what we've got.
0:03:25 > 0:03:30In Dunvant, at Bevexe Fach Stables, Faye has been so concerned
0:03:30 > 0:03:34about Lilly's injury becoming infected, she's called for the vet.
0:03:34 > 0:03:38What happened was, she kicked off the travel boot on this side
0:03:38 > 0:03:44- and in doing so, has gouged her leg with her own hoof.- Oh, I see.
0:03:44 > 0:03:48- She's obviously sore there, at the very least.- Painful, yes.
0:03:48 > 0:03:49OK.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53Oh, you've taken a chunk out of that, haven't you?
0:03:53 > 0:03:56You gave yourself a proper battering, Miss!
0:03:57 > 0:04:00She's pretty impressively skilled a job
0:04:00 > 0:04:02because she's just taken the skin without damaging
0:04:02 > 0:04:04any of the underneath, which is
0:04:04 > 0:04:08fine cos skin will grow back really nice and quickly.
0:04:08 > 0:04:10Fair play to her.
0:04:10 > 0:04:14Gwen now has the difficult task of dressing Lilly's wound.
0:04:14 > 0:04:15If you're relaxed around them,
0:04:15 > 0:04:21they are more likely to be relaxed around you, but saying that,
0:04:21 > 0:04:25they're still probably the most dangerous animal I work with.
0:04:25 > 0:04:26Hey, hey, hey.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29Come on now.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31Just a little piece of gel.
0:04:31 > 0:04:33Hey, hey, hey.
0:04:33 > 0:04:35Come on.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40Now, now.
0:04:40 > 0:04:41Good girl.
0:04:41 > 0:04:45I don't want this to drop off on the floor, that's the only thing.
0:04:45 > 0:04:49Lilly's rider, Amy, hopes that she'll make a quick recovery.
0:04:49 > 0:04:50Got a tetrathlon.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53That's shooting, running, riding and swimming as well.
0:04:53 > 0:04:55Wow!
0:04:55 > 0:04:58About a month away now. And that's at Pembrey Country Park.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01So hopefully, she'll be ready for that when the time comes.
0:05:01 > 0:05:05I can't imagine that it's going to interfere too much with that.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08She'll get a week off work, maybe, but she looks pretty fit, so, yeah.
0:05:08 > 0:05:10There we are, excellent.
0:05:11 > 0:05:15The vets have been caring for pets for over 100 years
0:05:15 > 0:05:18and have five branches over South Wales.
0:05:20 > 0:05:21At the Neath clinic,
0:05:21 > 0:05:25partner Geraint Jones is dealing with a rather emotional case.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27My name's Geraint. Right, OK.
0:05:27 > 0:05:31So, obviously, I've had a quick read of the history,
0:05:31 > 0:05:34which has come from another vet in Neath.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37She's got like a mass underneath over a site where she's had
0:05:37 > 0:05:39a previous mammary mass removed.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42Right, OK, let's have a look.
0:05:42 > 0:05:47Nine-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier Shuggs had surgery to
0:05:47 > 0:05:51remove a tumour and her owner Louise is worried that it's come back.
0:05:53 > 0:05:59Yeah, that feels like a reoccurrence of the mammary cancer to me.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02Looks like it's the underlying tissue that's the primary
0:06:02 > 0:06:07- origin of the mass.- My big concern is she's only had it seven months ago.
0:06:07 > 0:06:09- Yeah.- I'll start crying again now.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12It can be quite difficult to remove them in their entirety.
0:06:12 > 0:06:16And there's always the potential risk of cancer coming back, yeah.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18She's nine. She's too old for this.
0:06:18 > 0:06:23The thing is, she may well go on and live for another four or five years, really.
0:06:23 > 0:06:27- Obviously, there's the cost of it as well.- That's my big worry.
0:06:27 > 0:06:31- At the moment, it's only me that's working.- OK.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34- See now? This is what I'm really stressed about.- Right.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37- My partner haven't got a job at the moment.- OK, fine.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39Are you in receipt of any benefits or anything?
0:06:39 > 0:06:42- I went to try and get something, they wouldn't give me any.- OK.
0:06:42 > 0:06:47- And you're not eligible for the RSPCA clinic?- I don't know. I haven't tried.
