0:00:02 > 0:00:04Britain is a nation in love with its animals.
0:00:04 > 0:00:05How are you doing?
0:00:05 > 0:00:07We own 27 million pets...
0:00:09 > 0:00:12..and 900 million farm animals.
0:00:12 > 0:00:13A very frisky one.
0:00:13 > 0:00:15All of them...
0:00:16 > 0:00:18..need vets.
0:00:18 > 0:00:21Over the course of their final year,
0:00:21 > 0:00:25ten students at the prestigious Royal Veterinary College,
0:00:25 > 0:00:29in Hertfordshire, are taking what they've learned in the classroom...
0:00:29 > 0:00:30Do it.
0:00:30 > 0:00:32..and putting it to the test.
0:00:32 > 0:00:34In practices...
0:00:34 > 0:00:36..farms...
0:00:36 > 0:00:38This is all new territory for me.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41..and state-of-the-art animal hospitals.
0:00:41 > 0:00:44It's a whirlwind of back-to-back work placements.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46MONKEY SCREECHES
0:00:46 > 0:00:48Sounds like an unhappy monkey!
0:00:48 > 0:00:50Nice and quick, good.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52And they can't afford to fail...
0:00:52 > 0:00:53..a single one.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56I need to do my job properly. I need to do it better.
0:00:56 > 0:00:58It's the most challenging stretch...
0:00:58 > 0:00:59Whoa!
0:00:59 > 0:01:02..of a very long journey...
0:01:02 > 0:01:04I have a serious problem with my hand shaking.
0:01:04 > 0:01:06..to become...
0:01:06 > 0:01:08..fully qualified young vets.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11Saved a life today, which is good!
0:01:30 > 0:01:35It's late March and our young vets are nearly at the finish line.
0:01:35 > 0:01:39Just two weeks away are their finals, the toughest, practical
0:01:39 > 0:01:42and written exams they'll ever face.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45If I fail these exams, that's it, really.
0:01:45 > 0:01:47They're the most important exams I'll ever do,
0:01:47 > 0:01:51because they are the things that define you, either as a vet,
0:01:51 > 0:01:53or not a vet.
0:01:53 > 0:01:57So, yeah, failure's not really an option.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00But until then they've got one more clinical placement to complete.
0:02:00 > 0:02:03One last chance to brush up their practical skills
0:02:03 > 0:02:08and prepare themselves for their first jobs as real vets.
0:02:08 > 0:02:10Would you like to come through?
0:02:10 > 0:02:12It's the last rotation, it's the last thing you're going to do,
0:02:12 > 0:02:15and the next time you set foot in a veterinary practice,
0:02:15 > 0:02:19it's actually, you're going to be qualified, you're going to be a vet.
0:02:19 > 0:02:20The onus is going to be on you.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23With a year's experience already under their belts,
0:02:23 > 0:02:27these last placements should be a walk in the park for our students.
0:02:27 > 0:02:33But, as they're about to find out, life as a vet is full of surprises.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35This is really weird.
0:02:40 > 0:02:44Vet student Matt Wilkinson is back in Eastbourne, his home town.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47He's on his second placement at a small animal practice
0:02:47 > 0:02:50based in a pet store.
0:02:50 > 0:02:54He's working with husband and wife team, Warwick and Vicky Payne.
0:02:54 > 0:02:58And last time he was here, Warwick dangled the carrot of a job offer
0:02:58 > 0:03:00IF he proves himself.
0:03:02 > 0:03:04It's a fun, family practice.
0:03:04 > 0:03:06Pocket puppy.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09But he needs to impress them to get the job.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12Oh, I just want to keep you!
0:03:12 > 0:03:15All right, sweetie. You're not looking very good at all, poppet.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17What's happened?
0:03:17 > 0:03:21Matt's first case today is Lolly, a ten-year-old Basset Hound.
0:03:21 > 0:03:22Her owners, Jerry and Marlene,
0:03:22 > 0:03:25have brought her in because Lolly's obviously not well.
0:03:25 > 0:03:29Last night, four-and-a-half hours after she had something to eat,
0:03:29 > 0:03:32it came out in big... I could tell what she'd eaten.
0:03:32 > 0:03:34It was big lumps still as if it hadn't been digested.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37Today she's been being sick and it's yellow and green.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40Last night, I took her out for a walk and she didn't want to walk,
0:03:40 > 0:03:42she kept sitting down, she's got no energy.
0:03:42 > 0:03:44How old is she now?
0:03:44 > 0:03:47We reckon she was a rescue, we picked her off the streets in Spain,
0:03:47 > 0:03:50we reckon about ten, between nine and ten years old.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52Stand up for me, sweetheart.
0:03:52 > 0:03:54She's just never ever ill.
0:03:54 > 0:03:56You just have a hand feel of her belly
0:03:56 > 0:04:00and have a feel of her back there and tell me what you think?
0:04:00 > 0:04:05Lolly has some other symptoms, which are even more worrying.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09We started to get a bit suspicious of something,
0:04:09 > 0:04:12she had just one or two, a couple of lymph nodes that were much
0:04:12 > 0:04:15much bigger than they should be.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17Took her for a little walk, she keeps panting a lot.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20She's very pale. Looking at her gums, she's...
0:04:23 > 0:04:24Have a listen to that.
0:04:28 > 0:04:33Listening to Lolly's heart tells Matt this is extremely serious.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37- Gallop rhythm.- Yeah.
0:04:37 > 0:04:38Erm...
0:04:40 > 0:04:42Bad, she's very pale,
0:04:42 > 0:04:44she's got a very fast heart rate,
0:04:44 > 0:04:47with an abnormal rhythm, a gallop rhythm,
0:04:47 > 0:04:49Instead of hearing the two heart sounds,
0:04:49 > 0:04:54the two sort of lub-dub, it's going like a little horse galloping.
0:04:54 > 0:04:58I was a bit concerned there was something a bit lumpy feeling.
0:04:58 > 0:04:59- There was, yeah.- Yeah.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02Not sure entirely what part of her insides,
0:05:02 > 0:05:06could be spleen, could be thickening in the gut.
0:05:06 > 0:05:10Because owners come in not expecting the worst,
0:05:10 > 0:05:12and they come to us to for reassurance or something
0:05:12 > 0:05:15and then as you're doing your physical exam you start
0:05:15 > 0:05:18feeling things and in your head you're just thinking
0:05:18 > 0:05:22"Oh, dear, this...I'm going to have to say something horrible here."
0:05:22 > 0:05:28My gut feeling is that it's probably a cancer of some variety.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31I think she's been a very brave little dog,
0:05:31 > 0:05:33pretending that everything's fine,
0:05:33 > 0:05:36while actually things haven't been fine for a little while.
0:05:36 > 0:05:40She's never been ill, never been ill, it's the first time.
0:05:42 > 0:05:47It's most likely to be a lymphoma, which is a white blood cell cancer.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49We very rarely cure them.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52So is she suffering at the moment, do you think?
0:05:52 > 0:05:55- I think she is.- Now if this was your dog, what would you do?
0:05:55 > 0:05:59I think...we're never allowed to answer that question, but...
0:05:59 > 0:06:01I've never had a dog...
0:06:01 > 0:06:04I have to say I don't think she'd be a great candidate for going ahead
0:06:04 > 0:06:07with a lot of testing and chemo and things like that.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10She's a sick dog, and I don't think she'd stand any treatment.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13If I'd have brought her in earlier would that have made any difference?
0:06:13 > 0:06:16- No, probably not. Some of these... - There's really no signs?
0:06:16 > 0:06:19No, some of these most aggressive types of lymphoma,
0:06:19 > 0:06:23it's six weeks maximum from picking them up to losing them...
0:06:24 > 0:06:27I know it's kind of a big shock and not exactly what you were expecting.
0:06:27 > 0:06:31- Not really, no.- I don't necessarily need you to make a decision tonight.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34If you want to go home, have a chat amongst yourselves,
0:06:34 > 0:06:36and come back to us, that would be absolutely fine.
0:06:36 > 0:06:38It's eventually going to happen, isn't it?
0:06:38 > 0:06:42- It is eventually going to happen.- If it was me I wouldn't want to suffer.
0:06:44 > 0:06:49Marlene and Jerry have the night to make a heartbreaking decision,
0:06:49 > 0:06:53to let nature take its course and have Lolly at home
0:06:53 > 0:06:55for a few more precious weeks,
0:06:55 > 0:06:59or end it now to prevent her suffering.
0:06:59 > 0:07:03- Shall we take you home? - Take her home, spoil her rotten.
0:07:03 > 0:07:06With cases like Lolly, I was just the vet student
0:07:06 > 0:07:09and I was doing my physical exam, but I wasn't going to be the one
0:07:09 > 0:07:12who says to the owner, "Look, your dog's got something nasty here."
0:07:12 > 0:07:14You're grateful in those situations
0:07:14 > 0:07:16that you're not the one who has to be the bearer of bad news,
0:07:16 > 0:07:20but, you know, that's all going to change and...
