(no audio) (cheerful music) - [Christopher] In the heart of glorious North Yorkshire lies the quaint market town of Thirsk.

Here the world's most famous vet, James Herriot, lived, worked, and wrote his bestselling books.

His former surgery and home are now a museum, but his practice lives on nearby.

(phone rings) - Good morning, Skeldale Vet Center.

- The practice is the original Herriot practice, and that brings with it a certain feeling of responsibility that we're carrying on that Herriot tradition, treating animals of all types and sizes.

- [Farmer] Whoa, lad.

- [Christopher] Julian Norton is the Yorkshire Vet.

- Ah-ha!

Coming to work on a morning, we're never quite sure what's gonna happen, and it's a great place to work.

I think it's the best job in the world.

- [Christopher] Julian runs the practice alongside partner and former Herriot trainee Peter Wright.

- Everything that ya can see is Yorkshire.

- I've been doing it for 35 years now, and I still never get bored of it.

It's what it's all about, really.

- [Christopher] Here, together with Skeldale's dedicated team.

- (laughs) Another keen patient there.

- [Christopher] They treat animals of all shapes.

- [Julian] You're very cute.

- [Christopher] Sizes, types.

- Argh, crikey, get off me.

- [Christopher] And temperaments.

(cat hisses) (pig squeals) - Hey, hey, hey.

- No, no.

- [Christopher] It's definitely not glamorous.

(sheep squelches) - [Julian] Urgh!

- But it's varied.

(Peter laughs) - [Julian] Goes back in there like that.

- [Peter] You're a little bobby-dazzler, aren't ya?

Eh?

- It's rarely easy (cat whines) (dog squawks) as the Yorkshire Vet carries on the Herriot tradition, treating all creatures, (affectionate music) great and small.

(mystical music) (harvester whirs) Shimmering sunlight shines down upon the vales and dales.

Signs of spring signal the season's arrival in North Yorkshire.

(ducks quack) The courtship of creatures begins the creation of new life.

(sheep baas) (lambs baa) The working day's barely begun, and Julian's already responding to an emergency callout.

He's heading for the Hambleton Hills.

(engine growls) (intrepid music continues) - I'm going to see a heifer, which, I've just had a call from the farmer to say, is calving, and like often is the case with heifers, she's not really making good progress.

Heifers are young cows.

Their birth canal is much smaller than a more mature cow.

Not only is the farmer slightly anxious in these cases.

Also, the vet's slightly anxious in this case.

(geese honk) Have you had a pull at all?

- No, she's a bit tight, and she's bust her bag.

- Right, okay.

Have you got water and things round there?

- [Mike] It's all there.

- Have you got your fantastic calving ropes?

- [Mike] Yeah, it's all there.

- [Julian] Excellent.

And some lubricant?

- It's all there.

- Everything's there.

Perfect.

Calving jack?

- [Mike] Everything's there.

- [Julian] Perfect.

Easy.

- [Christopher] Everything's in place, courtesy of no-nonsense farmer Mike Shields.

(water sloshes) - They're biggish feet, aren't they?

- [Mike] Well, that's what I thought.

(laughs) - And a fairly big head as well, actually.

It's kinda twisted on one side as well.

- It is.

She's not coming.

She's not coming quite straight.

(cow snorts) - I'm hoping, if we get a bit of pull on, then she should.

(cow farts) I think the calf will straighten up as it engages in the... - [Mike] Yeah.

- [Julian] Ah, that is the biggest foot.

- Well, I thought it was big when I felt it, you see.

That's why I thought I'm not gonna muck her out.

- The calf's there.

It's coming on its side, so instead of coming like that, it's like that, and it's sideways on, and there's two quite big feet in there, which is the thing that's causing us a little bit of anxiety at the moment because big feet usually mean there'll be a big calf behind it, and whenever you get a calving where the calf doesn't progress quite naturally and normally, that's when you start to think there's a reason why it's not progressing naturally and normally.

And usually, that's because the calf's too big, isn't it?

So I've got some ropes round its feet, and the next stage is to see what happens just with a little bit of gentle pressure.

I suspect, if it does come out, it's gonna be a tight squeeze.

(cow moos) (cow squelches) No, can we get the jack?

- [Mike] Yeah.

- It's one like ours, that, isn't it?

- You all right with that?

(jack clicks) - The rope's on, and the jack's on, and the next stage is just to get a bit of gentle pressure on (cow farts) with this, just to let her open up gently as the calf, hopefully, engages.

(cow moos) She's still quite tight in there.

She just needs to just relax a little bit inside the vagina.

Without some kind of intervention, I think, she would've struggled so far.

She definitely needs some help, I think, with this one.

Kinda touch and go, this, isn't it?

(cow squelches) (cow moos) (jack clicks) Just take it steady, hon.

This is the sorta point where we start to realize whether it is gonna come out this way or not.

