0:00:04 > 0:00:07Britain is a nation in love with its animals.
0:00:07 > 0:00:09How are you doing?
0:00:09 > 0:00:11We own 27 million pets...
0:00:12 > 0:00:15..and 900 million farm animals.
0:00:15 > 0:00:17Very frisky one.
0:00:17 > 0:00:22All of them need vets.
0:00:22 > 0:00:26Over the course of their final year, ten students at the prestigious
0:00:26 > 0:00:29Royal Veterinary College in Hertfordshire
0:00:29 > 0:00:32are taking what they've learned in the classroom...
0:00:32 > 0:00:33Do it.
0:00:33 > 0:00:38..and putting it to the test in practices, farms...
0:00:38 > 0:00:41This is all new territory for me.
0:00:41 > 0:00:44..and state-of-the-art animal hospitals.
0:00:44 > 0:00:47It's a whirlwind of back-to-back work placements.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51Sounds like an unhappy monkey!
0:00:51 > 0:00:52Nice and quick, good.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55And they can't afford to fail a single one.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58I need to do my job properly. I need to do better.
0:00:58 > 0:00:59You're going in.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01It's the most challenging stretch...
0:01:01 > 0:01:03Whoa!
0:01:03 > 0:01:04..of a very long journey...
0:01:04 > 0:01:07I have a serious problem with my hand shaking.
0:01:07 > 0:01:08..to become...
0:01:08 > 0:01:09Well done. Gassy!
0:01:09 > 0:01:11..fully qualified young vets.
0:01:11 > 0:01:13Saved a life today, which is good!
0:01:29 > 0:01:32COWS MOO
0:01:36 > 0:01:38It's winter at the Royal Veterinary College
0:01:38 > 0:01:41and the students are just weeks away from the Christmas break.
0:01:43 > 0:01:46Our young vets have to master a lot of skills in order to hit
0:01:46 > 0:01:49the ground running in veterinary practice.
0:01:49 > 0:01:52One of the most important is surgery.
0:01:52 > 0:01:57And - as the students are finding out -
0:01:57 > 0:02:00I just broke something in the dog. SHE LAUGHS
0:02:00 > 0:02:03Every vet needs to be able to do surgery and, in an emergency,
0:02:03 > 0:02:09they may need to do surgery on a wide variety of different animals.
0:02:09 > 0:02:11And it's interesting because no-one expects to
0:02:11 > 0:02:16walk into their local GP practice and have a major surgical procedure,
0:02:16 > 0:02:21but client expectation is exactly that for the veterinary profession.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24Hundreds of operations - from orthopaedics to brain surgery -
0:02:24 > 0:02:28take place every year at the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31And every student must complete two intensive weeks
0:02:31 > 0:02:35training in surgery here - because the minute they qualify,
0:02:35 > 0:02:38they're expected to be able to operate.
0:02:38 > 0:02:42This is a placement Charlie Tewson knows is crucial.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45So small animal surgery is pretty fundamental for a vet.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48As a vet, you have to be a jack-of-all-trades, you have
0:02:48 > 0:02:51to do everything, so we have to be able to do the medicine,
0:02:51 > 0:02:55but then it's also fundamental for a vet to... Even smaller
0:02:55 > 0:02:57practice vets will have to do routine surgeries
0:02:57 > 0:02:59like spays and castrates.
0:02:59 > 0:03:03And then most vets will be expected to go that extra bit further.
0:03:05 > 0:03:10Charlie's first patient, Georgie, is a six-year-old King Charles spaniel.
0:03:10 > 0:03:18She's come in because she's having trouble with her breathing.
0:03:18 > 0:03:22she's gorgeous, she loves a cuddle, she loves the grandchildren.
0:03:22 > 0:03:26She loves a walk but unfortunately, with her breathing, we've not
0:03:26 > 0:03:28been able to do much of that.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31She's the world to us, so we're very apprehensive,
0:03:31 > 0:03:33but I'm sure they'll look after her.
0:03:33 > 0:03:35Hi there, I'm Charlie. I'm the student who's been
0:03:35 > 0:03:37assigned to you. If you'd like to follow me...
0:03:37 > 0:03:40So today you're in because she's having funny breathing, basically.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43It started getting worse last year,
0:03:43 > 0:03:46and I was out when it got a little bit too warm.
0:03:46 > 0:03:50Then she gets excited, she's deaf, and was barking at another dog...
0:03:50 > 0:03:52OK, so she's deaf. She's deaf.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55She's gone deaf over the last couple of years.
0:03:55 > 0:03:59Her breathing became really distressed.
0:03:59 > 0:04:05She gets very stressed if I'm not around,
0:04:05 > 0:04:07I just went to the loo and she got herself in a state,
0:04:07 > 0:04:10so she's going to need a lot of TLC. Aw!
0:04:10 > 0:04:15OK, that can be arranged.
0:04:15 > 0:04:19She's very affectionate, she loves cuddles. Aw!
0:04:20 > 0:04:27Good girl. Is she normally OK with her temperature being taken?
0:04:27 > 0:04:30LAUGHING: OK.
0:04:30 > 0:04:33Keeping a close eye on Charlie while he's on Georgie's case
0:04:33 > 0:04:38is vet Lynda Rutherford.
0:04:38 > 0:04:45described to you, could be an upper respiratory tract problem?
0:04:45 > 0:04:48Lynda's concerned that Georgie could be suffering from laryngeal
0:04:48 > 0:04:52collapse - a serious condition which is obstructing her airway.
0:04:52 > 0:04:57But fortunately Lynda does have a few treatment options to suggest.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00Often one of the surgical procedures that we'll do that actually
0:05:00 > 0:05:05does make quite a big difference to your airway flow,
0:05:05 > 0:05:09So we remove a little triangle part, and then suture -
0:05:09 > 0:05:12do little stitches - to pull them outwards.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14Yeah, that makes a big difference.
0:05:14 > 0:05:18She snores in my ear every night and I don't care cause I love her.
0:05:18 > 0:05:19I just want to be able to take her for walks
0:05:19 > 0:05:22and her to have quality of life. Sure, all right.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24Are you going to come give me cuddles?
0:05:24 > 0:05:26Come on, come and give Mummy cuddles.
0:05:26 > 0:05:28Come on, come on, darling.
0:05:28 > 0:05:32Up you get. Ooh, you big girl. Come on.
0:05:33 > 0:05:35We love you. Yes, we love you.
0:05:40 > 0:05:42OK, come on then.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46There we go.
0:05:46 > 0:05:52Go on, darling, they'll look after you. Go on! Go on, darling.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55Come on then. We're nice too!
0:05:55 > 0:05:58Dogs have a huge variety of different personalities,
0:05:58 > 0:06:02but some of them do get incredibly attached to their owners.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04Even in comfortable circumstances
0:06:04 > 0:06:06they get a bit of separation anxiety.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09DOG HOWLS
0:06:09 > 0:06:11It's sometimes quite heart-wrenching to watch.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26Before they operate on Georgie's nostrils, Linda and Charlie
0:06:26 > 0:06:30need to double-check that her larynx is the source of the problem.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32So she's prepared for a CT scan.
0:06:32 > 0:06:34Really red, isn't it, the larynx.
0:06:34 > 0:06:38But Georgie's airway is so swollen, even passing a tube down her
0:06:38 > 0:06:41throat is proving tricky for the anaesthesia team.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44I've given you the smallest one, I think, so let's see how we go.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01So this here is her larynx. Her larynx is swollen.
0:07:01 > 0:07:06The CT confirms Lynda's hunch that Georgie's larynx is badly inflamed.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09And to make matters worse, she has pneumonia.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12So that's the area that has got pneumonia.
0:07:12 > 0:07:14While Georgie's under anaesthetic,
0:07:14 > 0:07:18they go ahead with the minor operation to widen her nostrils.
0:07:23 > 0:07:25Literally, her nostrils are too narrow.
0:07:25 > 0:07:27If you clench your nostrils even half
0:07:27 > 0:07:29and try and breathe through your nose,
0:07:29 > 0:07:30then you really have to push.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33So even a small increase in the nostril size
0:07:33 > 0:07:38will result in a large increase in how much they can breathe.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41So that's the tissue that we removed,
0:07:41 > 0:07:43and it's like a pyramid, rather than just a triangle.
0:07:44 > 0:07:48Hopefully the combination of the surgery and some antibiotics
0:07:48 > 0:07:51will be enough to improve Georgie's breathing.
0:07:51 > 0:07:55Yeah, we're quite happy with that. It's just a matter of monitoring
0:07:55 > 0:07:58and hoping that she continues to improve.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01But the vets can't let her go home until they're satisfied she's
0:08:01 > 0:08:06fully recovered - so it's a night away from her owners for Georgie.
