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0:00:03 > 0:00:05- From elderly patients...
0:00:06 > 0:00:08- ..to those newly born.
0:00:09 > 0:00:10- From the domestic...
0:00:10 > 0:00:13- From the domestic...- - Is he eating and drinking?
0:00:14 > 0:00:15- ..to farm animals.
0:00:15 > 0:00:17- ..to farm animals.- - He doesn't like that!
0:00:17 > 0:00:19- The usual clients.
0:00:21 > 0:00:22- And the unexpected.
0:00:23 > 0:00:27- These are the creatures Wern - Veterinary Surgeons have to treat.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30- You're alright. What's the matter?
0:00:31 > 0:00:36- Who knows what they will face - when they go to work in the morning.
0:00:36 > 0:00:40- This is a very extreme case.
0:00:40 > 0:00:45- They turn their hand to the old - techniques as well as the new.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48- The work of a vet is never dull.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51- If we don't succeed...
0:00:51 > 0:00:55- ..if I'm not happy with the fix, - we'll have to break the leg.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59- Good morning, Wern Vets.
0:01:00 > 0:01:02- Wern Veterinary Surgeons - have six sites.
0:01:03 > 0:01:07- They treat all kinds of animals - across North East Wales.
0:01:12 > 0:01:16- In this series, we'll experience - the ups and downs of the Wern vets.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20- And we'll have a close look - at the life of a vet.
0:01:20 > 0:01:22- Good girl!
0:01:22 > 0:01:25- There we are. Job done!
0:01:30 > 0:01:33- After a period of maternity leave...
0:01:34 > 0:01:37- ..Eleri, one of the Wern's partners - has returned to work.
0:01:38 > 0:01:40- But first, she has some offloading - to do...
0:01:41 > 0:01:44- ..as she meets her father - in the car park to hand over...
0:01:44 > 0:01:47- ..Joseff and Llewelyn - to Nain and Taid.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51- On Mondays and Tuesdays, - I take them to work with me...
0:01:51 > 0:01:54- ..so that Dad can collect them - from Bala.
0:01:54 > 0:01:57- Mum and Dad live in Traws, - so they take them there.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01- Nain and Taid get to see a lot of - them which is really nice.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04- They stay at home with me - on Wednesdays.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07- On Thursdays and Fridays - they stay home...
0:02:07 > 0:02:10- ..and Jeni, Rhys's father's partner - comes to look after them.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14- They're lucky children. - They're spoiled by everyone.
0:02:14 > 0:02:18- Although sometimes I feel - that I'm not home enough...
0:02:18 > 0:02:23- ..it's difficult - to get the right balance.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31- Being a mother is much harder - than being a vet...
0:02:31 > 0:02:34- ..because the pressure is constant.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37- I used to think that - when I had a baby...
0:02:37 > 0:02:39- ..I'd be able to stay home - at night...
0:02:39 > 0:02:42- ..and not have to go out - to birth a calf.
0:02:42 > 0:02:46- What I didn't realize was that - you can never switch off.
0:02:46 > 0:02:48- A baby is hard work 24 hours a day.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51- It's definitely harder.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55- It's nice to be back and to see - everyone and get back to work.
0:03:00 > 0:03:04- While I was on maternity leave, - I was too busy with the babies...
0:03:04 > 0:03:06- ..to miss work very much.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09- We have our own animals at home too.
0:03:09 > 0:03:13- I performed a caesarean - on our own cow.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16- I artificially inseminated our pony.
0:03:16 > 0:03:21- So I kept my hand in a little - while looking after the babies.
0:03:21 > 0:03:25- I think the biggest thing - I missed about work was the people.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28- I was stuck in the house - with the babies.
0:03:28 > 0:03:30- All you see is babies.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32- This job is very sociable.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35- You talk to people - and listen to their stories.
0:03:35 > 0:03:37- I missed that.
0:03:37 > 0:03:41- Now that I'm back, - it's as if I've never been away.
0:03:42 > 0:03:46- Sage, the labradoodle has come to - the surgery with her owner, Wendy.
0:03:46 > 0:03:51- She wants Eleri look at the dog's - eye which is red and painful.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54- She comes here quite often - with various ailments.
0:03:54 > 0:03:56- Today, her eye was a little red.
0:03:57 > 0:04:01- I looked in her eye, - but there was nothing in there.
