0:00:02 > 0:00:03This time on Vets 24/7,
0:00:03 > 0:00:07Becky is called out to assist an alpaca in distress.
0:00:07 > 0:00:09Every time I get it halfway in...
0:00:09 > 0:00:12They're normally really placid and don't do this kind of thing!
0:00:12 > 0:00:15Exotic specialist Lance Jepson meets a house-proud parrot.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18Take him out hiking, do you?
0:00:18 > 0:00:20- He puts the bin bags out. - Does he?- Every Monday night.
0:00:20 > 0:00:23- That's a useful bird to have around. - Every Monday night.
0:00:23 > 0:00:27And down on the farm, it's major surgery for Ifan and Gwen.
0:00:27 > 0:00:31She's a bit big. My arm's a bit short to actually shake Ifan's hand.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35From Swansea to Neath and the pets that they treat -
0:00:35 > 0:00:37this is the week in the life
0:00:37 > 0:00:41of one of the largest veterinary practices in south Wales.
0:00:41 > 0:00:43This is Vets 24/7.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54Swansea, and at the St James Veterinary Practice,
0:00:54 > 0:00:59the night staff have an out of hours emergency on their hands.
0:00:59 > 0:01:03We've had a client come in. Their dog has been attacked by a cat.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06Would you be able to pop in and have a look? OK.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09We'll see you then. Thanks, bye.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12Muffin, an 18-month-old Yorkshire terrier,
0:01:12 > 0:01:14is in distress following the cat attack,
0:01:14 > 0:01:17and so on-call vet Rebecca Lee has come
0:01:17 > 0:01:19to check on the extent of her injuries.
0:01:22 > 0:01:24She's not thrilled to be honest, no.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27Don't seem to have a lot of mobility on the legs.
0:01:27 > 0:01:29DOG WHINES It's OK.
0:01:29 > 0:01:31She's not able to right herself.
0:01:31 > 0:01:33And she's quite over to the one side.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36I'm just a bit concerned she could have damaged her back.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39DOG YELPS Some neck pain, potentially.
0:01:39 > 0:01:43All right. Oh, it's all right. It's OK.
0:01:44 > 0:01:46Muffin will need some pain relief
0:01:46 > 0:01:49and be admitted to the hospital for further tests in the morning.
0:01:49 > 0:01:50What a brave little girl!
0:01:53 > 0:01:56The cost of overnight care and treatment doesn't come cheap,
0:01:56 > 0:01:59so Rebecca has to tackle the delicate subject of money
0:01:59 > 0:02:01with Muffin's owner, Darren.
0:02:01 > 0:02:05We could be looking in the region of £400 to £500 for this episode.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08How do you feel about it? What would you like to do?
0:02:10 > 0:02:13You know, we've got no insurance on the dog or nothing,
0:02:13 > 0:02:16so I don't know what we're going to do.
0:02:18 > 0:02:22I don't want you to put her down but then I know on the other hand then,
0:02:22 > 0:02:25where are you supposed to get the money from?
0:02:28 > 0:02:31- It's really difficult. - I'll have to raid the piggy banks.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40Hello. All right? Yeah?
0:02:41 > 0:02:43Daddy's baby.
0:02:43 > 0:02:45Come and see you in the morning, yeah?
0:02:51 > 0:02:53HE SIGHS
0:02:53 > 0:02:55- There we are.- Crikey.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58We'll do our absolute best for her.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01Hope for the best, yeah.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04I haven't had to go through it before.
0:03:06 > 0:03:08Muffin will have an X-ray in the morning
0:03:08 > 0:03:10to see if she has broken her spine.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18Being so close to rural Gower means farm animals
0:03:18 > 0:03:21are a significant part of the practice workload.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26Today, vet Gwen Rees is on duty.
0:03:26 > 0:03:31Welcome to my office. It's not a bad view, is it? It changes every day.
0:03:32 > 0:03:36Gwen's entire day will be spent at the Tucker family farm,
0:03:36 > 0:03:39who've been farming for nine generations.
0:03:39 > 0:03:41Do that bunch first, is it?