0:08:06 > 0:08:08DOG WHINES
0:08:12 > 0:08:14DOGS BARK
0:08:14 > 0:08:16Lucy this week - one of the neuro nurses -
0:08:16 > 0:08:17taught me how to laugh to a dog.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20Oh, yeah! Dog laughing. SHE PANTS
0:08:20 > 0:08:22She gets right up in their faces and goes...
0:08:22 > 0:08:23SHE PANTS
0:08:23 > 0:08:25And they'll be like...
0:08:25 > 0:08:26SHE PANTS
0:08:26 > 0:08:28THEY LAUGH
0:08:28 > 0:08:31It's just magic. They are magic, neuro nurses.
0:08:31 > 0:08:32Dr Doolittle!
0:08:40 > 0:08:42Right, let's go.
0:08:44 > 0:08:47It's an early start for student Judy Puddifoot this morning.
0:08:47 > 0:08:51She's on her way to the college's Equine Referral Hospital.
0:08:51 > 0:08:56So this morning I am starting my equine surgery rotation,
0:08:56 > 0:09:00which is what it says on the tin, operating on horses.
0:09:00 > 0:09:04This placement is compulsory for all students,
0:09:04 > 0:09:08but not all students have Judy's deep-seated fear of horses.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10Ugh, all right, here goes.
0:09:10 > 0:09:12I've not been sleeping well, to be honest,
0:09:12 > 0:09:17for the last couple of weeks, just panicking about doing this.
0:09:17 > 0:09:18They're big and scary, OK.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21They're dangerous at both ends and uncomfortable in the middle,
0:09:21 > 0:09:23so what can I do?
0:09:23 > 0:09:26I'd rather not be in a small enclosed space with one.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29HORSE WHINNIES
0:09:29 > 0:09:32We've got a CT every day this week, so we'll get a lot of head
0:09:32 > 0:09:35and sinus anatomy which we'll talk through as we go along.
0:09:35 > 0:09:39Judy's being supervised by of one of the college's most senior
0:09:39 > 0:09:41equine surgeons, Tom Witte.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43Feel free to ask questions all the way through.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46So, Judy, you've got the 10.00 case.
0:09:46 > 0:09:49So it's straight in at the deep end for Judy.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52Her 10.00 is a one-eyed horse called Wallace,
0:09:52 > 0:09:56who's been brought in from a local riding school by his owner Trudy.
0:09:56 > 0:10:00He has to escort all the baby horses that have just been broken in,
0:10:00 > 0:10:04so he's sort of grandad horse to all the babies.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07He's very special, he's a very good lad.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10So fingers crossed he'll be back in one piece!
0:10:10 > 0:10:13Poor Wallace has been referred here by his local vet
0:10:13 > 0:10:15with a bad case of sinusitis.
0:10:15 > 0:10:21He had his eye removed four years ago, and a tooth two years ago,
0:10:21 > 0:10:25so this is his third visit. Hopefully the last!
0:10:25 > 0:10:28Wallace! Hello, I know you can't see me...
0:10:28 > 0:10:31Because he's only got one eye, obviously on one side,
0:10:31 > 0:10:34he's not got that vision, he's going to be a bit more scatty,
0:10:34 > 0:10:39a bit more jumpy. So I was a little bit more wary of a one-eyed horse!
0:10:39 > 0:10:42Let's have a look at your snotty snotties! Ew!
0:10:43 > 0:10:45How are you getting on then?
0:10:45 > 0:10:48Judy's first test is to assess Wallace's condition.
0:10:48 > 0:10:50Smells from somewhere, doesn't it?
0:10:50 > 0:10:53Yeah, I looked here, but there is a bit of a smell actually, yeah.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55Yeah, there's definitely a smell.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58Infected horse snot smells disgusting.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01I cannot compare it to anything else
0:11:01 > 0:11:03because it's quite a unique smell in the natural world.
0:11:03 > 0:11:05Steady, come on now, behave.
0:11:05 > 0:11:09To find out what's causing Wallace's sinusitis, he needs a CT scan.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11Wallace, what are you doing?
0:11:11 > 0:11:14But first, they have to get him in there.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21He's a heavy lad!
0:11:23 > 0:11:25Good God, he did not want to go in, did he?
0:11:28 > 0:11:32Tom thinks Wallace's infection could be caused by a bad tooth.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35But unfortunately, he can't tell this from the scan.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38What I'd like to do is look inside the sinus and see what we have in
0:11:38 > 0:11:43there first, cos we can actually look at the tooth from the inside.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46Come on, come on! Good lad.
0:11:46 > 0:11:50So Tom decides the only option is to operate.
0:11:50 > 0:11:54This will be the first time Judy has ever assisted on equine surgery.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57Wallace is about to undergo a sinoscopy, which is
0:11:57 > 0:12:00a procedure where we make a small hole into the sinus.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03That allows us to pop a camera in and have a look around.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06First thing we'll have to do once we get in there is flush away all the
0:12:06 > 0:12:09puss that's accumulated, and then we'll be able to get a look round,
0:12:09 > 0:12:12and decide whether he needs to have a tooth removed at that stage.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15Yeah, it'll be quite nice to see a bucket-load of puss come out,
0:12:15 > 0:12:16I should imagine!
0:12:16 > 0:12:20Wallace is heavily sedated to make sure he doesn't feel any pain.
0:12:20 > 0:12:25You should be able to just lift that bone straight out. Coming?
0:12:25 > 0:12:27OK.
0:12:27 > 0:12:31As you do, drilled a hole in a horse's head, and popped a bone out.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34Weird, but there you go!
0:12:34 > 0:12:35Where would you like it?
0:12:35 > 0:12:37Pop it on the table and we'll give this a bit of a clean.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40What can you say? Speechless.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43OK, you can see the pool of fluid that we've seen
0:12:43 > 0:12:45there in the dorsal conchal sinus.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49Now they're in there, they can suck out the infected pus.
0:12:49 > 0:12:52So as soon as you get thickening of the lining of the sinus,
0:12:52 > 0:12:54that can block the drainage.
0:12:54 > 0:12:56And there's plenty of it.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59Smells pretty bad, doesn't it?
0:13:00 > 0:13:03But after draining almost a litre of pus,
0:13:03 > 0:13:07Wallace develops a heavy nose bleed, so Tom calls a halt for today.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10Because he's had a little bit of bleeding, we're putting
0:13:10 > 0:13:10a gauze swab into the sinus to stop the bleeding overnight.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13Then we'll come back tomorrow and pull the swab out,
0:13:15 > 0:13:27and decide whether we actually need to flush him at all,
0:13:27 > 0:13:30a flush tube if we think we need to, yep? I see...
0:13:31 > 0:13:35You just kept wondering how he felt with a massive towel in his head.
0:13:35 > 0:13:39You know how you say, "Oh, my head is full of cotton wool,"
0:13:39 > 0:13:41he literally was.
0:13:41 > 0:13:43SHE LAUGHS Crazy.
0:13:43 > 0:13:47You've got some nice big boogers, Wallace.
0:13:47 > 0:13:49I'm getting them out.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52I do like surgery, doesn't matter if it's horse, hamster or dog's surgery,
0:13:52 > 0:13:58it's great, and he was so good. Wasn't he good! Amazing.
0:13:58 > 0:14:02Wallace is sent to recover overnight, in the hope that in the
0:14:02 > 0:14:06morning they can finally locate the source of his snotty infection.
0:14:18 > 0:14:20DOG BARKS
0:14:22 > 0:14:24At the Queen Mother Hospital,
0:14:24 > 0:14:28Charlie's patient Georgie came in yesterday with breathing problems,
0:14:28 > 0:14:31and had a minor operation to widen her nostrils.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34But this morning she's suddenly become critically ill
0:14:34 > 0:14:37and has been rushed into surgery.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40I just happened to be passing and thought I'd check in on her,
0:14:40 > 0:14:42and was like, that's...
0:14:42 > 0:14:45she's breathing worse than she should be.
0:14:45 > 0:14:47And because I'd been with her all week,
0:14:47 > 0:14:50I had sort of seen how bad she was breathing before the surgery.
0:14:50 > 0:14:53So I then called someone more senior and said, "OK, can we check this?"
0:14:53 > 0:14:59Now we're going to do a little procedure where we put a tube
0:14:59 > 0:15:05and that will bypass her larynx,
0:15:05 > 0:15:07You're happy if we go? Yep!
0:15:07 > 0:15:09Charlie has never scrubbed in
0:15:09 > 0:15:16on this kind of emergency surgery before,
0:15:16 > 0:15:21It's just one of those complications that one in every so hundred
0:15:21 > 0:15:24animals can develop, and it's pretty unfortunate.