0:04:01 > 0:04:05- There was no grass. Sometimes they - get grass seed in their eye.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10- I think she may have had something - in her eye and she's rubbed it.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13- She's quite a sensitive dog.
0:04:13 > 0:04:17- I've given her steroid drops - and antibiotics for a few days...
0:04:17 > 0:04:21- ..just to make sure that there's - nothing nasty happening.
0:04:21 > 0:04:25- I'll see her again in two or three - days. I don't think it's serious.
0:04:26 > 0:04:27- Thank you.
0:04:30 > 0:04:34- Down on the farm in Cerrigydrudion, - Gwyn is at work.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37- He's one of the owners - of the practice.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40- He is removing embryos - from a Belgian Blue heifer.
0:04:40 > 0:04:44- It is a complex technique that - requires expertise, patience...
0:04:44 > 0:04:48- ..and a good understanding - of a cow's fertility cycle.
0:04:48 > 0:04:52- What we're doing today, - is removing eggs from the heifer.
0:04:52 > 0:04:57- So that we can freeze them - and put them into other heifers...
0:04:57 > 0:04:59- ..to create cross-breeds.
0:05:00 > 0:05:06- It's a way of getting more calves - out of a pure bred heifer...
0:05:06 > 0:05:10- ..without having - to keep more pure bred cattle.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13- How many calves would a cow - usually give birth to?
0:05:13 > 0:05:16- They can have one calf a year.
0:05:16 > 0:05:21- So if a cow lives for ten years, - you can expect ten calves.
0:05:21 > 0:05:26- With this process, - you could have ten calves a year.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30- This technique is called - embryo transfer.
0:05:30 > 0:05:35- This process of transferring embryos - from a pedigree cow...
0:05:35 > 0:05:38- ..to a surrogate cow - is quite uncommon in Wales.
0:05:38 > 0:05:43- Only a few practices across Britain - offer this specialist service.
0:05:43 > 0:05:47- She was given drugs about ten days - ago to make her ovulate.
0:05:49 > 0:05:54- The first step is to put my hand in - and feel whether she's responded.
0:06:12 > 0:06:13- What can you feel?
0:06:14 > 0:06:20- I'm feeling the uterus - and the ovaries.
0:06:20 > 0:06:24- I can feel that she has responded - well to the drugs.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29- I would hope to get about - five or six out of her.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32- You can tell that - by putting your hand in.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37- This heifer has previously been - serviced by a bull.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40- Gwyn now has to begin - the process of flushing...
0:06:41 > 0:06:43- ..that is taking out - the calf embryos.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47- This is just a cover - to keep everything clean.
0:07:01 > 0:07:05- This is an introducer, a metal tube.
0:07:06 > 0:07:11- We pass a plastic catheter - through this.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15- The first step is to insert - a special catheter...
0:07:16 > 0:07:19- ..into the cow's womb in order - to pump in saline solution.
0:07:21 > 0:07:26- This fluid will travel around - the womb collecting embryos.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31- The solution then travels - down the other tube.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35- The hope is that it will be - full of healthy embryos.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39- We try to make sure that - there is no blood in the fluid...
0:07:39 > 0:07:41- .. and that it's perfectly clean.
0:07:42 > 0:07:44- That gives the embryos - a better chance.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46- Usually, a vet hopes to get...
0:07:47 > 0:07:50- ..between 4 and 5 embryos - from a heifer such as this.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53- But if he can get more, - all the better.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00- The embryos are too small - to see with the naked eye.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03- So Gwyn has to wait - until he gets the fluid...
0:08:04 > 0:08:08- ..under the laboratory microscope - to find out how many embryos...
0:08:08 > 0:08:10- ..are in this flush.
0:08:11 > 0:08:12- Hello, how are you?
0:08:12 > 0:08:13- Hello, how are you?- - Fine, thank you.
0:08:14 > 0:08:18- I've brought Zeta in - to have her stitches removed.
0:08:18 > 0:08:20- Take a seat.
0:08:23 > 0:08:27- A fortnight ago, Zeta the Labrador - had a litter of puppies.
0:08:27 > 0:08:29- The birth was straightforward...
0:08:29 > 0:08:32- ..but she had to have - an emergency caesarean...
0:08:32 > 0:08:35- ..when one of the - puppies got stuck.
