- 6 days ago
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00:01Professor Noel Fitzpatrick
00:03All right, Mrs.
00:04Cuddle monster incoming
00:06is the super vet.
00:08We have issues.
00:09I knew I should have got chihuahuas.
00:11At his unique vet practice,
00:13he merges mechanics and biology.
00:16We're past the point of no return now.
00:18Don't be pulling apart my repair, Mrs.
00:21to heal the nation's pets.
00:23Sorry about coronavirus.
00:25Oh, because you're responsible?
00:26I'm responsible for almost everything else.
00:29Even in the darkest days...
00:32What is it ever?
00:33Noel imagines the impossible.
00:36Oh, my little baby gives leg.
00:39It's gone.
00:41Sometimes you have to bend the rules and mechanics
00:43to fit the biology.
00:45..and offers hope...
00:47We've definitely made the right decision.
00:49Good boy!
00:50We've got my boy back.
00:52..for families and their friends.
00:54Look at you! Bionic doggo!
00:59T'was the months before Christmas,
01:11when all through the house,
01:13not a creature was stirring.
01:16Not even a mouse.
01:18Christmas at Fitzpatrick's is like your second family.
01:26Look at the client!
01:28The festive vibe here is really great.
01:31I've never actually worked anywhere that's quite like it.
01:33Merry Christmas, Nala!
01:35There's a lot of singing to the patients,
01:39and also we'll try and make their kennels a bit festive.
01:42Oh, do you like it?
01:44We try and make the practice a home away from home
01:47for them during Christmastime.
01:49This year I do think that Christmas will be slightly different,
01:54but because it's been such a rough year,
01:56I think everyone's going to come together even more so
01:58and make this one heck for Christmas.
02:04So, uh, Christmas, bring it on.
02:10This year it's not just Santa who's making a special appearance.
02:14There's been a number of famous faces at the practice too.
02:23It's not your house, you don't need to bark.
02:26To animals we are all equal,
02:28regardless of whether you're in the public eye or not.
02:31Lee!
02:32Our job is to get a quality of life for all patients
02:35and get them home for Christmas.
02:38Do you need a poo?
02:39Good, no, I know you don't want to go, do you?
02:42Come on, come on.
02:43Come on, come on.
02:45When he doesn't want to move...
02:48It's July and four-year-old Mastiff Cross Domino
02:51is enjoying giving his famous dad the runaround.
02:55Round, round, sit, sit.
03:01Oh, that's good.
03:04I've come here for facial surgery on my nose.
03:08It's been too long.
03:09No, I've come here to bring this boy, Domino.
03:14Er, he's got something going on with his back right, possibly metatarsal.
03:20I mean, I talk as if I know what I'm talking about.
03:22I don't have a clue.
03:23Really, look at his face.
03:26Good yawn, TV dog!
03:28Domino?
03:29No.
03:30Come here.
03:31Come on.
03:32Pop icon Will Young has been a dog lover from day dot.
03:37I guess we've just always been a bit crazy about animals.
03:43No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
03:47Because I don't have children and I'm single, the dogs are literally like my family.
03:53Lie down.
03:57I mean, I'm clearly like the bottom of the pack.
04:00Just trod on, you know, fed scraps.
04:05Okay, take the car.
04:07Oh, you're slobbing on me as well.
04:08Yes.
04:09But I wouldn't have it any other way.
04:10Yes.
04:12Animals constantly have empathy.
04:15Hello, Esme.
04:16When I got Esme, I became very ill.
04:19I mean, I had a breakdown.
04:21There.
04:23I mean, I couldn't leave the bed for days and wouldn't eat for days.
04:27And she would just sort of be there.
04:29They just provide something special.
04:32They're very magical.
04:33I mean, she's probably emotionally scarred.
04:36Earlier this year, on a visit to the States,
04:39Will's canine family doubled in size.
04:42I saw these two dogs, Domino and Diamond.
04:48They were found very malnourished.
04:51And I think they were about an hour away from being put down.
04:55Unfortunately, Domino was in need of more than just a new home.
05:00What I was told was that Domino had a problem with his metatarsal
05:03and was needing an operation.
05:05You couldn't run him.
05:07And he would limp.
05:09But then the virus happened.
05:10And I just thought, I can't leave these dogs like that.
05:14I don't think anyone's ever going to adopt them.
05:17And then it was game over, really, after that.
05:19Domino.
05:21Oh, you're so scary.