0:07:20 > 0:07:22..one day that will be me.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24Come on then, darling. Come here girl.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28Come on, then.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31It's one of the toughest lessons a young vet has to learn.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39It's not always happy news, is it? Unfortunately.
0:07:41 > 0:07:47Lots of things really point to a not very nice prognosis, unfortunately.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52As sick as she is, there's different types.
0:07:52 > 0:07:54There's some, no matter how you treat them
0:07:54 > 0:07:56they're not going to be here in six weeks,
0:07:56 > 0:07:59and, unfortunately, she looks like one of those.
0:08:02 > 0:08:06With an incredibly difficult decision to make, Jerry and Marlene
0:08:06 > 0:08:10head home to spend what could be their final night with Lolly.
0:08:25 > 0:08:27Because we've been together so long,
0:08:27 > 0:08:29it's been like five, six years, that's a long time.
0:08:29 > 0:08:32For me that's going to be the worst part, just missing friends.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35I'll be here. It'll be like splitting up a big family, really,
0:08:35 > 0:08:38cos everyone's really good friends.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40Yeah, and it's taken me five years to learn how to live with Dru.
0:08:40 > 0:08:42ALL LAUGH
0:08:49 > 0:08:53Student Amy Clithero has grown up around horses at her mum's
0:08:53 > 0:08:56riding stables, so she's no stranger to large animals,
0:08:56 > 0:08:59or physical hard work.
0:09:02 > 0:09:04Amy's chosen to come back to her home turf,
0:09:04 > 0:09:08the Yorkshire Dales, for her final placement.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12Go on!
0:09:12 > 0:09:14Spring is a busy time for vets,
0:09:14 > 0:09:17so she'll have plenty of chances to prove herself to her
0:09:17 > 0:09:22supervisor, Russell Howarth, a man who definitely loves his job.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24A lot of the time you turn up in the office in the morning,
0:09:24 > 0:09:28you don't know what's coming, which is, sort of, quite nice.
0:09:28 > 0:09:31- And...- Days like this.
0:09:31 > 0:09:33Days like this when, you know, I'm at work now, so yeah!
0:09:33 > 0:09:36I don't know how you can do stuff like this and not enjoy it.
0:09:38 > 0:09:40Amy's very much at home on a farm
0:09:40 > 0:09:43but there are still some important jobs she hasn't tackled before.
0:09:43 > 0:09:47And today she's going to learn a new skill, how to dehorn a cow.
0:09:50 > 0:09:54What we do when we take the horns off, we put a local anaesthetic,
0:09:54 > 0:09:58near the eye and, basically, that numbs most of the horn.
0:09:58 > 0:10:00If they know they've got horns, they'll learn how to use them
0:10:00 > 0:10:04to their advantage, so it saves injury to each other,
0:10:04 > 0:10:06it saves injury to us humans because, obviously,
0:10:06 > 0:10:09getting headbutted by a cow without horns is a lot nicer
0:10:09 > 0:10:12than getting headbutted with the horns.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15So you want to be at an angle, like this,
0:10:15 > 0:10:18whilst feeling a bit of vibration, or something, at the start.
0:10:18 > 0:10:22A nice steady rhythm on there.
0:10:22 > 0:10:26Russell shows Amy how to use the wire saw.
0:10:26 > 0:10:30Thankfully the anaesthetic means it's painless for the cow.
0:10:33 > 0:10:35Russell made it look easy.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38- Come here, Amy. - Do you want me to do that one?
0:10:38 > 0:10:41Now it's Amy's turn to have a go.
0:10:49 > 0:10:50AMY GIGGLES
0:10:50 > 0:10:53Clearly, it's not easy at all.
0:10:53 > 0:10:57Basically, I think it was a combination of me leaning back,
0:10:57 > 0:11:01my feet slipped, the wire snapped and it was just like, "Oh, dear."
0:11:03 > 0:11:05Yeah, so strong I can snap wire!
0:11:05 > 0:11:07I got a bit of a muddy bum after that.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09It wasn't great!
0:11:16 > 0:11:19But Amy soon gets into the swing of it.
0:11:19 > 0:11:22Not a drop of blood, awesome!
0:11:22 > 0:11:24You just whip the horns off as fast as you can,
0:11:24 > 0:11:27and then the cow can go off, after he's had his purple spray.
0:11:28 > 0:11:32It's a great learning experience and a great work-out for Amy.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35She's anaesthetised half the herd, conquered the dehorning
0:11:35 > 0:11:38and cauterised the stumps.
0:11:38 > 0:11:40It's all thirsty work.
0:11:40 > 0:11:41I'm going to have a cup of tea.
0:11:41 > 0:11:43I could do with a cup of tea!
0:12:01 > 0:12:04Mature student Judy Puddifoot always wanted to be a vet
0:12:04 > 0:12:07but it's been a long journey
0:12:07 > 0:12:10via two degrees and a pet care business.
0:12:10 > 0:12:14Now she's just a few short weeks away from achieving her dream.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17Good afternoon, Icknield Vets in Luton, Brook Street branch.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20Her final placement is at a small animal surgery in Luton...
0:12:23 > 0:12:26..and she's hoping that the next two weeks will be very straightforward.
0:12:26 > 0:12:30- So, yeah, do exactly that.- As long as I've got time for cuddles.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33But as vet-in-waiting Judy is about to find out,
0:12:33 > 0:12:37when you least expect it, a medical emergency walks through the door.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40This way, Snowy!
0:12:40 > 0:12:43Snowy is showing all the symptoms of pyometra,
0:12:43 > 0:12:45an infection in her uterus.
0:12:45 > 0:12:49Untreated, she could die from septicaemia.
0:12:49 > 0:12:52So she must have surgery to remove it straightaway.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57Crudely, it's a womb full of pus, to put it bluntly,
0:12:57 > 0:13:00so that's a huge bacterial infection, which is
0:13:00 > 0:13:03just continuing to go on and on and on and makes the animal very sick.
0:13:03 > 0:13:08It gets larger and larger and larger and it can potentially rupture
0:13:08 > 0:13:11and that's really dangerous if that happens. They are very common.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14Yeah, surprised, I've never scrubbed in on one actually.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17- Well you'll be scrubbing in on this one!- Whoo!
0:13:17 > 0:13:19Supervising vet Katy Wragg asks Judy to calculate Snowy's
0:13:19 > 0:13:21anaesthetic dose.
0:13:21 > 0:13:23Oh, here we go!
0:13:23 > 0:13:26God!
0:13:26 > 0:13:29I need a calculator. How much does she weigh? Sorry, she weighs?
0:13:29 > 0:13:32- About 15 and a half kilos.- Good.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34Maths WAS Judy's Achilles heel...
0:13:34 > 0:13:366.2 mls.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39..but not any more. Today she gets it right first time.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43- How much?- 6.2 mls.
0:13:43 > 0:13:44I've got the pussy end.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47Have we got the whole caboodle there?
0:13:47 > 0:13:50Have you got 90% of the weight as well, have you?
0:13:50 > 0:13:53Now it's time for Judy to prove herself in surgery.
0:13:53 > 0:13:57My first pyo I've ever actually got my hands on so, erm...
0:13:57 > 0:13:59..it is very exciting...
0:14:00 > 0:14:04- Access is key in pyo, I guess? - Exactamondo.
0:14:04 > 0:14:08Because snowy has pyometra, her infected uterus is
0:14:08 > 0:14:12so full of pus, it's three times the size it should be.
0:14:12 > 0:14:17So you can see all of this fluid in here, it's just all pus.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21Katy starts the delicate job of removing one side.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26If we accidentally were to nick that with a scalpel,
0:14:26 > 0:14:29or instrument, that pus could end up in the abdomen of the animal
0:14:29 > 0:14:31and that could be fatal.
0:14:31 > 0:14:35That's why it has to undergo the surgery, because that could
0:14:35 > 0:14:37rupture or pop of its own accord.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40If it gets sufficiently full, it could pop and then
0:14:40 > 0:14:45you've got an animal that's really in danger of dying.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48Judy thinks she's just assisting Katy today
0:14:48 > 0:14:50but there's a surprise in store for her,
0:14:50 > 0:14:53a chance to take over this difficult surgery.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56- Now do you want to do the other side?- Yeah, definitely.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59I've done the easy side for you, just so you know.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02Thanks. I'll do the difficult one.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09Oh, dear. Right, OK, here it goes, let's find you.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12You think back over the last 12 months,
0:15:12 > 0:15:15you know, it only seems like yesterday really that I was doing
0:15:15 > 0:15:20my first ever spay on a dog and that was fantastic,
0:15:20 > 0:15:26and then, 12 months later, here I am doing a slightly riskier surgery,
0:15:26 > 0:15:28a higher risk surgery on a dog
0:15:28 > 0:15:32and the progression is phenomenal, when you think about it,
0:15:32 > 0:15:34how far we've come, actually.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37Very calm, very impressed!