0:03:42 > 0:03:46First up, a flock of Charollais sheep who need routine blood tests
0:03:46 > 0:03:49to check their health is on championship form,
0:03:49 > 0:03:51but it won't be a simple job.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54We'll back him up against something. His head up.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57Whoever is holding them also holds this around their throats.
0:03:57 > 0:03:59- I thought I'd jam them in a corner. - Yeah. There we are.
0:03:59 > 0:04:01Right.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03Oh!
0:04:03 > 0:04:05That's not going to help, is it?
0:04:05 > 0:04:07Bingo.
0:04:07 > 0:04:09Number one of 40-ish.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12Oh, my God!
0:04:14 > 0:04:17I'm blood testing for a disease called maedi-visna
0:04:17 > 0:04:19so to be guaranteed free of it,
0:04:19 > 0:04:22which means that you can go into special shows and sales and things,
0:04:22 > 0:04:25because you are free of this disease called maedi-visna,
0:04:25 > 0:04:27you've got to blood test them every couple of years.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30- And these are the best small flock in Wales.- Are they?
0:04:30 > 0:04:33- For the Charollais sheep competition.- Hey! That's quite...
0:04:33 > 0:04:35- I didn't know that. - Three years running.
0:04:36 > 0:04:40Shadowing Gwen for the week is Richard, a veterinary student.
0:04:40 > 0:04:45This is his first chance to get some hands-on experience.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48Quick stab right in and pop the thing on.
0:04:48 > 0:04:49Push it in.
0:04:50 > 0:04:55Perfect. Tourniquet at the same time to get a lone vein.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58Beginner's luck, I think!
0:04:58 > 0:05:00The more you get to do as a student, the better.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03I was really lucky, I had vets who let me do a lot,
0:05:03 > 0:05:06which meant that when you actually start, you hit the road running
0:05:06 > 0:05:08cos you've done a lot of things before. Perfect.
0:05:08 > 0:05:10You're on the ball.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13I've left the nice ones for the student to do!
0:05:13 > 0:05:16- Pop in the house now for a cup of tea and a cake!- Thank you.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18Let you crack on.
0:05:18 > 0:05:22The practice has been caring for all kinds of creatures,
0:05:22 > 0:05:25great and small, for 100 years,
0:05:25 > 0:05:29and has five branches all over southwest Wales.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35In the Neath clinic, exotic specialist Lance Jepson
0:05:35 > 0:05:37has his first client of the day.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39Creesha has brought in the family pet.
0:05:39 > 0:05:43This is Shellington. He's a little horsefield tortoise.
0:05:43 > 0:05:47He's not very old. He is less than a year. He was poorly.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49We think he had an infection.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54- Yeah, he is looking better. - He is, isn't he?
0:05:54 > 0:05:57- He is a lot more kind of... - What is his appetite like?
0:05:57 > 0:06:01Well, when I give him food, he is having a good feed.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03I'm just going to have a sample of this, because I can...
0:06:05 > 0:06:08..and I'll look at that under the microscope.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10- Be a couple of minutes.- No problem.
0:06:13 > 0:06:19OK. Right. We've got a faecal sample from this tortoise.
0:06:19 > 0:06:21We are primarily looking for any parasites.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26I think...
0:06:27 > 0:06:30..we have them in abundance.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32Small numbers can be normal
0:06:32 > 0:06:35but in captivity sometimes things go out of kilter.
0:06:35 > 0:06:39Partly because of diet and maybe because of incorrect environment,
0:06:39 > 0:06:43and things start to favour the parasite and you get huge numbers.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47- There are some worms.- Oh, right.
0:06:47 > 0:06:49We've also got some protozoal parasites,
0:06:49 > 0:06:54single cell parasites, OK? They are in very large numbers.
0:06:54 > 0:06:58- I think we're going to need to treat. And I can do that now. OK?- OK.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01- That's fine.- So I need to pop something down his throat.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05That's where I need it to be.