05:23People cross the road because he's so big.
05:25But he is literally the biggest baby.
05:27I mean, he follows me everywhere.
05:29Diamond's much naughtier.
05:31She's a bossy woman.
05:32Not the women are bossy.
05:34Put that straight right now.
05:37They just want to love people and they just want to be loved.
05:41And they give it unconditionally.
05:43So, I'm going to give a lot to them.
05:46Whatever's necessary.
05:48You know, that's my duty.
05:51So, that's what I'll do.
05:53There.
05:54Sit.
05:55Sit.
05:56Unsure how long Domino has been in pain and desperate to help him,
06:00Will and his goddaughter Eve have brought the gentle giant to see Noel.
06:06Good morning, by the way.
06:08Good morning.
06:09Now, have we spoken before?
06:10Yes.
06:12Have you?
06:13Yes.
06:14Which, where did you come to?
06:16Was I good?
06:17Oh, thank God.
06:18Oh, thank God.
06:19Thank God for that.
06:21Don, are you a Will Young fan?
06:23Yes, I am.
06:24I'm the first person I've been starstruck with.
06:26Is that right?
06:27Yeah.
06:29All right, off you go.
06:30Come on.
06:31Good boy.
06:32Whilst he was in America, Will was told that Domino's painful limp may be caused by a foot injury.
06:37I just want to watch the walking up and down, please.
06:40But Noel needs to examine the four-year-old himself.
06:43Okay.
06:44Good.
06:45Good.
06:46Okay.
06:47Stop there, please.
06:48So just hold his head for us, please.
06:51Hold tight.
06:52Good boy.
06:53Oh!
06:54I know.
06:55That hurts, doesn't it?
06:56Oh.
06:57Oh dear.
06:58Good boy.
06:59So, at the moment I'm not buying the metatarsal theory.
07:04Yeah.
07:05I can't feel anything unusual there.
07:08However...
07:09That bit?
07:10Yeah.
07:11See that?
07:12Yeah.
07:13Shouldn't do that.
07:14Okay.
07:15Shouldn't move like that.
07:16Yeah.
07:17And what's that telling you then?
07:18That's telling me that he's probably ruptured his cranial cruciate ligament, which is one
07:23of the two ligaments inside the knee.
07:26And how would he have done that?
07:27So it's believed that there may be a genetic basis to it whereby inflammation builds up inside
07:33the knee.
07:34Yeah.
07:35And gradually the ligament frays like a shoelace.
07:38Oh dear, Mr. Man.
07:40Have you ever noticed any front leg lameness?
07:43No.
07:44I've actually noticed it with her, funnily enough.
07:46Oh, you have?
07:47Oh dear.
07:48Yeah.
07:49Oh, are you springing another surprise?
07:50No, I'm not.
07:51Oh, is this like this?
07:52No, no, no.
07:53I'm not doing two for one.
07:54No, I know exactly what you're doing.
07:56This is the Gareth Gates and this is the Will Young.
07:59I know exactly what he's doing.
08:01She could be the Darius.
08:02She could be the Darius.
08:04Yeah.
08:05She could be.
08:08Now, in the past, what we would have done is try to replace the ligament, but we now
08:14know that in very large breed dogs like this, that doesn't work too well.
08:19Yeah.
08:20So what can you do then?
08:21We make a curved cut in the top of the tibia and we rock the top of the tibia around and
08:28then we put a plate on it, which looks something like that, which is called a TPLO.
08:37TPLO.
08:38T-P-L-O.
08:39Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy.
08:42And there can still be movement.
08:44Yes, but it doesn't slip.
08:46Now, the possible complications are, one, mechanical failure.
08:51Two, infection.
08:52And number three, osteoarthritis is inevitable.
08:56Now, that other dog's worrying me.
08:59Diamond.
09:00Right.
09:01The other thing that these kinds of breeds are predisposed to is osteoarthritis of the
09:06elbows.
09:07Ah, okay.
09:08So what I suggest we do is ping off a couple of x-ray pictures of her elbows if you want.
09:12Yeah.
09:13Then I'll know either way.
09:14I wasn't going to mention her, actually.
09:16Promise.
09:17Please, God, she doesn't have anything, but I'll have to check it out.
09:20These dogs.
09:21I know you've just...
09:22Why do we...
09:23Well, it's love.
09:24Off we go, guys.
09:26Okay, see you.
09:28Bye.