0:15:37 > 0:15:39Yeah.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42- Thanks. Inside I'm crying... - "I'm dying inside"
0:15:42 > 0:15:45Yeah, I bet your heart's thundering along.
0:15:45 > 0:15:49It's one of the last times Judy will do surgery under supervision.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53If I was on my own, phew,
0:15:53 > 0:15:56I would be somewhat panicking.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59You could do this, though, if you wanted to. Yeah, you could do this.
0:15:59 > 0:16:00OK, I'll take your word for it.
0:16:00 > 0:16:02You know the procedure, you know what you're doing,
0:16:02 > 0:16:04you know what the risks are.
0:16:04 > 0:16:05- This is true.- You're careful.
0:16:08 > 0:16:09OK.
0:16:13 > 0:16:17But no, well done! Superstar.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20Yeah, more things keep getting added to this bucket list,
0:16:20 > 0:16:24so pyometra wasn't even on there, but, hey! Tick!
0:16:29 > 0:16:32Yeah, really well. She did really, really well.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35It's a tough operation even on healthy dogs,
0:16:35 > 0:16:39so doing that with all of that extra blood flow and swelling,
0:16:39 > 0:16:41she did really well.
0:16:41 > 0:16:45And the operation's been a success for Snowy too.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48Just four hours later she's feeling much better.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52Ready to be reunited with her family.
0:16:53 > 0:16:55Who's that!
0:16:55 > 0:16:57Yes!
0:16:57 > 0:16:59Oh, very happy.
0:16:59 > 0:17:03She's my baby, she's my best friend.
0:17:03 > 0:17:05You know, she's like my little boy.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08- She's part of the family.- Yeah. - Definitely.
0:17:13 > 0:17:15Sit!
0:17:15 > 0:17:16Sit!
0:17:19 > 0:17:20Sit.
0:17:20 > 0:17:22Sit.
0:17:28 > 0:17:32In Eastbourne, Matt knows he has an extremely difficult day ahead.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35He's facing one of the hardest jobs a vet has to do.
0:17:38 > 0:17:41His first patient is Basset Hound Lolly,
0:17:41 > 0:17:44who yesterday was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
0:17:44 > 0:17:49Her owners, Jerry and Marlene, need to decide whether they should let
0:17:49 > 0:17:54Lolly die naturally, or spare her the pain and have her put to sleep.
0:17:54 > 0:17:59We're talking about a condition for which there is no cure.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02You know, this is a particularly nasty type of cancer
0:18:02 > 0:18:05that affects the whole body.
0:18:06 > 0:18:11It's a situation all vets dread and a tough lesson for Matt.
0:18:11 > 0:18:13- Can I just ask you one...?- Mm-hm.
0:18:13 > 0:18:15I know it might seem stupid to you,
0:18:15 > 0:18:19but how can you be 100% certain it's cancer?
0:18:19 > 0:18:22Erm, we can't without doing tests.
0:18:22 > 0:18:26We can do something called fine needle aspirates where we put
0:18:26 > 0:18:28a needle into some of the lumps and suck out some cells
0:18:28 > 0:18:30and send them off to the lab and find out,
0:18:30 > 0:18:34but lymphoma is one of those sorts of diseases
0:18:34 > 0:18:38that there's not much else that looks like it.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41When you get dogs that present with these sorts of swellings,
0:18:41 > 0:18:45you're 95% certain of the diagnosis before you begin the tests.
0:18:45 > 0:18:49- It's just two days ago, she was fine.- Yeah, I know.
0:18:49 > 0:18:52She was going on the beach, she was playing with other dogs,
0:18:52 > 0:18:54she's been eating, then all of a sudden, within 24 hours
0:18:54 > 0:18:56she goes downhill like this.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01Well, she's never been ill, this is what we can't get over.
0:19:01 > 0:19:03No. She's a horrible colour.
0:19:07 > 0:19:09And she's just being sick all the time.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12It's more about quality than anything else
0:19:12 > 0:19:15and if she's not happy then it's time to call it a day.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18We could fill her up with steroids but it's still a matter of time.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21No, it's not worth it, it's just prolonging it for her
0:19:21 > 0:19:23and she's still going to be suffering, even with chemo,
0:19:23 > 0:19:27I could say do chemo but she's still going to suffer having that.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30Yeah, and there will be some side effects and things and...
0:19:30 > 0:19:32Right, then. No.
0:19:32 > 0:19:37Reluctantly Jerry and Marlene decide it's best that Lolly
0:19:37 > 0:19:38is put to sleep.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41I don't want her to suffer.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44I don't want her to go but I don't want her to suffer.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47You've got to be certain cos in effect we're killing her.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52This is the biggest favour you'll ever do your best friend.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55We haven't slept all night, we've just been cuddling her all night.
0:19:55 > 0:19:57She's been in bed with us cuddling us.
0:19:57 > 0:20:01This is, this is helping her have a nice, dignified end.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04- You'd better do it then, mate.- Yeah.
0:20:04 > 0:20:06Come on love, just a couple of minutes, darling.
0:20:10 > 0:20:12Oops-a-daisy, here we go.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30After their final goodbyes to Lolly,
0:20:30 > 0:20:33Jerry and Marlene are finding it hard to come to terms
0:20:33 > 0:20:35with their loss.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39I can't believe it's happened.
0:20:39 > 0:20:41I just want her back.
0:20:42 > 0:20:46I just can't believe how quick it happened.
0:20:46 > 0:20:4824 hours ago she was fine.
0:20:49 > 0:20:51She's gone now.
0:20:53 > 0:20:55Yes, we shall be lost without her
0:20:55 > 0:20:57and so will the other dogs.
0:20:59 > 0:21:01Better than her suffering.
0:21:01 > 0:21:05We've done the right thing, I know. We've done the right thing, I know.
0:21:05 > 0:21:09I couldn't bear her suffering but it doesn't make it any easier, does it?
0:21:09 > 0:21:10No.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14I don't know if it's either a privilege or a curse.
0:21:14 > 0:21:16Erm...
0:21:16 > 0:21:20In some ways it's horrible because you have to do it,
0:21:20 > 0:21:24but in other ways it's nice because you're helping in a way.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27You're ending suffering and there's nothing worse than
0:21:27 > 0:21:29some poor animal suffering for absolutely no reason.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32They don't know what's going on. All they know is that they're in pain,
0:21:32 > 0:21:34or they're really uncomfortable.
0:21:34 > 0:21:39In a way it's a gift that we get the ability to do that,
0:21:39 > 0:21:41but it doesn't make it easier.
0:21:41 > 0:21:42It's still horrible.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00I don't really want to tell you about the cow story in first year,
0:22:00 > 0:22:01how I let the cows out.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04- You let the cows out?- Yeah, detrimental to my career, I think.
0:22:04 > 0:22:07- Did you forget to shut a gate? - No, someone did!
0:22:10 > 0:22:11Yeah...
0:22:16 > 0:22:19In Yorkshire, outdoorsy Amy has got stuck in to her
0:22:19 > 0:22:22farm vet duties with real gusto.
0:22:25 > 0:22:27It's not really me to sit down all day,
0:22:27 > 0:22:30I like to get out and about and crack on.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33Today she's tackling another first,
0:22:33 > 0:22:36treating a cow with a displaced stomach.
0:22:37 > 0:22:39Oh, yeah, I've got it.
0:22:39 > 0:22:43Cows have four stomachs, the abomasum is the last of the four
0:22:43 > 0:22:46and, in dairy cows, it has the capacity to move.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49What can happen is that gas can build up in the abomasum
0:22:49 > 0:22:52and it floats into the wrong position.
0:22:52 > 0:22:56When you're flicking, if there's gas trapped, it sounds like sort of a...
0:22:56 > 0:23:01The classic thing is flicking a metal bucket.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04It's not uncommon in cows who've recently given birth
0:23:04 > 0:23:07so it's something Amy's likely to come across
0:23:07 > 0:23:09if she opts for a rural practice.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12You do need to correct that cos it can cause the cow to, you know,
0:23:12 > 0:23:15to feel poorly. They go off their food and then when cows
0:23:15 > 0:23:19have been off their food they can basically become a downer cow.
0:23:19 > 0:23:22They lie down and they can't physically get back up again,
0:23:22 > 0:23:24and then you've got some big issues.
0:23:24 > 0:23:28While many vets use surgery to pull the stomach back into position,
0:23:28 > 0:23:31today they're using a different technique.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36Come on. There we go.
0:23:36 > 0:23:38Pull her onto her right...
0:23:42 > 0:23:45Just hold her for a second on her side so she gets..
0:23:45 > 0:23:46She'll calm down a bit.
0:23:47 > 0:23:51Rolling the cow onto her back will hopefully cause the stomach
0:23:51 > 0:23:54to float back into the correct position.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57Basically their stomach's a ball of gas, because they've not been
0:23:57 > 0:24:01eating, so if you, yeah when you roll them over you're using that gas,
0:24:01 > 0:24:03it's going to rise and move where it needs to go.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06That's great. That's great.