0:07:05 > 0:07:09Lance injects a deworming drug directly into Shellington's stomach,
0:07:09 > 0:07:12which should soon rid the tortoise of his infection.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17- There we are.- Thank you.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26In Swansea, at the practice hospital,
0:07:26 > 0:07:30Muffin is awaiting tests after being viciously attacked by a cat.
0:07:34 > 0:07:38But before going ahead, vet Becky Bradshaw needs to know
0:07:38 > 0:07:41if her owners are in a position to pay the bill.
0:07:42 > 0:07:46I'm ringing, really, to check that we are happy, really,
0:07:46 > 0:07:49obviously to keep her in, keep her comfortable,
0:07:49 > 0:07:52and we were going to do an X-ray to rule out that she hasn't
0:07:52 > 0:07:54broken any of the bones in her neck as well.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57If we are talking about a £400 bill but she's going to get better,
0:07:57 > 0:08:00is that going to be something you are willing to pay?
0:08:00 > 0:08:03Is that OK?
0:08:03 > 0:08:07Lovely. All right. Thanks, Sara. I'll speak to you later. Bye-bye, now.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09Was that about paying? That must be a difficult conversation?
0:08:09 > 0:08:11Yes, it's a difficult conversation.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14Paying £400 or £500 for a one-year-old dog that can live
0:08:14 > 0:08:17until she is 12 and be fine, then they are happy to do that,
0:08:17 > 0:08:20but if it's £500 for a dog that you think you are going to put to sleep
0:08:20 > 0:08:24in three days, that is a different decision to make.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28Muffin's X-rays will determine the extent of her injuries
0:08:28 > 0:08:31and the true costs of any further treatment.
0:08:31 > 0:08:35So this is her cervical vertebrae in her neck.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38You've got... This is where your disk sits in your spine.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40I think we're looking at a disk putting pressure on the spine,
0:08:40 > 0:08:42rather than a fracture,
0:08:42 > 0:08:45which is probably better news for Muffin, really.
0:08:45 > 0:08:47The plan of action is to continue with pain relief and rest
0:08:47 > 0:08:50and review her as we go along, really,
0:08:50 > 0:08:55and hopefully the cord compression will improve rather than deteriorate.
0:08:58 > 0:09:02It's good news for Muffin, but she's not out of the woods yet.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05Recovery from nerve damage can be a long process.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13On Gower, vet Gwen is running some pregnancy tests
0:09:13 > 0:09:15at the Tucker dairy farm.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19And she has the latest hi tech gadget for the job.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24This is the best piece of kit that we own as a practice, I'd say.
0:09:24 > 0:09:28I love it. It's fantastic. So it's an ultrasound machine.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32That is the probe. I get to see the picture on my goggles,
0:09:32 > 0:09:36but it also Bluetooths over to the screen there.
0:09:36 > 0:09:40- I remember the old vets used to do it manually, by hand.- Yeah, yeah.
0:09:40 > 0:09:46- All by touch and feel.- I can do it by hand as well, thank you very much!
0:09:46 > 0:09:49What have we got here?
0:09:51 > 0:09:55There we are. Yeah. She is definitely in calf. See the heart beating?
0:09:56 > 0:09:58Very good news, yeah.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01As long as the rest of them are like that, we should be laughing.
0:10:05 > 0:10:07I've always really liked fertility work.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10I know it's not the cleanest or tidiest of jobs.
0:10:10 > 0:10:14It isn't the most glamorous either, but it's just really satisfying.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17- She's in calf.- Very good news, yeah.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23Well, you're not going to be desperately disappointed today.
0:10:23 > 0:10:27- She's in calf.- Good. Very happy with that.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30Before Gwen finishes for the day,
0:10:30 > 0:10:32Will wants her to take a look at Daisy.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35You can tell by the eyes and everything, she's just not...
0:10:35 > 0:10:40- Her eyes are a bit sunk.- They are, aren't they?- She's not 100% right.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44Since giving birth three weeks ago,
0:10:44 > 0:10:46the cow's condition has deteriorated.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51Gwen's got a good idea what the problem is.