09:31Domino will have x-ray pictures taken to determine if he has ruptured a ligament inside his knee.
09:40Meanwhile, his sister Diamond is getting an unexpected turn in the CT scanner to give Noel
09:46a clearer picture of any possible problems with her elbows.
09:54I'm reviewing all the images now for Domino and for Diamond.
10:00It's not looking good, unfortunately.
10:06Now 7.30 in the evening.
10:08Hello.
10:11It's very quiet, isn't it?
10:13Will has returned to get the results.
10:17Now, I know you've spent the afternoon worrying.
10:20Um, we have issues.
10:23It's not that they're not treatable, but it's probably more than you'd hoped for.
10:27Oh, right, okay.
10:29Oh, my gosh, look at this.
10:30Is this...
10:31Is this for Mr. Man, Domino?
10:33Yes, this is for Domino, yeah.
10:35That grey is fluid building up inside the joint because of inflammation.
10:41That is degenerating, unfortunately, both knees.
10:46Oh, both his knees?
10:47Yes.
10:48Now, the one which has got most of the problems is the right hind.
10:52But, unfortunately, it is likely I'm going to be seeing you again with the left one going in the future.
10:57Oh, gosh, poor chap.
11:00I'm going to move on to Diamond.
11:02Okay.
11:03And it transpires that the left elbow does, in fact, have osteoarthritis.
11:10Already.
11:12And what we can see, the ulna's cracked.
11:15Oh, gosh.
11:17So she must be in pain as well.
11:18Sadly, she's in more pain than he is.
11:20Gosh, and how is she running?
11:22And she still runs?
11:23She's just never known life any different.
11:25Really?
11:27Oh, blimey.
11:29Gosh, it's quite a lot to take in.
11:31Yes, it is.
11:33The bottom line is that we need to have a think about doing a TPLO on the right knee for Domino.
11:40And an arthroscopy of both elbows for Diamond.
11:43Yes.
11:44You see, they might be here with the doggies.
11:46Help!
11:47One sec, we'll see.
11:48My babies.
11:50I knew I should have got chihuahuas.
11:51Now, here we go.
11:53Ow!
11:54Oh, you've got a thingy.
11:56Yeah.
11:58Having already been through so much...
12:01A newly vacuumed car.
12:03Domino and Diamond now face at least two major surgeries.
12:08I'm a pop star.
12:09Should have people doing this for me.
12:11But it may be Will's only hope to give his adopted American family the future they deserve.
12:19I love you.
12:21It's 167 days till Christmas.
12:22We're not going to be able to defrost Buble together.
12:24Defrost Buble?
12:25No, because you know, like, we start singing Christmas songs in October.
12:27Oh, yeah.
12:28Same with Leona Lewis, isn't it?
12:29Is that Mariah?
12:30What?
12:31She hasn't brought out a single for years.
12:32No, Mariah Carey, I think it was.
12:33Morning.
12:34Morning.
12:35Morning.
12:36Morning.
12:37Morning.
12:38Morning.
12:39It's been two weeks since pop star Will Young found out that his dogs Domino and Diamond may both need life-changing surgery.
12:53Come on, Mr. Man.
12:54And he's lost a bit of weight.
12:55He's doing about two grams.
12:56Don't you think he's lost weight?
12:57Today, hefty but harmless Domino is being dropped off for his operation.
12:58I feel a little bit empty.
12:59I'm a bit like...
13:00I'm a bit like, I'm not a bit like...
13:01It's been two weeks since pop star Will Young found out that his dogs Domino and Diamond may both need life-changing surgery.
13:08Come on, Mr. Man.
13:10And he's lost a bit of weight.
13:12He's doing about two grams.
13:14Don't you think he's lost weight?
13:17Today, hefty but harmless Domino is being dropped off for his operation.
13:22I feel a little bit empty.
13:26I'm a bit like, there's nothing I can do.
13:30Do you know what I mean?
13:31That's the thing.
13:32I think like everything, you just...
13:35There's no point worrying.
13:36It's not going to make any difference.
13:38It's all about trust.
13:39And I do trust Noel and his team.
13:44He's been a really good boy.
13:46Noel is going to attempt to level off the joint surface of Domino's tibia to stop his femur from slipping.
13:53We're going to make a curved cut in the top of the tibia.
13:59Having removed the torn ligament and inspected the cartilage, Noel cuts the bone at a precise position.
14:07I'm going to rotate that cut 6.6 millimeters so that the femur doesn't slip down the tibia anymore.