0:06:48 > 0:06:52Sometimes, when money is an issue, the RSPCA can offer
0:06:52 > 0:06:56assistance to people receiving benefits like working tax credits.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58Hopefully, Louise and Shuggs will qualify.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02Tax credit, I get.
0:07:02 > 0:07:07OK, so you're eligible for the RSPCA clinic, which is help to start with.
0:07:07 > 0:07:11What you need to do is pop in yourself, bring proof,
0:07:11 > 0:07:13register with them and we can go from there.
0:07:13 > 0:07:17- Thank you.- That's all right. Cheers.- Bye.- Bye.
0:07:17 > 0:07:21It's a situation we see more and more, especially since the economic downturn,
0:07:21 > 0:07:24but at the end of the day, we're not a charity,
0:07:24 > 0:07:29we're a private business and if we fail to make a profit
0:07:29 > 0:07:32and run a successful business, ultimately,
0:07:32 > 0:07:37we can't provide the service that we want to the animal and client.
0:07:41 > 0:07:43At the main hospital in Swansea,
0:07:43 > 0:07:46Tiger Puss is in the dentist's chair.
0:07:46 > 0:07:47Good boy.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50Give him a second to fall asleep.
0:07:50 > 0:07:55As a vet, Gareth has many skills, including dental surgery.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58Those teeth there are quite bad, really. Quite manky.
0:07:58 > 0:08:03Certainly the bottom ones down here, you can see there's quite
0:08:03 > 0:08:07a lot of pus around the root there, so we'll take those out as well.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10His pointy canines, they look OK.
0:08:10 > 0:08:11So he'll still look tough.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17Eight out of ten cats over the age of three will get
0:08:17 > 0:08:19problems like Tiger Puss.
0:08:19 > 0:08:21Dental disease in cats is very under-diagnosed
0:08:21 > 0:08:25because they don't complain about it and they get by with it.
0:08:25 > 0:08:30They can have other problems, like septicaemia that can affect the heart and the liver and the lungs.
0:08:30 > 0:08:34In the ideal world, you perhaps clean your cat's teeth twice a day, every
0:08:34 > 0:08:38day, but realistically, I don't think many cats would let you do that.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40So all we can really do is keep an eye on them.
0:08:40 > 0:08:44I think we're about there for this side.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49- How's the anaesthetic? Is it OK? - Yeah, he's stable.
0:08:52 > 0:08:56He'll probably be eating a lot more comfortably than he has been,
0:08:56 > 0:09:00just cos these teeth must have been causing him some pain and discomfort.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02There we go.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05So, no snapping of the root. That's good. That's what we like to see.
0:09:07 > 0:09:08Eight teeth have been removed
0:09:08 > 0:09:12and now it's time for a quick scale and polish of what's left.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17Laura's just checked. It's orange flavour.
0:09:17 > 0:09:19Unfortunately, not fish flavour.
0:09:20 > 0:09:24That doesn't only polish to make them shiny and make them look good,
0:09:24 > 0:09:27give him a pearly smile, it also takes away any tiny little
0:09:27 > 0:09:29scratches that we've done by being in there.
0:09:29 > 0:09:34It smoothes them off as well, so it's not just cosmetic. It's important as well.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36Brilliant. Finished.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39He can take these home and put them under his cat bed.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42See what he gets for them in the morning.
0:09:45 > 0:09:49At the large animal clinic near the Mumbles, Colin Williams,
0:09:49 > 0:09:51a sheep farmer, has brought in some rams
0:09:51 > 0:09:54because he doesn't want them to breed.
0:09:54 > 0:09:56Pretty full here today again.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59Senior partner Ifan Lloyd is on duty to assist vet Gwen.
0:09:59 > 0:10:04Going for my Wind Street tan now. Fit right in!
0:10:05 > 0:10:09It's not quite orange enough maybe for Swansea!
0:10:10 > 0:10:15These rams have come into the surgery to be vasectomised today.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18It's much easier if there's two surgeons working together,
0:10:18 > 0:10:21or two vets working together, just makes it all a little bit easier.
0:10:21 > 0:10:25One vet can certainly do it, but it's easier with two.
