0:00:04 > 0:00:06Britain's animals are under threat.
0:00:06 > 0:00:09All too often, our wildlife and domestic pets
0:00:09 > 0:00:13are the victims of cruelty, persecution and neglect.
0:00:13 > 0:00:17Fighting to save them is a dedicated band of people trying to protect
0:00:17 > 0:00:19and care for them right around the clock.
0:00:19 > 0:00:22This is Animal 24:7.
0:00:43 > 0:00:49- Today on Animal 24:7... - I'm really not happy with the condition that he's in, OK?
0:00:49 > 0:00:54..Bruce and Sabre, two dogs driven to distraction.
0:00:54 > 0:00:58It's been there for quite a long time because the skin is so crusty,
0:00:58 > 0:01:00hence why we've got this secondary infection
0:01:00 > 0:01:01going on here as well.
0:01:01 > 0:01:06Lost at sea - Steve and Squirt face an epic journey for freedom.
0:01:06 > 0:01:11We want to rehabilitate them and get them into their natural habitat as quickly as possible.
0:01:11 > 0:01:15And from rescue to royalty - big Digger's amazing story.
0:01:15 > 0:01:19When I did see him come off the box, I thought "Hello, this is nice."
0:01:19 > 0:01:23We thought, "Well, this is a horse we've got to try."
0:01:25 > 0:01:31For dogs, an itchy irritated scalp can drive them crazy, but while spotting skin conditions
0:01:31 > 0:01:37and fur loss may be simple, finding out what's causing them is a different matter entirely.
0:01:43 > 0:01:47Inspector Emma Ellis is on her beat in West Yorkshire.
0:01:49 > 0:01:54And there's a case which is about to get right under her skin.
0:01:54 > 0:01:59I've had a call about a dog here that has got a lot of hair loss, a lot of scabbing to the skin
0:01:59 > 0:02:02that's across the entire body and down the back legs.
0:02:02 > 0:02:09Skin conditions in dogs can be contagious and, left untreated, they can become impossible to cure.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12- Hiya! RSPCA.- Yes?
0:02:12 > 0:02:17I've had a call about a dog here. Can I come and have a look at it?
0:02:17 > 0:02:22It's important that Emma nips any potential problem in the bud.
0:02:22 > 0:02:23Hello, darling.
0:02:23 > 0:02:28Once inside, Emma immediately realises
0:02:28 > 0:02:32this is an extremely serious case.
0:02:32 > 0:02:34Sabre is severely irritated.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37He can barely leave his back alone.
0:02:37 > 0:02:41Before we go any further, I've got to ask you, have you had this dog to the vet recently?
0:02:41 > 0:02:43- Er, no.- You haven't, OK.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46This has left his skin open and raw.
0:02:46 > 0:02:50I believe this dog is in very poor condition
0:02:50 > 0:02:53because it's got really poor skin on the back there,
0:02:53 > 0:02:55and I think it's quite underweight as well.
0:02:55 > 0:02:59Before we can go any further, I need to caution you, OK?
0:03:01 > 0:03:02The reason I've cautioned you
0:03:02 > 0:03:04is cos I believe your dog is suffering
0:03:04 > 0:03:08and that is a possible offence under the Animal Welfare Act.
0:03:08 > 0:03:12I'm going to take the dog, with your permission, to the vet's, if that's OK?
0:03:12 > 0:03:14Yes, that's fine.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16- Can I take down your details?- Yes.
0:03:16 > 0:03:21The symptoms are so severe, Sabre could be suffering from sarcoptic mange.
0:03:21 > 0:03:23Have you got a lead for Sabre?
0:03:23 > 0:03:26A condition where mites burrow under the skin.
0:03:26 > 0:03:31Here, boy. Come on, this way. Let's go. Let's go.
0:03:31 > 0:03:36It's incredibly uncomfortable, so it's essential he gets treatment.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39The skin is beginning to scar.
0:03:39 > 0:03:43It's clear Sabre has been in a great deal of pain.
0:03:43 > 0:03:47It's been there for quite a long time because the skin is so crusty
0:03:47 > 0:03:50in the area where a dog would constantly bite at itself,
0:03:50 > 0:03:53hence why we've got all this secondary infection
0:03:53 > 0:03:55going on here as well.
0:03:55 > 0:03:56Come on, Sabre. Going to get in?
0:04:09 > 0:04:13Sabre goes to the vet's and blood samples are taken.
0:04:13 > 0:04:16Come on, let's go. Let's go, let's go, let's go.
0:04:16 > 0:04:20These will be sent away to find out what's causing his irritation.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23Good boy, hey, good boy.
0:04:23 > 0:04:27But until the results are back, poor Sabre will have to stay on his own.
0:04:36 > 0:04:42A few days later and Emma has another potentially serious skin condition to deal with.
0:04:43 > 0:04:50This time, she's been tipped off about problems with the breed of dog called a shar pei.
0:04:50 > 0:04:58Shar peis have quite a lot of folds of skin so they can be prone to getting skin infections or dry skin.
0:04:58 > 0:05:00They also get problems with their eyes, ears,
0:05:00 > 0:05:04so they can be tricky to look after if they have these conditions
0:05:04 > 0:05:07and they can become quite costly in terms of veterinary treatment.
0:05:07 > 0:05:11The location may be different...