(friendly music) (cat meows) - [Christopher] Rocco and Fergus are on a holiday with flustered mum Teresa.

- [Teresa] Got an itch.

(chuckles) I can't get it... - [Receptionist] What's your surname?

- [Christopher] Rocco has an embarrassing problem.

- Are you registered here?

- [Teresa] No, I'm from Norfolk.

- Ah-ha.

- He seems to think it's something to show off about.

- [Receptionist] Just take (indistinct).

- [Teresa] It's all right.

- [Christopher] But not everyone's impressed.

- [Peter] You're on holiday, I understand.

- [Teresa] I am, yes, and this little boy decided he want to play with his big brother where he shouldn't have done.

He's just finding his hormones, and he finds them with his brother every now and again, but that's the second time that it's happened, and I couldn't help him.

So that's why I came here.

You do embarrass me, Rocco, don't you?

- [Peter] Did ya have to go to the vets last time?

- No, my partner dealt with that.

- Got a nice (indistinct).

- But then, he left it with me 'cause (indistinct) to do it for me.

- [Peter] What's he called?

Rocco?

- He's Rocco.

- [Peter] Rocco.

Hello, little man.

How old is he?

- I think he's coming to two.

- All right, little man?

- I should know.

It was last year.

- Eh?

Yes, well, that's not very nice for you, is it?

- [Teresa] Not nice for me.

(Peter laughs) - Is it possible- - Yep.

- For ya to stand him exactly like that, with his back towards you, if you will.

Right.

Right, yes, it's quite inflamed, that.

- [Teresa] Yeah.

- [Peter] Yes, I'll sort you out.

- [Teresa] I could have a large glass of prosecco right now.

(chuckles) (Peter chuckles) But he just keeps going after his brother.

It's okay, young man.

- [Peter] You might have to- - Get him done.

- Yeah, when ya get home.

- [Teresa] I bet this a first, is it?

- No, (Teresa laughs) it's the second one this week.

- It must be the Thirsk air, isn't it?

(Peter giggles) - Well, actually, no, the other one's a Yorkshire Terrier.

- [Teresa] Oh, right.

- [Peter] And problem's with his cushions.

(Teresa laughs) (Peter chuckles) Poor old Rocco, he's got his penis out, and he's got it stuck, and we're just gradually feeding that back in.

And some of these little dogs, they do get a bit hypersexed, and when that happens, the penis is extruded, and it gets stuck.

- Nobody's gonna believe this when I tell 'em.

I'm supposed to be here to have a stress-free weekend.

- Well, that's his penis put back to where it should be now.

Good boy, and what an exemplary patient as well.

Do they get on well together?

- Yes, they share the food.

They share the same bowl.

But he likes him too much.

That's why I came in here today.

- [Peter] Well, they don't share the same sexual habits.

- Oh, I hope not.

(both laugh) Hope not.

Two gay dogs.

Rocco, you gonna behave?

- [Peter] You wouldn't think butter melted in his mouth.

(Peter laughs) I'll put a- - Thank you ever so much.

- Not at all.

I hope you enjoy the rest of- - Yeah, so do I.

- Your stay - I will, hopefully.

- Hopefully, it'll stay- - [Teresa] Hopefully, you won't see me again.

- Yeah, well, hopefully.

Well.

(Teresa laughs) - [Teresa] Thank you.

- [Christopher] Still to come.

- Now, who have you got here?

- [Christopher] Can Peter save a duck at death's door?

- Wildlife can be pretty cruel, you know?

They see a weakness in them, and they just keep going.

- [Christopher] We meet a dangerously delinquent donkey.

- [Lucy] Well, you've got to walk backwards just in case he actually does mount ya.

- [Julian] Are we coming, then?

- [Christopher] And can Julian save mum and baby?

(gentle music) Peace and beauty rub shoulders in the North York Moors.

Newborns gambol, but sometimes, Mother Nature needs a helping hand.

(transition swooshes) (concerned music) On a local farm, Julian's struggling to deliver a calf.

(jack clicks) - She definitely needs some help, I think, with this one.

Kinda touch and go, this, isn't it?

(transition swooshes) - [Christopher] A young mom-to-be and her baby are in trouble.

- With heifers, whilst it is a natural process, they're still fairly unfamiliar with what's happening.

Older cows have been through it before, so they do know what's going on, but heifers, it's always a bit of a strange time for them.

Are we coming there?

(cow moos) Not far off (indistinct).

(jack clicks) (cow moos) - [Mike] That's it.

- [Julian] Okay, all right.

(cow moos) - [Mike] That's it.

- [Julian] Pull it outta the corner a bit, shall we?

- [Mike] Come on.

(determined music continues) - Well, it looks like it...

Here we are.

It's breathing.

Are you all right, little fella?

There we are, that's a breath, isn't it?

(calf snorts) Yeah, excellent.

Looks a bit surprised by it all, doesn't he?

I don't blame ya, mate.