14:14In its new non-slip alignment, Noel inserts a plate to secure the bone segments.
14:27Hopefully, with this, we'll give him a new lease of life without pain.
14:32The only problem is I think the other knee is going to need surgery in the not-too-distant future.
14:39Well done, Domino. Good job.
14:43Domino will need six weeks recovery before his knee is fully healed.
14:48But it's just halfway through the journey for Will.
14:51One operation down and one dog to go.
15:07Willow.
15:08Willow, don't, don't, don't.
15:10It's lunchtime and the spotlight is on an emergency case that has just arrived at the practice.
15:16It's going to be okay, Missy.
15:20Yeah.
15:21Let's see what's going on.
15:23We're going to be okay.
15:25Well used to attracting attention, three-year-old French bulldog Willow lives with Duran Duran lead singer Simon Le Bon, supermodel Yasmin, and their family.
15:36She's bonkers, really. We all call her, like, she's the crazy dog.
15:40She is a handful, and her job is to get the squirrels and the foxes, and she is ballistic. She's like a missile.
15:48She's a bit like a wrecking ball, actually.
15:50She is a bit of a wrecking ball.
15:51Yeah.
15:53Sadly, it looks like the high-energy Frenchie may have crashed and burned.
15:58We found her in the garden the other night, absolutely shaking and unable to move.
16:06I think she may have fallen.
16:09And I know that with, you know, with backs and spines, you know, you've just got to be quick.
16:13You can't take any chances.
16:15It's a thought of, of spinal surgery.
16:22I don't know. I don't really want to think about it, actually.
16:27Yasmin.
16:28Hi.
16:29Hi.
16:30Go right ahead, girls. Thank you.
16:31Okay.
16:32We're going to the room on the left, right there.
16:34Okay, there we go.
16:37Now then, um, so, tell me.
16:40Monday night she was shaking in the garden.
16:42Monday evening in the garden.
16:43Right.
16:45And she was not moving properly.
16:48Okay.
16:49On all four legs or just the back legs?
16:51The back legs.
16:52Okay, fine.
16:53Yep.
16:54By the evening, she was really showing difficulty.
16:58And my brother-in-law is an osteopath, gave her a little treatment.
17:01Simon's brother?
17:02Yeah.
17:03Oh, is he an osteopath?
17:04Yeah, he's a really good one.
17:05Is that right?
17:06Yes, for years he's had.
17:07I mean, thank God we've got an osteopath in the family.
17:08Kept him jumping around on the stage.
17:10Kept him amusing people like me.
17:11I'm a big fan, by the way.
17:12Yeah.
17:13Cool.
17:15And, uh, so yes, yeah.
17:16So, Lauren's going to hold her and I'm just going to do a few little checks.
17:19Yeah.
17:20So, mommy, you can talk to her head end.
17:21Yeah.
17:22Perfect.
17:23Good.
17:24Okay, alrighty.
17:25Talk to her, please.
17:26Yes, you go.
17:27Yes, you go.
17:28Okay, so you see this, Yasmin, here, look?
17:30Yeah.
17:31Her brain doesn't know where that is.
17:33She's doing it on her other foot.
17:35Yeah, yes.
17:36The reason for that is an interruption in the flow of the spinal cord.
17:41Okay.
17:42Now that's something, it could be an accident, but it's more likely to be a disc problem based
17:52on the breed.
17:53Really?
17:54Okay.
17:55It's alright, Boop.
17:56I got you.
17:57Thank you, Lauren.
17:58You can move the table.
17:59Alright, Boop.
18:00You're okay.
18:01Alright.
18:02Bottom line is that is a surgical emergency if the dog is going from grade three to grade
18:07four, which it is now.
18:08Zero is normal.
18:09Five is totally paralysed on the back end.
18:12I'm sorry.
18:13I know.
18:14I know it's heartbreaking, but...
18:16Told you it wasn't your fault.
18:19Yeah.
18:20Sorry.
18:21Don't beat yourself up.
18:22I feel for her.
18:23This is...
18:24Yeah.
18:25A sudden pop can happen because of degeneration in the disc itself.
18:29So most likely...
18:30You're like one of the family.
18:32We've all got bloody back problems in our family, honestly.
18:35Me too.
18:36Unfortunately, it's genetic in the Le Bon family, the Fitzpatrick family, and this doggie's family.
18:42This is her.
18:43Oh, my God.