0:05:11 > 0:05:14Hiya! RSPCA.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17..but once Emma gets inside,
0:05:17 > 0:05:22it's almost a carbon copy of the incident she dealt with a few days before.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25Hello. All right, all righty.
0:05:25 > 0:05:29I'm really not happy with the condition that he's in, OK?
0:05:29 > 0:05:33I don't think it's right you've let him get like that, OK?
0:05:35 > 0:05:38What I'm going to do, firstly I'm going to caution you,
0:05:38 > 0:05:42then I'm going to ask if I can take the dog to the vets to be examined, OK?
0:05:43 > 0:05:47Before long, Emma is bringing another infested dog out of the door.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49Come on, sweetie. Let's go.
0:05:49 > 0:05:53In daylight, Bruce's poor condition is clear to see.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58His eyes are swollen and infected,
0:05:58 > 0:06:02and his back is a patchwork of red, sore skin.
0:06:02 > 0:06:06Do you just want to see if he'll come in here?
0:06:06 > 0:06:11He's got quite a bad skin condition across the back of his body and down his back legs.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13It's not uncommon for shar peis to get skin conditions,
0:06:13 > 0:06:18but she's told me that she's had this dog a month, and in that month, it's got this.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21That suggests that's not something the dog has been born with.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24It's been bitten either by fleas or something like that.
0:06:24 > 0:06:28I'm not happy with the condition the dog's in and I want to get it seen by a vet.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31Bruce is now on his way for treatment.
0:06:31 > 0:06:36Like Sabre, he's going to have to undergo a series of tests.
0:06:36 > 0:06:43Only then will Emma know just how much her two patients have been left to suffer.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51- Coming up... - The obvious thing is the skin,
0:06:51 > 0:06:55but if we could ask him, then the eyes are the biggest problem for him.
0:06:55 > 0:06:58- That's what's causing the most pain?- Yes.
0:06:58 > 0:07:00Digger is put through his royal paces.
0:07:00 > 0:07:04What are you looking at in terms of how Digger behaves?
0:07:04 > 0:07:09It's all about preparation, getting mentally sound to the job he's going to do.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15Many animals have remarkable methods of navigation,
0:07:15 > 0:07:17but like all GPS devices,
0:07:17 > 0:07:21they can sometimes send a traveller in the wrong direction.
0:07:21 > 0:07:27When that happens, the intrepid explorer can often find themselves a long way from home.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37Gran Canaria - a beautiful Spanish island,
0:07:37 > 0:07:40popular with tourists and sun worshippers.
0:07:43 > 0:07:49But soon these warm waters will be welcoming two rather more unusual visitors.
0:07:58 > 0:08:00Meet Steve and Squirt...
0:08:02 > 0:08:05..two loggerhead turtles who got lost at sea.
0:08:08 > 0:08:13They've both strayed hundreds of miles off course and washed up on British shores.
0:08:15 > 0:08:19They were taken in by the Blue Reef Aquarium in Newquay,
0:08:19 > 0:08:22where Matt Slater has been in charge of their care.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27They are a cold-blooded animal, and if they get caught out
0:08:27 > 0:08:31by currents that bring them into cooler water, they get stunned and can't swim.
0:08:31 > 0:08:35By the time they reach our shores, they have already drifted a long way
0:08:35 > 0:08:37in this state, so they're very vulnerable.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41They're at the end of their reserves and are weak and dehydrated.
0:08:41 > 0:08:45It's taken a long time for them to end up like this, but they're doing brilliantly.
0:08:45 > 0:08:51But these two turtles don't belong in a tank, they belong in the sea.
0:08:51 > 0:08:53Loggerhead turtles are endangered.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56It's really not justified keeping them in the aquarium,
0:08:56 > 0:09:00considering they can live for 80, possibly 100 years.
0:09:00 > 0:09:05We really want to rehabilitate them and get them back into their natural habitat as quickly as possible.
0:09:05 > 0:09:11So it's time for Squirt and Steve to grab their passports and head to sunnier climes.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18Turtles are pretty easy to catch, really.
0:09:18 > 0:09:23Probably one of the reasons why they're becoming endangered animals,
0:09:23 > 0:09:27and over the years this could be one of the reasons
0:09:27 > 0:09:29why they are vulnerable to fishermen.
0:09:29 > 0:09:30Here we go.
0:09:32 > 0:09:34Crikey, he's put on weight.
0:09:36 > 0:09:41Squirt's moved on to dry land, and seems to be getting in a flap about his trip.
0:09:43 > 0:09:48The little chap has a lot of power now, he's really going for this.
0:09:51 > 0:09:56Loggerhead turtles can survive without water for around 20 hours.
0:09:56 > 0:10:00But Matt still needs to make Squirt's trip as comfortable as possible.
0:10:00 > 0:10:05I'm going to put on some nice lubricant jelly now.
0:10:05 > 0:10:10This is to stop any chafing that might happen
0:10:10 > 0:10:15as the little guy is wriggling around in his box on his journey.
0:10:15 > 0:10:16We don't want him to...
0:10:16 > 0:10:18damage his skin or anything like that.
0:10:22 > 0:10:28Squirt is settled into his luxury hammock and there's plenty of legroom for that long journey ahead.
0:10:28 > 0:10:30Really powerful, this little guy now.
0:10:30 > 0:10:36Next, it's time to get Steve, and again Matt's delighted with his progress.