0:10:25 > 0:10:30Newest vet recruit Rebecca is also hoping to pick up some tips.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33I'm hoping Gwen and Ifan are going to show me how to do it.
0:10:33 > 0:10:35Always keen to learn new things.
0:10:37 > 0:10:38See that?
0:10:38 > 0:10:41- It's a very dark one, isn't it?- It is.
0:10:41 > 0:10:45- No blood vessels round it, but that's definitely it.- Yeah, that's it.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48Really careful cos there's massive blood vessels.
0:10:48 > 0:10:52If you cut those, you have to castrate, really.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55- Do you like watching operations as well, then?- Got no choice.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58You've got to hold on to them, haven't you?
0:11:00 > 0:11:04Now he's had the snip, this ram will be used as a teaser,
0:11:04 > 0:11:07to get the ewes ready for impregnation by a fertile stud ram.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10Farmer Colin likes to control the conception.
0:11:10 > 0:11:15It's good management cos you have
0:11:15 > 0:11:18three weeks of constant lambing,
0:11:18 > 0:11:21not three weeks of dribs and drabs, then into lambing.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24It's a very good system, actually.
0:11:27 > 0:11:31For the next ram, it's over to Rebecca.
0:11:31 > 0:11:33Take it up as far as you can.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36There, that's it, great. Yeah, yeah.
0:11:36 > 0:11:41There's a saying when it comes to training up new vets.
0:11:41 > 0:11:43They always say, "See one, do one, teach one."
0:11:43 > 0:11:46And...
0:11:46 > 0:11:50It helps to have a supportive team and just to call on Ifan...
0:11:50 > 0:11:53They teach you theory at school,
0:11:53 > 0:11:56but it's nothing like actually being out there and doing it.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59So from a new vet's point of view, this is where it's at.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05And finally, Rebecca gets her vasectomy stripes.
0:12:05 > 0:12:09- Yay!- That's a proud face, if ever there was one. Well done!
0:12:09 > 0:12:11- Thanks, Gwen.- Excellent.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14At the main hospital,
0:12:14 > 0:12:19one inpatient is very keen to be discharged by vet Gareth.
0:12:19 > 0:12:23Puss has woken up, very well, as you can see.
0:12:23 > 0:12:25Tying himself up in his drip.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28Looks quite happy. Wants to go home, don't you?
0:12:28 > 0:12:30Tiger Puss has eight less teeth,
0:12:30 > 0:12:34but it's smiles all round for this lucky stray.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37- He's a wriggle, isn't he? - Hello!- Hard work...
0:12:37 > 0:12:38..keeping still.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40Here, Puss. Puss.
0:12:40 > 0:12:42He wants to go home. Come on, then, Puss.
0:12:42 > 0:12:46There's a quick picture of what we took out, so these are his top
0:12:46 > 0:12:49- jaw, basically his back ones on both sides at the top.- Yeah.
0:12:49 > 0:12:53And his back ones, he's got a couple left behind.
0:12:53 > 0:12:55- About half his teeth are gone. - Oh, well.
0:12:55 > 0:13:00- And there's a little pot full. You don't want those, do you?- No.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02I'll just put them in the bin.
0:13:02 > 0:13:03Puss. Good boy.
0:13:03 > 0:13:08He'll be nice and healthy now and put a bit of weight back on now.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10So is he having a tooth fairy treat, then?
0:13:10 > 0:13:13When he's better.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16- In you go.- You get to go home, if you get in.- Yeah!
0:13:16 > 0:13:21There we are. Watch your tail. Brilliant. Just sort of soft food for two or three days,
0:13:21 > 0:13:25- then gradually get him back on whatever he normally eats. OK?- Yeah, that's lovely.
0:13:25 > 0:13:29- Perfect.- Thank you.- Take care.- Ta-ra. - Bye-bye.- Bye.
0:13:31 > 0:13:33- Ta-ra.- Cheers.
0:13:33 > 0:13:35Another happy customer.
0:13:35 > 0:13:37That's good.
0:13:37 > 0:13:40After receiving the gold standard dental treatment,
0:13:40 > 0:13:42Colin can take his pet home.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48Come on in, just through here.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51Arriving to see vet Geraint Jones for surgery to remove her
0:13:51 > 0:13:55mammary tumour is Shuggs, with her owner Louise.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58She's a little nervous.