18:44Do you want to give her a cuddle?
18:45Because we're going to take her through in a moment.
18:47Come on, you.
18:48Come on.
18:49You're going to be alright.
18:50You're going to be alright.
18:51Alright.
18:52I love you.
18:53Okay.
18:55Thank you, Lauren.
18:56Take care.
18:57Cheers.
18:58Bye.
18:59I'm still in shock, actually.
19:03The idea of having a degenerative disease like that, and a dog so young.
19:10She's just so full of energy.
19:12Yeah.
19:13She must be really suffering.
19:16I just want her to have a good quality of life.
19:19Yeah.
19:20It's the most important thing.
19:21Yeah.
19:22Because she's still so young.
19:23Come on, little Willow.
19:28Good girl.
19:29Good girl.
19:31An MRI scan will confirm if three-year-old Willow does have a damaged disc in her back.
19:40And if surgery could help.
19:46Hello.
19:47Hey.
19:48It's Noel here.
19:49Hi.
19:50Hi, Noel.
19:51Now then.
19:52It is exactly as I expected.
19:54It's a very large volume.
19:56Acute disc extrusion.
19:59Mm-hmm.
20:00In the middle of the lower back.
20:02Right.
20:03I just, I don't know what to do.
20:06Well.
20:07Um.
20:08I really, I really don't.
20:09And I would, you wouldn't believe this, but my pug today, he's been wobbly for a while.
20:14Oh my goodness.
20:15He's just refused to walk.
20:18He can't walk.
20:19What?
20:20His back legs just won't go.
20:22I mean, he's 12, but they just won't go.
20:25What, like now?
20:26Yeah.
20:27No, and he, he, he, his bladder is completely full.
20:31He can't ween.
20:32Oh my God.
20:33That's lightning struck twice in 24 hours.
20:37I mean, that's a nightmare.
20:39What's the other dog's name?
20:42Luigi.
20:43And he's 12?
20:44Yeah, he.
20:45Okay.
20:46My advice to you is, providing your vets are happy with it, just come straight away.
20:55Okay.
20:56Bye.
20:57Bye.
20:58Whilst the team prep Willow for spinal surgery, Yasmin will drive poorly pug Luigi to the practice.
21:07It's just utterly bizarre that Yasmin's other dog, Luigi, has gone off his legs this afternoon
21:14as well.
21:15But I can't afford to think about that right now.
21:18I've got to fix Willow first.
21:20Willow's scan shows that a degenerate disc has leaked and the material is pressing on her
21:27spinal cord.
21:28The Le Bon's want Noel to operate rather than risk paralysis.
21:32Okay.
21:33So we're going in on the right-hand side of the spine here.
21:36I'm just putting my finger in to feel exactly where I am.
21:39L1, T13.
21:43Having located the right spot, Noel cuts a window in the vertebra to access the leaked
21:53disc material.
21:54So that there is disc material, right there.
22:01Using a blunt edge tool, Noel carefully scrapes away the exploded disc.
22:10Okay, good.
22:13That disc is now clear.
22:15The spinal cord is fully freed up.
22:18There's no compression.
22:19The spinal cord also doesn't look too bruised.
22:22You can never tell for sure, but I think Willow should do well.
22:27That's really fine.
22:29One of that.
22:31Now Willow, we're going to have to see your brother now.
22:36Unbelievable.
22:37Thanks, everybody.
22:38You've always been a dramatic pug, haven't you?
22:49Willow may be out of immediate danger, but it's the Le Bon's other dog, Luigi, who is now the concern.
22:59All right.
23:00All right.
23:01All right.
23:02All right.
23:03All right.
23:04All right.
23:05All right, sweetheart.
23:06All right.
23:07This day is just getting worse and worse.
23:12Our darling pug, Luigi, who's, you know, no spring chicken.
23:18But, you know, we just kind of go, oh, it's just old Luigi.
23:21You know, if you put a bit of ham in front of you or mention sausages, it'll be off.
23:25Yeah.
23:26And I went back this afternoon and I could not get this dog to get up.
23:30And I thought, no, this is ridiculous.
23:32This can't be happening.
23:34So, here we are.
23:37Again.
23:38What's wrong with our family?
23:41Same thing as this morning, please.
23:44We'll just have you talk to him up here.
23:47All right, big guy.
23:49All right, big guy.
23:50All right.
23:51That's it.
23:52All right.
23:53He's slow on the left hind.
