0:00:00 > 0:00:00- Subtitles
0:00:00 > 0:00:02- Subtitles- - Subtitles
0:00:03 > 0:00:04- The small...
0:00:04 > 0:00:06- ..and the large.
0:00:06 > 0:00:09- The tame and the wild.
0:00:09 > 0:00:10- Oh!
0:00:12 > 0:00:15- The cute and the grumpy.
0:00:15 > 0:00:16- Oh!
0:00:17 > 0:00:19- Naughty Jack!
0:00:19 > 0:00:21- Hello, Wern Vets.
0:00:21 > 0:00:25- They're all on - the Wern Veterinary Surgery books.
0:00:26 > 0:00:30- In the series, we'll hear about the - vets and their four legged clients.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34- We'll see what - a vet's life is really like.
0:00:34 > 0:00:36- You're making me nervous!
0:00:36 > 0:00:40- A vet's first instinct - is to heal an animal.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42- It's quite red.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45- Is there any history of scab?
0:00:45 > 0:00:48- We think it's a tumour...
0:00:49 > 0:00:51- ..benign or malignant.
0:00:54 > 0:00:56- From the cute to the interesting.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00- This is Dilwyn.
0:01:00 > 0:01:04- This is fantastic to take - a blood sample from a cat.
0:01:04 > 0:01:06- It's positive for E.coli.
0:01:11 > 0:01:15- The job requires - quite a strong stomach...
0:01:15 > 0:01:18- ..a sense of humour - and strong muscles.
0:01:21 > 0:01:25- All the Wern vets - have these qualities...
0:01:25 > 0:01:30- ..as they care for animals - of all kinds in North-East Wales.
0:01:40 > 0:01:43- In the Ruthin headquarters...
0:01:43 > 0:01:47- ..Oli, a Tibetan terrier, - is going to be castrated.
0:01:48 > 0:01:52- Eight month old Oli - is a very lively young dog.
0:01:52 > 0:01:56- He's a family dog, - greatly loved by the children.
0:01:56 > 0:02:00- His owners hope the surgery - will calm him down.
0:02:00 > 0:02:02- He's quite a handful.
0:02:04 > 0:02:06- Nell will perform the surgery.
0:02:07 > 0:02:09- Hannah, the nurse, will assist.
0:02:10 > 0:02:12- HOWLS
0:02:12 > 0:02:16- Nell has worked - at Wern for three years...
0:02:16 > 0:02:19- ..and is an experienced surgeon.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23- The first step - is making the dog sleep.
0:02:23 > 0:02:27- Hannah will keep an eye on Oli - while he's anaesthetized.
0:02:28 > 0:02:30- WHINES
0:02:31 > 0:02:37- While preparing Oli, Nell - notices something rather unusual.
0:02:38 > 0:02:40- This usually falls out.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44- It's a temporary baby tooth.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48- They usually fall out - when they're six months old.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53- It's better to extract it. Food is - getting stuck between the teeth.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55- It will cause problems.
0:02:56 > 0:02:57- BUZZING
0:03:06 > 0:03:12- After the anaesthetic, Oli - will be unconscious for an hour.
0:03:21 > 0:03:25- Gwyneth has worked - at Wern for almost 20 years.
0:03:25 > 0:03:30- She is one of the team who runs - the practice and the surgeries.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32- We're a mixed practice.
0:03:33 > 0:03:38- That means we treat farm animals, - pets, and whatever else turns up!
0:03:38 > 0:03:42- Someone went to see a camel - in Colwyn Bay Zoo last week.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45- So it's anything and everything.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48- There are about 75 of us in all.
0:03:50 > 0:03:54- That includes vets, - nurses, office staff...
0:03:55 > 0:04:00- ..and the eight partners - who run the practice.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04- The Wern main surgery is in Ruthin.
0:04:04 > 0:04:08- But there are smaller surgeries - across North-East Wales.
0:04:09 > 0:04:14- Wern Surgery serves a large part - of Conwy, Clwyd and Meirionnydd.
0:04:14 > 0:04:18- But the Ruthin and Bala - surgeries are the busiest.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22- Wern is quite a big practice now.
0:04:22 > 0:04:27- About 30 vets work in the practice, - including the part-time vets.
0:04:29 > 0:04:34- What links us all is that we want - to do our best for the animals...
0:04:35 > 0:04:37- ..and our clients, of course.
0:04:37 > 0:04:39- That's the whole purpose.