0:10:37 > 0:10:42This turtle was about 800 grams when he arrived. He's now, um...
0:10:42 > 0:10:48two kilograms and 800 grams so he's put on two kilograms.
0:10:48 > 0:10:50He's dead cute, isn't he?
0:10:52 > 0:10:55- A quick dose of lubrication. - There he goes.
0:10:57 > 0:11:05Now the two intrepid travellers can begin the first leg of their epic 1,600 mile journey by land and air.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11The turtles have got to catch an early flight from Gatwick.
0:11:11 > 0:11:15Matt will be driving them right through the night.
0:11:15 > 0:11:17It's about 20 past 12 now.
0:11:17 > 0:11:21We've just got on the road.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24It should be about a four-and-a-half hour journey.
0:11:24 > 0:11:29This is Matt's third turtle release, but he still takes no chances.
0:11:29 > 0:11:33I've got a bit of experience, but I still know things can go wrong
0:11:33 > 0:11:36if we're unlucky and we don't plan carefully.
0:11:36 > 0:11:40Obviously we've got to drive fairly steadily, not shake them around too much.
0:11:40 > 0:11:44We've got to keep the temperature up for the whole journey.
0:11:44 > 0:11:48If it drops low, it could be very dangerous for the turtles.
0:11:52 > 0:11:58During the long road trip, Matt needs to make regular stops to check the turtles' health...
0:11:58 > 0:12:03It's about 23 degrees in here, which is about right. It's about as hot as I can cope with as well!
0:12:03 > 0:12:06..before hitting the road again.
0:12:11 > 0:12:156am, Gatwick airport.
0:12:15 > 0:12:21A weary Matt finally arrives and he's desperate to see his turtles again.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24It's been a long old drive.
0:12:24 > 0:12:25We're pretty tired out.
0:12:25 > 0:12:29We've had the temperature nice and warm inside the truck.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32This is Squirt.
0:12:33 > 0:12:38He's looking very good actually.
0:12:38 > 0:12:39So far, so good.
0:12:39 > 0:12:43Now Matt must leave the turtles at the animal reception centre.
0:12:45 > 0:12:49Like all passengers, their passports and documents need to be checked
0:12:49 > 0:12:51and stamped before they board the flight.
0:12:52 > 0:12:56They've promised me it's going in a nice warm room in there,
0:12:56 > 0:13:01and they'll wait there till just before they're loaded on the plane.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04I hope it's nice and warm in there.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07We've got to go and catch a plane now.
0:13:08 > 0:13:12Matt and the turtles are both ushered through security.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17The VIPs are soon airside.
0:13:20 > 0:13:25Phase one of Steve and Squirt's epic journey is complete.
0:13:25 > 0:13:29It's been exhausting, but I'm really glad it's over.
0:13:29 > 0:13:33It's kind of surreal because we've been awake all night.
0:13:33 > 0:13:35I can't really believe we're here.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38I'm looking forward to getting a bit of kip on the plane
0:13:38 > 0:13:42and then seeing them in some nice hot sunshine when we arrive.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47Today is a very, very special flight as some of you may know.
0:13:47 > 0:13:55We have two very special passengers on board called Steve and Squirt. When we get to Las Palmas,
0:13:55 > 0:14:00these fabulous creatures are being set free into the Atlantic Ocean.
0:14:00 > 0:14:06With his turtles safely aboard, Matt can grab some well-earned rest.
0:14:06 > 0:14:12The first part of this voyage may be over, but there's still a long way to go.
0:14:16 > 0:14:20Later, a round of applause.
0:14:21 > 0:14:25There he is. That is a relief.
0:14:25 > 0:14:29And will these tests show what's troubling Bruce and Sabre?
0:14:29 > 0:14:35If the sarcoptes antibody is present, then we'll see the colour change turn blue.
0:14:38 > 0:14:42There is surely no more prestigious position for a horse than here
0:14:42 > 0:14:46amongst the ranks of the Household Cavalry, the Queen's own bodyguard.
0:14:46 > 0:14:50But their latest recruit comes from much more humble origins.
0:14:50 > 0:14:56He nearly died at birth and was rescued by a horse welfare organisation,
0:14:56 > 0:15:00but now Digger is training to be a truly noble steed.
0:15:03 > 0:15:08We first saw Digger on Animal 24:7 a couple of years ago.
0:15:08 > 0:15:14At 19 hands high, that's about 9ft, he was one of the biggest horses
0:15:14 > 0:15:17ever cared for by World Horse Welfare.
0:15:17 > 0:15:23- But this gentle giant had growing pains. Vets feared they would cost him his life.- Poor lad.
0:15:23 > 0:15:27Digger needed risky surgery on his hind legs.
0:15:27 > 0:15:31It was a traumatic time.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33Digger, Digger, Digger, steady.
0:15:35 > 0:15:42When we last saw him, he was taking his first tentative steps on the road to recovery.
0:15:42 > 0:15:47But for this heavyweight horse, it was just the beginning of a truly remarkable story.
0:15:48 > 0:15:52INDISTINCT CALLS
0:15:54 > 0:15:58BRASS BAND PLAYS
0:15:58 > 0:16:02Trooping The Colour at the Queen's Birthday Parade.
0:16:02 > 0:16:07The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment provides the Sovereign's Escort
0:16:07 > 0:16:12and pays tribute with great pomp and pageantry.