0:08:35 > 0:08:39- Today, she's at the Ruthin surgery - to have her stitches removed.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56- She had her caesarean ten days ago.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00- Dyddgu is looking after - the surgery today.
0:09:00 > 0:09:05- She will examine Zeta to make sure - that she's recovered from the birth.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12- A caesarean section - is a serious operation.
0:09:12 > 0:09:17- Dyddgu examines Zeta carefully - in case she has an infection...
0:09:17 > 0:09:19- ..that isn't visible to the eye.
0:09:19 > 0:09:20- Is she providing enough milk?
0:09:20 > 0:09:21- Is she providing enough milk?- - Yes.
0:09:21 > 0:09:25- I'll just take her temperature - to make sure all is well.
0:09:25 > 0:09:29- She'll probably be a bit hotter - than usual on a day like this.
0:09:30 > 0:09:31- For sure.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55- That's great. - Her temperature's normal. 38.4.
0:09:56 > 0:10:00- Let's have a look at those stitches, - so we can take them out.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02- The skin should have healed by now.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05- If it hasn't, - the stitches will have to stay in.
0:10:08 > 0:10:12- She's left them alone, has she?
0:10:12 > 0:10:15- Yes. She hasn't touched them.
0:10:21 > 0:10:27- When the stitches come out, - we have to make sure...
0:10:27 > 0:10:30- ..that the skin has joined - and is healing...
0:10:31 > 0:10:37- ..and that there is no sign - of any bacteria...
0:10:37 > 0:10:41- ..that will stop the wound - from healing properly.
0:10:42 > 0:10:46- She is healing well.
0:10:46 > 0:10:51- She won't need any more antibiotics - or any other drugs.
0:10:51 > 0:10:53- She's healing really well.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56- So it's back to normal - for her now...
0:10:56 > 0:10:59- ..and she can go on - raising her puppies.
0:10:59 > 0:11:01- Back to work for her now.
0:11:02 > 0:11:03- Nice to see you again.
0:11:04 > 0:11:05- Goodbye.
0:11:16 > 0:11:16- Subtitles
0:11:16 > 0:11:18- Subtitles- - Subtitles
0:11:20 > 0:11:24- Gwyn has finished the process - of removing the embryos...
0:11:24 > 0:11:28- ..from the heifer on the farm - in Cerrigydrudion.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30- Now he's back in the laboratory...
0:11:30 > 0:11:33- ..to find out how many embryos - are in the fluid.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36- I'm now going to extract - the embryos one by one...
0:11:37 > 0:11:39- ..and put them - in some clean solution.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42- The embryos are tiny.
0:11:42 > 0:11:47- You need a very strong microscope - to see how many are in there.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51- Can you guess how many there'll be?
0:11:51 > 0:11:55- When I felt her ovaries, - I thought there were six.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57- But we'll see.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01- The heifer has done better - than expected.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04- Gwyn has managed to collect - eight embryos from her.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06- It's something of a record.
0:12:08 > 0:12:10- With a steady hand...
0:12:10 > 0:12:15- ..Gwyn is using this device to suck - out the embryos one by one...
0:12:15 > 0:12:18- ..and put them - in the individual petri dishes...
0:12:18 > 0:12:22- ..that contain antifreeze to keep - them alive during the process.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26- I'll put some nitrogen - in the machine to freeze them.
0:12:28 > 0:12:30- I'll fetch a flask.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43- This is the freezing machine.
0:12:43 > 0:12:48- The purpose of this is to freeze - the embryos slowly.
0:12:49 > 0:12:53- If you freeze them too quickly, - they die.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56- It takes three hours to freeze them.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00- You have to lower the temperature - slowly.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13- The final step is - to use a special straw...
0:13:14 > 0:13:17- ..to remove the embryos - from the petri dishes...
0:13:17 > 0:13:21- ..to freeze them - until the farmer needs them.
0:13:28 > 0:13:32- That's the embryo in the straw. - That small column in the middle.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34- Then I drop it into the freezer.
0:13:36 > 0:13:38- The embryos are placed in the flask.
0:13:39 > 0:13:41- Into the liquid nitrogen.
0:13:42 > 0:13:46- We store them in canes like this...
0:13:46 > 0:13:49- ..inside the liquid nitrogen.
0:13:49 > 0:13:54- We label them with the flush number, - the name of the heifer...