Good, that really went well, actually, didn't it?

(Mike laughs) Yeah, it's a lovely specimen so far.

Well, it's only been born a couple of minutes maybe, and it's sitting up with his head up.

So that's good.

That's a good start to life.

Few touch-and-go moments when he didn't take a breath, but I think we're past the worst of it now, and she looks fairly content, somewhat oblivious to it all, but we want her to lick it.

- [Mike] Lick it.

Simulate it.

(cow moos) Come on, sweetheart.

In you go.

- Very bewildering if you're a heifer and, one minute, you're feeling like you've got a massive calf inside you and a lot of pain and then the next minute you're all baggy and saggy and there's this little baby there.

You're supposed to be looking at your baby, not me, not me.

Look in that direction.

(cow moos) Hmm, some work to do, I think.

(cow moos) With heifers, it does take them a bit longer sometimes to get that bond with the baby.

And she's taking a bit longer than most, actually.

Normally, within a few minutes, they're beginning to realize, and they lick the calf, and they'll show some interest.

Down to her natural instincts, but it's early days.

The hormones do take a while to flow.

In most cases, things do come right.

- [Mike] That's what we want her to do.

(laughs) - [Julian] Excellent.

(affectionate music) - You're barmy.

- Got a good little character on him.

He's very cheeky, aren't ya?

- Last time, she bit the vet.

(owner chuckles) (child chuckles) - [Owner] Oh.

(laughs) - Yuck!

- (laughs) Did she give you a kiss?

- Yeah.

- Well, you're lucky.

(dog barks) - (indistinct) stick that little thing up her bum.

- (laughs) Yeah.

(dog sniffs) - [Christopher] Jason and his family have rescued an injured duck from a local pond.

- Gently.

Could be sore.

Good, lad.

I thought it was dead, but I went down to check and could see it wasn't in a good way.

Other ducks stood on it, and it looked like they were all ganging up on it, so I got 'em all away and brought it to make sure it'd get better, at least.

- [Christopher] Three-year-old Tommy helped save her life.

- This little man took his jumper off so he could keep warm.

- I want us put my coat on.

- Yep, and then, where have we brought him?

- [Tommy] To vets?

- To the vets.

- [Peter] Morning.

- [Jason] All right.

- Now, who have we got here?

- [Tommy] A duck.

- A duck, well.

- [Tommy] He's poorly.

- He is poorly, isn't he?

- Yeah.

- We better have a look at him, hadn't we?

- Yeah.

- D'you want to bring him through?

- It's got tummy ache.

- He's what?

- He's got- - He's got tummy ache.

- Has he got tummy ache?

- Yeah.

- Well, we'll have to see what we can do, then, won't we?

And where did you find him?

- [Tommy] It was in the duck pond.

- In the duck pond?

- Yeah.

- Right, let's have a look.

- [Tommy] It's got a bit of mud on him.

- [Jason] Another duck was stood on his back.

- At this time of year, we get a lot of this.

They see a weakness in them, and they just keep going.

- Yeah.

- [Peter] Yeah.

- [Tommy] All those bit is blood.

- Blood.

- Blood, yeah.

Wildlife can be pretty cruel, you know?

- [Jason] It's horrible.

- She's in good condition as well, really good condition.

If you wouldn't mind, I'll tell ya what I can do.

I could take her home, 'cause I've got a little pond, if you don't mind that.

- No, I'd wanna know if she gets better.

- Yeah, definitely.

- Yeah, I want him to know- - Well, I think it should.

And then, what we'll do, when she's recovered, we'll put her back where you got her from.

- [Jason] Right.

- I'm going to clean her up.

- But you're right.

If she calls back where she is, they'll just continue to cannibalize her, but I can keep her safe at home.

- Yeah, if you've got somewhere keep her, then yeah.

- I have, yeah.

- Long as she's all right, gets better, that's main thing.

Well, I'm big softy.

I'd rather look after animals than humans, so I know I'm a big softy.

- [Peter] Quite right.

(laughs) (affectionate music) I'm gonna take her through the back now, clean her all up.

Can ya think of a name?

- [Tommy] Kevin.

- Kevin?

- "Kevin."

- Kevin's a girl.

- Genius.

(Peter laughs) - [Jason] Kevin the girl.

- [Peter] Kevin.

Why not?

Let's have a Kevin.

(laughs) - See ya later, Kevin.

- All right.

I'll speak to ya soon.

Oh, it's great when you get people like this that care.

It's easy to walk by on the other side, especially in this day and age when people are very busy, but to take the time to bring them in and give them a chance, that's all we want is a chance, isn't it?

- Hello, darling.

- [Christopher] Sue and neighbor Chris are nervously expectant.

- This is Gracie.

I think she might be pregnant, so we're coming to see Julian, and let's hope we get some good news.

- D'you want to come through?

Hi, sorry to keep you waiting.

- It's all right.