23:54You're good.
23:55Good.
23:56Oh.
23:57Okay.
23:58Oh, man.
24:00I didn't touch him yet.
24:03All right.
24:04All right.
24:05All right.
24:06All right.
24:07All right.
24:08Oh.
24:09All right.
24:10Okay.
24:11All right.
24:12All right.
24:13All right.
24:14All right.
24:15Shh.
24:16Shh.
24:17Shh.
24:18Man, it's in exactly the same area as Willow.
24:21What's going on?
24:23This is not...
24:25It's just mental, isn't it?
24:27What's happening?
24:29All right.
24:30I don't know what's going on in your house, but that's the weirdest thing I've ever seen.
24:35All right.
24:36I've just operated on Willow.
24:38The good news is it went well.
24:40The ethical dilemma with Willow is a lot different than the ethical dilemma with this dog,
24:45because of the age of this dog.
24:47Yeah.
24:49And whether it's morally and ethically right to put this dog through surgery.
24:54So, look, I'm just going to be frank with you.
24:56I think that we're going to end up putting him to sleep if we don't scan him,
25:00because he's going to get worse by the rate at which he's going downhill.
25:04And I think that you're going to lose him, unfortunately, and I'm very sorry to say that.
25:11I can't have him be in pain.
25:14I'm really sorry.
25:15I'm really sorry.
25:16I'm really sorry.
25:17I'm sorry.
25:22So, I'll give you a couple of minutes, okay?
25:25We'll just go and see how Willow is.
25:31Are we ready for all hands on deck?
25:33They're trying to make the decision now.
25:34They're trying to make the decision now.
25:35I remember it hurling by the waiting mechanism.
25:39I'm-
25:41I–
25:45I just–
25:48I completely flummocked by this.
25:51I certainly want to put him through.
25:52Yes, I love to put him through.
25:58Maybe it's his time.
26:02He's had the best life.
26:04He said he's had a great time.
26:08You also know that he can be a strong dog.
26:13Do you think we've got to give it a chance, then?
26:16Yeah.
26:19I'm sorry, girls.
26:21What do you want me to do?
26:22Well, I think let's scan him.
26:24OK.
26:25Yeah.
26:26I would do anything to save this dog.
26:29He's such a huge part of our family.
26:42I have to be careful.
26:44Now, I'm going to pick you up, buddy.
26:45I know you're painful.
26:46I know you're painful.
26:48OK, let's go.
27:01Despite being late at night, Luigi will have an MRI scan.
27:05Hello, little friend.
27:06All right, Luigi.
27:07He's 12.
27:08Yeah.
27:09His bladder's full, and he's in a lot of pain.
27:14If the scans reveal an exploded disc like Willow's, the family could face yet more major surgery
27:21for another of their beloved dogs.
27:37I love Christmas.
27:38I love Christmas, Mario.
27:39It's my favorite period of the year.
27:41I love Secret Santa.
27:43If I will have to do your present, I already know what to do.
27:47What?
27:48What?
27:49I can't tell you.
27:51It's great, isn't it?
27:54Oh, Mario.
27:55It's just amazing.
27:56Oh, Mario, I love Christmas so much.
27:59Oh, my God.
28:01I'm going to spoil him so much.
28:08He can have sausages for breakfast.
28:12Yasmin and Saffron Le Bon
28:14Girls.
28:15Are waiting for the results of 12-year-old Pug Luigi's spinal scan after he collapsed earlier
28:22this evening.
28:23The bottom line is that he has multiple discs that are dried out in his back.
28:29And it's not as straightforward as Willow.
28:34At the lumbosacral junction, which is right down here at the very base, that disc is dramatically
28:41bulging and causing sciatica.
28:44That's why he was squealing.
28:49The problem with his clinical signs is it's very unusual to have a knuckle that doesn't
28:56come back with just a lower motor neuron problem, which is the sciatic nerve.
29:01So I suspect there's two problems.
29:03So I'm going to give permission for him to be woken up because we all need to just take
29:10a step back here and see what the clinical signs are tomorrow.
29:15It does not require surgery tonight.
29:19OK?
29:20Don't worry about his pain.
29:22You're in a good place for happy drugs.
29:25So we'll take care of him.
29:27I want him to get the A-class.
29:28We'll give him all of the A-class.
29:29Class A's.
29:30Class A's.
29:31He'll have tonight.
29:32Watch out.
29:33But it's a bit shell-shocked really.