0:16:12 > 0:16:18Incredibly, Digger could soon be part of all of this.
0:16:18 > 0:16:22Digger is training to be a drum horse in the Mounted Bands.
0:16:22 > 0:16:27His leg problems are behind him and now he's living here at the Hyde Park Barracks.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30Wow!
0:16:30 > 0:16:34'I've met up with Captain Mark Avison from the Household Cavalry
0:16:34 > 0:16:37'to find out how Digger was chosen for royal appointment.'
0:16:40 > 0:16:43Talk me through how Digger came to your attention.
0:16:43 > 0:16:47Well, we have what we call a training camp in Norfolk every year.
0:16:47 > 0:16:53What happened, one day, the vet at the time, Captain Laura Holmes,
0:16:53 > 0:16:57jokingly someone brought her My Pony magazine.
0:16:57 > 0:16:59In there was a picture of Digger.
0:16:59 > 0:17:04- Now we've got him here.- Fantastic, a picture in a comic book to here.
0:17:04 > 0:17:08'Digger is one of the tallest horses in the country and that chance magazine snapshot
0:17:08 > 0:17:11'showed off his key attributes to the mounted regiment.'
0:17:11 > 0:17:13We liked Digger in the picture we saw -
0:17:13 > 0:17:17the colour, which is a striking colour for what we require,
0:17:17 > 0:17:20because he's different to all our other horses.
0:17:20 > 0:17:26But the size. When I did see him come off the box, I thought, "Hello.
0:17:26 > 0:17:30"This is nice." We thought, "This is a horse that we've got to try."
0:17:30 > 0:17:35There's a lot riding on his performance eventually. He's got to do the business in front of royalty.
0:17:35 > 0:17:39How long does it take from raw recruit to the finished product?
0:17:39 > 0:17:43The good thing about him, he was broken. He could already be ridden.
0:17:43 > 0:17:47That takes a good four to six months off his training.
0:17:47 > 0:17:51I would like to think that this time next year,
0:17:51 > 0:17:53we would have him on some from of parade,
0:17:53 > 0:17:56where he'll be able to show what he can do.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03But Digger's genetics will only get him so far.
0:18:03 > 0:18:09To be a parade horse, he needs to be relaxed amid noise and activity.
0:18:09 > 0:18:15After his major surgery, Digger has been living on a rural farm in Aberdeenshire.
0:18:15 > 0:18:20That couldn't be further away from the hustle and bustle of the capital.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23So as part of Digger's training, Lieutenant Corporal Daniel Evans
0:18:23 > 0:18:26is riding him through Central London's busiest streets.
0:18:28 > 0:18:32What are the key challenges that you're teaching him to cope with at the moment?
0:18:32 > 0:18:38For example, from the past riding instructors, I've heard that Digger is not too keen on large vehicles.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41- Oh, really? Like that truck. - That was well behaved.
0:18:41 > 0:18:46I'll give him a bit of a scratch, give him a pat, and carry on as normal, not making an issue of it.
0:18:46 > 0:18:52How important is it that he is calm with these things and can cope with unexpected events?
0:18:52 > 0:18:58It's vital. As a drum horse, he's expected to lead the bands to and from Horse Guards.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01He needs to have the confidence to walk by himself and also not react.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04And on these parades, you're all on show,
0:19:04 > 0:19:07but as the drum horse, he really is the poster boy for the ceremony.
0:19:07 > 0:19:11Definitely. He's one of the most recognisable features of any parade.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13Sooner or later, Digger will be the new favourite
0:19:13 > 0:19:17and he'll be leading them on to Horse Guards Parade
0:19:17 > 0:19:19in front of the Queen for her birthday.
0:19:22 > 0:19:24The Mounted Regiment normally buys its horses,
0:19:24 > 0:19:29but World Horse Welfare loans rather than sells.
0:19:29 > 0:19:36So Field Officer Nick White makes regular visits to the Knightsbridge Barracks to check on Digger.
0:19:36 > 0:19:38Here's an old friend of yours, Nick.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41Yes, Digger. He's a great character.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44He's been loved by all since he came to us.
0:19:44 > 0:19:49What did you think when you first heard the call that the cavalry were interested in him?
0:19:49 > 0:19:52It was a matter of joy and pride for all of us.
0:19:52 > 0:19:59To see him come here and to see him in the hands of the professional Household Cavalry is a great thing.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02I shall be following his career with interest.
0:20:02 > 0:20:06Did you have any doubts when you first got that call? He had had these problems
0:20:06 > 0:20:12and you think of a cavalry horse as the pick of the crop, and Digger, although big, had had a few issues.
0:20:12 > 0:20:17There had been issues, but we've got every confidence that he's going to go forward and do very well.
0:20:19 > 0:20:23Nick's pleased to see that Digger still has a very healthy appetite.
0:20:23 > 0:20:29If he's to make it as a drum horse leading the Mounted Bands, he'll need not just size, but strength.
0:20:31 > 0:20:36This is one of a pair of drums that Digger will be wearing on parade.
0:20:36 > 0:20:38It is really heavy.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41It's about 50lb or so.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44This one, the silver drum, is only worn in front of royalty.
0:20:44 > 0:20:48So if Digger's carrying this, he's really made it.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51Now it's time for a key part of Digger's training -
0:20:51 > 0:20:55the parade rehearsal.