0:04:45 > 0:04:49- In Wern's Bala practice, it's - the height of the lambing season.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52- The agricultural surgery is busy...
0:04:52 > 0:04:56- ..with farmers worried - about sheep trying to lamb.
0:04:59 > 0:05:04- Dafydd is working today. - He has an emergency on his hands.
0:05:04 > 0:05:05- Has she been scanned?
0:05:05 > 0:05:06- Has she been scanned?- - Yes.
0:05:06 > 0:05:07- How many has she got?
0:05:07 > 0:05:08- How many has she got?- - Two.
0:05:11 > 0:05:16- The sheep tried to give birth - to two lambs, but has failed so far.
0:05:16 > 0:05:21- While trying, she has pushed - her womb and intestines out.
0:05:24 > 0:05:25- She has prolapsed.
0:05:26 > 0:05:28- And pushed her intestines out.
0:05:29 > 0:05:30- Yes.
0:05:32 > 0:05:34- She isn't going to live with that.
0:05:35 > 0:05:39- If we put it all back in, - the risk of infection is too high.
0:05:40 > 0:05:42- So all we can do is save the lambs.
0:05:43 > 0:05:47- We'll have to do a caesarean, - then put her down, unfortunately.
0:05:48 > 0:05:49- But she's due now.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52- So hopefully, the lambs are alive.
0:05:57 > 0:05:59- BUZZING
0:06:20 > 0:06:24- We use local anaesthetic, - as we usually do.
0:06:25 > 0:06:27- She won't feel anything.
0:06:35 > 0:06:39- We put anaesthetic here. - The nerves run that way.
0:06:40 > 0:06:42- It blocks all this part.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44- She won't feel it.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57- We usually scrub it, - so it's sterile.
0:06:57 > 0:07:01- But because we're putting - her down, there's no need.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05- The painkiller freezes - the area Dafydd wants to open.
0:07:06 > 0:07:08- The sheep won't feel anything.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34- Giving sheep - a caesarean isn't unusual.
0:07:34 > 0:07:38- But there's always a risk - the lambs won't survive.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41- It's a race against time - for the vet.
0:07:42 > 0:07:44- It's a big lamb.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47- I'll put him there now.
0:07:50 > 0:07:52- What do you think?
0:07:55 > 0:07:57- No.
0:08:04 > 0:08:06- Nor that one?
0:08:09 > 0:08:11- That isn't either, is it?
0:08:11 > 0:08:12- No.
0:08:15 > 0:08:16- MACHINE BLEEPS
0:08:16 > 0:08:17- MACHINE BLEEPS- - No.
0:08:17 > 0:08:19- It's big.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28- My goodness!
0:08:29 > 0:08:30- We tried.
0:08:32 > 0:08:34- She's on the way out.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36- She's on the way out.- - Yes.
0:08:37 > 0:08:39- I'm trying to find the jugular vein.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43- Because she's so flat, - the vein is flat.
0:08:44 > 0:08:45- Yes.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54- This is the stuff - that puts her to sleep.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58- They were quite close to their time.
0:08:58 > 0:08:59- They were quite close to their time.- - Yes, very close.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02- It was worth trying.
0:09:05 > 0:09:06- That's done.
0:09:08 > 0:09:09- Right.
0:09:21 > 0:09:22- That was disappointing.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24- That was disappointing.- - Yes, it was.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27- I'm afraid that's - how it goes sometimes.
0:09:28 > 0:09:29- Right.
0:09:39 > 0:09:44- Back in Ruthin, Oli and his - delicate parts are under the knife.
0:09:44 > 0:09:45- MACHINE BLEEPS
0:09:49 > 0:09:54- During surgery, Nell suddenly - notices there could be a problem.
0:09:55 > 0:09:59- Oli doesn't seem too happy - under the anaesthetic.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03- What's his heart rate?
0:10:05 > 0:10:06- It's better.
0:10:09 > 0:10:14- A side effect of the anaesthetic is - that it can slow the heart rate...
0:10:14 > 0:10:15- ..or make it irregular.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19- This can be dangerous - during surgery.
0:10:24 > 0:10:27- Why is it a good idea - for a dog to have this done?
0:10:28 > 0:10:31- Obviously, they won't - be able to have pups.
0:10:31 > 0:10:33- They're more obedient.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37- They're not looking - for bitches all the time.
0:10:37 > 0:10:41- It stops them having - testicular tumours.
0:10:41 > 0:10:43- It can help with prostate problems.