0:24:06 > 0:24:10It's great fun, cos it's something I can actually help with.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13The cow's sedated to make sure she doesn't get distressed
0:24:13 > 0:24:15or feel pain during the procedure.
0:24:16 > 0:24:20Vet Russell punctures the displaced stomach to let out the gas.
0:24:22 > 0:24:25You hear the gas coming out, straightaway,
0:24:25 > 0:24:27so we're in the right place.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31We've done a procedure called a toggle operation.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34What we've effectively done is put a stitch into the abomasum
0:24:34 > 0:24:37to try and hold it in the correct position.
0:24:37 > 0:24:39It had displaced off to the left.
0:24:41 > 0:24:44Right, we'll just carry on rolling it towards you TJ.
0:24:46 > 0:24:50Stomach sorted, she's still a bit dozy from the anaesthetic
0:24:50 > 0:24:53so Amy helps out with a pick me up.
0:24:53 > 0:24:56It's like cow Lucozade. It's got a bit of calcium, a bit of energy,
0:24:56 > 0:24:59all the things that a new calved cow like this can become a bit
0:24:59 > 0:25:02deficient in, there's a bit in that drench.
0:25:04 > 0:25:08It's been a great opportunity for Amy to see how you move
0:25:08 > 0:25:12a cow's stomach without resorting to surgery.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16In a few months time, she could be using the technique
0:25:16 > 0:25:19without Russell's help.
0:25:22 > 0:25:24But only if she qualifies!
0:25:24 > 0:25:28Small minor, very minor obstacle of exams,
0:25:28 > 0:25:30which are starting to get a little bit scary
0:25:30 > 0:25:32cos you can't just say, "Oh, they're ages off".
0:25:32 > 0:25:35No, they're actually getting a bit close now.
0:25:36 > 0:25:41If I pass my exams, I'm quite... I think I'm quite proud of myself.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44I'm not the naturally like, the brainiest person.
0:25:44 > 0:25:48I've got to work at stuff, but, yeah, I'd be proud of myself.
0:25:49 > 0:25:51Give myself a pat on the back.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54Only if I pass. Otherwise I'll give myself a kick up the backside.
0:26:05 > 0:26:08Student Charlie Tewson is finishing up his clinical year
0:26:08 > 0:26:11at a busy small animal practice in South West London.
0:26:13 > 0:26:14Morning!
0:26:14 > 0:26:17And this is just the sort of place Charlie
0:26:17 > 0:26:19has in mind for his first job.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22I think, ultimately, I've decided I'm definitely heading
0:26:22 > 0:26:26towards the small animal route and I've learnt that there's still
0:26:26 > 0:26:29gaps in my knowledge that I'm going to have to really fill for finals.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31Good dog.
0:26:31 > 0:26:34With this in mind, he's aiming to get as much hands-on experience
0:26:34 > 0:26:36as possible this week.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39He's also hoping to make a good impression on his
0:26:39 > 0:26:41supervising vet, Aimee Warner.
0:26:41 > 0:26:45He could go somewhere where day one he's on his own
0:26:45 > 0:26:46and that can be quite scary,
0:26:46 > 0:26:50so he needs to build the skills during work experience.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53We're looking at now, the next time he's in a veterinary practice
0:26:53 > 0:26:57it might actually be his first job, so you want him to feel confident.
0:26:57 > 0:27:01But Charlie's confidence is about to be put to the test.
0:27:01 > 0:27:04It turns out that he's somehow managed to complete a whole
0:27:04 > 0:27:07year of clinical placements without performing one of a vet's
0:27:07 > 0:27:11most basic, and important, operations.
0:27:12 > 0:27:16So this is Tilly, who is an eight-month-old female cat,
0:27:16 > 0:27:20and we're going to spay her later today.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23Strangely I've happened to not have any cat spays come in
0:27:23 > 0:27:26when it's been appropriate for me to do them,
0:27:26 > 0:27:28so I'm quite looking forward to this.
0:27:28 > 0:27:32I'm just going to do a pre-op check and see how it goes.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36It's really important Charlie does learn his way around a cat
0:27:36 > 0:27:40spay today because he's got a rather special holiday planned.
0:27:40 > 0:27:42Me and my girlfriend are going to Thailand,
0:27:42 > 0:27:46where we're going to spend three weeks neutering stray animals.
0:27:46 > 0:27:51Every neuter is of benefit to start you on that road.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54Charlie gets off to a good start.
0:27:54 > 0:27:57Most importantly, you just have to check that they are female...
0:27:57 > 0:27:59At least Tilly's not a boy!
0:27:59 > 0:28:01I'm confident there's no testicles there.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04Though she does look a bit apprehensive.
0:28:04 > 0:28:06There are areas where I feel confident and comfortable.
0:28:06 > 0:28:08- Ready?- Who's a good girl.
0:28:10 > 0:28:14But other areas where it's nice to have your safety net.
0:28:14 > 0:28:15This cat is not very sleepy.
0:28:17 > 0:28:20How's your clipping skills?
0:28:20 > 0:28:21Let's find out!
0:28:23 > 0:28:26OK.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29I'm feeling pretty good, Aimee's a good teacher.
0:28:29 > 0:28:31I've done surgery before
0:28:31 > 0:28:34but I just happen to have not done any spays before.
0:28:34 > 0:28:39Erm, in terms of abdominal surgery, it's relatively minor.
0:28:40 > 0:28:41I'm quite excited!
0:28:41 > 0:28:44- So are you happy with anaesthetic? - Yeah.- Sweet?
0:28:44 > 0:28:46To get started on the spay,
0:28:46 > 0:28:48Charlie needs to make the right sized incision in the skin.
0:28:48 > 0:28:51So I want to raise with the...
0:28:51 > 0:28:54No, you're fine for the skin, just go in.
0:28:54 > 0:28:57And remove some of the excess fat in Tilly's abdomen.
0:29:00 > 0:29:01Looks good.
0:29:01 > 0:29:03So far, so good.
0:29:03 > 0:29:06He then needs to grab a tight hold of her tiny uterus.
0:29:06 > 0:29:08There you go, that's her uterus.
0:29:08 > 0:29:10I see, yep.
0:29:10 > 0:29:12Now follow it, see if you've got the ovary.
0:29:12 > 0:29:14If you've got the ovary then you're good to go.
0:29:14 > 0:29:15It's fiddly, isn't it?
0:29:19 > 0:29:20Lost it!
0:29:20 > 0:29:21Whoops!
0:29:21 > 0:29:23OK, you've got to find it this time!
0:29:23 > 0:29:25I take up quite a lot of space,
0:29:25 > 0:29:28because well I've got quite big fingers, as it is,
0:29:28 > 0:29:31but also my dexterity isn't...
0:29:31 > 0:29:32Hasn't had the practice yet.
0:29:34 > 0:29:36You need three hands, don't you?
0:29:39 > 0:29:42- Yep.- OK?
0:29:42 > 0:29:46Always looks so much easier when someone else is doing it.
0:29:46 > 0:29:49Charlie's relocated Tilly's uterus,
0:29:49 > 0:29:52but unfortunately he's taking too long.
0:29:52 > 0:29:54So it's time for Aimee to step in.
0:29:54 > 0:29:57OK, for the interests of speed if I do the other side
0:29:57 > 0:29:59- and then you carry on.- OK.
0:29:59 > 0:30:04For the safety of the animal it's better that Aimee stepped in.
0:30:04 > 0:30:07Show me how to do it. Real-time.
0:30:07 > 0:30:12Yeah, I think my fingers is a bit of a disadvantage.
0:30:12 > 0:30:15So you can see Aimee's rocking it.
0:30:15 > 0:30:18Practice as well.
0:30:18 > 0:30:20I haven't had a huge amount of surgical experience,
0:30:20 > 0:30:23and I feel like that's something I'd really like to do.
0:30:26 > 0:30:28- Done?- Yeah.
0:30:28 > 0:30:33Within minutes, Tilly comes around from the anaesthetic.
0:30:33 > 0:30:35- There's your arm.- Hello!
0:30:35 > 0:30:40And, at last, Charlie has at least half a spay under his belt,
0:30:40 > 0:30:44news which will no doubt be a comfort to the cats of Thailand.
0:30:44 > 0:30:45I can remember being in that stage
0:30:45 > 0:30:48and it's the feelings of excitement of knowing that you're
0:30:48 > 0:30:51getting close, and it is an exciting time but a bit scary.
0:30:51 > 0:30:55Blame Charlie. It's all his fault.
0:30:55 > 0:30:58- It's always Charlie's fault. - It's all his fault.
0:30:58 > 0:31:00How do you think he'll do as a qualified vet?
0:31:00 > 0:31:05I think he'll be great. He's got a lovely way with clients and animals,
0:31:05 > 0:31:07and his knowledge already is very good
0:31:07 > 0:31:09and that's only going to get better,
0:31:09 > 0:31:13and the same with his skills, so I'm sure he'll be a very good vet.