0:10:51 > 0:10:55If you flick the side of her and you listen at the same time,
0:10:55 > 0:10:59you hear, like, a metallic ping. It's a twisted stomach.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02If Daisy's stomach is left untreated,
0:11:02 > 0:11:04it could be life-threatening.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08Surgery is the sort of definitive answer.
0:11:08 > 0:11:10What's the success rate?
0:11:10 > 0:11:13Success rate with surgery is about 80%. 70% to 80%.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18- I'll find out a price for you and stuff.- Yes.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21We asked to know how much it's going to cost but at the end of the day,
0:11:21 > 0:11:25the animal is more important to us, so she will be treated.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30Gwen will have to return to the farm in a few days' time
0:11:30 > 0:11:33to operate on Daisy.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40All right? How are you doing?
0:11:40 > 0:11:42Lance Jepson has spent the last 20 years
0:11:42 > 0:11:44specialising in exotic animals.
0:11:46 > 0:11:51Today Hooper, an eclectus parrot, is in for an annual check-up
0:11:51 > 0:11:53with his owners Jackie and Neil.
0:11:53 > 0:11:58Are you going to step up? Step up on me. That's it.
0:12:00 > 0:12:04- Take him out hiking, do you? - He puts the bin bags out.- Does he?
0:12:04 > 0:12:06- Every Monday night. - That's a useful bird to have around.
0:12:06 > 0:12:08Every Monday night, he puts the bin bags out.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11He spends most of the time just following Neil around on the floor.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14And they are wooden floors.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17I was going to say that they look fine and feel fine.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20- It's just his beak. He's having a bit of difficulty preening.- OK.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23We'll take that...we'll take that back a bit.
0:12:23 > 0:12:25I'm going to hand him back to you
0:12:25 > 0:12:28cos I need to shoot off and organise a nurse to give me a hand.
0:12:28 > 0:12:29OK? Good boy.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32Right. I'll be two seconds.
0:12:32 > 0:12:34Tell me about him doing the bins?
0:12:34 > 0:12:36Every Monday, it's just to give him exercise.
0:12:36 > 0:12:38We put the bin bags together and I say, "Come on then."
0:12:38 > 0:12:41We've got a passageway to the pavement and at 9.30pm or 10pm,
0:12:41 > 0:12:44he comes all the way down and all the way back.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47It does his nails for him cos he's walking on concrete.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50And many times we see people walking with a dog and they look at me like,
0:12:50 > 0:12:52"Who am I talking to?"
0:12:52 > 0:12:54Little green thing runs along the floor.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57Then we go, "Thank you." And then we go back.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00I could pick them up in one go but it takes me three trips -
0:13:00 > 0:13:02up and down, up and down - and he follows me all the time.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07I don't know why eclectus... I've probably said this before,
0:13:07 > 0:13:09why they're not more popular, because they're so gorgeous.
0:13:09 > 0:13:14- Parrots should not be popular anyway.- Yeah. That's a fair point.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17But you're right, parrots just don't make good pets. Yeah.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20- It's unfair, I think. - We will be a few minutes.- No worries.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27It's going to be a funny noise but you've had this done before.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30DRILL WHIRS
0:13:35 > 0:13:36That's just shortened it,
0:13:36 > 0:13:40so now what we're going to do is just try and reshape it a bit.
0:13:49 > 0:13:53There we are. So that's just reshaped that.
0:13:53 > 0:13:55I'm not prepared to take any more back there.
0:13:55 > 0:13:57It's a little bit uneven down the side there
0:13:57 > 0:14:00but he will work on that himself.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04- Hiya.- So I've taken that back as far as I dare
0:14:04 > 0:14:08- and I've just reshaped it a little bit as well.- Yeah. That's good.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11- He can destroy even more things easier now.- Yeah.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14- PARROT CHIRPS - That's better, isn't it?
0:14:15 > 0:14:18- You'll preen better now.- OK.
0:14:18 > 0:14:20- Thank you very much.- Good. Thank you.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32It's the middle of the night, and vet Becky
0:14:32 > 0:14:36is on call at an alpaca farm in Felindre, near Morriston.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39I need to have a little look at your botty again.