- [Julian] So, Gracie, is it?

- [Sue] It's Gracie.

- I'll just switch the light off.

It's easier to see when it's dark.

- Aw, darling.

Come on, let's stand you up again.

- Right, there we are.

That black thing there is her bladder, and that thing there is exactly, well, you're right, a kitten.

- It is?

- Just there.

- Aw, darling.

(laughs) Aw, well done.

- [Julian] This is the uterus, and there, that's the kitten there.

- Look at that there.

Aw, look.

- You can see it moving, in fact.

So one, two there, probably three up there, actually.

A planned mating, was it?

Or?

- [Sue] Well, it was planned as in I let her, but I didn't choose who she mated with.

- [Julian] I suppose if we don't know who the father is, then- - Well, we know who has been around.

A ginger tom was as well, but he didn't stay around too long.

- [Julian] It doesn't take long, though.

- That or he's quick.

- It doesn't take long, though, with the cats.

Well, we'll find out in due course, won't we?

- Thank you very much.

- Thank you.

- Okay, all right, bye.

- All right, bye-bye.

- [Sue] Bye.

Bye.

(phone rings) (nurse laughs) - [Receptionist] Good afternoon, Skeldale Vet Center.

- [Christopher] Life's about to change for one of our vets.

- [Peter] It's Sarah Beckerlegge's last day today before she goes on maternity leave.

- [Sarah] And we need an enema 'cause you have a lot of poo in there.

Nom, nom, nom, nom, nom.

- It's got to the point now where she probably needs to go and put her feet up, so we're getting together, and we'll give Sarah a few bits and pieces and send her on her way.

- Just a few presents for her and the baby, and some cake as well.

We never pass up an opportunity for cake.

- So, what have we got, then?

- Oh, all sorts.

- My wife, Lin, has been ferociously knitting for the last two or three weeks with various garments that'll be useful to this little chap when he appears.

- It's worth having a baby, isn't it, if ya get cupcakes?

- [Nurse] Yeah.

- I don't know.

- [Christopher] Waiting to see vet Esme are mum Tracy, her daughters, and their treasured pet, Max.

- Chapman?

No, come one in.

- He's started with an abscess.

Now, the last time we were here, we tried to cut his teeth but not much joy, but I'm guessing the abscesses is- - That's probably an indication that there's something going further on back, yeah.

D'you wanna come out for us, Max?

Sorry, boy, but we're gonna make you, I'm afraid, so we can have a look.

Ooh, ooh, (laughs) ah, another keen patient there, right?

Okay, sweetheart, eh?

- There, you can see.

- Yes, you've got quite a big cheek there, haven't you?

Is he eating all right?

- He is eating but not as much as- - Not as well.

- What he normally does, yeah.

- For an abscess to come up here, it's gonna be something further back anyway, which is very hard to access without a general anesthetic and a proper look down there and having him sleep.

(sighs) You're gonna run into trouble, aren't you, mate?

With rabbits, apart from the front four, it's very hard to see the other lot 'cause they're quite far back in the mouth, and rabbits aren't the easiest patients to get to just go, "Ah," for you.

Okay, mate.

Lovely.

There we go.

Right, okay.

- [Christopher] Next stop for Max, surgery.

(exciting music) (bird hoots) Not far from Skeldale is a smallholding where family is king.

- [Child] Wa-hoo!

- [Child] Woo-hoo!

- Eat your dinners.

Good lasses.

Don't let the dog out.

- [Christopher] And king of this family is Graham Bird.

- Live here with the wife.

- I've never known her wanna be out so much.

Have you?

- Holly?

- Yeah.

- Yeah, all the time.

- Two daughters with their baggage.

- [Child] Wa-hoo!

- [Graham] But we have 19 altogether, so there's always at least half a dozen here.

- [Child] Yeah, urgh.

- So really, I'm a full-time babysitter.

Don't feed that dog on the floor.

We have a lotta dogs.

The lasses have horses, rabbits.

- [Child] Oof.

- Quite loud.

- We got two goats and some chickens and lots of dogs.

- Actually, I've saw three goats.

- And we got three goats.

- I said three goats.

We've got loads of kids.

- [Christopher] With the extended family around, King Graham's feeling outnumbered.

- All girls, spooky, isn't it?

Spooky.

I'm the only man here.

(Teddy brays) - [Christopher] Not quite the only man.

Daughter Lucy's donkey is disrupting the harmony that Graham's created.

- Ah, this is Teddy, and he needs castrating 'cause he's a little bit frisky.

(laughs) Being a good boy today, isn't he?

Yeah?

He attacks other animals now, and he tries to mount me when I take him to the fields and stuff, and he's doing it to the children, so it's a bit more dangerous.

Well, you've got to walk backwards just in case he actually does mount ya because, as soon as your back's turned, he does actually jump up to actually do it sometimes, so you've just got to be so careful.