0:20:55 > 0:20:59Digger isn't donning the drums himself just yet.
0:20:59 > 0:21:04Mark and his colleagues need to see how he reacts alongside fully trained horse Achilles.
0:21:04 > 0:21:08What's about to happen and what are you looking at in terms of how Digger behaves?
0:21:08 > 0:21:14This is a typical process with any drum horse or any type of horse that we're training.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17He's standing there while they're putting the drums on, the banners on,
0:21:17 > 0:21:19It's all about this preparation.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22Getting him mentally sound for the job he's going to do.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25It's a very gentle process of familiarisation.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28The biggest thing again with a drum horse -
0:21:28 > 0:21:32if you've got to take a step back, it's got to be a small step.
0:21:32 > 0:21:38If it's a large step, it takes a lot of repairing to do. Sometimes the damage has already been done.
0:21:40 > 0:21:43It's the moment of truth for Digger as the rehearsal begins.
0:21:48 > 0:21:52And it doesn't start well. Digger reacts to the sound of the drumming.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55See him raise his head then?
0:21:55 > 0:21:59Any major slip-ups and dreams of dates with royalty could be over.
0:22:05 > 0:22:09But then Digger seems to recover his composure.
0:22:19 > 0:22:21So how do you think he coped with the drums?
0:22:21 > 0:22:26He coped. At the very beginning, there was a bit of jumpiness in him.
0:22:26 > 0:22:27Just that initial...
0:22:27 > 0:22:30After that, he started to relax.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33The more and more the drummer did, the better he became.
0:22:33 > 0:22:38- So, happy.- So although he's still quite close to a raw recruit, he's making fine progress?
0:22:38 > 0:22:41He's making fine progress. He's on track.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44Each day with the training, he's driving forward.
0:22:44 > 0:22:46It's all positive, so that's good.
0:22:46 > 0:22:50It's amazing to think that just a couple of years ago,
0:22:50 > 0:22:55this was a rescue horse whose sheer size was threatening his life.
0:22:55 > 0:22:59Now, if all goes to plan, Digger's size could give him
0:22:59 > 0:23:04a royal appointment and that would be a giant transformation.
0:23:08 > 0:23:14Coming up, Steve and Squirt take to the seas.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17Sort of sad to see him go, but also excited for him.
0:23:17 > 0:23:21It's just lovely being out there with him. Oh, it was awesome.
0:23:24 > 0:23:28In Leeds, RSPCA inspector Emma Ellis
0:23:28 > 0:23:32has rescued two dogs with a chronic and possibly contagious skin condition.
0:23:32 > 0:23:36One of the dogs, Sabre, has already been put into isolation.
0:23:36 > 0:23:39Now the second victim needs a health check.
0:23:44 > 0:23:46Come on then, sweetie!
0:23:46 > 0:23:49Out we come.
0:23:49 > 0:23:55Bruce is the second dog suffering from a skin condition to arrive at this vet's within a few days.
0:23:57 > 0:24:02Emma's keen to know exactly why his fur has started to fall out.
0:24:02 > 0:24:04Come on, you.
0:24:08 > 0:24:11Vet Ed Morton is on hand to investigate.
0:24:11 > 0:24:16Bruce, you're a mess.
0:24:16 > 0:24:18Under the harsh lights of the surgery,
0:24:18 > 0:24:23it's clear Bruce's condition is much more serious than just bad skin.
0:24:24 > 0:24:30The infection has caused such swelling that his ear canals have started to close up.
0:24:30 > 0:24:32So what's the cause of that?
0:24:32 > 0:24:36- Is that just normal, or...- A lot of them are put together that way.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39We get quite a few come in with ears that sort of shape.
0:24:39 > 0:24:43His are worse because they're inflamed and infected. Same goes with the eyes.
0:24:43 > 0:24:47A lot of them are like this anyway, but his have become infected
0:24:47 > 0:24:50so the eyelid's swollen so it curls in even more.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53From his point of view, that's probably the biggest problem.
0:24:53 > 0:24:59The obvious thing is the skin, but if we could ask him, then the eyes are the biggest problem.
0:24:59 > 0:25:02That's what's causing the most pain?
0:25:05 > 0:25:08Because I couldn't get close to him in the house,
0:25:08 > 0:25:11now we've got him in the surgery and the vet has had a look at him,
0:25:11 > 0:25:14he's a lot worse than how I saw in the house.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17I couldn't see his eyes, because I couldn't get close to him because he was growling.
0:25:17 > 0:25:19That's an explanation, the fact that he couldn't see.
0:25:19 > 0:25:23Getting him under the surgery lights, I can see how sore that skin is.
0:25:23 > 0:25:28You can get a real close-up of it and see how painful it probably is for him.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30He's not too skinny.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33No, he seems fine generally.
0:25:33 > 0:25:36He's being fed and that kind of thing, but this skin hasn't happened in a month.
0:25:36 > 0:25:41This is something that's been brewing for a while.
0:25:41 > 0:25:45Bruce's poor state could be due to a number of things.
0:25:45 > 0:25:52His blood will have to go away for tests before Ed can be confident of finding any cure.
0:25:52 > 0:25:53It looks like it's mange.
0:25:53 > 0:25:55That's a strong possibility.
0:25:55 > 0:25:59It could be fleas. If it's not one of those two, I'll be surprised.
0:25:59 > 0:26:02But we ought to check, make sure there's nothing else going on.