0:14:39 > 0:14:41Owner Steve Heatherington
0:14:41 > 0:14:45wants her to check on Alys, who's suffered a rectal prolapse.
0:14:46 > 0:14:50- Let's have a little look. It is quite swollen there.- It is, isn't it?
0:14:50 > 0:14:52Yeah, it is. All right, darling. I know.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55It's not particularly comfortable, is it?
0:14:55 > 0:14:57It is pretty swollen.
0:14:57 > 0:14:59- Steady, now. Don't spit. Thank you. - All right.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02It is a very important part of her body.
0:15:02 > 0:15:06Have to be careful that we don't damage it trying to pop it back in.
0:15:06 > 0:15:10- OK.- It's a bit like a balloon. You push one side and it pops out again.
0:15:10 > 0:15:14- Pops out the other end.- Don't. Don't spit on me.- All right, sweet pea.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17Trying to help you. Stay. Stay.
0:15:17 > 0:15:20Pushing the alpaca's bottom back into place
0:15:20 > 0:15:23is the only real treatment Becky can offer.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26- But Alys is not impressed. - No, no, no!
0:15:27 > 0:15:30All the time! Every time I get it halfway in...
0:15:33 > 0:15:37- ALPACA SPITS - Ah!- Sorry.- Oh, yes!
0:15:37 > 0:15:41They're normally really placid and don't do this kind of thing!
0:15:42 > 0:15:44Finally, Becky's perseverance pays off.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48My hand is in her bottom. It's in. OK?
0:15:48 > 0:15:51- I'm just going to hold it here for a second.- Good girl. Well done.
0:15:51 > 0:15:53So we've popped it back in.
0:15:53 > 0:15:55I'm just putting my hand in her bottom,
0:15:55 > 0:15:58which doesn't look dignified, but I'm going to hold it in for a few minutes
0:15:58 > 0:16:01cos if I take my hand out too quick it will come out with it.
0:16:01 > 0:16:03That's what it should look like.
0:16:03 > 0:16:05She potentially will push it out again,
0:16:05 > 0:16:09so we'll definitely stitch this one in. OK?
0:16:10 > 0:16:13I'm putting what we call a purse string suture in,
0:16:13 > 0:16:18which effectively is like a drawstring to close her bottom.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23Fingers crossed she'll keep it in and I won't have to come back out.
0:16:23 > 0:16:25That's the idea. Yeah.
0:16:25 > 0:16:29What Alys needs now is a good night's sleep and, all being well,
0:16:29 > 0:16:31that goes for Becky too.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34It's a case of if I can get into bed and have a few hours' sleep
0:16:34 > 0:16:36before tomorrow's work, then it's a bonus.
0:16:36 > 0:16:39And hopefully this might be the last call of the night,
0:16:39 > 0:16:41but only time will tell!
0:16:49 > 0:16:52The following morning, Alys is back running with the pack.
0:16:54 > 0:16:56So how are you? Are you all right?
0:16:58 > 0:17:00Good girl!
0:17:00 > 0:17:04Becky's veterinary handiwork seems to have done the trick.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08OK. I know. I'm sorry, sweetheart. Come on then.
0:17:09 > 0:17:13So the swelling has gone down and it's not protruding again,
0:17:13 > 0:17:15which is great.
0:17:15 > 0:17:17The stitches seem to have worked.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25At the main hospital in Swansea,
0:17:25 > 0:17:30Becky is back on duty and Muffin is ready for discharge.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32OK. Here we go.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37Her owners Darren and Sara can't wait to get her back.
0:17:38 > 0:17:41All right, then. We'll lie you down on the table,
0:17:41 > 0:17:46cos she's more comfortable when she lies down on her side.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49My darling! I know.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51She's better than I thought she'd be, actually.
0:17:51 > 0:17:53I thought she'd be a lot more painful
0:17:53 > 0:17:58- but I think she's improved already. - You are like a baby. So spoilt.
0:17:58 > 0:18:02Do you want to give her a little bit of a cuddle? I can scoop her up.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04I think that's what she wants, she wants to be in your arms.