0:13:54 > 0:13:57- ..the name of the bull - and the grade of embryo.
0:13:57 > 0:14:01- Once they're in the flask, - they can be kept indefinitely.
0:14:01 > 0:14:03- How many do you have stored here?
0:14:03 > 0:14:05- About a thousand at the moment.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10- The numbers are growing - all the time.
0:14:10 > 0:14:13- There are more coming out - than there are going in.
0:14:14 > 0:14:16- They're kept - as an insurance policy...
0:14:17 > 0:14:19- ..in case something happens - to the animal.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23- It means they can have calves - even if the heifer dies.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32- Back at the Bala surgery, - there is a simple job for Eleri.
0:14:32 > 0:14:36- Giving a vaccination - to this mischievous kitten.
0:14:40 > 0:14:42- You're a cutie pie, aren't you?
0:14:45 > 0:14:47- You're lovely!
0:14:51 > 0:14:54- She needs to have the jab now - in case she gets cat flu.
0:15:01 > 0:15:03- Oh! Look at her. Not a sound.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13- If you want her spayed...
0:15:13 > 0:15:17- ..we'll do it - when she's four or five months old.
0:15:17 > 0:15:22- It's common for owners - to have their cats spayed...
0:15:22 > 0:15:25- ..to stop them - from having kittens...
0:15:25 > 0:15:28- ..and adding to the already - large cat population.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32- She'll have lots of kittens - if she isn't neutered.
0:15:32 > 0:15:33- We don't want that.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36- We don't want that.- - I'll just make up a card for her.
0:15:37 > 0:15:39- What's her name?
0:15:39 > 0:15:41- What's her name?- - We haven't given her a name yet.
0:15:42 > 0:15:44- Oh! That's awful, isn't it, puss!
0:15:45 > 0:15:47- I'd like to call her Panther.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50- She reminds me of a panther - in the way she pounces.
0:15:50 > 0:15:54- I have another cat called Tiger, - so this one can be Panther.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00- You're a real cutie pie!
0:16:07 > 0:16:13- She's the sort of character - that never gives up on anything.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16- When you play with her, - she just keeps going.
0:16:16 > 0:16:17- She's lovely!
0:16:18 > 0:16:20- I think I'd like a kitten.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23- She looks like a meerkat - when she gets up on her hind legs.
0:16:28 > 0:16:32- Panther has gone for walk, - back to Eleri's consulting room.
0:16:38 > 0:16:39- Oh! You've caught her.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43- Naughty girl!
0:16:45 > 0:16:46- Sorry about that.
0:16:46 > 0:16:48- Thanks very much.
0:16:57 > 0:16:58- On a farm near Ruthin...
0:16:59 > 0:17:02- ..Gwyn is preparing to implant - one of the embryos...
0:17:02 > 0:17:05- ..he's been keeping - in the laboratory.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08- With regard to flushing...
0:17:08 > 0:17:11- ..we flush the cow for seven days...
0:17:13 > 0:17:16- ..after they've mated - or been inseminated.
0:17:16 > 0:17:19- That means that the embryos - are seven days old...
0:17:19 > 0:17:24- ..from the day - that they were fertilized.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28- So it's important - that the recipient...
0:17:28 > 0:17:32- ..is at the same stage - of their cycle.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36- I'll put my hand in now - to ascertain that.
0:17:39 > 0:17:43- Gwyn makes sure that the cow is - ready to receive an embryo...
0:17:43 > 0:17:46- ..by feeling how large - the uterus is.
0:17:47 > 0:17:48- That feels fine.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52- It feels big enough...
0:17:57 > 0:17:58- ..and hard enough.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02- This one's fine - to receive an embryo.
0:18:07 > 0:18:12- I'm making a flask of water - at a temperature of 28 degrees...
0:18:12 > 0:18:15- ..in which I will thaw - the embryos.
0:18:15 > 0:18:19- I will leave the embryos in - for twenty seconds.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26- Then they go straight into the gun.
0:18:35 > 0:18:39- It's important that the embryo - doesn't get cold...
0:18:39 > 0:18:41- ..between thawing - and being implanted.
0:18:42 > 0:18:43- I have to keep it warm.
0:19:08 > 0:19:10- Excuse me!
0:19:27 > 0:19:30- I've put covers on the gun - to keep the embryo clean and warm.