- He seems okay with me because I'm ugly, but the lasses are pretty good-looking, so I think that's what it is.

- Hello.

We're hoping that we can just get back to normal and get back to him being a little bit friendly again rather than naughty.

- Ow.

- [Lucy] Teddy.

(severe music) - [Christopher] With Graham's precious girls' safety at stake, they need to curb the desperate donkey's urges.

Peter is on the case.

- I wouldn't have said it was particularly common for an amorous donkey to go for any species, but this chap is obviously hypersexed, and anything will do at the moment, so it become quite urgent now to separate this chap from his testicles.

- [Christopher] Coming up.

- [Julian] Oh, there's more puss come out.

Look at it.

Look at it.

- [Christopher] Can a beloved rabbit's agony be relieved?

Peter tackles Teddy's testicles.

- [Peter] Certainly, a well-endowed chap, isn't he?

- [Graham] That was me, Peter.

(Peter laughs) - [Christopher] And Julian meets the cutest new clients.

- Aw, look at you.

(mysterious music) - [Christopher] Earlier, Gracie came in for a pregnancy test.

- That thing there is exactly, well, you're right, a kitten.

- It is?

- Just there.

- Aw, darling.

(Gracie meows) (dog squeaks) - [Christopher] She's back with Sue, daughter Amy, and neighbor Chris and her day-old bundles of joy.

- [Parent] Gonna ask you a question.

(child speaks indistinctly) - She'd actually had the first one, so I goes into "oh my word, she's having them.

She's having them," so I went and woke Amy up, and that's when she had the second one.

- (sighs) I don't want kids anytime soon.

(Chris laughs) - [Chris] Has that put you off?

- Yeah.

- [Chris] Don't know which one that is.

- So this is Gracie with the babies.

- [Chris] Going to undo this.

- [Julian] How's she getting on?

She looks very comfy in there.

- [Chris] She's on a hot water bottle.

- Is she?

- Yeah.

- [Julian] So let's have a look at these.

Look at you first.

You seem to be making an appearance.

And they're doing okay?

They're obviously- - [Amy] Yeah, you starting to get their personalities already.

- [Julian] It's amazing, isn't it?

Even in little babies that are only a couple of days old, they do have different personalities, don't they?

- Aw, look at you.

(kitten meows) - Are you able to tell us what they are?

- Yeah, that one probably is a boy.

We need to just check that there's no cleft palate, which is where the roof of the mouth isn't formed properly, - [Amy] I didn't know that was a thing.

- Yeah, it's one of the main birth defects that we need to check for.

And then, the other thing is heart problems, (kitten squeaks) but that sounds fine.

Bit cold, sorry about that, little man.

- [Amy] And he's the one to sleep all the time.

- I can see.

He's asleep now.

Look how long he is.

Oh, he looks completely different, doesn't he?

Look at his little face.

He looks more like Catwoman.

- He's so chilled.

- [Julian] Let's see what your mouth looks like, little one.

- [Amy] He's the one who's just really chilled, and he's like, "Yeah, whatever, go with the flow."

- He looks like a boy as well.

I think you're right.

I think they're all boys.

Oh, that's the one that's just been... Look at him, his little pink head.

It's really nice being able to watch the videos and footage of the kittens being born.

Blimey, he looks big there.

- He was sat on my hand for ages.

- [Julian] It's not something that we get to see very often.

Have you got small hands?

- [Amy] I don't think so.

- Till you have cats, you think all cats are exactly the same, but when you have one and then you have another, you realize that they've all got very subtly different personalities, and you can even pick that up when they're babies like this.

Some are a bit more friendly and a bit more cuddly, and others want to play outside and don't want to be in contact with people.

They're fascinating animals.

- Okay, then, so are you happy with them, Julian?

- I think they look brilliant, and I think she looks absolutely brilliant as well, so we'll pop that lid on, and really, assuming all goes according to plan, we won't really need to see them again until their vaccine time.

- [Sue] Vaccine time.

- [Julian] And then, yeah, it'd be nice to see how they progress over the next few weeks.

Okay?

No problem?

No, I mean I've not done much.

- Thank you very much.

- I feel a bit of a fraud really.

She's done all the good work.

- It's peace of mind for me.

- [Julian] Great, no problem.

Good to see them.

- [Chris] Got them?

- [Sue] Right.

- Right, thank you.

- Take care.

- Bye.

- Okay.

Cheerio.

- Bye.

(dog barks) - Bye, Gracie.

(lulling music) - [Christopher] Peter's on his way to Graham Bird's place, (transition swooshes) where a debauched donkey has been disturbing the peace.

- Ow.

- [Lucy] Teddy.

(transition swooshes) - [Peter] I like your shoes.

- Oh yeah, late last night's.

- [Peter] Were ya?

Yeah?

- In that club where I met you.

(Peter laughs) - [Peter] "That club where I met you."

(laughs) - Peter's a regular visitor, and I think, when he's in need of laughter, he comes here.