0:18:04 > 0:18:08Keep her that side, that's it, and just keep against you flat.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11- That's it. Lovely. - If it was the worst scenario today,
0:18:11 > 0:18:14we were going to say, "Put her down."
0:18:14 > 0:18:16Which, luckily, we didn't have to.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19We couldn't afford the bill because it was on about...
0:18:19 > 0:18:23You know, last night, it could cost thousands of pounds.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26Really, it's the next couple of days that will tell us
0:18:26 > 0:18:28if she's going to continue to improve,
0:18:28 > 0:18:31which I think that is the way she is going to go, really.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34You turn around to face her that way. That's it.
0:18:34 > 0:18:38It looks like she is happy, happy to lie on that side, you see.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40- Wants a rest, does she?- Yeah.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43That is all she needs, rest and pain relief, really. And lots of TLC.
0:18:43 > 0:18:47She looks much better than she was last night, doesn't she?
0:18:47 > 0:18:50- Thanks to the vet, see.- Scared your mam to death.
0:18:50 > 0:18:54- Scared your mam to death. - Thanks very much.
0:18:54 > 0:18:55- Ta-ta.- Bye.
0:18:57 > 0:18:59It's quite challenging at times.
0:18:59 > 0:19:01You diagnose problems in animals, you make them better
0:19:01 > 0:19:04and you get them to go home, you know, and be their healthy selves
0:19:04 > 0:19:08at home again and that is the really rewarding part of the job.
0:19:10 > 0:19:12In reception waiting to see the exotic specialist
0:19:12 > 0:19:15are Kim and Shelia.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18I think this is probably the third or fourth visit to Lance
0:19:18 > 0:19:21and Persephone here, this terrapin,
0:19:21 > 0:19:26has had a very serious operation, a major one,
0:19:26 > 0:19:32having a kind of hysterectomy, and her gut inspected.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36She's 53 years old.
0:19:36 > 0:19:43- There we are. You see?- He is coming, is he?- That's her operation.
0:19:43 > 0:19:45- Hi.- There we are.- Hello again.
0:19:45 > 0:19:49- Lance, will you take her? - I will take her.
0:19:49 > 0:19:53That's not a problem. Thank you. Will you follow me through?
0:19:53 > 0:19:56Since Persephone's complex surgery with Lance Jepson,
0:19:56 > 0:19:59the terrapin has become constipated.
0:19:59 > 0:20:01What I found was this section of gut
0:20:01 > 0:20:04which had this fairly firm faeces in...
0:20:04 > 0:20:06And you massaged it.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09I massaged it to start to break it up and we know she did pass a bit
0:20:09 > 0:20:11the following day, but what we are waiting
0:20:11 > 0:20:14for her to do is to have a big poo.
0:20:14 > 0:20:19- Over the last three days, she has eaten four prawns.- Good.
0:20:19 > 0:20:20If she is not getting rid
0:20:20 > 0:20:25of the remains of these prawns she has eaten, then...
0:20:25 > 0:20:29- That's it. That's interesting. - That is the question in my mind.
0:20:29 > 0:20:33What we will do, we will take an X-ray. I'll be two seconds.
0:20:35 > 0:20:39We're both doctors, so we tend to bother him rather a lot.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43But he is always very nice and polite.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47A new X-ray will help determine
0:20:47 > 0:20:49whether Persephone's blockage is on the move.
0:20:49 > 0:20:51We're good to go.
0:20:54 > 0:21:00Last time, we had more gas, so maybe things are getting past it.
0:21:00 > 0:21:02It's encouraging that it is eating
0:21:02 > 0:21:05but we can still just make out where this blockage is.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09To help things on the way,
0:21:09 > 0:21:12Lance is going to give the terrapin a laxative.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14Go on, girl. That's it.
0:21:14 > 0:21:16With tortoises, I'm usually quite happy
0:21:16 > 0:21:20to stick my fingers in their mouth, but with a terrapin, less so.
0:21:20 > 0:21:24Terrapins are carnivores and they have got quite a sharp beak.