0:26:02 > 0:26:04In the meantime, it's the same thing as Sabre.
0:26:04 > 0:26:07He needs the antibiotics for the skin.
0:26:07 > 0:26:10We'll do the testing for the mites.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13He probably could do with a bath as well.
0:26:15 > 0:26:19If I just borrow you for two minutes, Bruce.
0:26:19 > 0:26:21Although it's too early to say exactly
0:26:21 > 0:26:25what's causing Bruce's problem, there is one way to ease his discomfort.
0:26:25 > 0:26:28Aw, bless him.
0:26:30 > 0:26:34He's sent through to the nurses for a medicated shower.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45- He's probably never had a bath before.- No.
0:26:54 > 0:26:59Washed and dried, Bruce's time at the vet's is now over.
0:27:00 > 0:27:04He's taken to the same quarantine ward as Sabre.
0:27:04 > 0:27:06All right. Good boy! Good boy.
0:27:06 > 0:27:10This is a strange environment for any dog.
0:27:10 > 0:27:16For Bruce, almost blinded by his eye infection, it's terrifying.
0:27:16 > 0:27:18Let's go, let's go, let's go.
0:27:18 > 0:27:20Let's go. Let's go.
0:27:21 > 0:27:26Eventually, though, he takes his place next to Sabre.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29Both now need to be kept away from other dogs.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32It could be a long and lonely wait.
0:27:39 > 0:27:4525 miles away in Wetherby is the UK's largest veterinary lab.
0:27:50 > 0:27:57Scientists here test samples from all over the country and from any species in the animal kingdom.
0:27:58 > 0:28:05Sabre and Bruce's blood are the latest samples to arrive.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08This particular one here is our RSPCA sample.
0:28:08 > 0:28:13Haematology manager Linda Wyatt is about to put Bruce's sample to the test.
0:28:18 > 0:28:24So the first stage is to dilute the sample into a chemical buffer.
0:28:24 > 0:28:28The next stage is to leave the plate on the bench
0:28:28 > 0:28:32with the patient bloods incubating and the clock set.
0:28:36 > 0:28:39The blood is being analysed to see whether the dog is suffering
0:28:39 > 0:28:44from the highly contagious sarcoptic mange, a mite which burrows under the skin.
0:28:49 > 0:28:55The final stage of the process is to add another chemical which will cause a colour change in the well
0:28:55 > 0:29:01if the sarcoptes antibody is present and we'll see the colour change turn blue.
0:29:02 > 0:29:05All eyes are now on the sample.
0:29:07 > 0:29:13For Bruce and Sabre, the results of these tests will finally seal their fate.
0:29:22 > 0:29:23Still to come...
0:29:23 > 0:29:27He looks like he's potentially got a little bit of hair regrowth as well.
0:29:27 > 0:29:30He has, yes, because he's just not been
0:29:30 > 0:29:34scratching himself all the time, so it's had chance to grow back.
0:29:37 > 0:29:40Now back to the story of Squirt and Steve,
0:29:40 > 0:29:44two loggerhead turtles that had been washed up on British shores.
0:29:44 > 0:29:49Staff at the Blue Reef Aquarium near Newquay have slowly nursed
0:29:49 > 0:29:55them back to health and now curator Matt Slater is on a journey to take them back to the wild.
0:30:02 > 0:30:06Gran Canaria's Las Palmas Airport.
0:30:06 > 0:30:11Holidaymakers are arriving ready to soak up a couple of weeks of sunshine.
0:30:11 > 0:30:16And now the latest passengers have just landed.
0:30:20 > 0:30:25It's been a long flight, and Matt hasn't seen his two turtles for over five hours.
0:30:25 > 0:30:30I'm feeling quite in a hurry, I want to see these turtles now, I just want to know they're OK.
0:30:30 > 0:30:33It's a bit nail-biting, this part of it, actually.
0:30:35 > 0:30:38Oh, I hope they're all right.
0:30:43 > 0:30:47There he is. That is a relief. Wow.
0:30:47 > 0:30:50Feels cold.
0:30:50 > 0:30:53Well, I'm hoping it's nothing to worry about.
0:30:53 > 0:30:56That's a really, really big relief, actually.
0:30:56 > 0:31:03I was starting to get really nervous then so this last part of the process was quite stressful, actually.
0:31:07 > 0:31:11Now Steve and Squirt can begin the final stage of their epic journey.
0:31:18 > 0:31:21They've arrived at the island's sea life sanctuary.
0:31:25 > 0:31:30After 16 hours out of the water, Matt is keen to get them splashing around.
0:31:32 > 0:31:35Squirt first of all, into his tank.
0:31:35 > 0:31:40I bet he's going to really enjoy this, finally getting into some nice seawater.
0:31:42 > 0:31:46He's looking really good, his shell's become a bit dried out just by the journey,
0:31:46 > 0:31:51but that's nothing to worry about, he's looking very lively. Nice and healthy, actually.
0:31:51 > 0:31:55And this is the bit I've been looking forward to. So here he goes.
0:31:59 > 0:32:02Squirt seems to love his new private pool.
0:32:04 > 0:32:06He looks great. Excellent.
0:32:06 > 0:32:09And now it's Steve's turn to take the plunge.
0:32:13 > 0:32:17They both seem a little uncoordinated on their first swim, don't they?