0:13:58 > 0:13:59She is, isn't she?
0:13:59 > 0:14:02- Yeah, she's been like this all morning.- Has she?- Yeah.
0:14:02 > 0:14:06- Really wound up.- She probably knows she hasn't had her breakfast.- Mm.
0:14:09 > 0:14:11Little monster, ain't you?
0:14:17 > 0:14:21Her heart doesn't sound too bad, actually, at all. It's really good.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24- Do you want me to take her lead? - That's fine.
0:14:24 > 0:14:27I'll use the lead now, just to walk her in, I think.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29There we are. Great. Lovely.
0:14:29 > 0:14:31Louise has an anxious wait ahead of her,
0:14:31 > 0:14:34as her precious pet goes off to theatre.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37- Are you worried about her? - Oh, I feel sick. Absolutely sick.
0:14:39 > 0:14:41Yeah, a little shaky now.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43Worried.
0:14:43 > 0:14:45Everything will be fine though.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48- It's hard leaving her behind, isn't it?- It's horrible. Hate it.
0:14:48 > 0:14:50It's like one of your children, really.
0:14:50 > 0:14:52It is horrible.
0:14:54 > 0:14:57Geraint wastes no time in getting on with the operation.
0:14:59 > 0:15:01The main priority is to
0:15:01 > 0:15:06remove as much tumour as you can to delay it coming back.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09Tumours like this are more common in dogs than breast
0:15:09 > 0:15:13cancer in humans, mainly because they have ten mammary glands.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18This dog had a previous surgery seven months ago,
0:15:18 > 0:15:21so the mass has actually come back fairly quickly, so that's why I'm
0:15:21 > 0:15:25being quite aggressive with removing what I consider to be tumour tissue.
0:15:25 > 0:15:29We're actually removing sort of muscle as well.
0:15:33 > 0:15:37OK. That's the mass in there.
0:15:37 > 0:15:41Shuggs' previous operation means that there's not much skin
0:15:41 > 0:15:44left for Geraint to work with.
0:15:44 > 0:15:49Now we need to work it out, how to sew Shuggs up properly.
0:15:49 > 0:15:50All right?
0:15:51 > 0:15:55She might go out looking like she's wearing some sort of corset,
0:15:55 > 0:15:57we'll tell the owner not to let her cough.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08Shuggs will now go to recovery, where she'll be closely
0:16:08 > 0:16:11monitored, as she comes round from the anaesthetic.
0:16:11 > 0:16:15She's going to be quite sore when she gets up and being a Staffy,
0:16:15 > 0:16:19I'd imagine she's going to make a horrendous noise, to be honest.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22Staffy's tend to, once they're hospitalised.
0:16:22 > 0:16:24SHUGGS WAILS
0:16:25 > 0:16:28There we are. On cue.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34The nursing staff will care for Shuggs overnight,
0:16:34 > 0:16:36as she recovers from her surgery.
0:16:45 > 0:16:46It's morning clinic
0:16:46 > 0:16:50and the vets have to be prepared for whatever comes through their doors.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52Come in, come in.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55All right? I'm Gareth, one of the vets.
0:16:55 > 0:16:56- This is Tommy, is it?- Yeah.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59Michelle and her son Jayden are worried about their beloved
0:16:59 > 0:17:01tortoise, Tommy.
0:17:01 > 0:17:05- We think he's about...80. Between 70 and 80 years of age.- Oh, really?
0:17:05 > 0:17:09He's a really good age, even for a tortoise, that's getting on.
0:17:09 > 0:17:13And he's been having problems with his kidneys and he's got problems with his jaw.
0:17:13 > 0:17:17- Can't get his jaw to open at all now.- Do you think he's lost weight?
0:17:17 > 0:17:21I couldn't say, but he hasn't been eating very good anyway.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24- Weak, isn't he?- Yeah.
0:17:24 > 0:17:25Oh, bless.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27Hey, boy.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30As soon as somebody touches him, he should have his head back in, his legs in...
0:17:30 > 0:17:34He doesn't do it with us cos he's used to us,
0:17:34 > 0:17:37but normally if anybody else, or if you took him by surprise...