(Birds laugh) (Peter laughs) To be honest, here there's not much sadness, if any, and you can easily get cheered up because there's so much happening.

(Teddy brays) - [Christopher] Someone who might need cheering up is Teddy, whose castration's imminent.

- He's been a bit amorous.

- He's been a little bit amorous, yeah.

- Yeah.

(laughs) - You daren't bend down.

(Peter laughs) Look, me laces are undone.

Daren't fasten them.

(Peter laughs) Anything ya need to check, Peter?

- Yes, I need to check there's two testicles there.

Certainly, a well-endowed chap, isn't he?

- [Graham] That was me, Peter.

(Peter laughs) - [Mrs. Bird] So you don't actually remove 'em, then?

- [Peter] Oh yeah.

- I don't think you took 'em out.

- Aw, I feel really sorry for him.

I didn't think it would be so major, his operation.

- [Mrs. Bird] That might go on a bit of (indistinct).

Yeah, just before you plant.

- It's upsetting, isn't it?

- Good lad.

If we don't take 'em away, he'll still have the urge.

- Right, ah, that's a shame then, isn't it, really?

- [Christopher] First up, the anesthetic.

- Watch you don't stab that in my leg.

- [Peter] If I do, just shout, will ya?

- Me laid out on the floor.

- I'll just take him now out, Luce.

(troubled music) - Okay, Max, your turn.

- [Christopher] It's almost time for Max's surgery.

- Ooh, wow.

Out we pop.

Good boy, hey?

We do hold off as long as we can in these cases, 'cause, yeah, rabbit anesthetics, they're a bit more complicated 'cause we don't do as many and they're smaller guys and there's few more potentials for things to not go according to plan.

Aw, there we go.

There we go.

Okay, can go back in his kennel, then.

About to take effect.

- Let you put him back.

- Okay, good boy.

- [Christopher] Julian's on hand to help.

- [Julian] Pretty chilled-out rabbit.

- [Esme] He is now.

- [Julian] Shall we see what he's like?

What's he called?

- [Esme] Max.

- Max?

- [Esme] Yeah.

- [Julian] It's not a usual name for a rabbit, is it?

- [Esme] It's not Peter.

- [Nurse] Hang on, just let me get a lead.

- Here we are, sleepy rabbit.

Her fifth-birthday present for the daughter so lots of pressure, beloved family pet.

- [Julian] So we've got massive goofy fruit teeth, look.

- [Esme] Yeah.

- You can usually get a good look in.

- Ah, ah.

Argh, I think I can see some puss.

Yeah, there's a great, big spur digging into his cheek.

- [Julian] That'll be it, then.

- Yeah, that's probably the reason.

On the right-hand side, where he's got this swelling on the side of his face, you can see, looking down now, there's a big spike of tooth sticking into his cheek there, so that's, I think, the problem.

- That's a massive spike, (Esme chuckles) and his mouth's full of puss, as well.

It's pretty grim, isn't it, in there?

- [Esme] Yeah.

- [Julian] This great, big pointy.

- [Vet] She's still a bit sleepy.

Can you ring back.

- [Julian] Spur there is what's causing all the problems that Esme's quite rightly identified as the reason why there's a big abscess.

That's gonna be giving so much pain, so what we'll need to do is cut the sharp bit away with these special tools.

Shall I do it, since I can- - Yeah.

- You have to be careful not to damage the mouth, and this is why we need to do it under anesthetic.

(adventurous music) There we are.

So that's the offending piece.

The point of it was pointing right and sticking into the side of his face, so that's exactly why there'd have been an abscess.

Well done.

Urgh, there's more puss come out, look.

You can see, there.

Look at it.

Look at it oozing out.

- [Esme] Ooh, it probably plugged the hole, didn't it?

And now it's all escaping.

(Julian laughs) - [Julian] Better out than in, as they say.

What you wanna do is just take it (indistinct).

(dog howls) (tool clacks) Shall we trim these front ones whilst we've got him?

(drill whirs) (drill buzzes) That terrible sound that people associate with going to the dentist, isn't it?

- [Esme] Yep.

- Luckily, he won't know what's happening, though, 'cause he's anesthetized.

His new front teeth look better than they were before, so yeah, that's a much better smile than had before.

(mischievous music) - [Christopher] Back at Graham Bird's place, Helen's arrived to help with Teddy's castration, and there's nothing here she hasn't seen before.

- [Helen] He's pretty well-endowed for a little lad.

These are a good size.

Obviously, producing enough testosterone that he's causing trouble with them, though.

- [Lucy] They're huge, aren't they?

- [Graham] Thank you.

(Peter chuckles) - No wonder he was so distressed.

- [Peter] All right at your end?

- [Graham] I'm okay.

- Well, I meant, "Is Teddy, all right?"

- Are ya sure it's the donkey?

Argh!

- All right, fine.

- Really gross.