0:15:24 > 0:15:30You've got the tube ready?
0:15:36 > 0:15:40INDISTINCT CONVERSATION
0:15:40 > 0:15:44That tube is going directly into her trachea, which is her windpipe.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52Normally they realise and move, but the nurses do have to keep a really
0:15:52 > 0:15:56close eye on her. And unfortunately, if the tube got blocked, well,
0:15:56 > 0:16:01ultimately they can die from having this problem.
0:16:01 > 0:16:03So it's really serious.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06Why don't we make a little chin rest? Hi, sweetie!
0:16:06 > 0:16:09As Georgie's breathing through a tube,
0:16:09 > 0:16:12it's hoped the swelling in her larynx will now calm down.
0:16:12 > 0:16:16This emergency procedure may have saved Georgie's life,
0:16:16 > 0:16:19but the next few days will be critical.
0:16:31 > 0:16:33It was actually my girlfriend who had a practice.
0:16:33 > 0:16:37They brought a rabbit in, and she's like, "OK, so what's wrong with it?"
0:16:37 > 0:16:40"Uh, it's got a carrot stuck in its mouth."
0:16:40 > 0:16:42Rabbit's there, here's the carrot and it's like, "Ahhhhh!"
0:16:42 > 0:16:44THEY LAUGH
0:16:44 > 0:16:46"So how long has it been in there?"
0:16:46 > 0:16:48"Two or three days. It hasn't eaten."
0:16:48 > 0:16:53"OK." And so she just reaches and pulls this piece of carrot
0:16:53 > 0:16:55out of its mouth, and the rabbit's just like...
0:16:55 > 0:16:57HE GASPS
0:16:57 > 0:16:59Aww, poor rabbit. Poor rabbit.
0:17:03 > 0:17:05SHEEP BLEAT
0:17:13 > 0:17:18Student Jo Hardy is based in her home county of Kent this week.
0:17:18 > 0:17:20Good girl!
0:17:20 > 0:17:23She's taking the opportunity to spend some quality time with
0:17:23 > 0:17:25her horses.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28Aw, I just love being around the horses.
0:17:28 > 0:17:30It was so nice when I had her at uni with me.
0:17:30 > 0:17:34It meant I could finish lectures and go and ride,
0:17:34 > 0:17:38and see her every day. She was like my baby there.
0:17:38 > 0:17:40But as soon as I got rotations at uni
0:17:40 > 0:17:43there was just no way I could keep her.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46I was way too busy. I don't have enough hours in the day as it is.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49Tilly, come on!
0:17:49 > 0:17:51Becoming a vet takes tenacity.
0:17:51 > 0:17:55And a competitive streak comes in handy too.
0:17:55 > 0:17:59This is my go-karting trophy. I beat lots of people to win it.
0:17:59 > 0:18:01This is when I won a dressage competition.
0:18:01 > 0:18:03This is when my team got to regionals.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06This big one is because I used to do a little bit of modelling,
0:18:06 > 0:18:10and won one of the designer awards.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13This is when I got to regionals as an individual.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16I like to compete, I like to win at things.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18SHE LAUGHS
0:18:18 > 0:18:22Getting into vet school was the hardest thing I've ever done.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25Yeah, you have to do the most ridiculous amounts of work
0:18:25 > 0:18:29experience, and then on top of that, get really good grades.
0:18:29 > 0:18:33And then once I actually got in... people don't tell you how hard it is.
0:18:33 > 0:18:35It's like trying to get into vet school every year around.
0:18:35 > 0:18:39So just getting into second year was as hard as getting into first year,
0:18:39 > 0:18:43and then getting into third year was as hard as getting into second year.
0:18:43 > 0:18:45And, ugh, it's a tough degree.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53The next morning Jo heads off to this week's placement -
0:18:53 > 0:18:57which, thankfully, is just down the road.
0:18:57 > 0:18:59Today we're going to Putlands, which is
0:18:59 > 0:19:01a local mixed practice for me.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04I think we're going to a farm this morning.
0:19:04 > 0:19:08Quite often vet students do end up being employed by places that
0:19:08 > 0:19:10they've seen practice, cos they know them.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13So, yeah, I'd quite like to make a good impression,
0:19:13 > 0:19:16and I'm a little bit worried that I don't.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18Is there anything I can help with?
0:19:18 > 0:19:20Yeah, the three blue things in there.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23Jo's straight out on a visit to a farm with practice owner
0:19:23 > 0:19:27Eryl Davies, to do pregnancy checks on a herd of heifers.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30But Eryl begins the day with a warning about the very real
0:19:30 > 0:19:34dangers of working with cattle that weigh around half a tonne apiece.
0:19:34 > 0:19:38I was helping to get them in because we didn't have an extra gate.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41I was the gate and one little heifer turned round,
0:19:41 > 0:19:44kicked me on the side there, and I fell over onto concrete.
0:19:44 > 0:19:46And I don't remember this,
0:19:46 > 0:19:48but apparently two of the cows trampled me.
0:19:48 > 0:19:53Took a good six months for me to heal enough to play sport again.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56There you are, such is life! Yeah, they can be dangerous animals.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59You make sure you've got insurance to cover you from day one.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03COWS MOO
0:20:05 > 0:20:07We're pregnancy diagnosing some cows,
0:20:07 > 0:20:11and the very young ones that are too small to have calves,
0:20:11 > 0:20:15we're injecting prostaglandin which induces abortion.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18But hopefully there won't be too many of them today!
0:20:18 > 0:20:20Hut-hut! Go on, ya!
0:20:20 > 0:20:25Dairy cows are used to human contact because they're milked every day,
0:20:25 > 0:20:28but these young heifers are reared for beef -
0:20:28 > 0:20:32so they're rarely handled, let alone given an internal examination.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35Today, this lot are fighting back.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45COWS MOO
0:20:54 > 0:20:57The dairy farms, they can just come through the parlour,
0:20:57 > 0:21:00and then they can be separated as they're coming
0:21:00 > 0:21:01out of the parlour.
0:21:01 > 0:21:04The beef farms, they're all sort of herded in from
0:21:04 > 0:21:08the fields and then sorted out in the yard, and they're much wilder.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15METAL RATTLING
0:21:15 > 0:21:16Very frisky one.
0:21:19 > 0:21:24To do the examinations, vet Eryl has to get right into the crush
0:21:24 > 0:21:26with half a tonne of cow.
0:21:26 > 0:21:29It's not a job for the faint-hearted.
0:21:31 > 0:21:33Eryl has given his glamorous assistant
0:21:33 > 0:21:36the job of administering the hormone injections,
0:21:36 > 0:21:40from the relative safety of the outside of the crush.
0:21:41 > 0:21:43Nearly got a face full there!
0:21:43 > 0:21:47But today, even the film crew get a proper scare.
0:21:59 > 0:22:01CAMERA MAN: Which number's this one, Eryl?
0:22:01 > 0:22:03The very last!
0:22:03 > 0:22:05HE LAUGHS
0:22:05 > 0:22:08How's everyone feeling about that?
0:22:08 > 0:22:10Let me tell you know when I've finished.
0:22:10 > 0:22:12THEY ALL LAUGH
0:22:12 > 0:22:14Yeah, she's heavy...heavy in calf.
0:22:17 > 0:22:18A relief.
0:22:20 > 0:22:22Oh, it is a physical job, yes, no doubt about it.
0:22:22 > 0:22:26And the older I get, the more I feel it. The more I know it!
0:22:28 > 0:22:32The cows were really frisky and I think maybe I'm a bit gung-ho
0:22:32 > 0:22:35about it like, "Yeah, I can stop them."
0:22:35 > 0:22:38But actually, they were just going to run through you.
0:22:38 > 0:22:43No matter whether it was me or Eryl, or one of the farmers there,
0:22:43 > 0:22:47whoever was there to try and stop them running, they were going
0:22:47 > 0:22:51to keep on running. So they were quite difficult to work with.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54Turn round, you're looking pretty good now.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56CAMERA MAN: So would you have her back?
0:22:56 > 0:22:58I would, yes. Yes, no doubt.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01She's keen, enthusiastic and gets on with people,
0:23:01 > 0:23:04that's the most important thing, you know, to communicate.
0:23:04 > 0:23:06And yes, she's a great communicator.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09No cameras while I'm in the gents, please!
0:23:24 > 0:23:29It's 7.00am in the college's equine hospital.
0:23:29 > 0:23:33Wallace the one-eyed horse is recovering from his nose bleed.
0:23:33 > 0:23:34Aye-aye!
0:23:34 > 0:23:37And Judy is recovering from her horse phobia.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40How are you feeling about working with horses now?