0:17:37 > 0:17:42Looking at him, it looks like he's in a very poor condition, very skinny.
0:17:42 > 0:17:44I'll go and grab some scales and weigh him
0:17:44 > 0:17:48- and see how he compares to last time. OK? Won't be a second.- Thanks.
0:17:48 > 0:17:52Michelle's parents gave her Tommy when he was a 30-year-old tortoise.
0:17:52 > 0:17:55And the two have been inseparable ever since.
0:17:55 > 0:17:57In the Swansea Market,
0:17:57 > 0:18:01they used to sell them for about...about 50p in those days.
0:18:01 > 0:18:06- 50p?!- Yeah. - God, that's cheap!- It wasn't in those days. It was quite expensive.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09Yeah, he's gone with me through thick and thin.
0:18:09 > 0:18:13Everybody's laughing, I'm getting upset about a tortoise, but he's my life.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16- Were you three-years-old, did you say?- Yeah.
0:18:16 > 0:18:20Many times, I've sat out the back and cried my eyes out to him
0:18:20 > 0:18:22for different problems in my life.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24Talked to him for hours!
0:18:24 > 0:18:28He can't get away, see!
0:18:28 > 0:18:30Now, then, Tom.
0:18:30 > 0:18:31Good boy.
0:18:34 > 0:18:361,067 grams.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39Last year, he was sort of the bottom end of his weight,
0:18:39 > 0:18:43but now, he's sort of... Well, he's underweight. Quite badly underweight.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46I think, given his history of kidney problems,
0:18:46 > 0:18:52it's very likely that's sort of the problem, it's got worse.
0:18:52 > 0:18:56And that makes him quite weak and poorly.
0:18:56 > 0:19:00- It's not looking very good for him. - I guessed that.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03We've got a couple of options of what we can do.
0:19:03 > 0:19:07One option is we can start trying to treat him, get fluids into him.
0:19:07 > 0:19:12- Realistically, he might be a little bit far along the line for that, really.- OK.
0:19:12 > 0:19:16The other option is considering putting him to sleep. But...
0:19:18 > 0:19:21SHE SOBS
0:19:21 > 0:19:26- Thank you. - I'm sorry it's not good news.
0:19:26 > 0:19:27Thank you.
0:19:30 > 0:19:35Michelle and her son Jayden now have a difficult decision ahead of them.
0:19:43 > 0:19:45The practice has provided care
0:19:45 > 0:19:49for the farmers of South West Wales for generations.
0:19:51 > 0:19:55On Gower, at Kittle Dairy Farm, partner Ifan Lloyd
0:19:55 > 0:20:00and vet Rebecca Leigh are teaming up to do some pregnancy tests.
0:20:00 > 0:20:03How many cows have you got for us today?
0:20:03 > 0:20:04About 26, 27.
0:20:04 > 0:20:06Girls.
0:20:06 > 0:20:08WHISTLES
0:20:08 > 0:20:11On with the arm length gloves! It's a tool of the trade!
0:20:12 > 0:20:14SHE LAUGHS
0:20:14 > 0:20:18Oh, yeah. We're not averse to being covered in muck!
0:20:19 > 0:20:21Gosh, she's got...
0:20:21 > 0:20:23BREAKS WIND
0:20:23 > 0:20:25Fresh and all!
0:20:25 > 0:20:30- This one, I think, is empty.- Right. - I don't think she's in calf, there.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33So, no pregnancy for the first cow.
0:20:33 > 0:20:35Ifan swiftly moves on to number two.
0:20:35 > 0:20:37And it's good news.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40This cow is in calf.
0:20:40 > 0:20:44- There's the actual embryo, itself. - That's positive,
0:20:44 > 0:20:46which is an improvement.
0:20:46 > 0:20:48- Yes.- Yes.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52They're on a roll.
0:20:52 > 0:20:53Yeah, she is in calf.
0:20:53 > 0:20:55- 661?- Yeah.
0:20:55 > 0:20:59- When was the service date for this one?- 6/12.
0:20:59 > 0:21:01OK.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03- Good.- She's pregnant, Milwyn.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05Good.
0:21:05 > 0:21:09Milwyn is a serial record keeper and nothing gets wasted by him.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12All recycling, you see?