0:21:27 > 0:21:32That has gone in. I'll take her back and have a chat with the owners now.
0:21:32 > 0:21:37OK. Right. Here she is. We will have a look at the X-ray.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42- Are you going to show us? - I am indeed.
0:21:42 > 0:21:47- So we can still see a blockage there. - It's still there?- Still there.
0:21:47 > 0:21:51But Rome wasn't built in a day. These things do take time.
0:21:51 > 0:21:55- I'm just hoping you won't have to cut her open again.- That...
0:21:55 > 0:21:59It'll take a lot to get me to cut her open again! OK. All right, then.
0:21:59 > 0:22:01Thank you very much, Lance.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08On Gower, at Tuckers dairy farm,
0:22:08 > 0:22:11Daisy, the cow with the twisted stomach,
0:22:11 > 0:22:13is about to be operated on by vet Gwen.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18She's got the tinkles as well as the pain.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21It's a major piece of surgery,
0:22:21 > 0:22:25so she's called on partner Ifan Lloyd to give a helping hand.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28Nice to be doing this job when it's daylight here.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31It's usually two o'clock in the morning!
0:22:32 > 0:22:35A local anaesthetic into the side of the cow.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38- Just watch, because I might jump back.- It's all right.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44Firstly, Gwen needs to make an incision into the abdomen
0:22:44 > 0:22:47to reach to the chamber of the stomach that is twisted.
0:22:47 > 0:22:49AIR ESCAPES Can you hear that?
0:22:49 > 0:22:52That's the vacuum that I've just opened up
0:22:52 > 0:22:54by going into her belly.
0:22:55 > 0:22:59- Do you want to put your hand in? - What have you got there?
0:23:00 > 0:23:03You can get your arm in and around to the other side.
0:23:03 > 0:23:08- It is still quite full. - Yeah. She's eating, isn't she?
0:23:08 > 0:23:12How much of it is guesswork when you've got your hands in there?
0:23:12 > 0:23:16- None of it is guesswork! - About 95%!- It...
0:23:18 > 0:23:20It's more of a 3D puzzle that you work out.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23Having a good knowledge of anatomy is the thing.
0:23:23 > 0:23:26Otherwise it all just feels like squidgy bits.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31Can't really get much of a hold on it.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35The vets are finding it difficult to turn the stomach,
0:23:35 > 0:23:38so a decision is made to open the cow up on the opposite side.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41Then they can manipulate it from both positions.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44I'm just going to be passing it
0:23:44 > 0:23:47from my side over to Ifan's side.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50She's a bit big. My arm's a bit short to actually shake Ifan's hand.
0:23:50 > 0:23:52- Can you actually get to the bottom there, Gwen?- Yeah.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55I've pushed the fat down as much as I can.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57I can't feel any tugging on it yet though.
0:23:58 > 0:24:00- There you go.- Is that tugging?- Yeah.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03- Am I pulling, there?- Give a tug.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06Yeah.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10There she goes. Hang on.
0:24:11 > 0:24:14- How's that? Will that string it? - Yeah.- OK.
0:24:16 > 0:24:18With the stomach back in position,
0:24:18 > 0:24:20Ifan anchors it down with a few stitches.
0:24:20 > 0:24:22It is quite amazing that you're doing this.
0:24:22 > 0:24:25She's open both sides and we've both had our arms
0:24:25 > 0:24:28up to the armpit in her and she's just standing there.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31She's got a bit of sedation and she's got local anaesthetic
0:24:31 > 0:24:34but I'm pretty sure I'd be protesting a fair bit more than she is.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36Finished.
0:24:37 > 0:24:40The operation has turned out to be a complete success
0:24:40 > 0:24:47as six hours later, Daisy is on her way to the milking parlour.
0:24:47 > 0:24:50She's still in a bit of shock from the operation
0:24:50 > 0:24:52but looking a bit brighter.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54Within five days,
0:24:54 > 0:24:57her milk will be able to go back for human consumption,
0:24:57 > 0:25:00so hopefully she'll keep picking up.