0:31:13 > 0:31:15So do you want to give me a job?
0:31:15 > 0:31:17THEY LAUGH
0:31:28 > 0:31:31SHE LAUGHS
0:31:32 > 0:31:36Today, Judy's taking some time out from her final placement.
0:31:36 > 0:31:39She's at the College's London campus to lend a helping
0:31:39 > 0:31:42hand on an open day.
0:31:42 > 0:31:45We're basically going to act as a bit of a student ambassador.
0:31:45 > 0:31:48They bring students, school kids really, 10, 11-years-old,
0:31:48 > 0:31:51from surrounding schools, bring them in
0:31:51 > 0:31:56and widen their horizons, let them know this is what vets do.
0:31:56 > 0:31:59This is the kind of thing that we do in the Royal Veterinary College,
0:31:59 > 0:32:02and try and get these kids to realise just what
0:32:02 > 0:32:04they can do, really, if they put their minds to it.
0:32:04 > 0:32:07I was one of those kids at school who thought,
0:32:07 > 0:32:09"I could never be a vet, I can't do it."
0:32:09 > 0:32:12We've got a live horse, a live cow and a live dog.
0:32:12 > 0:32:15And what we want you to do is to basically pretend to be
0:32:15 > 0:32:17a vet for about half an hour.
0:32:17 > 0:32:19Never work with children or animals.
0:32:19 > 0:32:22Oh, my God, you've got both in the same room!
0:32:22 > 0:32:28Now the mini vets get to meet some four-legged friends...and Judy.
0:32:28 > 0:32:31So over here we've got Judy, who is a final-year student
0:32:31 > 0:32:34and is a student of us for today.
0:32:35 > 0:32:37If this had been me when I was ten
0:32:37 > 0:32:40I would have been just over the moon,
0:32:40 > 0:32:44so excited by now, doing this - live animals, stethoscopes.
0:32:44 > 0:32:46Oh, my God, heaven. Absolute heaven.
0:32:47 > 0:32:51OK, you four, would you like to go and start to meet Bonnie over there?
0:32:51 > 0:32:54What do you think cows eat? Go on, go for it.
0:32:54 > 0:32:58- Grass?- Grass, fantastic. How many stomachs do you think a cow's got?
0:32:58 > 0:33:02- Five.- Two.- Seven?- No, no, no.
0:33:02 > 0:33:04Four, exactly.
0:33:04 > 0:33:07And each part of the stomach has got a different job,
0:33:07 > 0:33:11and it breaks down the grass that they eat and it breaks it down
0:33:11 > 0:33:14and they get all their energy from that grass, OK?
0:33:14 > 0:33:17This little dip here, if you put your stethoscope on there,
0:33:17 > 0:33:21push it down a little bit, tell me if you hear, you might have to
0:33:21 > 0:33:24listen for a little bit of time, but just tell me if you hear anything.
0:33:24 > 0:33:27It's like a sound like growling.
0:33:27 > 0:33:29Like growling, exactly. Like rumbling, isn't it?
0:33:29 > 0:33:33Yeah, that's inside one of the parts of her stomach.
0:33:33 > 0:33:36Judy's as good with children as she is with animals
0:33:36 > 0:33:39and their owners, but spending time with them
0:33:39 > 0:33:43has made her appreciate just how long it's taken her to get this far.
0:33:43 > 0:33:47You know, when I was at school I told my careers advisor that
0:33:47 > 0:33:49I wanted to be a vet and, unfortunately, he kind
0:33:49 > 0:33:52of knocked me back and said, "You're not going to be a vet, Judy.
0:33:52 > 0:33:54"You're not clever enough, really."
0:33:54 > 0:33:56He had my grades right in front of him,
0:33:56 > 0:33:58he knew the path I was going down and he knew that.
0:33:58 > 0:34:01He said, "No, no, you're not going to be a vet. You can't do it."
0:34:01 > 0:34:04That kind of negative feeling stayed with me for a long time,
0:34:04 > 0:34:07thinking, "I can't do it, there's no point, I won't even try."
0:34:07 > 0:34:10But then, eventually you get round and you think, "You know what?
0:34:10 > 0:34:13"I'm just going to try, I'm just going to shoot for the stars,
0:34:13 > 0:34:15"see what happens, see if I can get there."
0:34:15 > 0:34:18And I did, and hence why I'm doing it now.
0:34:18 > 0:34:19If I'd had this when I was ten?
0:34:19 > 0:34:22Oh, crikey, I think I'd have been in vet school a lot earlier,
0:34:22 > 0:34:25because I would've been dead set, "This is what I want to do,"
0:34:25 > 0:34:28and I would not have been dissuaded by anyone or anything.
0:34:28 > 0:34:34And if we make one vet out of these kids...job done!
0:34:39 > 0:34:41- Morning.- Morning, Judy!
0:34:41 > 0:34:44The next day, it's back to work in Luton,
0:34:44 > 0:34:46to finish off her very last placement.
0:34:46 > 0:34:50Next time she does a consultation, provided she passes her exams,
0:34:50 > 0:34:53she'll be on her own.
0:34:53 > 0:34:55Last day to tick things off my list.
0:34:55 > 0:34:58Scarily, last day I'll ever need to wear this!
0:34:58 > 0:35:04Hopefully, in a few weeks it won't say "veterinary student" on it
0:35:04 > 0:35:06- any more.- It'll say "vet".
0:35:08 > 0:35:12But, to realise her childhood dream, Judy still needs to pass not
0:35:12 > 0:35:16only written exams, but also a dreaded practical exam.
0:35:16 > 0:35:19DOG BARKS
0:35:19 > 0:35:20Oi, oi!
0:35:20 > 0:35:21SHE SIGHS
0:35:21 > 0:35:22OK.
0:35:22 > 0:35:26I've just received the e-mail that we get giving us
0:35:26 > 0:35:30the list of the stations for our practical exams next week.
0:35:30 > 0:35:33OK, that one's OK, that one's OK.
0:35:33 > 0:35:35I've got a sheep udder! Yay!
0:35:35 > 0:35:41Which involves rolling a sheep over, which is going to be great fun.
0:35:41 > 0:35:43Huh? Oh, my God, it gets worse.
0:35:43 > 0:35:46"Calculate and administer an anaesthetic drug."
0:35:46 > 0:35:48SHE SIGHS
0:35:48 > 0:35:52I knew there'd have to be something about darn anaesthetics in there.
0:35:52 > 0:35:53Wash your hands?
0:35:53 > 0:35:57I'll pull it back with the hand washing, that'll be fine.
0:35:57 > 0:35:59No, there's no point panicking about it now.
0:35:59 > 0:36:06I've got six hours to practise, while I'm in a vet practice, so...
0:36:06 > 0:36:09Do you think they could rustle up a sheep while I'm here?
0:36:09 > 0:36:11Let's ask them.
0:36:12 > 0:36:15Let's check, I tell you what, let's check my spare first.
0:36:15 > 0:36:18There's no sheep, but Judy's taking no chances with
0:36:18 > 0:36:20the anaesthesia test.
0:36:22 > 0:36:24She's got five minutes to practise,
0:36:24 > 0:36:27which is exactly how long she'll have on the day.
0:36:27 > 0:36:29Good, done.
0:36:29 > 0:36:30Are you all right?
0:36:30 > 0:36:36Now it's time for her very last consultation -
0:36:36 > 0:36:39and even at this late stage there's a brand-new challenge ahead.
0:36:39 > 0:36:42This is Connie, one of six chickens that we have,
0:36:42 > 0:36:45and she's been hen-pecked
0:36:45 > 0:36:50by a couple of the other hens in the hen house.
0:36:50 > 0:36:52There's always a bit of pecking going on
0:36:52 > 0:36:54but this is the worst that we've seen.
0:36:54 > 0:36:56Chickens are quite cool, I love chickens.
0:36:56 > 0:36:59I like chickens. Especially with roast dinner.
0:36:59 > 0:37:03While Connie's waiting, vet, Katy, shares her all-important
0:37:03 > 0:37:06chicken-handling tips.
0:37:06 > 0:37:08We've got gauntlets?
0:37:08 > 0:37:09We do have lots of gauntlets, yeah,
0:37:09 > 0:37:12but it's all about getting them to stand still whilst you can
0:37:12 > 0:37:16look at it, but, no, they tend to be relatively handle-able.
0:37:16 > 0:37:18they're quite hardy birds generally.
0:37:18 > 0:37:21Chickens are really underrated in this country.
0:37:21 > 0:37:23People just think, "They make a great roast."
0:37:23 > 0:37:25No, there's so much more than that.
0:37:25 > 0:37:27Do you want to pop her out on the table?
0:37:27 > 0:37:29CHICKEN CLUCKS
0:37:29 > 0:37:31Yes, hello to you, too. Let's pop that down there.