0:21:13 > 0:21:18And it's good strong stuff, just the job. Write it down.
0:21:18 > 0:21:24I've got the cows' numbers here, service, or due date, whichever it is.
0:21:24 > 0:21:30And then I can write any comments for each one on those lines.
0:21:30 > 0:21:34Next up is a cow who might just be past her prime.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37- This one doesn't feel in calf.- Oh.
0:21:37 > 0:21:43- She's an oldish cow, by the looks... - Yes.- She's showing a bit of wear.
0:21:43 > 0:21:48Poor old lady. Might be kinder to let nature run its course with her.
0:21:48 > 0:21:52If she doesn't have a calf, she'll stop milking, eventually.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55Getting the hang of it.
0:21:55 > 0:21:59For Rebecca, it's been a day of gaining valuable experience,
0:21:59 > 0:22:01something farmer Milwyn approves of.
0:22:01 > 0:22:05You've got to give these youngsters the chance, spend time with them,
0:22:05 > 0:22:09so they can train and learn cos they are the future.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12What you learn in college is wonderful, but there's nothing
0:22:12 > 0:22:15like having your hand up the backside of a cow and get it all over you.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18- Absolutely!- That's how you learn it!
0:22:21 > 0:22:25Back at the hospital, Michelle and Jayden are coming to terms
0:22:25 > 0:22:29with the devastating news about their tortoise, Tommy.
0:22:29 > 0:22:34I don't want to put him to sleep, but I don't want to see him suffering either.
0:22:34 > 0:22:38I think, personally, it would be kinder to let him go.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41- But I'm happy to try if you wanted to.- No, I think it will be.
0:22:45 > 0:22:47We'll have to put him to sleep,
0:22:47 > 0:22:49I'm afraid.
0:22:49 > 0:22:51Are you sure? I don't...
0:22:51 > 0:22:56- Did you want to be with him at all, at the injection, the sedative?- Yeah.
0:22:56 > 0:23:00- Yes, please.- No problem. And did you want to leave his body with us?
0:23:00 > 0:23:03- No, I want to...take him back. - No problem.
0:23:03 > 0:23:07- Mam, can I stay here when he gets put down?- You want to come with me?
0:23:07 > 0:23:10- No, I don't. - You don't want to? OK.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15Say goodbye to him, then, and you can go outside.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27He can't even move his head now, can he?
0:23:32 > 0:23:34Good boy.
0:23:37 > 0:23:39Bye-bye.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42Oh, dear.
0:23:42 > 0:23:43Going to miss you.
0:23:47 > 0:23:48- Right.- Where can I go?
0:23:48 > 0:23:52If you go out there and go in the waiting room, where you were.
0:23:55 > 0:24:00I thought Jayden was going to be looking after you when I was gone.
0:24:00 > 0:24:01Yes.
0:24:03 > 0:24:07OK? You can chat to him. I'll give him an injection in his back leg.
0:24:07 > 0:24:12It stings a little bit, but... So he might wriggle.
0:24:12 > 0:24:14OK.
0:24:14 > 0:24:16- All right.- Where's your leg?
0:24:16 > 0:24:19There's a leg.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22- He hasn't got very much flesh, has he?- No.
0:24:22 > 0:24:24- Ready?- I'm sorry, boy.
0:24:26 > 0:24:28There we are.
0:24:28 > 0:24:29- Yes, I know.- OK?
0:24:32 > 0:24:35Love you.
0:24:35 > 0:24:39- OK? Once he's asleep, he won't feel anything.- Sorry, boy.
0:24:40 > 0:24:42It's definitely the right thing.
0:24:42 > 0:24:46You just need to remember you're doing it for him, really.
0:24:46 > 0:24:49I know. Oh, God...
0:24:49 > 0:24:53- OK?- Thank you.- All right, then. - Sorry. Love you.
0:24:53 > 0:24:54Sorry.
0:24:54 > 0:24:58- Bye-bye.- You too.- Speak to you later. - OK. Thank you. Bye.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11After a difficult day at the practice, partner Gareth
0:25:11 > 0:25:16likes to unwind at home, but he has two animals to look after.
0:25:16 > 0:25:18See if he's hungry today, or not.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21He's not only a pet owner to Jack Russell Scrumpy,
0:25:21 > 0:25:25he also has his own tortoise called Snoopy.