(laughs) - I think's just the bleeding, isn't it?

Makes it look worse than it probably is.

Just the blood.

At least you can go outside with everyone else now, can't he?

- [Peter] Okay, Helen.

- [Lucy] They're huge, aren't they?

- [Miss Bird] I like how they just threw 'em on the floor.

- No wonder he was so distressed.

Wonder if humans' look like this.

- [Miss Bird] Ah, there's another one.

- [Peter] Do you not teach your daughters the facts of life?

- [Graham] I tried not to, but it didn't work.

(all laugh) Just making me not want ever nod off in front of Peter.

(Peter laughs) Imagine falling asleep on his settee.

(Peter laughs) (Helen chuckles) Jesus Christ.

- Made for breeding, obviously.

- [Christopher] With Teddy's crown jewels removed, King Graham's kingdom is once again a safe place for his treasured family.

- Lot better now, won't he?

- [Peter] Yeah.

- Right, we'll leave him there.

We'll get a beer.

(Peter laughs) (Graham laughs) - For the testosterone to be out of his system altogether, you're probably looking at about six weeks.

But yeah, he should, hopefully, respond quite quickly 'cause he is just young, so he won't have had time, hopefully, to learn the behaviors, 'cause, if he thinks that's normal and that's how he behaves, then that can, sometimes, never go.

But hopefully, he's just got a bit hormonal in the springtime, and we maybe nipped in the bud, hopefully.

- [Peter] Lovely recovery.

(Teddy snorts) First thing they think about when they get up after castration, obviously, is eating.

- Well, anything to do with sex, it's either a cigarette or a takeaway, innit, afterwards?

The same with the animal world, I would suppose, but they can't get the hands on a cigarette.

- I never thought of it like that, (laughs) yes.

Mr. Bird always keeps me amused.

He's never short of a reply, really, when I ask him a question.

Do you need to go and have a lie down now after that, Mr. Bird?

- I may do when I get the big bill.

How he's staggering there, Pete, I thought you'd give him the bill.

(Mrs. Bird laughs) (Peter laughs) (Graham laughs) Ya like that one?

(Peter laughs) (Graham laughs) - [Christopher] Coming up.

- [Julian] It's a horrible wound, isn't it?

- [Christopher] Julian's emergency call out is a family affair.

- He's one of my harshest critics, I would think.

- [Christopher] And Peter's in trouble for taking his work home.

- [Lin] Those naughty boys.

(Peter laughs) (apprehensive music) - [Christopher] As spring sunshine gently warms wild and wind-swept North Yorkshire, (water burbles) at Skeldale, it's time for Sarah's leaving do.

- [Nurse] Where's Haddi?

(nurse sighs) - And Helen.

- Helen's here?

Helen's just arrived, talking to (indistinct).

- [Nurse] Shall I call Sarah?

- Yeah.

- Where's the loud one?

- Yeah, the star of the show.

- [Sarah] God, you guys have been busy.

- Not as busy as you, dear.

- Oh, you know.

(Lin laughs) All I have to do is just grow something, though.

It's not that hard, just sit down and get fat.

Aw, thanks, guys.

- They're not for you.

What makes ya think they're for you.

(laughs) - Aw, well, thank you.

- Mrs. Beckerlegge, it's just a little gathering here.

This is your last day, isn't it, for the time being?

- [Sarah] Yeah, yeah, yeah.

- We're standing by with calving ropes and the machine, yeah.

- I know, I know.

(laughs) As long as there's plenty of lube, it'll be fine.

- [Peter] We'll bring the better-quality lubricant as well.

- Yeah, ah, the good one.

- Not the watery one.

- [Sarah] Oh, thank you.

- [Lin] Everybody's spoilt you.

You've got some lovely gifts there.

- I know.

- Even my wife's done some knitting.

- I know, and he's been hoarding it in his car.

- Yes, I know.

Well, I have.

- [Sarah] Aw, how lovely.

- [Lin] But I didn't know it was a boy when I knitted that.

- [Sarah] Oh, it's fine.

Yellow's a lovely color.

(tut) Aw, Lin, it's lovely, thank you.

- [Nurse] Aw.

- Well, I hope that you'll get some use from them.

- Definitely.

(tuts) Aw, thank you.

- You're welcome, my dear.

Hope it goes well for you.

When I was expecting, I was going into the hospital to have a cesarean section, and Peter said, "Run away."

- Don't tell 'em.

Don't tell 'em this.

Don't.

- [Sarah] No, tell us timely horror stories as well.

It's very helpful.

- It's not a horror story.

He said, "We've just got to call at this farm on the way.

I just want to have a look at a cow.

(nurses laugh) - Romantic.

- Joking apart, it's a precious time.

- It is.

- 'Tis a precious time.

(cheery music) (cows moo) - [Christopher] Julian's out on an emergency call.

- [Julian] It's a horrible wound, isn't it?

- [Ed] Yes.