0:37:31 > 0:37:36Oh, dear, yes. They've done a good job there haven't they? Oh, dear.
0:37:36 > 0:37:38Chickens.
0:37:38 > 0:37:41They have a very strict hierarchy,
0:37:41 > 0:37:45and "henpecked" is not just your down-beaten husband. OK?
0:37:45 > 0:37:48"Henpecked" comes from chickens.
0:37:48 > 0:37:51To keep this hierarchy, keep everybody in their position,
0:37:51 > 0:37:54they will peck at the other chickens, that's what they do.
0:37:54 > 0:37:57Have you got the facility to kind of isolate her
0:37:57 > 0:37:59away from the ones who're pecking her, just while this heals?
0:37:59 > 0:38:02Yeah, I'm going to have to. I've got a cage, I'll put her in that.
0:38:02 > 0:38:05Great. Oh, dear. How is she otherwise?
0:38:05 > 0:38:06She's fine.
0:38:06 > 0:38:09They will kick you when you're down, chickens.
0:38:09 > 0:38:13Come on, then.
0:38:13 > 0:38:17Connie's taken away for a checkup and a clean-up.
0:38:17 > 0:38:22- Aw, you're such a good chicken! - CHICKEN CLUCKS
0:38:23 > 0:38:25Good girl!
0:38:25 > 0:38:27I know, oh, lovely(!) Thank you.
0:38:27 > 0:38:31- Don't keep that close to your eye! - Good lesson for life.
0:38:31 > 0:38:33Sometimes they can pick up on illnesses or weakness,
0:38:33 > 0:38:35or they view them as being sick,
0:38:35 > 0:38:37that can be what starts it off.
0:38:37 > 0:38:40And then they get rejected from the rest of the chickens.
0:38:40 > 0:38:41But...she's pretty.
0:38:41 > 0:38:44She's not the fattest chicken in the world but she's not underweight.
0:38:44 > 0:38:48So, don't know, they've just taken a dislike to you, hey?
0:38:48 > 0:38:50It was a good one to end on.
0:38:50 > 0:38:52The first ever chicken consult that I did, little Connie!
0:38:52 > 0:38:56So, very good teaching chicken, she was very nice to me,
0:38:56 > 0:38:59didn't peck me, she didn't bite me, and she didn't try
0:38:59 > 0:39:02and fly out the window, so I class that as a successful consultation.
0:39:02 > 0:39:08Judy's happy, the chicken's happy, and so is Judy's supervisor.
0:39:08 > 0:39:10You're already there,
0:39:10 > 0:39:13you're probably a lot further ahead than a lot of students
0:39:13 > 0:39:17in your kind of, stage, so you'll going to be absolutely fine.
0:39:17 > 0:39:20She's already a vet, she just has to pass her exams now, which is...
0:39:20 > 0:39:22..important!
0:39:22 > 0:39:23SHE LAUGHS
0:39:23 > 0:39:25Obviously!
0:39:25 > 0:39:27But she's comfortable doing surgery,
0:39:27 > 0:39:29she's comfortable doing consultations, which is
0:39:29 > 0:39:32the main sort of things that we'll be doing day-to-day.
0:39:32 > 0:39:35She's comfortable talking to people. Cleaning and clean-wise,
0:39:35 > 0:39:38she's very clever, she knows all of the stuff that she
0:39:38 > 0:39:40needs to know at this stage and she'll continue to learn
0:39:40 > 0:39:43and build on that once she's actually graduated and got a job.
0:39:43 > 0:39:44So, she's very good.
0:39:44 > 0:39:48Yeah, it feels really good when a qualified vet says,
0:39:48 > 0:39:50"You're good, you're ready, you can do it now!
0:39:50 > 0:39:54It's nice, it gives you the confidence to think,
0:39:54 > 0:39:57"You know what? Let's just get out there and do it now, I'm ready."
0:39:57 > 0:40:00I just want to get stuck in. Finally, I'm ready.
0:40:09 > 0:40:12It's definitely easier for guys to look good on rotations
0:40:12 > 0:40:13than it is for girls on rotations.
0:40:13 > 0:40:17I got really good at ironing this bit and this bit.
0:40:17 > 0:40:18And rolling these up, yeah.
0:40:18 > 0:40:21I've got to say I've never ironed, one does not iron.
0:40:21 > 0:40:23- Not even your scrub top?- No!
0:40:23 > 0:40:25Ah, no, iron the scrub tops!
0:40:25 > 0:40:28Here's my thing. You wash, you shake, you dry. It's all good.
0:40:28 > 0:40:29My mum will be so proud of me.
0:40:29 > 0:40:31THEY LAUGH
0:40:40 > 0:40:44In Eastbourne, it's Matt's very last day on the job, and just
0:40:44 > 0:40:48like his fellow students, he's facing a tricky set of patients.
0:40:48 > 0:40:52First up, he's worming Terence the tortoise.
0:40:52 > 0:40:55Terence was brought into the vets
0:40:55 > 0:40:58because he was found on the beach and had an injury to his shell.
0:41:01 > 0:41:04Next patient is Bilko, the cockatiel.
0:41:04 > 0:41:08His beak has grown too long and it needs trimming.
0:41:08 > 0:41:11Bilko is 21 this year, we've had him ever since he was
0:41:11 > 0:41:15out of the egg. He's my husband's bird, really. If my husband's in,
0:41:15 > 0:41:19he's normally straight on his shoulder and that's where he stays.
0:41:19 > 0:41:21With small caged birds
0:41:21 > 0:41:24and aviary birds it's all about handling, really, and students
0:41:24 > 0:41:27probably don't get a lot of practice at handling small birds.
0:41:27 > 0:41:29Not my forte.
0:41:30 > 0:41:32Birds can be a vet's worst nightmare.
0:41:32 > 0:41:35They can literally die in your hands.
0:41:35 > 0:41:38It's all about trying to minimise stress, because, unfortunately,
0:41:38 > 0:41:41some small birds, if they get too stressed, will just expire.
0:41:41 > 0:41:44Luckily with Bilko's little beak problem...
0:41:44 > 0:41:45He can't bite properly.
0:41:45 > 0:41:47He can't bite very well.
0:41:47 > 0:41:51Hoping not to scare Bilko to death, Matt now needs to trim his beak.
0:41:51 > 0:41:53BILKO SQUAWKS
0:41:55 > 0:41:58But Bilko is one angry bird.
0:42:01 > 0:42:06In so much of a rage, in fact, he's snapped off a bit of his own beak.
0:42:06 > 0:42:09He got really annoyed with us, tried to bite us
0:42:09 > 0:42:12through the towel, and in the end just sort of broke it off a bit.
0:42:12 > 0:42:15Which was, you know, what we were aiming to do really
0:42:15 > 0:42:18in the first place, so thank you, Bilko, for doing that job for us!
0:42:18 > 0:42:20Yeah, thanks, Bill.
0:42:20 > 0:42:25Bilko was not in the best of moods, and he can,
0:42:25 > 0:42:27or did get a little bit stressy.
0:42:27 > 0:42:31But, on the bright side, at least Bilko hasn't expired.
0:42:31 > 0:42:33No, it was all right, actually.
0:42:40 > 0:42:44Warwick has saved Matt's biggest challenge till last.
0:42:44 > 0:42:46Theodora needs to be neutered,
0:42:46 > 0:42:51and spaying rabbits is daunting, even for experienced vets.
0:42:51 > 0:42:54Yeah, this is the tricky one.
0:42:54 > 0:42:58Gut anatomy is very, very similar to a horse.
0:42:58 > 0:43:00just imagine all those horse guts, but ickle,
0:43:00 > 0:43:03and we also have to get those out of the way as well.
0:43:03 > 0:43:05It's very, very easy to pick up the muscle layer
0:43:05 > 0:43:08to try and get into the abdomen and pinch the cecum
0:43:08 > 0:43:11at the same time, and put your scalpel through it.
0:43:11 > 0:43:13- So that's something we don't want to happen.- Yay.
0:43:13 > 0:43:15HE LAUGHS
0:43:15 > 0:43:19I haven't ever operated on a rabbit, but at one point I will need
0:43:19 > 0:43:26to, so best place to start is under a great amount of supervision.
0:43:28 > 0:43:33Even anaesthesia on rabbits is risky, so Matt needs to work fast.
0:43:33 > 0:43:37Incision-wise, I'd start here and extend towards the umbilicus.
0:43:37 > 0:43:41Try not to go too much longer than that.
0:43:41 > 0:43:43- Happy?- Yep.
0:43:45 > 0:43:46OK, that's fine.
0:43:46 > 0:43:53This is the first rabbit spay I think I've supervised, on a student.
0:43:53 > 0:43:57They can be tricky, so you do want to get them right, and you kind
0:43:57 > 0:44:00of want to do things a bit quicker as well because you are aware
0:44:00 > 0:44:03that rabbits don't like anaesthesia, they don't like spending too
0:44:03 > 0:44:07long under anaesthetics, so you do want to try and get everything
0:44:07 > 0:44:10done quickly, successfully, and have them recover nicely.