0:23:40 > 0:23:43Yeah, not too bad, not too bad. Wally!
0:23:43 > 0:23:47I think it is, you know, like falling off a horse cos...
0:23:47 > 0:23:52Yeah, like I say, he's a good boy, so it makes it nice and easy.
0:23:52 > 0:23:53SHE LAUGHS
0:23:53 > 0:23:55Wally, what are you like!
0:23:55 > 0:23:58He was a very good patient for someone who's nervous around horses.
0:23:58 > 0:24:00He actually really helped me to become
0:24:00 > 0:24:03more confident around them because he was so calm.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08No more pus-y snot! That's a good sign.
0:24:08 > 0:24:10Let's give you a once over, mate.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13It's time for Wallace to head back to theatre in the hope that they
0:24:13 > 0:24:18can find out whether a rotten tooth is the cause of his sinusitis.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21The consequences of taking a tooth out of a horse's head...
0:24:21 > 0:24:24there can be complications associated with the procedure,
0:24:24 > 0:24:26and associated with the medium to long term
0:24:26 > 0:24:28with drift of the teeth either side.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31So if we can avoid taking a tooth out, we try and do that.
0:24:31 > 0:24:35The first task of the day is to remove the gauze from poor
0:24:35 > 0:24:36Wallace's sinuses...
0:24:36 > 0:24:39You might feel it's just a little bit...
0:24:39 > 0:24:40All three metres of it.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43Can I do it with my hands now? Yeah, you can. Yeah. OK.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46When you pulled it out, it was like a magic trick.
0:24:46 > 0:24:52You just kept going and kept going and kept going.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55except it was pulling gauze out of a horse!
0:24:57 > 0:24:58Good boy. Good boy.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04Good. OK. You can throw that in there.
0:25:05 > 0:25:09Then we'll take a look, have a drive around inside.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13There you go... Ah, yes.
0:25:13 > 0:25:17You can see the infraorbital canal, and the bottom part of it was hidden
0:25:17 > 0:25:20when we first went in there yesterday.
0:25:23 > 0:25:26How can you put into words, I've just stood in front of a horse
0:25:26 > 0:25:29with a hole in its head and put a camera inside it.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32How can you put how amazing that is into words?
0:25:32 > 0:25:38You can't, it's fantastic!
0:25:42 > 0:25:44So we've certainly got enough drainage.
0:25:44 > 0:25:50Looks good. I'm pleased with the work we did yesterday.
0:25:50 > 0:25:57it looks like he doesn't need to have a tooth removed after all.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00there's no evidence that any of them are infected, so all looks good.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14Now it's Judy's turn under the spotlight as Tom gives her
0:26:14 > 0:26:17the job of stitching up Wallace's head.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19Do I go behind this one now or in front? Just in front.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22And go from deep here to... Cos remember, this was on this side.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26This is over here. As long as it's...
0:26:26 > 0:26:28You'll get the feel for what, because epidermis tissue
0:26:28 > 0:26:33feels easy to bust the needle, dermis feels much tougher.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36So that looks quite good to me.
0:26:36 > 0:26:38Put it all the way through.
0:26:38 > 0:26:40You're still pretty though, Wallace, don't worry.
0:26:40 > 0:26:43I hope Wallace appreciates my handiwork, but like I say,
0:26:43 > 0:26:46we'll take the mirror out of his stable and then he'll never know.
0:26:46 > 0:26:48Model patient.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53She seemed to handle the closure very well,
0:26:53 > 0:26:58so actually quite impressed with the suturing skills at the end there.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00This is why we come into veterinary medicine,
0:27:00 > 0:27:02cos we can do cool stuff like this every day!
0:27:02 > 0:27:04Brilliant, just brilliant.
0:27:04 > 0:27:06By the way, apologies, I've been calling him Wally,
0:27:06 > 0:27:09cos we've bonded. Oh, that's what we call him all time.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11The following day, owner Trudy is very relieved
0:27:11 > 0:27:14to be getting her beloved Wallace back.
0:27:14 > 0:27:16Here he is!
0:27:17 > 0:27:21Quite strange to have a big empty stable and him not there.
0:27:21 > 0:27:25Hopefully he'll be all sorted now, and we'll get you better.
0:27:25 > 0:27:27Come on, big lad. Come on, Wallace!
0:27:29 > 0:27:32Wallace will be in my heart forever.
0:27:34 > 0:27:36I really liked looking after him, actually.
0:27:36 > 0:27:39He's got me down the road to recovery from my horse phobia,
0:27:39 > 0:27:42he's helped me a lot. I'll never forget Wallace.
0:27:45 > 0:27:48DOG BARKS
0:27:56 > 0:27:58In the Queen Mother Hospital,
0:27:58 > 0:28:00it's three days since Charlie's patient Georgie
0:28:00 > 0:28:05came in with a swollen larynx, and had an emergency tracheotomy.
0:28:05 > 0:28:09After a rest in intensive care, the swelling's gone down,
0:28:09 > 0:28:11and Georgie's tube is removed.
0:28:11 > 0:28:15So what's strange is that you don't actually surgically close this hole
0:28:15 > 0:28:17that you've made in their throat.
0:28:17 > 0:28:22The best thing to do is to leave it open so that it naturally heals,
0:28:22 > 0:28:24rather than you trying to shut it.
0:28:24 > 0:28:28And because you've had that time to get the inflammation in her larynx,
0:28:28 > 0:28:32in her throat, to subside because she wasn't breathing
0:28:32 > 0:28:36this turbulent air through it, it meant that she could breath.
0:28:36 > 0:28:38Hey, Georgie!
0:28:38 > 0:28:40Awww.
0:28:40 > 0:28:43You can see that's she's just a lot brighter than
0:28:43 > 0:28:45she was yesterday. So really happy with her today.
0:28:45 > 0:28:47She's got a bit more personality again.
0:28:47 > 0:28:51There was a point when we were seriously worried about her.
0:28:51 > 0:28:54This is a really satisfying case.
0:28:54 > 0:28:56It makes you feel really warm and fluffy inside.
0:28:56 > 0:28:59That's part of the reason why I'm in this business.
0:28:59 > 0:29:03It's just, it's really nice to have a win every so often.
0:29:03 > 0:29:07Charlie's not the only one who's delighted with Georgie's recovery.
0:29:07 > 0:29:11Missed her like crazy, just can't wait to see her again.
0:29:11 > 0:29:15We've had texts and everything from people, "How is she?"
0:29:15 > 0:29:18And people saying, "Oh, we'll say a prayer for her."
0:29:18 > 0:29:22Hello, my darling! Hello, my baby!
0:29:22 > 0:29:25INDISTINCT SPEECH
0:29:25 > 0:29:26Such a good girl!
0:29:26 > 0:29:29And to be reunited was really nice.
0:29:29 > 0:29:32You could see that Georgie instantly recognised her.
0:29:32 > 0:29:35I've missed you so much.
0:29:35 > 0:29:38Yeah, there was a lot of love in that room!
0:29:38 > 0:29:40Come on, baby, say bye-bye!
0:29:40 > 0:29:43Georgie says thank you too, in her own special way...
0:29:44 > 0:29:45What a disgrace!
0:29:47 > 0:29:51She really wanted to go. Can you apologise?
0:29:55 > 0:29:57DOG BARKS
0:30:01 > 0:30:04Student Matt Wilkinson is also spending a crucial
0:30:04 > 0:30:10fortnight in small animal surgery.
0:30:10 > 0:30:14I mean, I'm interested in eyes, I'm interested in hearts.
0:30:14 > 0:30:16I really like surgery, so who knows,
0:30:16 > 0:30:19I might go down a specialisation route.
0:30:19 > 0:30:23The first test of his enthusiasm for surgery is a Yorkshire terrier
0:30:23 > 0:30:26who's come in with a sneezing problem.
0:30:26 > 0:30:27This is Buster.
0:30:27 > 0:30:31When he breathes he sounds like one of those squidgy pigs.
0:30:31 > 0:30:33It's my mum and dad's dog.
0:30:33 > 0:30:37They've had him since he was 12-weeks-old and he's six now.
0:30:38 > 0:30:41Hi, nice to meet you. I'm Matt, one of the students.
0:30:41 > 0:30:42I'll take you in...
0:30:42 > 0:30:45Little Buster's obviously a much-loved pet -
0:30:45 > 0:30:47he's brought the whole family along.
0:30:50 > 0:30:52Matt checks Buster over...
0:30:52 > 0:30:56Goodness me, you are so wriggly!
0:30:56 > 0:31:00..and reports back to supervising vets Gert and Vincent.
0:31:00 > 0:31:02The main complaint today is basically a lot of noise
0:31:02 > 0:31:03when he's breathing.
