The Young Vets have been studying for four years at the Royal Veterinary College and it's finally time to put their textbooks to one side and get hands-on with real animals. They have just two weeks to master and pass each essential area of practical veterinary knowledge and the first day of their placements has each of them feeling like a total beginner.

Elly Berry is starting one of the most-feared rotations, anaesthesia, at the RVC's Queen Mother Hospital for Animals and must anaesthetise a kitten with serious breathing problems. But when Morris becomes seriously ill and nearly dies, the head of anaesthesia has to intervene and Elly realises just how much there is to learn in the year ahead.

Charlie Tewson faces a baptism of fire when an aggressive dog enters his consulting room.

Catherine Needham familiarises herself with the reproductive anatomy of a rabbit making a strange buzzing sound and horse-loving Amy Clithero discovers the stress of life-or-death surgery when a critically ill Shetland pony arrives at her practice.

Mature student Judy Puddifoot is under serious pressure as she must perform surgery for the first time. It might be a routine procedure, but cutting into a healthy animal with owners who are expecting it back is incredibly daunting. Show less