0:44:10 > 0:44:13This is the part where all your surgical principles are the same,
0:44:13 > 0:44:15you're doing exactly the same...
0:44:15 > 0:44:17Exactly the same principles,
0:44:17 > 0:44:20slightly different anatomy, slightly different feel to the tissues.
0:44:20 > 0:44:23Bit trickier in rabbits, because things are smaller,
0:44:23 > 0:44:26things are slightly different, and things are fattier...
0:44:26 > 0:44:30..which makes things very greasy, very...what we call friable,
0:44:30 > 0:44:33which means they break really easily.
0:44:33 > 0:44:37Just grabbing on to things in general just becomes a bit more difficult.
0:44:37 > 0:44:39Tissue handling and instrument handling
0:44:39 > 0:44:40becomes a bit more challenging.
0:44:40 > 0:44:44Right, you've spayed your first bunny.
0:44:44 > 0:44:47- Indeed.- Wahey!- Phew.
0:44:49 > 0:44:51I was impressed with the way he handled the rabbit spay,
0:44:51 > 0:44:55because they are daunting, they're daunting even for me, so for
0:44:55 > 0:45:00Matt to do it all on his own was really quite impressive, actually.
0:45:00 > 0:45:05Well, that was my first one, so it's still alive, and it didn't
0:45:05 > 0:45:10bleed horrifically, so, yeah, I'm pretty chuffed with that, I think.
0:45:10 > 0:45:11How'd I do, Lisa?
0:45:11 > 0:45:12HE LAUGHS
0:45:12 > 0:45:15You did really well, you should be very proud of yourself.
0:45:15 > 0:45:18I like doing things for the first time, it's exciting.
0:45:18 > 0:45:22And, four hours later, Theodora is fully recovered.
0:45:22 > 0:45:23and a very happy bunny.
0:45:30 > 0:45:33Warwick's been keeping a close eye on his young protege this week,
0:45:33 > 0:45:37and he's obviously very impressed.
0:45:37 > 0:45:41So much so, in fact, he's got some good news for Matt.
0:45:41 > 0:45:45You fit in really well and, you know, you're definitely good enough. Your
0:45:45 > 0:45:50surgical skills alone, you're above and beyond the average new grad.
0:45:50 > 0:45:55So, yeah, I'd really like you in the team, it's definitely what we want.
0:45:55 > 0:45:58At the end of university you want to be able to go to practices
0:45:58 > 0:46:00and have them feel immediately confident in you,
0:46:00 > 0:46:03because they can see that you know what you're doing.
0:46:03 > 0:46:06And it's just nice because I've been able to kind of do that slowly
0:46:06 > 0:46:10with Companion Care, with Warwick, and to have then at the end of that
0:46:10 > 0:46:16him offer me a job is just such an astronomical feeling, it's amazing.
0:46:16 > 0:46:19There are some perks of this job!
0:46:20 > 0:46:24You know, I've got a job, and I'm going to be a vet!
0:46:25 > 0:46:29It's time for Matt to say au revoir to the folks in Eastbourne...
0:46:29 > 0:46:32- Bye. - ..and time for all our young vets
0:46:32 > 0:46:34to finish their year of clinical placements.
0:46:34 > 0:46:37- Bye. guys!- ALL: Bye!- Thanks.
0:46:37 > 0:46:39Good luck. Break a leg.
0:46:39 > 0:46:41I'll try not to.
0:46:41 > 0:46:43Last day of rotations, finished.
0:46:43 > 0:46:45Oh, man! It only seems like yesterday
0:46:45 > 0:46:47that we started and we were all
0:46:47 > 0:46:50so looking forward to it, but so scared.
0:46:50 > 0:46:51Yes!
0:46:51 > 0:46:54The next time they're hands-on with animals, they'll hopefully
0:46:54 > 0:46:58have passed their exams and be responsible, qualified vets.
0:46:58 > 0:47:01Just a little hurdle with the exams, get over that.
0:47:01 > 0:47:05Once we've done that, crikey, I'll be a real vet!
0:47:05 > 0:47:07Scary!
0:47:21 > 0:47:24Your breath really smells!
0:47:24 > 0:47:25LAUGHTER
0:47:28 > 0:47:30The following week,
0:47:30 > 0:47:33it's straight into a whole raft of make-or-break exams.
0:47:33 > 0:47:36Our final-year students must pass every single one of them,
0:47:36 > 0:47:38or they won't qualify.
0:47:38 > 0:47:41I don't think I've ever been this stressed in my entire life.
0:47:41 > 0:47:44You just want to do your best, and you just want to get in there
0:47:44 > 0:47:46and vomit information onto that page!
0:47:46 > 0:47:49It's pretty terrifying. I think I worked out the other day
0:47:49 > 0:47:51there's something like 500 lectures to go over.
0:47:51 > 0:47:54I mean, it's just...dry.
0:47:54 > 0:47:58I just can't wait for it to be over. I actually cannot wait.
0:47:58 > 0:48:01This is the final push, this is that final hill, this is like when you're
0:48:01 > 0:48:04on the bike and you're like, "I'm really tired, no more cycling.!
0:48:04 > 0:48:07Then you're like, "OK, top of the hill, get to the top of the hill!"
0:48:07 > 0:48:09And then that last day, 26th of June,
0:48:09 > 0:48:13that's going to be like, "Wheeeeeeee!" "Freeeeeeeee!" See?
0:48:13 > 0:48:17The ordeal starts with the dreaded practical test -
0:48:17 > 0:48:20the Objective Structured Clinical Exams.
0:48:20 > 0:48:22The OSCEs, as they're known,
0:48:22 > 0:48:24are like a driving test for vets' skills.
0:48:24 > 0:48:28Every student must complete 20 back-to-back high-pressure
0:48:28 > 0:48:32practical exams over the space of three gruelling hours.
0:48:32 > 0:48:37From suturing to anaesthesia, sheep tipping to chicken handling,
0:48:37 > 0:48:39every skill is tested.
0:48:39 > 0:48:43It is terrifying. I mean, it's one thing doing a written exam,
0:48:43 > 0:48:47and it's very anonymous, whereas OSCEs are very personal.
0:48:47 > 0:48:51You've got 20-odd stations where you're literally working with
0:48:51 > 0:48:55clinicians that you've been working with all year, who are expecting
0:48:55 > 0:49:02you to be able to have these skills that they have probably taught you.
0:49:07 > 0:49:11Tutor, Nicki Coombes, is very aware of the pressures.
0:49:11 > 0:49:13They're very critical,
0:49:13 > 0:49:17because if they don't pass these exams then they won't graduate.
0:49:17 > 0:49:20We have had students where, what happened the other day,
0:49:20 > 0:49:23they'll just cry, and we had a student in one of the exams who just
0:49:23 > 0:49:26completely melted down and took an hour to stop crying.
0:49:26 > 0:49:29Took me by surprise because I wouldn't have thought it of him.
0:49:29 > 0:49:32It's a lot of pressure for them, and I've heard one of the students
0:49:32 > 0:49:34call it, "the Hunger Games of the RVC."
0:49:39 > 0:49:42SHEEP BLEATS
0:49:42 > 0:49:43SHE SIGHS
0:49:43 > 0:49:46God, I've made some schoolboy errors on that, I tell ya!
0:49:46 > 0:49:48SHE LAUGHS
0:49:48 > 0:49:51The gloves were extra-tight, and so my fingers kind of got caught
0:49:51 > 0:49:54and I was just standing there in giggles in front
0:49:54 > 0:49:56of the examiner, who was also starting to giggle.
0:49:56 > 0:49:59I think at one point I really had the moment where I was like,
0:49:59 > 0:50:02"This is the first step towards being proper vettingness."
0:50:02 > 0:50:04And that made me freak out a bit.
0:50:04 > 0:50:07Right, I have to go, where's the bar?
0:50:11 > 0:50:14They've sat through hundreds of lectures, they've spent
0:50:14 > 0:50:18a year at vet surgeries, farms and animal hospitals across the country.
0:50:18 > 0:50:20In total, it's taken them five years to get this far,
0:50:20 > 0:50:23but whether our students will become vets all depends
0:50:23 > 0:50:26on their final, written exams.
0:50:26 > 0:50:29There's such a build-up to them,
0:50:29 > 0:50:32they're not like any other exams, they are the exams at the end,
0:50:32 > 0:50:35they're the exams you start that course terrified about.
0:50:35 > 0:50:37Then suddenly you're there on the first day and you're
0:50:37 > 0:50:40taking them, you're opening that question paper, and you appreciate
0:50:40 > 0:50:43that it really is your finals, and that they matter so much.
0:50:43 > 0:50:48This is a long time, you know, but it's coming to an end, finally.
0:50:48 > 0:50:50This roundabout is going to stop,
0:50:50 > 0:50:54this merry-go-round that I've been on for a year is going to stop,
0:50:54 > 0:50:57and I can get off and just stand still for five minutes.