0:31:03 > 0:31:06This sneezing attack-type thing happens about
0:31:06 > 0:31:08three to four times a day.
0:31:08 > 0:31:12Occasionally he has bleeding from the nose during those attacks.
0:31:12 > 0:31:14That's all right, ready to go in?
0:31:14 > 0:31:17It's quite audible as soon as you walk in the room! OK.
0:31:19 > 0:31:23I think because of the sneezing, and the blood from his nose,
0:31:23 > 0:31:26it would be very good to at least make sure
0:31:26 > 0:31:28there's nothing wrong in that area.
0:31:28 > 0:31:32Gert wants to keep him in overnight for a series of tests.
0:31:32 > 0:31:35Is there anything specific that you would like us to know
0:31:35 > 0:31:36about taking care of him?
0:31:39 > 0:31:41THEY LAUGH
0:31:41 > 0:31:45That's a very scary thought so I will do my best, absolutely!
0:31:45 > 0:31:48OK, Matt if you wouldn't mind taking him to the wards.
0:31:48 > 0:31:51I'll just carry him. Come on, you.
0:31:53 > 0:31:55Not nice saying goodbye? No.
0:31:55 > 0:31:56I was trying not to look at her,
0:31:56 > 0:32:00cos I knew she'd break down and that cracks me off.
0:32:00 > 0:32:03Upset. That says it all.
0:32:08 > 0:32:12Buster's booked in to have some tests in the morning.
0:32:21 > 0:32:23As the Christmas break gets nearer,
0:32:23 > 0:32:26the whole hospital's starting to get in the holiday mood.
0:32:26 > 0:32:27I can't wait.
0:32:27 > 0:32:30I just feel like I just need a break at the moment,
0:32:30 > 0:32:32so it's come at a good time!
0:32:32 > 0:32:37Though senior clinician Ian Self is determined not to get carried away.
0:32:37 > 0:32:40Christmas-time obviously is a very sombre occasion
0:32:40 > 0:32:42where we remember every patient
0:32:42 > 0:32:44who's been through the hospital in the year.
0:32:44 > 0:32:47We also try and remember all the students who've been through,
0:32:47 > 0:32:50and how well they've done, but we try and play it down.
0:32:50 > 0:32:52It's not a big deal to most of us.
0:32:55 > 0:32:58This evening there's a Christmas party
0:32:58 > 0:33:01which will be attended by nearly a thousand students.
0:33:01 > 0:33:06Christmas Ball is...arguably the best event of the year.
0:33:06 > 0:33:07It's my favourite, certainly.
0:33:07 > 0:33:10It's just incredible. I always have a really good time.
0:33:10 > 0:33:14But before they can all go to the ball, there's still work to be done.
0:33:17 > 0:33:21Matt's patient from yesterday - Buster the sneezing Yorkie -
0:33:21 > 0:33:25has just had a CT scan in the hope it'll uncover the mystery cause
0:33:25 > 0:33:28of his nose bleeds and sneezing episodes.
0:33:28 > 0:33:31It looks like there is an abnormality on the left side
0:33:31 > 0:33:36of the nose, which could explain why he's sneezing with some blood loss.
0:33:36 > 0:33:38We started thinking, hang on,
0:33:38 > 0:33:43there might be something else going on here, best investigate!
0:33:43 > 0:33:46To get a closer look, they give him a rhinoscopy,
0:33:46 > 0:33:50which involves putting a tiny camera up Buster's nose.
0:33:50 > 0:33:54Let's focus on the abnormal side.
0:33:54 > 0:33:55So when we go in here...
0:33:57 > 0:34:01Some swelling on the tissues here,
0:34:01 > 0:34:07some mucus, there's definitely some abnormal tissue here.
0:34:07 > 0:34:11Guys, on the left-hand side, you see that over there?
0:34:11 > 0:34:12Yeah.
0:34:12 > 0:34:16Potentially it's a foreign body or something.
0:34:18 > 0:34:20Can I have the smallest forceps?
0:34:22 > 0:34:24Inside it's very swollen -
0:34:24 > 0:34:26but Gert thinks he's spotted something
0:34:26 > 0:34:28that definitely shouldn't be there.
0:34:28 > 0:34:30Could this be what's making Buster sneeze?
0:34:41 > 0:34:43THEY CHEER
0:34:43 > 0:34:45Hooray!
0:34:46 > 0:34:48Fabulous.
0:34:48 > 0:34:52Bit of grass. Or a grass seed, anyway.
0:34:52 > 0:34:54It smells.
0:34:54 > 0:34:55I don't want to smell it!
0:34:55 > 0:34:57THEY LAUGH
0:34:57 > 0:34:58What do you know.
0:34:58 > 0:35:01I think I'm going to live another day.
0:35:01 > 0:35:03He's probably not going to kill me now, is he?
0:35:03 > 0:35:05I guess you could say it was a bit of a eureka moment
0:35:05 > 0:35:08when you pulled it out, because you're like
0:35:08 > 0:35:10"Hey, this is the grass seed that's been causing the problem!"
0:35:13 > 0:35:15DOG WHINES
0:35:17 > 0:35:19Minus one large grass seed,
0:35:19 > 0:35:22Buster's now ready to be reunited with his family.
0:35:28 > 0:35:41Hello! What's that?
0:35:41 > 0:35:44Oh, my God. So that was in his left nostril.
0:35:44 > 0:35:47Good grief! It's quite big compared to his nostril size, isn't it?
0:35:47 > 0:35:50So, yeah. Can I keep that?
0:35:50 > 0:35:52Yeah. Happy Christmas! It's yours!
0:35:52 > 0:35:53Early Christmas present, yeah.
0:35:55 > 0:35:57Amazing, isn't it? Amazing.
0:35:57 > 0:36:01THEY LAUGH
0:36:01 > 0:36:05As the day draws to a close at the Queen Mother Hospital, it's
0:36:05 > 0:36:10time for the students to gear up for the long-awaited Christmas Ball.
0:36:10 > 0:36:21SING-SONG: Getting out of here, going to run to the ball.
0:36:22 > 0:36:26It's our last Christmas Ball, and it's always...
0:36:26 > 0:36:28There's usually not much I remember.
0:36:28 > 0:36:30I think I'd quite like to remember this year.
0:36:30 > 0:36:34It's really nice just to look like a female every now and again.
0:36:34 > 0:36:36That tightens it? Yeah.
0:36:36 > 0:36:39All right, which side is it? You'll have to pull me into it.
0:36:39 > 0:36:41Come off of it.
0:36:43 > 0:36:46Tonight they're escaping the watchful eye of the teaching staff
0:36:46 > 0:36:48to party into the wee small hours.
0:36:48 > 0:36:50No, that's so lame!
0:36:52 > 0:36:55SHE SHRIEKS
0:36:55 > 0:36:56Christmas Ball is a big event.
0:36:56 > 0:36:59It's the one which everyone looks forward to.
0:36:59 > 0:37:01Christmas Ball is amazing.
0:37:02 > 0:37:05It is really good to have a blow out.
0:37:05 > 0:37:06Everyone loves feeling Christmassy,
0:37:06 > 0:37:09and it just gets you kind of in the festive spirit.
0:37:09 > 0:37:12And you're with all your friends. And yeah, it's great.
0:37:16 > 0:37:20I did stay until the bitter end, very early in the morning.
0:37:31 > 0:37:35The next morning, bleary eyed and definitely the worse for wear,
0:37:35 > 0:37:39Matt and Danni stagger in for a 7.00am start.
0:37:39 > 0:37:43We're going to start with a little test, so I hope you didn't
0:37:43 > 0:37:46party too much last night, cos we really need them.
0:37:46 > 0:37:48How are you, guys?
0:37:48 > 0:37:50Fresh as a daisy. A little bit pale.
0:37:50 > 0:37:51THEY LAUGH
0:37:51 > 0:37:55Vet Gert has lined up an unexpected test for them
0:37:55 > 0:37:59that definitely requires a steady hand and a sharp eye -
0:37:59 > 0:38:02both of which seem to be in short supply this morning.
0:38:04 > 0:38:06The day after Christmas Ball was quite painful,
0:38:06 > 0:38:08and we were all struggling.
0:38:08 > 0:38:10If you practice again, do it like this. OK.
0:38:10 > 0:38:13When you're really tired from a night out, you don't want to
0:38:13 > 0:38:17be doing a really fiddly thing in front of one of
0:38:17 > 0:38:20the senior clinicians, while being tested.
0:38:20 > 0:38:22Oh, yeah, I've got to thread it.
0:38:22 > 0:38:24THEY LAUGH
0:38:24 > 0:38:25This should be funny.