0:32:18 > 0:32:24But both turtles soon regain control of their stiff limbs, proving they're good swimmers.
0:32:24 > 0:32:26He's very healthy.
0:32:26 > 0:32:27Very strong.
0:32:30 > 0:32:32Now it's dinnertime.
0:32:34 > 0:32:39After his long flight, Steve is clearly hungry, enjoying his fish supper.
0:32:39 > 0:32:42There you go, look at that. Excellent.
0:32:42 > 0:32:48He's only been in here for less than half an hour, and he's already really munching on that sardine.
0:32:48 > 0:32:52Next door, though, Squirt doesn't seem to have much of an appetite.
0:32:52 > 0:32:57I think it's not surprising, it might take him a little while to start to feed.
0:33:00 > 0:33:03It's hoped that both turtles will be released tomorrow,
0:33:03 > 0:33:08but Squirt must eat to convince Matt he's ready for the ocean.
0:33:14 > 0:33:19The next morning, and after some well-earned rest,
0:33:19 > 0:33:23Matt is back at the sanctuary hoping both turtles are ready to go.
0:33:24 > 0:33:28They're looking really good this morning and it's really encouraging
0:33:28 > 0:33:30because Squirt's definitely eaten.
0:33:30 > 0:33:35He's been biting the fish here and eaten at least half of that one fish
0:33:35 > 0:33:39and the other fish has gone so I think Pascal is happy to release him today.
0:33:40 > 0:33:42So good news for Squirt.
0:33:44 > 0:33:48- He goes into his hammock for one final time.- Close him up.
0:33:50 > 0:33:53And Steve gets the all-clear, too.
0:33:54 > 0:33:57Now they can both be released.
0:34:06 > 0:34:11Playa de Melenara is a sandy beach just five miles away.
0:34:11 > 0:34:18Gran Canaria is one of the few spots in Europe with waters warm enough for loggerhead turtles to survive.
0:34:18 > 0:34:22It's the perfect place for Steve and Squirt to begin their new lives.
0:34:24 > 0:34:27A lovely day to be releasing the turtles down here. I can't actually
0:34:27 > 0:34:31describe how excited I am now, because it's going to be so cool to see them go out to sea.
0:34:31 > 0:34:34This is a big moment.
0:34:34 > 0:34:37The two turtles are about to get their first taste
0:34:37 > 0:34:41of freedom since they washed up on British shores over six months ago.
0:34:46 > 0:34:51Squirt's first to go and knows exactly which way to head.
0:34:51 > 0:34:54Beautiful turtle tracks coming down the beach.
0:34:56 > 0:35:00Matt is joining him, keen to say his final goodbyes
0:35:00 > 0:35:04and capture his return to the deep ocean.
0:35:10 > 0:35:15Squirt soon shows he's still got his sea legs and makes a dash for open water.
0:35:17 > 0:35:22He didn't look stressed in any way, he was quite laid-back, just cruising around
0:35:22 > 0:35:24looking at all the little fishes swimming past him
0:35:24 > 0:35:27and sort of just checking out his environment
0:35:27 > 0:35:31and he's got the rest of his life ahead of him,
0:35:31 > 0:35:36maybe another 70 odd years or even 100 years ahead of him out there.
0:35:36 > 0:35:38So he's got all the time in the world.
0:35:40 > 0:35:47Now it's Steve's turn. With a little helping hand, he's soon joining his friend.
0:35:52 > 0:35:57It's sort of sad to see him go, but also excited for him.
0:36:00 > 0:36:02Just lovely being out there with him,
0:36:02 > 0:36:04oh, it was awesome.
0:36:16 > 0:36:22Finally today, we're back to Leeds and the story of two dogs with terrible skin infections.
0:36:22 > 0:36:27Bruce and Sabre were rescued from two different homes, but their conditions are incredibly similar.
0:36:27 > 0:36:30Both were itchy and had chewed away much of their fur.
0:36:30 > 0:36:33Now it's time to find out why.
0:36:41 > 0:36:47Wetherby, West Yorkshire, a veterinary lab where samples are analysed from all over the world.
0:36:51 > 0:36:55The latest blood to be tested is from Bruce, the Shar Pei.
0:36:58 > 0:37:03Scientists are investigating whether he's suffering from contagious sarcoptic mange.
0:37:08 > 0:37:11Now the results are in.
0:37:11 > 0:37:14This is the finished plate here, so you can see these samples here
0:37:14 > 0:37:19have turned blue in the wells so that indicates these are dogs that have sarcoptes.
0:37:19 > 0:37:22The ones that have remained clear are negative.
0:37:23 > 0:37:27But our sample is D here.
0:37:27 > 0:37:31So this one indicates there's no sarcoptes present.
0:37:33 > 0:37:37It's great news for Bruce, the test means he's in the clear.
0:37:37 > 0:37:42But for his fellow patient in the isolation ward, the news is not so good.
0:37:45 > 0:37:50Sabre's result is positive. He'll face more time in solitary confinement.
0:37:55 > 0:37:56Come on, then.
0:37:56 > 0:37:58A week on.
0:37:58 > 0:38:00Come on then, Bruce.
0:38:00 > 0:38:03And Emma's come back to the vets for an update on both dogs.
0:38:05 > 0:38:09- Good boy. Your tail's going. - First on the table is Bruce.
0:38:09 > 0:38:11He looks a lot better.