0:25:25 > 0:25:27Hey, boy. Come on.
0:25:30 > 0:25:34There we are. No, it's not for you. You don't want it. Go on, then.
0:25:34 > 0:25:39I think he's about 40 or 50-years-old now, belonged to my granddad
0:25:39 > 0:25:42who had him from a local pet shop in the Valleys, in the Rhondda.
0:25:42 > 0:25:46Unfortunately, my granddad passed away, but before he died,
0:25:46 > 0:25:50he said he didn't want Snoopy to ever leave Wales, so as my mum
0:25:50 > 0:25:53and dad live in England, he came to Swansea to live with me instead.
0:25:53 > 0:25:55Hey? Come on.
0:25:55 > 0:25:57Good lad.
0:25:57 > 0:26:01I was quite close to my granddad and whenever I was visiting,
0:26:01 > 0:26:03I'd go up and feed the tortoise with him
0:26:03 > 0:26:07and now it's quite an honour, he's come down from my granddad to me
0:26:07 > 0:26:10and every time I see him and feed him, it reminds me of him
0:26:10 > 0:26:12and it's really nice.
0:26:12 > 0:26:16Being a pet owner helps Gareth get through the tough times at work.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19When you've got pets yourself, you can appreciate
0:26:19 > 0:26:21the bond that somebody's got with their animal.
0:26:21 > 0:26:25It makes you a bit more human and they appreciate what you're saying is...
0:26:25 > 0:26:29You're saying it as a person, not just as a vet. Isn't it?
0:26:29 > 0:26:31One for you. Do you want one?
0:26:31 > 0:26:34If I fed Scrumpy a piece of cucumber or tomato normally,
0:26:34 > 0:26:37he'd look at me as if I was stupid, but because I've given it
0:26:37 > 0:26:40to the tortoise, he's insisting on eating it.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44He's heading home, I think.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46He's had enough socialising.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54In Cilfrew, near Neath, there's good news.
0:26:54 > 0:26:58Shuggs the Staffy's recovering well after her tumour operation.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00Good girl! Give it here!
0:27:02 > 0:27:07Louise and daughter Alex are overjoyed to have her back home with them.
0:27:07 > 0:27:11It's like nothing's ever happened to her.
0:27:11 > 0:27:15She recovered so quick, it was unbelievable.
0:27:15 > 0:27:20Me and the children are so happy that she's home. She's a pain.
0:27:20 > 0:27:24But we wouldn't be without her. Would we, girl? Would we? No!
0:27:25 > 0:27:29Financially, it's been a difficult time for Louise.
0:27:29 > 0:27:31The RSPCA helped us. They were brilliant.
0:27:31 > 0:27:33And they've been brilliant.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36And we've been able to pay it, a monthly rate,
0:27:36 > 0:27:40which has made it so much better for us.
0:27:40 > 0:27:42You ready?
0:27:42 > 0:27:45It's just a relief. A wonderful relief.
0:27:45 > 0:27:49I never thought that we would have any sort of help.
0:27:49 > 0:27:51As well as assistance from the charity,
0:27:51 > 0:27:56Louise herself has spent over £600 on Shuggs' operations this year.
0:27:56 > 0:28:00I couldn't imagine life without her. She drives me mad.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03About as mad as the children.
0:28:03 > 0:28:07- But...they are part of the family, aren't they?- Yeah.- Ain't you, girl?
0:28:12 > 0:28:14Next time on Vets 24/7,
0:28:14 > 0:28:18Becky is called out to assist an alpaca in distress.
0:28:18 > 0:28:23- I get it halfway in... - They're normally really placid and don't do this kind of thing!
0:28:23 > 0:28:27Exotic specialist Lance Jepson meets a house-proud parrot.
0:28:27 > 0:28:32- You take him out hiking, do you? - He puts the bin bags out.- Does he?
0:28:32 > 0:28:35- Every Monday night.- Now, that's a useful bird to have around.
0:28:35 > 0:28:39And down on the farm, it's major surgery for Ifan and Gwen.
0:28:39 > 0:28:43She's a bit big, my arm's a bit short to shake Ifan's hand.