0:38:25 > 0:38:27God, I'm really shaky today.
0:38:29 > 0:38:31Oh, it's come out.
0:38:31 > 0:38:35I don't think I managed to hide how I was feeling very well.
0:38:35 > 0:38:39I think my hands did most of the talking that morning.
0:38:39 > 0:38:42PEOPLE CHATTER
0:38:42 > 0:38:44I've hit a wall.
0:38:44 > 0:38:47I hit a wall probably at about 9.00,
0:38:47 > 0:38:50but still got like, how many more hours, like...
0:38:52 > 0:38:58..seven more hours of this day. So...just got to keep, keep going.
0:39:05 > 0:39:09Whenever anyone asks me, why did you not want to be a doctor, there's
0:39:09 > 0:39:12only one answer I give every time. I could put my finger up a dog's bum,
0:39:12 > 0:39:14but I couldn't put my finger up an old man's bum.
0:39:14 > 0:39:18That's a good way to put it, yeah. That's the only way I think of it.
0:39:18 > 0:39:20"And cough..." No, I can't, not that. Exactly!
0:39:26 > 0:39:29For Catherine Needham it's been a long road to get this
0:39:29 > 0:39:31far in her vet training.
0:39:31 > 0:39:34Way back to about five years old or so,
0:39:34 > 0:39:37I can remember wanting to be a vet.
0:39:37 > 0:39:38Maya and Possum?
0:39:38 > 0:39:42But after almost seven years of hard work, the end is in sight.
0:39:42 > 0:39:43It's going to mean a heck of a lot.
0:39:43 > 0:39:45I've taken a really long route to get here.
0:39:45 > 0:39:47I've done another degree.
0:39:47 > 0:39:49I had a couple of years out between the two degrees.
0:39:49 > 0:39:51It's been a long, hard slog while I've been at vet school.
0:39:51 > 0:39:54So it's going to be accumulation of a lot of hard work
0:39:54 > 0:39:58and it's going to mean that I've finally got to where I intended
0:39:58 > 0:40:01to get all along, and I'm actually doing the job that I want to do.
0:40:01 > 0:40:04Today she's starting a two-week placement at a
0:40:04 > 0:40:07general vet practice in Potters Bar - where all her
0:40:07 > 0:40:12Day 1 vet skills are going to be tested - including surgery.
0:40:12 > 0:40:15It's always difficult at new places where you don't know, there's
0:40:15 > 0:40:19always kind of those few days where you're working out what you can do.
0:40:19 > 0:40:21I'm a lot more confident than I was in third year,
0:40:21 > 0:40:24because I feel that I know a bit more of what's going on.
0:40:25 > 0:40:28Hello!
0:40:28 > 0:40:30Her first patient this morning is a four-month-old
0:40:30 > 0:40:33Cockapoo puppy called Teddy.
0:40:33 > 0:40:36His owner thinks he might have swallowed a sharp piece of plastic.
0:40:36 > 0:40:39He was in the garden and spotted a plant pot.
0:40:39 > 0:40:42Teddy had been in the garden, been chewing a plant pot
0:40:42 > 0:40:45which the owner saw and obviously stopped him chewing it.
0:40:45 > 0:40:48She pieced back together the pieces of plastic from the pot,
0:40:48 > 0:40:50and there was a piece of plastic missing.
0:40:50 > 0:40:53Catherine's working under the watchful eye of
0:40:53 > 0:40:55practice manager Russell Welch.
0:40:55 > 0:40:57Did you see him swallow it at all or...?
0:40:57 > 0:41:00I saw it in his mouth. OK. That sort of size.
0:41:00 > 0:41:03I turned my back to get one of my boys,
0:41:03 > 0:41:05because I was trying to pull it out of his mouth,
0:41:05 > 0:41:08and then it had gone. Then it wasn't on the ground anywhere.
0:41:08 > 0:41:12So I'm pretty sure he swallowed it but I can't be absolutely certain.
0:41:12 > 0:41:13Has he tried to retch at all?
0:41:13 > 0:41:16No. Absolutely nothing. He's been absolutely fine.
0:41:16 > 0:41:17Right, so what we're going to feel for,
0:41:17 > 0:41:20is to see if he's got anything stuck down his oesophagus.
0:41:20 > 0:41:22If he had something in his oesophagus,
0:41:22 > 0:41:26he'd probably still be retching, trying to cough or vomit it out. OK?
0:41:26 > 0:41:29And then we'll have a good feel in his tummy.
0:41:29 > 0:41:32Teddy was an incredibly cute dog. Obviously you want
0:41:32 > 0:41:35the best for all your patients, but when they're so cute like that
0:41:35 > 0:41:39then they particularly kind of tug at the heartstrings a little bit.
0:41:39 > 0:41:42Vet Russell can't take any chances and needs to find
0:41:42 > 0:41:46the piece of plant pot before it can do any lasting damage.
0:41:46 > 0:41:50The problem you've got is it's a flat piece of plastic.
0:41:50 > 0:41:52So it depends on how it may or may not be lying inside the stomach.
0:41:52 > 0:41:54It would be silly to ignore it,
0:41:54 > 0:41:56especially if it's something that sharp.
0:41:56 > 0:41:58For a small dog like him,
0:41:58 > 0:42:01something like that's unlikely to pass without causing danger.
0:42:01 > 0:42:05There's probably a high risk of something that hard and that sharp
0:42:05 > 0:42:07essentially perforating the intestines.
0:42:07 > 0:42:09I feel so terrible about it. I watch him like a hawk,
0:42:09 > 0:42:12but as soon as he knows I'll try and get it out,
0:42:12 > 0:42:13he'll try and swallow it.
0:42:13 > 0:42:15It can be difficult if there's children there,
0:42:15 > 0:42:17you don't want to start mentioning surgery.
0:42:17 > 0:42:20Children are going to be very attached to their dog,
0:42:20 > 0:42:22and be worried if you're taking it into the back.
0:42:22 > 0:42:24They're going to be worried about,
0:42:24 > 0:42:26what are you doing with it, where's the dog going?
0:42:26 > 0:42:28So that can be quite upsetting.
0:42:33 > 0:42:35OK, if you take him through
0:42:35 > 0:42:37and I'll get the forms and all the paperwork done.
0:42:37 > 0:42:39Right, come on.
0:42:39 > 0:42:42The first step is to give Teddy an X-ray.
0:42:45 > 0:42:48So there's a lot of food in this dog's stomach.
0:42:48 > 0:42:50You can see all of that there.
0:42:50 > 0:42:53That's going to make finding that very, very difficult.
0:42:53 > 0:42:57There's faeces in there, gas in the small intestine,
0:42:57 > 0:42:59there's a lot of food in there.
0:42:59 > 0:43:01Having drawn a blank,
0:43:01 > 0:43:04Russell uses a camera to search inside Teddy's stomach.
0:43:04 > 0:43:06Anyone sees anything, shout, OK?
0:43:08 > 0:43:09You can see the dog pellets,
0:43:09 > 0:43:13see how they're round a hole in the middle.
0:43:13 > 0:43:15Bit of grass, he's been eating!
0:43:15 > 0:43:18Quite a lot of what dogs swallow are things that they think could
0:43:18 > 0:43:21be food, but often, particularly at a puppy age,
0:43:21 > 0:43:22they'll just chew things.
0:43:22 > 0:43:25Whether that's a sock, whether that's a kid's toy or whatever,
0:43:25 > 0:43:28they'll just chew things and swallow bits of it.
0:43:28 > 0:43:30And that causes a problem.
0:43:30 > 0:43:33Nah, I think we're fighting a losing battle out here.
0:43:33 > 0:43:34There's too much food in there.
0:43:36 > 0:43:38As Teddy could be in serious danger
0:43:38 > 0:43:43if the missing bit of pot tears his intestine, they'll need to operate.
0:43:43 > 0:43:46But unfortunately, they can't open him up straightaway.
0:43:46 > 0:43:49Well, at the moment, his stomach is so full of food that
0:43:49 > 0:43:52the risk of doing surgery is that he could end up with some of that
0:43:52 > 0:43:55over-spilling into the abdomen and then you've got risk of infection.
0:43:55 > 0:43:58So we're going to leave him overnight so his stomach has a bit
0:43:58 > 0:44:01of a chance to empty, and then do surgery tomorrow.
0:44:01 > 0:44:05All they can do now is wait and hope that little Teddy doesn't
0:44:05 > 0:44:08take a turn for the worse overnight.
0:44:13 > 0:44:16The next morning, Teddy's prepped for surgery.
0:44:16 > 0:44:19This may be a high street general vet practice,
0:44:19 > 0:44:23but even here vets perform complex surgery on a regular basis.
