Scottish Vets Down Under

Editorial

A BBC TV channel for Scotland which will broadcast every evening and will show drama, factual, comedy and news programmes made in Scotland

BBC Scotland HD

Documentaries

Factual: Pets & Animals

Documentary following two Scottish vets who have relocated to Australia.

BBC Scotland

Scottish Vets Down Under: Series 1: Episode 4

Episode 4

Series 1

BBC Scotland - Scottish Vets Down Under, Series 1, Episode 4

Dr Mike operates on a critically ill mare. Dr Chris treats reptiles, possums and rodents.

Dr Mike performs emergency surgery on a critically ill horse. Dr Chris has his hands full with reptiles, possums and a rodent, and the vets release a past patient into the wild.

Dr Chris begins his day treating his favourite type of patients - reptiles. Rory has brought in his two pet blue-tongue lizards for a health check. They’re the largest members of the skink family and common on the east coast of Australia. Nova is a rarity amongst his species - he has a colour mutation with an excess of pigmentation creating a dark skin. He also has laboured breathing, which is worrying to Dr Chris. It can be a sign of respiratory infection which can prove fatal if left untreated.

Dr Mike is doing his daily stud visits when a brood mare is brought into the equine hospital with severe abdominal pain. She continues to turn in small circles and wants to lie down – classic signs of colic, the number one cause of death in horses. Dr Sarah gives the mare an ultrasound with the assistance of Scottish intern vet Sian. As suspected, part of her small intestine is twisted - a condition which is life threatening and requires immediate surgery.

Back at the Animal Hospital, wildlife carer Brenda has brought in a patient for Dr Chris to review, following surgery a few weeks earlier.
The ringtail possum had an injury to the tip of its all-important tail - a weight-bearing appendage it uses to climb between tree branches. The partial amputation has healed beautifully, and this small marsupial is well on its way to a fully recovery. Its buddy also needs a check-up - in the wild, ringtail possums often live in pairs, so this duo have stuck together. With another clean bill of health, this small marsupial and its friend are given the all clear for release.

Scottish Vets Down Under: Series 1

A BBC TV channel for Scotland which will broadcast every evening and will show drama, factual, comedy and news programmes made in Scotland


Series following two Scottish vets who have established practices rural Australia.

Series following two Scottish vets who have established their own practices in a small rural community in Australia.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Scottish Vets Down Under

Series 1

Episode 4

Genres

Formats

Brand

Series

BBC Scotland HD

About BBC Scotland