0:38:11 > 0:38:15And already his fur has started to grow back.
0:38:16 > 0:38:18He had flea bite allergy.
0:38:18 > 0:38:25When the fleas bite him, then he sets off an allergic reaction to that and it gets quite dramatic.
0:38:25 > 0:38:27This was about as bad as you'll see.
0:38:27 > 0:38:30But you can see, once the fleas have gone,
0:38:30 > 0:38:35then the skin just gets chance to sort itself out and heal up.
0:38:35 > 0:38:39He looks like he's potentially got a bit of hair regrowth as well.
0:38:39 > 0:38:42He has, yeah, because he's just not been
0:38:42 > 0:38:46scratching himself all the time, so it's had a chance to grow back.
0:38:46 > 0:38:53When Bruce first came to the vets, the allergy was so bad his ears were starting to close up.
0:38:53 > 0:38:57They're nowhere near as sore or infected as last time.
0:38:57 > 0:39:02- OK, so the antibiotics... - The antibiotics are helping from that point of view.
0:39:02 > 0:39:05His eyes were also so swollen, he could hardly see.
0:39:07 > 0:39:12But a quick test with some coloured eye drops shows it's a much brighter story here, too.
0:39:12 > 0:39:15You see the surface of the eye is clear.
0:39:15 > 0:39:18If there was any damage, then the dye would just soak into it
0:39:18 > 0:39:23and you'd see a bright, fluorescent green mark on the surface.
0:39:23 > 0:39:27But he's fine, he's good.
0:39:27 > 0:39:31Bruce has now been signed over to the RSPCA.
0:39:31 > 0:39:37Once his flea allergy has cleared, this wrinkly boy can be found a new home.
0:39:37 > 0:39:39Shar Peis have got quite a reputation,
0:39:39 > 0:39:41so they can be a bit more difficult to rehome.
0:39:41 > 0:39:46It'll take a particular kind of home to look after him. We'll have to be very careful about where he goes
0:39:46 > 0:39:51and make sure that the owner's an experienced dog owner and knows what they're letting themselves in for.
0:39:51 > 0:39:54As well as having the financial means to be able to afford
0:39:54 > 0:39:56any problems that he's going to have in the future.
0:39:56 > 0:40:00Emma's other skin patient, Sabre, is also on the mend.
0:40:00 > 0:40:02Hello, Sabre, old son.
0:40:02 > 0:40:06- Let's have a look at you.- He was diagnosed as suffering with mange.
0:40:06 > 0:40:07He was also underweight.
0:40:07 > 0:40:09He looks a bit fatter.
0:40:09 > 0:40:15But a course of antibiotics and a proper diet are starting to have a positive effect.
0:40:15 > 0:40:21Since removal from the house, clearly he's improved significantly to the point where he's not itching
0:40:21 > 0:40:24his skin has dried up, the infection's going
0:40:24 > 0:40:27so removing him from the house was the right thing to do.
0:40:27 > 0:40:34And in a few weeks' time, Sabre should also be out of isolation and on his way to a new home.
0:40:36 > 0:40:37Come on, petal.
0:40:40 > 0:40:46It's three months later and both dogs are finally enjoying some much-needed company.
0:40:49 > 0:40:52Sabre is out of quarantine and enjoying being the centre
0:40:52 > 0:40:55of attention with new owner, Anne Yates.
0:40:57 > 0:41:02I knew he was the one for me straightaway.
0:41:04 > 0:41:06He loves all the attention.
0:41:06 > 0:41:10When Sabre was rescued, he was driven to distraction.
0:41:10 > 0:41:14He had bitten his skin so much it was covered in painful sores.
0:41:18 > 0:41:23Sadly his condition was so severe, his coat may never fully grow back,
0:41:23 > 0:41:27but he's clearly much more comfortable in his skin.
0:41:31 > 0:41:34For Bruce, too, life has taken a positive new turn.
0:41:34 > 0:41:36Come on. Let's go.
0:41:36 > 0:41:41He's been renamed Marley after the laid-back pop star
0:41:41 > 0:41:45and is proving a big hit with Corrine Lee and Tristan Coulson.
0:41:47 > 0:41:52We want to give him that good start that he should've always had so we decided to change his name
0:41:52 > 0:41:57from Bruce to Marley for a fresh start for all of us.
0:41:57 > 0:42:00Marley's coat was threadbare,
0:42:00 > 0:42:04his skin was irritated and he was almost blinded by a chronic eye infection.
0:42:07 > 0:42:09His recovery has been remarkable.
0:42:14 > 0:42:20It's grown back considerably well, it's really thick and his skin is really healthy underneath.
0:42:20 > 0:42:23His personality is slowly coming out.
0:42:23 > 0:42:29Obviously, I expect it to come out a lot more the longer that we have him.
0:42:29 > 0:42:32It must have been a long, drawn-out journey for him
0:42:32 > 0:42:35but hopefully he realises that he's in the right place now.
0:42:43 > 0:42:49If you think you know of a case of wildlife crime, or a creature that needs immediate protection,
0:42:49 > 0:42:52remember there are delicate professionals out there
0:42:52 > 0:42:55who will answer your call right around the clock.
0:42:55 > 0:42:59They are the people we meet on Animal 24:7.
0:43:09 > 0:43:12Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:43:12 > 0:43:15Email subtitling@bbc.co.uk