0:25:00 > 0:25:04As long as she keeps improving now, each day, I'll be really happy.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13Back home in Swansea,
0:25:13 > 0:25:16Persephone the terrapin seems to be enjoying her convalescence.
0:25:16 > 0:25:19Let's see whether I can give her a bit more.
0:25:21 > 0:25:23Good girl!
0:25:24 > 0:25:28It's almost a prawn, so I am quite satisfied with that.
0:25:30 > 0:25:32Here you go.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36'I bought her in a pet shop. It cost me sixpence.'
0:25:36 > 0:25:41Without thinking about the consequences, you know,
0:25:41 > 0:25:45which has extended to 53 years now.
0:25:45 > 0:25:48But, I mean, she is not a very demanding animal in a sense.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52But Persephone has had her moments -
0:25:52 > 0:25:54she has been known to make a run for it.
0:25:56 > 0:26:01I heard this desperate voice saying, "Persephone is in the pond!"
0:26:01 > 0:26:04I put my bikini on, I went down and I tell you,
0:26:04 > 0:26:07it's like a skating rink down there.
0:26:07 > 0:26:14I crawled round this whole pond in my hands and knees in my bikini
0:26:14 > 0:26:19and eventually I felt something unusual there.
0:26:19 > 0:26:21And there she was, upside down.
0:26:21 > 0:26:25So I got her out, I put her there as a gift
0:26:25 > 0:26:27and you should see his smiling face!
0:26:29 > 0:26:34I said, "Never again! You do it next time!"
0:26:34 > 0:26:38- She's making her way out now. - No, she won't.
0:26:40 > 0:26:43Persephone eventually made a full recovery.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51It's been a few days since Muffin left hospital
0:26:51 > 0:26:53and she's back for a checkup.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56How are you doing? I'm Gareth. Are you OK?
0:26:56 > 0:26:59- So this is Gucci, the mum. - That's the mum, yeah.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01- Shall I put her on the floor? Will she be OK?- Yes.
0:27:01 > 0:27:04You all right? There we are.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07- And this is Muffin, is it?- Yeah.
0:27:07 > 0:27:11- How is she getting on?- She's doing brill.- Doing well, is she? OK.
0:27:11 > 0:27:15Pop her down. Steady, steady, steady, steady.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18- She still likes to lay, you know, on the one side.- Yeah.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21- Is she managing to walk about at all? - Yeah, she is doing fine.
0:27:21 > 0:27:23- She hasn't cried once.- Good girl.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26When she first came home, she was just dragging herself along...
0:27:26 > 0:27:31- So she is getting better?- Yeah, she's walking and then laying down.
0:27:31 > 0:27:33Nerve injuries can take months to get better.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36Usually four to six weeks,
0:27:36 > 0:27:39just to get probably where we are going to get to.
0:27:39 > 0:27:43- I think she's going to be a viable little dog, isn't she?- Yeah.- Perfect.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46- Good girl.- All right, then.
0:27:46 > 0:27:48- Thank you very much. - Take care. Bye-bye.
0:27:49 > 0:27:51Muffin's had a lucky escape.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54Things could have ended up very different for her
0:27:54 > 0:27:56and her owners, Darren and Sara.
0:27:56 > 0:27:58We are out of work at the moment
0:27:58 > 0:28:02and it is a struggle as it is, with four children as well.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05But I will definitely be taking out cover on all of them now, yeah.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08They're our babies. We love them to bits.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11- They mean the world, they do. - They do, yeah.
0:28:11 > 0:28:16Next time on Vets 24/7,
0:28:16 > 0:28:20partner Ifan Lloyd is taking no chances with some angry cows.
0:28:20 > 0:28:22Calm down, dear!
0:28:24 > 0:28:28Vet Sarah Martin has got her hands full with a special delivery.
0:28:28 > 0:28:31- It's like One Born Every Minute, isn't it?- Yeah!
0:28:31 > 0:28:34And Alex Franklin needs a strong stomach
0:28:34 > 0:28:37as she tries to save a pony with colic.
0:28:39 > 0:28:42It's not a very nice smell down there, and taste, I must say.