0:50:59 > 0:51:03Just one week later, it's D-Day for our students.
0:51:03 > 0:51:06At 10am precisely, our young vets will find out
0:51:06 > 0:51:09whether they've passed or failed.
0:51:09 > 0:51:12At Judy's house in Rickmansworth this morning,
0:51:12 > 0:51:14you could hear a pin drop.
0:51:14 > 0:51:18Oh, my God, it's four minutes to ten.
0:51:18 > 0:51:19SHE SIGHS
0:51:19 > 0:51:23I've been pacing my house since four o'clock this morning, basically,
0:51:23 > 0:51:28just running it through my head again and again and again.
0:51:28 > 0:51:31"Please, God, let it say 'pass'."
0:51:31 > 0:51:34Three minutes, I'll either be a vet or I'm not.
0:51:34 > 0:51:36What does that mean?
0:51:36 > 0:51:39At the College, housemates Charlie and Dru brave the notice board.
0:51:45 > 0:51:47We passed.
0:51:48 > 0:51:49Um, yeah, I passed.
0:51:49 > 0:51:51HE LAUGHS
0:51:52 > 0:51:55I'm a vet!
0:51:55 > 0:51:58- HE LAUGHS - It's terrifying!
0:51:58 > 0:52:00Yeah, I think he almost crashed his car, he was like "Ahhh!"
0:52:00 > 0:52:02HE LAUGHS
0:52:02 > 0:52:04In St Albans, Elly's sharing her make-or-break moment with
0:52:04 > 0:52:07boyfriend, Matt.
0:52:09 > 0:52:12Good times! Good times!
0:52:15 > 0:52:17Dad!
0:52:19 > 0:52:21New results, you ready?
0:52:21 > 0:52:24- Ready.- Ah! Pass!
0:52:24 > 0:52:26Yes! Yes!
0:52:26 > 0:52:27Oh, my gosh!
0:52:27 > 0:52:29You're a vet!
0:52:32 > 0:52:33Yeah!
0:52:33 > 0:52:36Honours?! No!
0:52:41 > 0:52:44Passed. I'm so happy I passed. I'm a vet.
0:52:44 > 0:52:46I've passed!
0:52:58 > 0:53:01I passed with honours!
0:53:01 > 0:53:05Back in Rickmansworth, Judy's near the end of her own especially
0:53:05 > 0:53:07long and rocky journey.
0:53:07 > 0:53:11Her twin brother, Steve, has arrived to support her,
0:53:11 > 0:53:14But whether he's here to celebrate, or pick up the pieces,
0:53:14 > 0:53:16they're about to find out.
0:53:17 > 0:53:21Oh, my God ,there it is. Year finals.
0:53:23 > 0:53:25Huh?
0:53:25 > 0:53:29Oh, my God, I've passed!
0:53:29 > 0:53:32SHE SNIFFS
0:53:32 > 0:53:35Passed! Oh, my God!
0:53:37 > 0:53:40I got a merit!
0:53:40 > 0:53:44- BLEEP.- I need to walk. Oh, my God!
0:53:44 > 0:53:46Oh!
0:53:46 > 0:53:48Well done.
0:53:48 > 0:53:51It's all she's ever wanted.
0:53:52 > 0:53:54Yeah, I really can't say.
0:53:54 > 0:53:57I am really, really proud of her.
0:53:57 > 0:53:58I always knew she would do it.
0:53:58 > 0:54:00Once she started I always knew she'd do it.
0:54:00 > 0:54:04I'm a vet. Do you know how long I've waited for that?
0:54:04 > 0:54:09I'm a bloody vet! Who'd've thunk it?
0:54:09 > 0:54:10I'm a vet!
0:54:24 > 0:54:27Just three weeks later...
0:54:27 > 0:54:29Hello, Westminster Hall, please!
0:54:29 > 0:54:31..our young vets are in Central London,
0:54:31 > 0:54:35and they're finally about to graduate.
0:54:40 > 0:54:41Ah, come out, Mum.
0:54:41 > 0:54:45Thanks very much! Yeah, it's a big day, eh?
0:54:47 > 0:54:51It's been a massive journey. I think I've come a hell of a long way.
0:54:51 > 0:54:54I'm completely ready and I want to take on a challenge
0:54:54 > 0:54:57and it's been so long coming that I've had enough of being a student.
0:54:57 > 0:54:59I want to get out there and do stuff.
0:54:59 > 0:55:03It's incredibly exciting, but it's just terrifying.
0:55:13 > 0:55:16I declare the ceremony for the presentation of graduates
0:55:16 > 0:55:18from the Royal Veterinary College,
0:55:18 > 0:55:21for the confirmative degrees and awards, open.
0:55:27 > 0:55:30Eleanor Grace Berry.
0:55:30 > 0:55:32CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:55:37 > 0:55:39Just like grinning from ear to ear,
0:55:39 > 0:55:41face hurts, good, very happy!
0:55:41 > 0:55:43SHE GIGGLES
0:55:43 > 0:55:45Amazing! Yeah, relieved.
0:55:45 > 0:55:47Amy Louise Clitheroe.
0:55:47 > 0:55:49APPLAUSE
0:55:49 > 0:55:51I'm glad I've done it but I'm glad I've finished.
0:55:51 > 0:55:53I'm really glad I've finished.
0:55:53 > 0:55:55Dru Jordan Shearn.
0:55:55 > 0:55:58APPLAUSE
0:56:00 > 0:56:02Charles Edward Tewson.
0:56:02 > 0:56:04APPLAUSE
0:56:07 > 0:56:10- Well done.- Thank you very much.
0:56:10 > 0:56:11Fairly sombering,
0:56:11 > 0:56:14but also pretty exciting, as well.
0:56:14 > 0:56:17- It's finally hit home. - Everything's to come!- Yeah.
0:56:17 > 0:56:18This is what we're going to do!
0:56:18 > 0:56:21It's suddenly all got a bit real, I think, today.
0:56:21 > 0:56:23Joanna Nevison Hardy.
0:56:23 > 0:56:24APPLAUSE
0:56:24 > 0:56:27My legs were like jelly when I got on stage,
0:56:27 > 0:56:30I genuinely forgot how to walk. A very, very proud moment.
0:56:30 > 0:56:33Catherine Jennifer Needham.
0:56:33 > 0:56:34APPLAUSE
0:56:34 > 0:56:38Quite emotional in there, finally I can say I'm a vet!
0:56:38 > 0:56:40Hannah Laura Jane Nevin.
0:56:40 > 0:56:42APPLAUSE
0:56:42 > 0:56:45It's just crazy, I can't believe we've got to this stage.
0:56:45 > 0:56:47Being there with all those amazing clinicians and they're
0:56:47 > 0:56:50shaking your hands and welcoming you on stage and saying
0:56:50 > 0:56:53that we're now their colleagues is so nice to hear.
0:56:53 > 0:56:55Matthew Thomas Peter Wilkinson.
0:56:55 > 0:56:57APPLAUSE
0:56:57 > 0:56:59Danielle Emma Wiley.
0:56:59 > 0:57:01APPLAUSE
0:57:02 > 0:57:04We're vets, yeah.
0:57:04 > 0:57:05Hi, I'm Dani, I'm a vet.
0:57:05 > 0:57:07Hi, I'm Matt, I'm also a vet.
0:57:07 > 0:57:09- Nice to meet you.- Nice to meet you. - So weird.
0:57:11 > 0:57:12Judy Puddifoot.
0:57:12 > 0:57:14CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:57:20 > 0:57:21Congratulations, well done.
0:57:21 > 0:57:24- Thank you.- Relax and enjoy the moment.- I'll try.
0:57:24 > 0:57:25- Well done.- Thank you.
0:57:30 > 0:57:34I do hereby admit you to be known and deemed
0:57:34 > 0:57:36and recognised henceforth
0:57:36 > 0:57:39as duly qualified members of the veterinary profession.
0:57:39 > 0:57:40APPLAUSE
0:57:40 > 0:57:42HE LAUGHS
0:57:45 > 0:57:47I feel amazing. Feel like a vet.
0:57:47 > 0:57:49Yes! Feel like a vet!
0:57:49 > 0:57:51THEY CHEER
0:57:51 > 0:57:55I can't believe we've all done it. Pats on back all round!
0:57:56 > 0:57:58I'm a vet.
0:57:58 > 0:58:00Finally, I'm officially a vet!
0:58:02 > 0:58:04I'm Charlie, I'm a vet.
0:58:04 > 0:58:07- CAMERAMAN:- Keep smiling for me, thank you.
0:58:07 > 0:58:09I'm not a student any more. I'm a vet.
0:58:09 > 0:58:11What better job is there?
0:58:11 > 0:58:13THEY CHEER
0:58:13 > 0:58:16I wouldn't do anything else?
0:58:16 > 0:58:18God, I'm going to cry!
0:58:18 > 0:58:20THEY LAUGH