0:44:23 > 0:44:26He was very bouncy and happy this morning.
0:44:26 > 0:44:30You wouldn't know that there was anything potentially wrong with him.
0:44:30 > 0:44:33Do you see anything possibly suspicious?
0:44:33 > 0:44:37For Teddy's operation, Catherine's going to assist vet Gerry Dunne.
0:44:37 > 0:44:40It doesn't appear to have moved into the small intestine, the
0:44:40 > 0:44:43problem is it could move in there at any time, day or night.
0:44:43 > 0:44:45And if it does, it could perforate.
0:44:45 > 0:44:49Especially if it's got sharp edges, so, yeah.
0:44:49 > 0:44:51It's quite important to get in there and get it out,
0:44:51 > 0:44:53so it doesn't cause problems.
0:44:53 > 0:44:56The only option is to open Teddy up
0:44:56 > 0:44:59and feel along his intestines for the piece of plastic.
0:45:02 > 0:45:04There's nothing in the stomach.
0:45:04 > 0:45:06Do you want a feel of the stomach?
0:45:08 > 0:45:10We were looking for a hard piece of plastic.
0:45:10 > 0:45:13You'd be able to feel that through the intestinal wall or stomach wall
0:45:13 > 0:45:16without having to actually make an incision into it.
0:45:16 > 0:45:18So you just work your way, all the way through it.
0:45:18 > 0:45:22Work your way down, right down to the diaphragm.
0:45:22 > 0:45:26There it is. Then down the other side, down the way to the...
0:45:26 > 0:45:27But after a careful search,
0:45:27 > 0:45:30Catherine and Gerry can't find anything.
0:45:30 > 0:45:33And there's only one reason they can think of,
0:45:33 > 0:45:36it seems Teddy didn't swallow any plastic after all.
0:45:36 > 0:45:41So we were able to feel our way through all of the digestive system,
0:45:41 > 0:45:44all of the tracts, and couldn't feel any plastic in there.
0:45:44 > 0:45:48Which at least is a relief. Not to worry.
0:45:48 > 0:45:51So Operation Plant Pot is called off,
0:45:51 > 0:45:54but Catherine gets to show off her surgical skills -
0:45:54 > 0:45:56closing Teddy's wound.
0:45:56 > 0:45:59Catherine's a natural when it comes to surgery. Is she?
0:45:59 > 0:46:02Just her suture technique, she's very efficient
0:46:02 > 0:46:05and very precise. She's definitely a natural surgeon.
0:46:07 > 0:46:15I always like getting the opportunity to suture up at
0:46:15 > 0:46:17The vet did seem quite happy with my suturing.
0:46:18 > 0:46:23I could have taken the day off! She's taken over.
0:46:23 > 0:46:26Sh, good boy. Good boy.
0:46:26 > 0:46:28A few hours on - and sporting a very neat scar -
0:46:28 > 0:46:32Teddy's going home to his family.
0:46:32 > 0:46:35Yeah, I mean, it's always really good to see them going home happy
0:46:35 > 0:46:38and well, and yeah, good outcome, that's always good.
0:46:38 > 0:46:41And yeah, it's nice to get a compliment,
0:46:41 > 0:46:43and know that I'm doing OK.
0:46:43 > 0:46:45Things are getting to the point where the next time I'm doing
0:46:45 > 0:46:47things I might be doing them on my own,
0:46:47 > 0:46:50so it's really reassuring to get it confirmed that
0:46:50 > 0:46:51I am doing the correct things.
0:46:51 > 0:46:55Aww, I missed you so much.
0:46:58 > 0:47:00I missed you so much!
0:47:02 > 0:47:05Ah, we've missed him so much.
0:47:11 > 0:47:14DOG BARKS
0:47:14 > 0:47:17So before I came to vet school I didn't quite realise how
0:47:17 > 0:47:20many girls there would be compared to boys.
0:47:20 > 0:47:21So what is it, is it 80% now?
0:47:21 > 0:47:23Yeah, it's got to be 80%, yeah. Something like that.
0:47:23 > 0:47:26Yeah, slim pickings! Slim pickings! Slim pickings.
0:47:26 > 0:47:29Yeah, let's go slim picking. We need more boys!
0:47:29 > 0:47:34Please, send men!
0:47:34 > 0:47:38for you will come to a place where you will feel like an alpha male
0:47:38 > 0:47:40all the time and you will probably have an amazing time.
0:47:48 > 0:47:52For Dru Shearn, the Christmas holidays can't come soon enough.
0:47:52 > 0:47:56I'm not really the biggest Christmas person. I'm kind of...
0:47:56 > 0:47:58I'm not a Grinch, but I haven't had a big
0:47:58 > 0:48:02chunk of time off, quite on time, and it's just nice to see my family,
0:48:02 > 0:48:03see some friends from home,
0:48:03 > 0:48:07and just take a bit of time to just do nothing, really.
0:48:07 > 0:48:10But before he can take a break, he has to finish his placement
0:48:10 > 0:48:12in the hospital's Cardiology Department.
0:48:12 > 0:48:16His next patient, Buddy, is a tiny Jack Russell puppy
0:48:16 > 0:48:18with a serious heart condition.
0:48:21 > 0:48:22He's too cute, isn't he?
0:48:22 > 0:48:25He's absolutely tiny and he's absolutely gorgeous,
0:48:25 > 0:48:28but he is here because he's got a congenital heart problem.
0:48:28 > 0:48:31I'm on cardiology this week, and we've just been looking after
0:48:31 > 0:48:33him and stabilising him in the Intensive Care Unit
0:48:33 > 0:48:35until he can go in for surgery.
0:48:35 > 0:48:38Because it's not something they can survive with.
0:48:38 > 0:48:41So we need to do an intervention and we need to try and go and fix it.
0:48:41 > 0:48:44Puppies in the womb have a blood vessel in the heart
0:48:44 > 0:48:46which bypasses the lungs.
0:48:46 > 0:48:49This should close off at birth once they start to breathe,
0:48:49 > 0:48:52but in Buddy's case, it hasn't.
0:48:52 > 0:48:55Without complex surgery to tie off this blood vessel,
0:48:55 > 0:48:58Buddy won't survive into adulthood.
0:48:58 > 0:49:00The surgery itself might not be successful,
0:49:00 > 0:49:04so it's kind of 50-50 as to whether he'll make it through.
0:49:04 > 0:49:08Hopefully he will, cos he's absolutely adorable,
0:49:08 > 0:49:11but I think they're quite concerned about him at the moment.
0:49:14 > 0:49:17Unfortunately, this time Dru won't be able to
0:49:17 > 0:49:20scrub in during Buddy's surgery.
0:49:20 > 0:49:22I injured my finger playing rugby,
0:49:22 > 0:49:26which meant that I couldn't really use my hands to do surgery.
0:49:26 > 0:49:31So I was kind of gutted about that, but, you know, what can you do?
0:49:31 > 0:49:34But it turns out Dru's loss is Matt's gain -
0:49:34 > 0:49:37as the rare opportunity to assist in delicate heart surgery
0:49:37 > 0:49:39has been handed over to him.
0:49:39 > 0:49:43To be given that opportunity to scrub into something that is
0:49:43 > 0:49:46so rarely done and on such a small and young puppy,
0:49:46 > 0:49:49I mean, that was just, that was amazing for me.
0:49:50 > 0:49:53With a heart no bigger than a small strawberry,
0:49:53 > 0:49:56Buddy's at high risk in this procedure.
0:49:56 > 0:49:59Luckily for Buddy - and luckily for wide-eyed Matt -
0:49:59 > 0:50:04performing the operation today is world-renowned surgeon Dan Brockman.
0:50:04 > 0:50:10The real concern for this little dog is that he's already having
0:50:10 > 0:50:15real difficulty because of this abnormal vessel.
0:50:15 > 0:50:19The only hope for him is if we are able to successfully close
0:50:19 > 0:50:23this vessel off, and if his circulation returns
0:50:23 > 0:50:27to its normal state, we've got everything and very little to lose.
0:50:27 > 0:50:30Dan Brockman is a bit of a surgery legend, really,
0:50:30 > 0:50:34so to be able to scrub in with him was fantastic.
0:50:34 > 0:50:39If we're unfortunate or unlucky and the blood vessel we're
0:50:39 > 0:50:43dissecting around ruptures, then that could be really
0:50:43 > 0:50:47dangerous in terms of losing him on the operating table.
0:50:48 > 0:50:53A dog of that size can bleed to death in a matter of seconds
0:50:53 > 0:50:56so it's going to be quite an anxious period of time as we're dissecting
0:50:56 > 0:51:03around that vessel to make sure that that hopefully doesn't happen.