0:10:45 > 0:10:50- If you aren't going to breed, - there's no point keeping them.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55- What is the best age for this?
0:10:57 > 0:10:58- From six months on.
0:10:59 > 0:11:03- Not sooner, because - it can affect bone growth.
0:11:03 > 0:11:07- They can have pups - after six months, anyway.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09- So it's better to do it.
0:11:13 > 0:11:15- Number one, number two.
0:11:22 > 0:11:26- Castrating pets - is the Wern vets' bread and butter.
0:11:26 > 0:11:30- They deal with a number - of cases every week.
0:11:36 > 0:11:38- Oli's surgery is over.
0:11:38 > 0:11:42- While he sleeps, - his milk tooth is extracted too.
0:11:42 > 0:11:43- That's it.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50- Oli will sleep now.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54- But he will come round - within the hour.
0:11:54 > 0:11:54- .
0:11:59 > 0:11:59- Subtitles
0:11:59 > 0:12:01- Subtitles- - Subtitles
0:12:04 > 0:12:08- Back in Bala, another prolapse - needs Dafydd's attention.
0:12:09 > 0:12:11- When did she lamb?
0:12:11 > 0:12:14- Two or three days ago.
0:12:18 > 0:12:20- I'll give her an epidural.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24- Despite having - the lamb three days ago...
0:12:24 > 0:12:27- ..the sheep - still feels the urge to push.
0:12:29 > 0:12:33- The epidural prevents her - from pushing.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36- Dafydd has to push the womb back in.
0:12:38 > 0:12:43- Unlike the previous sheep, - the intestines are in place.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47- Hopefully, the sheep - will make a full recovery.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01- The prolapse blocks them - and they can't pee.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07- The bladder - is contained in the prolapse.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10- The pee has to come out first.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13- Then I can push it back.
0:13:35 > 0:13:37- Will it stay in?
0:13:37 > 0:13:39- Will it stay in?- - I hope so. She might still push.
0:13:39 > 0:13:43- I'll give her a painkiller - and an anti-inflammatory...
0:13:44 > 0:13:46- ..so she stops pushing.
0:13:46 > 0:13:51- Then the womb can heal - and the swelling will go down.
0:14:00 > 0:14:05- I gave her an epidural. - She'll stop pushing for a few hours.
0:14:05 > 0:14:07- Can you hold her tail?
0:14:08 > 0:14:11- After pushing the womb back in...
0:14:11 > 0:14:15- ..a few stitches - will hold everything in place.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22- Hi, Oli. Hi, sweetie.
0:14:22 > 0:14:27- In Ruthin, - Oli is awake after the castration.
0:14:28 > 0:14:33- His anxious owners - hope he can come home.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38- Here he is.
0:14:39 > 0:14:41- Hello.
0:14:42 > 0:14:46- Oli is much better, but - he's still unsteady on his feet.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49- He's not overly fond - of the collar.
0:14:50 > 0:14:53- It prevents him - from eating the stitches.
0:14:53 > 0:14:55- It's a bit swollen here.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00- That's just a bit of bruising - from the op.
0:15:01 > 0:15:05- You can't see, can you? - What's been going on?
0:15:08 > 0:15:12- Are you ready to come home?
0:15:14 > 0:15:16- Are you?
0:15:16 > 0:15:20- This way! - You don't want to go back that way!
0:15:21 > 0:15:23- Give us a ring on Saturday.
0:15:23 > 0:15:27- If you feel concerned about - anything, then pop back with him.
0:15:28 > 0:15:29- Otherwise we'll see you on Saturday.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32- Otherwise we'll see you on Saturday.- - Thank you very much.
0:15:36 > 0:15:38- Thank you.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42- Look at him!
0:15:43 > 0:15:48- Come along, Oli.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57- In Bala, - Dafydd treats another prolapse.
0:15:58 > 0:16:02- But this time, the sheep - is still carrying the lambs.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19- I noticed it about an hour ago.
0:16:33 > 0:16:38- Dafydd tries to push the prolapse - back in, but without any luck.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42- I don't think she'll open.
0:16:43 > 0:16:45- A caesarean it is.
0:16:47 > 0:16:51- Dafydd has no choice but - to perform an emergency caesarean.
0:16:52 > 0:16:54- Come on in.
0:16:55 > 0:16:56- Hi, puss.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59- While Dafydd prepares for surgery...
0:16:59 > 0:17:04- ..Eleri welcomes night clients - in the small animal surgery.