29:34You know, you think you know what's going on and that you love and know and you can read
29:47signals with your animals.
29:49I just thought he was just, you know, just getting stiff and old and being a bit lazy.
29:55But I never really imagined what was going on.
30:01If there's a possibility we can make his life better, then at the moment that's what I would
30:10want to do.
30:11Yeah.
30:12I would.
30:14Yeah.
30:16No.
30:17She needs to drive me home.
30:20Now, mate.
30:21Good boy.
30:22Good boy.
30:23We're going for a pee, mate.
30:24Yeah.
30:25You're such a good boy, Domino.
30:39Big softy Domino is taking his first tentative steps since the operation that repositioned his
30:45knee.
30:46So, Domino is two days post-surgery now.
30:49He's doing great.
30:50He's walking pretty good already on the leg, which is wonderful.
30:55You know what's really remarkable, though, is that he was just hours away from death when
31:01Will rescued him.
31:02And to see the life that's in him now.
31:04Yes, mate.
31:05I love you too.
31:06It's remarkable.
31:07Shall we go for a walk?
31:08Oh, yeah.
31:09Let's do it.
31:10With Domino's recovery going well, he will be allowed home.
31:11Hey, buddy.
31:12How are you?
31:13Come on, Diamond.
31:14Hello, sweetie pie.
31:15How are you doing?
31:16Good girl.
31:17But whilst her big brother is on the road to recovery, Diamond is only just starting her
31:31journey.
31:32Now, it's a dog exchange day today, isn't it?
31:35Yes.
31:36Let's get her through.
31:37Come on, sweetie.
31:38See you later.
31:39Later this afternoon, she will have an arthroscopic investigation to check how bad the erosion
31:44and osteoarthritis is affecting her elbows.
31:47One out and then one in.
31:50Oh, my gosh.
31:51Hello.
31:52Meanwhile, Domino can leave right now.
31:56There you go.
31:57On y va.
31:58On y va.
31:59There we go.
32:00He'll need six weeks of cage rest, but will hopefully be signed off for Christmas.
32:06The biggest task that lies ahead is his rehab.
32:10To be honest, it's probably the best time because all my, you know, I should be on tour now.
32:16So there's always a, you know, silver lining.
32:20I lost all my work and thought, oh, gosh.
32:22But then I met these two and, you know, I get to properly help them.
32:27And so this is all obviously meant to be.
32:33When Will came to see me with Domino, he had no idea that Diamond might need treatment as well.
32:39Ginger, come on.
32:41Come on, baby.
32:42So for Yasmin to have Willow operated on and then Luigi to go down with a spinal problem that same day was bizarre.
32:50Unbelievable.
32:51He doesn't have pseudohydroflexia, does he?
32:53No, no, no, he doesn't.
32:55In Luigi's case, his symptoms are unusual.
32:58The sciatic nerves are so squished by the degenerate bulging disc that not only is he in significant pain,
33:06but also the input and output signals from those nerves are impaired.
33:11So his back legs are weak.
33:13And that's quite uncommon.
33:15Unfortunately, medicine is unlikely to deal with this problem.
33:19So sadly, the family are probably going to need to consider operating yet again on another one of their friends.
33:32Can you imagine having two dogs, both of them in the same day?
33:36Having been given the go-ahead for surgery...
33:39I can't believe it.
33:40I can't believe it.
33:41To be honest with you.
33:42It's incredible.
33:43I can't believe it.
33:44Noel will operate on 12-year-old pug Luigi in the hope of getting him out of pain and back to his sausage-eating self.
33:52All right, here we go.
33:55Man, these nerves are like five times the size they should be up here.
34:03Poor Luigi.
34:04This has been going on for ages.
34:07A bulging disc has been crushing the nerves at the base of Luigi's spine that lead to his back legs.
34:14Just trying to scrape the disc out now underneath those nerves, removing the bulge.
34:20Pins and cement will fuse Luigi's vertebrae in position and give the nerves more room.
34:30So I'm looking at the CT scan and trying to judge where I'm going to put the pin.
34:39It's like operating multiple chopsticks with the same hand.
34:50With 14 pins now in place...
34:56I'm going to put some collagen to protect the nerves.
35:01Noel can pour in the cement.
35:05Past the point of no return now.
35:11Okay, so we're going to go to CT now and hopefully all the pins will be in the right spot.
35:15And if we're lucky, hopefully Luigi will be out of pain.