- Well, it's about that deep, and it's about that long, and it's in a really bad place.

It's fairly contaminated.

It's been bleeding, and it's been, obviously, raining on it as well, so it's a bit of a mess.

I think it's definitely fixable, but it's gonna be a bit of a fiddle.

The biggest problem we've got to start with is how we keep her restrained, 'cause the normal means of keeping a cow restrained is with a head yolk that traps the neck so she can't move her head forwards or backwards, but if we do that, that's gonna be exactly in the place where the wound is, so I think Ed's gonna get a halter.

And then, we'll be able to pull her head around to one side.

- [Christopher] Ed McDonald and his family all pitch in.

- Have you got a spare hand?

Actually, pop those in there.

- [Christopher] And Julian's brought his own reinforcements.

- Yeah, this is Archie, my youngest son, who, one day, actually wants to be a vet, don't ya?

- Yeah.

- And luckily, Archie's very able and adept at helping with these things, so I know that I've got a reliable assistant on jobs like this.

- I just like watching him, so I learn some stuff.

I think the cow looks a bit gruesome, but I'm not really squeamish.

- [Julian] 'Cause the edges are a bit mashed up, we might need to trim the skin back to healthy skin.

We'll see how we go, anyway.

I'll put this in first.

This is an anesthetic.

It'll numb it.

Gonna, probably, need to cut some of the skin off round the edge, actually, to tidy it up a bit.

If we didn't stitch this wound up and tidy it up, then, I think, it would definitely get infected.

And then, whenever there's infection in a wound like this, the healing is very, very slow.

It can lead to septicemia and all sorts of other problems.

I'm just gonna cut this dead edge of the skin off.

(gate rattles) Arch, you couldn't do me a favor and nip to the car and get some cotton wool, could ya?

- There's gonna be another vet in the family, d'you think?

- Probably, yeah, I think so.

He's showing all the right kind of attributes so far.

Ah, thanks, perfect.

- Is it enough?

- Yeah, it's perfect, thank you.

- Looks really good.

- He's one of my harshest critiques I would think it's fair to say, but that's fine.

I think it's looking reasonably good.

I'm quite pleased with what I'm doing.

I don't think I'm buckling under the pressure.

- [Christopher] With one last job, Archie's keen to help.

- [Ed] Yeah, yeah, yeah.

- And just give it a good squirt.

And then, we'll... (aerosol hisses) That's it.

(aerosol continues hissing) Perfect.

Just need to jab her now.

It's been fun, hasn't it?

- Yeah.

- It's not everybody who is fortunate to get to work with his son like this, and I enjoy it.

Think you it as well, don't ya?

- Yes.

- [Julian] Yeah, it's good fun.

- My dad has got the makings of a good vet.

(Julian laughs) - Cheeky.

(Archie laughs) (cow moos) (cows moo) (idyllic music) (sheep baas) (transition swooshes) - [Christopher] Earlier, Peter met a female duck called Kevin.

She was in a bad way.

- [Jason] Another duck was stood on its back.

- At this time of year, we get a lot of this.

If you wouldn't mind, I could take her home 'cause I've got a little pond.

- [Christopher] Now Kevin's making a good recovery and moving in with Peter and Lin.

- So why is she called Kevin?

- Well, she called Kevin because the young couple who brought it in had a little boy, and I asked him, "What do you want to call her?"

"Kevin," he said, "I want to call him Kevin."

This isn't the first time I've brought my work home with me.

It's something I've been doing for many years.

- Peter has a soft spot for animals that have no hope, really, of getting a home or that may have to be put to sleep.

If they've got a chance, then he will give them that.

(Kevin quacks) The duck I heard about about 30 minutes ago.

(Peter laughs) I love Peter such a lot.

He can bring anything home.

- Oh!

- Right, nurse.

(Kevin quacks) Yes.

If you just hold her like that for me.

- Come on, Kevin.

- That's it.

(Peter speaks indistinctly) - Oh, you poor old thing.

- [Peter] Nature can be very cruel.

- [Lin] Those naughty boys.

They've really had to go at you, haven't they?

(Kevin honks) (Peter laughs) - This stuff that we're putting on now will help with the wound-healing.

Even within 24 hours, there's quite a significant improvement in the feel of the skin.

Have a go on the water?

What do ya reckon?

Yeah, you go in here.

Lift that up.

In you go.

There, now.

What d'you reckon to that, hey?

That's cheered her up.

- Yes, she's certainly a lot brighter than she was when she came.

- [Peter] She's brought her back to life again, almost like a duck to water really.

- Oh.

(laughs) (Peter laughs) Oh, tail wag, yeah, much happier.

- Much happier.

You can see her whole spirit just lifted immediately.

- I think Kevin's going to love it here.

- We'll probably have to go and find her a few worms shortly and give her a bit of a supper.

(accomplished music continues) (Kevin quacks) (cheerful music)