0:19:31 > 0:19:33- I'm just removing them now.
0:19:41 > 0:19:47- The idea is to insert the gun - through the cervix...
0:19:50 > 0:19:52- ..and up...
0:19:54 > 0:19:56- ..and into the uterus.
0:20:02 > 0:20:04- It's important to get it right in...
0:20:04 > 0:20:08- ..on the side on which - she's ovulating.
0:20:08 > 0:20:12- The embryo will only take - on that side.
0:20:13 > 0:20:17- There we are. Job done. - I'll just note down her tag number.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20- With a bit of luck, - the embryos will take...
0:20:20 > 0:20:23- ..and the surrogate cow will give - birth to a pedigree calf...
0:20:24 > 0:20:26- ..in nine months time.
0:20:29 > 0:20:33- Keeping breeding cattle - is expensive for farmers.
0:20:33 > 0:20:35- If a cow doesn't do her job...
0:20:35 > 0:20:39- ..the owner has to consider whether - she has a future on the farm.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43- I'm getting dressed - for the occasion.
0:20:43 > 0:20:47- I've just put my hand into a cow - to see if she's in calf.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49- She's been inseminated.
0:20:49 > 0:20:52- One of the vets checked her - about a month ago.
0:20:52 > 0:20:56- The embryo hadn't taken, - so if it doesn't take this time...
0:20:56 > 0:20:58- ..they'll get rid of her.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01- I hope for her sake - that the embryo's taken.
0:21:07 > 0:21:08- When's the Eisteddfod?
0:21:12 > 0:21:14- So would she have to be put down?
0:21:14 > 0:21:20- No, she'll go to be fattened up - for meat.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24- It's not quite as dramatic as that.
0:21:25 > 0:21:27- Can I give you that?
0:21:30 > 0:21:33- Eleri is using a scanner - to see if the embryo has taken...
0:21:33 > 0:21:36- ..or in simple terms, - if she's pregnant.
0:21:36 > 0:21:40- We have two cows. - This will be our second calf.
0:21:49 > 0:21:53- The Jones family know only too well - what will happen to the cow...
0:21:54 > 0:21:56- ..if the embryo has not taken - this time.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59- Everyone is crossing - their fingers...
0:22:00 > 0:22:02- ..that Eleri will see - a calf on the scanner.
0:22:06 > 0:22:07- Oh, yes.
0:22:07 > 0:22:08- Oh, yes.- - Yes!
0:22:08 > 0:22:10- That's great.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13- Eleri has good news for the family.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15- And for the cow.
0:22:15 > 0:22:16- How far along is she?
0:22:18 > 0:22:19- About two months.
0:22:20 > 0:22:21- Do you want to see?
0:22:25 > 0:22:26- That's it there.
0:22:28 > 0:22:32- When you just see fluid, - it's worth checking again.
0:22:33 > 0:22:34- There you are.
0:22:34 > 0:22:35- There you are.- - Yes!
0:22:35 > 0:22:37- Job done.
0:22:37 > 0:22:41- About two months ago, we inseminated - this pedigree Hereford...
0:22:41 > 0:22:43- ..and there was no sign of a calf.
0:22:44 > 0:22:46- The vet told us to wait 28 days...
0:22:46 > 0:22:49- ..and get a vet to come back - and check again.
0:22:49 > 0:22:51- That's why Eleri is here today.
0:22:51 > 0:22:55- We're very glad to hear the news - that she's expecting a calf.
0:22:56 > 0:23:00- If she wasn't, she'd have had to go. - We can't afford to keep her.
0:23:00 > 0:23:04- Hopefully, - we'll get a pretty little calf.
0:23:04 > 0:23:06- Eleri leaves the farm happily.
0:23:09 > 0:23:10- Next time...
0:23:12 > 0:23:15- ..John is visited by a huge dog.
0:23:16 > 0:23:17- He's growing so fast.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20- Considering he's only a year old.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23- He's grown as much as a child does - in eighteen years.
0:23:23 > 0:23:26- Eleri turns her hand to dentistry.
0:23:26 > 0:23:31- You have a bit of a time limit - in what you can get away with.
0:23:32 > 0:23:36- Like us they don't like keeping - their mouths open for the dentist.
0:23:56 > 0:23:58- S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.
0:23:59 > 0:23:59- .