0:17:05 > 0:17:07- The cat is eighteen.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10- The owner wants - to keep an eye on its health...
0:17:11 > 0:17:13- ..without too much intervention.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16- Come on then, sweet pea. - I won't be long.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21- We'll take a blood sample.
0:17:22 > 0:17:24- It's an old cat.
0:17:25 > 0:17:29- It had an operation - to remove the thyroid gland...
0:17:30 > 0:17:32- ..two or three years ago.
0:17:32 > 0:17:37- We're checking that the kidneys, - and everything, are working.
0:17:44 > 0:17:46- Come on, puss.
0:17:49 > 0:17:50- Don't.
0:17:52 > 0:17:54- Alright, puss.
0:17:54 > 0:17:58- Drawing blood - from an old cat isn't easy.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02- They resort to the cat bag for help.
0:18:02 > 0:18:07- This is a fantastic tool - for drawing blood from naughty cats.
0:18:10 > 0:18:14- Cats scratch and bite.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18- Come on, puss. Put her in there.
0:18:36 > 0:18:38- Hang on.
0:18:42 > 0:18:45- You're a nightmare, aren't you? - Stop fighting.
0:18:48 > 0:18:52- He's got his talons out. You get - his neck so he doesn't bite me.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56- Good boy.
0:18:56 > 0:18:58- Pull that now.
0:19:01 > 0:19:03- Perfect. Hold him there.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06- I can see the vein there.
0:19:07 > 0:19:09- Hold him like that.
0:19:12 > 0:19:15- That's better, isn't it?
0:19:23 > 0:19:25- There we go.
0:19:27 > 0:19:32- Ideal. It's a case of getting - them still for long enough.
0:19:32 > 0:19:37- I've noticed the difference in him - in a year. He's lost weight.
0:19:37 > 0:19:42- As long as they're happy, - eating and able to move around OK...
0:19:42 > 0:19:45- ..I'm not too worried - about an old cat.
0:19:45 > 0:19:48- It's all about quality - when they get to this age.
0:19:49 > 0:19:51- I'll give you a ring about teatime.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53- I'll give you a ring about teatime.- - Wonderful. You know the drill.
0:19:54 > 0:19:55- Bye.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59- Next door, with Jenny's help...
0:19:59 > 0:20:04- ..Dafydd and the farmer hope - the lambs are alive this time.
0:20:13 > 0:20:16- I'll just plonk him on the table.
0:20:16 > 0:20:18- The first one is breathing.
0:20:18 > 0:20:20- There's another one.
0:20:35 > 0:20:36- Come on.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44- And the second one is alive, too.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57- I'll stitch her up...
0:20:59 > 0:21:02- ..and then it's done.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07- After surgery...
0:21:07 > 0:21:12- ..does it take a while - for the sheep to come round?
0:21:12 > 0:21:15- They usually walk out!
0:21:16 > 0:21:19- They're fine after a few days.
0:21:20 > 0:21:22- It's amazing how they get over it...
0:21:23 > 0:21:26- ..as long as there - isn't an infection.
0:21:32 > 0:21:36- Jenny swings the lambs - back and forth...
0:21:36 > 0:21:40- ..to clear their lungs - and kick-start the breathing.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48- That's the womb, after the stitches.
0:21:49 > 0:21:51- It's well sealed.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55- I'll pop that back in.
0:21:56 > 0:21:58- Do you repair clothes at home?
0:21:58 > 0:22:02- Do you repair clothes at home?- - No-one at home knows I can sew!
0:22:16 > 0:22:18- You can pull them out in a month.
0:22:21 > 0:22:23- They might fall out.
0:22:38 > 0:22:42- It's the end of another long - and challenging day for Dafydd.
0:22:43 > 0:22:47- But there's never a quiet day - for the busy Wern vets.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54- On the next Bywyd Y Fet...
0:22:54 > 0:22:59- ..a new face in the veterinary - surgery, and first day nerves.
0:23:02 > 0:23:07- Dafydd and the owner of a Shetland - Pony face a difficult decision.
0:23:07 > 0:23:10- We put animals down every day.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13- We can't behave - as if it's an everyday event.
0:23:14 > 0:23:16- It isn't for most people.
0:23:19 > 0:23:24- The Bala surgery is overrun - by puppies. Mind where you stand.
0:23:42 > 0:23:44- S4C Subtitles by Gwead
0:23:44 > 0:23:45- .