0:51:03 > 0:51:06Are we ready to make an incision? Yes, boss.
0:51:09 > 0:51:13So just slide your other hand underneath the latissimus
0:51:13 > 0:51:17so you can feel all the way around the front of the rib.
0:51:21 > 0:51:24And we're ready to put the local anaesthetic on.
0:51:24 > 0:51:27So that's...26. That's total dose.
0:51:27 > 0:51:29Thank you. We're just about to enter the chest.
0:51:33 > 0:51:35Just don't breathe for a second.
0:51:35 > 0:51:38I did feel pressure, because it's such an important operation
0:51:38 > 0:51:41and things can go drastically wrong very quickly,
0:51:41 > 0:51:43you really don't want to make any mistakes.
0:51:43 > 0:51:45And obviously I'd never done anything like that before.
0:51:45 > 0:51:49You know, I might have been standing there looking like I knew what
0:51:49 > 0:51:52was going on, looking like I could have done one of those, but on the
0:51:52 > 0:51:56inside I was thinking, "Oh, my God, I do not want to screw up here."
0:51:56 > 0:52:00This is the area here that we need to develop this dissection.
0:52:00 > 0:52:04Half an hour in, Dan's finally through to the heart
0:52:04 > 0:52:07and locates the blood vessel he needs to tie off.
0:52:09 > 0:52:13Obviously they have to cut through the skin first, and then
0:52:13 > 0:52:18various muscles, and then eventually they had to cut into the lungs and
0:52:18 > 0:52:23move one of the lung-loads out of the way so they could get to the heart.
0:52:23 > 0:52:26All of the layers being incredibly small and incredibly fiddly.
0:52:29 > 0:52:32It was astonishing, it was amazing.
0:52:36 > 0:52:41To be that close to Buddy's heart was incredible.
0:52:42 > 0:52:46You could see it beat, and it was so small,
0:52:46 > 0:52:48and it was doing such an important job.
0:52:48 > 0:52:53And yet there I was sort of standing there...looking at it.
0:52:53 > 0:52:56Can you see the tip of that instrument coming around the back
0:52:56 > 0:52:59of the ductus? Can you guys all see that?
0:52:59 > 0:53:03The final stage of the surgery is critical.
0:53:03 > 0:53:07As Matt holds a nerve out of the way using a silicon string,
0:53:07 > 0:53:09Dan ties off the blood vessel.
0:53:11 > 0:53:15Just watching him do that surgery was incredible.
0:53:20 > 0:53:24Remarkably, in less than an hour, Dan has completed the operation
0:53:24 > 0:53:27and it looks like little Buddy's going to make it.
0:53:29 > 0:53:32Yeah, bit of a challenge. What's life without a challenge though?
0:53:35 > 0:53:36Matt was very good.
0:53:36 > 0:53:39I hope he enjoyed the opportunity to be that close to the action,
0:53:39 > 0:53:44to see the heart beating that close up, perhaps even touch parts of it.
0:53:44 > 0:53:48I still remember to this day the first time I was able to do that.
0:53:48 > 0:53:52And if Matt has an interest in surgery at all,
0:53:52 > 0:53:55then that might be the thing that just snatches him and
0:53:55 > 0:54:00makes him commit to one day perhaps do similar things.
0:54:00 > 0:54:02DOG YELPS
0:54:02 > 0:54:05Oh, hello! He's awake.
0:54:06 > 0:54:10Yeah, that was very cool. I really enjoyed that.
0:54:12 > 0:54:15Um, very good. I've scrubbed in on an open heart surgery.
0:54:16 > 0:54:20But as Buddy's moved to Intensive Care to recover,
0:54:20 > 0:54:23it's clear that the next 48 hours will be crucial.
0:54:43 > 0:54:46Right, Kessy, Christmas!
0:54:46 > 0:54:49Just a few miles from the college in Rickmansworth,
0:54:49 > 0:54:51Judy's finished for the term,
0:54:51 > 0:54:56and is attempting to get her beloved dog Kess in the mood for Christmas.
0:54:56 > 0:55:06Down in the dumps this year?
0:55:06 > 0:55:11just off the scale this year, to be honest, just bouncing off the walls.
0:55:11 > 0:55:14Look, Kess, do you want your hat on?
0:55:14 > 0:55:16Yeah! No, not really.
0:55:17 > 0:55:20Oh, Kess. I'm so sorry, Kess.
0:55:20 > 0:55:23I'm so sorry. I promised I'd never do this to you again.
0:55:23 > 0:55:26Right, let's get your present, Kess, wait there.
0:55:26 > 0:55:29That's a good look, I like that.
0:55:29 > 0:55:32So what's Father Christmas bringing Judy Puddifoot this festive season?
0:55:32 > 0:55:34I wrote a letter to him,
0:55:34 > 0:55:37asking if I could get passes in all my exams next year,
0:55:37 > 0:55:41so might be a belated Christmas present, we'll have to see.
0:55:41 > 0:55:43Have I been good enough this year?
0:55:43 > 0:55:46All the biscuits are gone now, Kess. SHE LAUGHS
0:55:46 > 0:55:49So does Kess get more presents than you do?
0:55:49 > 0:55:51Yeah, generally. Lots of biscuits for Kess,
0:55:51 > 0:55:54and pig's ears, that's her favourite.
0:55:54 > 0:55:56Not a very nice present, but there you go.
0:55:56 > 0:55:57SHE LAUGHS
0:55:57 > 0:56:01Oh, you've got two! Oh, you've got two! Yeah!
0:56:01 > 0:56:03Are you looking forward to a bit of a break?
0:56:03 > 0:56:05Yes, that'll be nice. It would be nice,
0:56:05 > 0:56:09except I've got my research project to do over the Christmas break.
0:56:09 > 0:56:12So, yeah, I'll take a couple of days off, definitely.
0:56:15 > 0:56:17Ooh, hello. LAUGHING
0:56:32 > 0:56:35In the Queen Mother Hospital's Intensive Care Unit,
0:56:35 > 0:56:39it's been two days since little Buddy's heart surgery.
0:56:39 > 0:56:44Hello, cheeky boy! Do you want to come out and play?
0:56:47 > 0:56:52Yeah, he's actually, as little puppies often do,
0:56:52 > 0:56:56he's made a really miraculous recovery.
0:56:56 > 0:56:59I've had a photograph taken of me holding him
0:56:59 > 0:57:06in the palm of my hand just like this so I can illustrate the
0:57:06 > 0:57:08But he's just tiny.
0:57:08 > 0:57:10TOY SQUEAKS
0:57:10 > 0:57:15Get him, get him.
0:57:16 > 0:57:21And Dan's not the only vet who's unable to resist Buddy's charms.
0:57:21 > 0:57:28Go and see uncle Dru.
0:57:28 > 0:57:33He looks amazing, doesn't he? He looks like a different dog.
0:57:33 > 0:57:36This is only two days afterwards and he looks really, really good,
0:57:36 > 0:57:37so we're really pleased.
0:57:38 > 0:57:40Do you want to put this on?
0:57:40 > 0:57:43Oh, you are, you can't be serious. LAUGHING
0:57:43 > 0:57:45Dru, come here.
0:57:48 > 0:57:52Aww, look at the little...
0:57:52 > 0:57:54LAUGHTER
0:57:57 > 0:57:59So we're spreading Christmas cheer today.
0:58:02 > 0:58:06And just 24 hours later, Buddy's well enough to go home.
0:58:06 > 0:58:08THEY LAUGH HAPPILY
0:58:08 > 0:58:13Guaranteeing his owners a very happy Christmas.
0:58:13 > 0:58:15We sort of geared ourselves up for him not coming home,
0:58:15 > 0:58:17so it's almost like he's brand-new again.
0:58:17 > 0:58:21I'm looking forward to getting him home. And Christmas Day as well.
0:58:21 > 0:58:22Put his elf suit on.
0:58:22 > 0:58:25Yeah, we've got him an elf...my mum's got him a little elf costume
0:58:25 > 0:58:27so I'm going to put him in that...
0:58:27 > 0:58:29LAUGHING: ..on Christmas Day. Aren't we?
0:58:29 > 0:58:31DOG MOANS
0:58:31 > 0:58:33He's so excited. I know. He doesn't know what to do.
0:59:06 > 0:59:07Homeowners with tiny budgets...
0:59:07 > 0:59:10Experts with big ideas... I'm going to propose something quite radical.
0:59:10 > 0:59:12Homeowners with tiny budgets...
0:59:12 > 0:59:15It is a lot of money. Every penny counts now.
0:59:15 > 0:59:17Can they build their dream home?
0:59:17 > 0:59:20I feel very nervous now.