35:24I haven't eaten all day.
35:28I'm hungry like the wolf.
35:29The CT scan shows that the pins are in the correct place.
35:44But it will be a few days before it's clear if the operation has worked.
35:49And if Luigi will walk properly again.
35:51This way! Come on in!
35:52Mumu, is it Christmas? Is it Christmas?
35:53You've got all the presents?
35:54Good boy!
35:55Good boy!
35:56Will and his pack are back at Fitzpatrick's.
35:57I feel like I pretty much work at this place.
36:07Is it Christmas? You've got all the presents?
36:11Good boy.
36:16Will and his pack are back at Fitzpatrick's.
36:20I feel like I pretty much work at this place.
36:24Put it this way, I don't need to put the address in the sat-nav anymore.
36:28I know where I'm going.
36:29And that's a sign, isn't it?
36:31Come on.
36:33Domino's recovery is going well.
36:35But his little sister Diamond's arthroscopy showed severe erosion on the inner half of the left elbow.
36:42And Noel has recommended an innovative surgery.
36:46What I'm going to try and do is alleviate the pain associated with rubbing of the humerus on the ulna.
36:53So what's going to happen today is that I am going to perform a sliding humeral osteotomy.
37:01And it's going to move the upper part of the humerus over.
37:05So that the weight is preferentially borne on the good half of the joint.
37:10Yeah.
37:10And we do that nowadays with a custom plate which we have custom made for your friend.
37:18Look at that.
37:19Now that is for you but not in your mouth.
37:24Please don't believe that I'm curing her arthritis.
37:28Nobody can do that or they win a Nobel Prize.
37:31No.
37:32What I'm doing is I'm alleviating pain and I'm giving that part of the joint a chance to recover.
37:38Exactly.
37:38Any questions?
37:39No.
37:40I'm happy she's here.
37:41I'm happy she's here too.
37:42Animals can unblock our hearts and our minds with empathy, with unconditional love and with loyalty.
37:53Domino and Diamond have helped Will to heal and now Will is helping them.
37:59It's a fantastic example of dog being man's best friend and man being dog's best friend.
38:08It doesn't get any better than that.
38:10Anyway, what are you going to do for Christmas then?
38:29I have no idea.
38:31Not yet.
38:33No, we will definitely travel to Italy.
38:35Even if I have to...
38:37I can go to the balloon.
38:38You could, but...
38:41You're going to shoot me down.
38:42I will, yes.
38:47Whilst Domino makes good progress at home, Will Young's All-American Girl Diamond is being prepped for advanced elbow surgery.
38:57So we're going to operate on Diamond now to try and unload the painful area of the elbow where the humerus has rubbed away against the ulna.
39:04Staple, please.
39:06Staple, please.
39:09Diamond's cartilage has worn away on the inside of her elbow joint where her humerus and ulna bones have a poor fit.
39:15Noel is going to attach a custom-made plate to the inside of the humerus, then he'll cut through the middle of the bone.
39:27Non-locking screws will slide the bottom half towards the plate.
39:30These are replaced with locking screws sequentially.
39:34Diamond's weight will then be transferred away from the painful erosion to the healthier outside of the joint.
39:39So this stepped plate is specially contoured for this bone.
39:43We pop it in like so.
39:44Noel fixes the plate to both top and bottom halves of the humerus.
40:01Go.
40:05He then cuts through the bone.
40:07Relax.
40:08Okay, we've cut the bone in half now, right next to the step.
40:16What we're going to do next is move the bottom half up towards the plate, which pushes the top half outwards.
40:28With the bone in the new position, Noel inserts the final locking screws.
40:34Give me the graft, please.
40:36Bone marrow harvested from the top of the humerus is packed into the step to help the bone to heal.
40:48Now we stitch everything up.
40:49It may have been a rough few years for Diamond, but she will now be in with a chance of a bright and shiny future.
41:08Well done, Luigi.
41:10Oh, look at you go.
41:11Look at you go.
41:13Good boy.
41:14Good boy.
41:15Yay.
41:16In the kennels, 12-year-old pug Luigi is making good progress after his spinal surgery.
41:24There is nothing that Luigi won't do for a sausage.
41:28You want that, mate?
41:30There you go. Oh, yeah.
41:32Oh, yeah.
41:33That is the essence of a pug's quality of life.
41:40Luigi may have his appetite back, but wrecking ball willow has already been discharged.
41:46And has been strutting her stuff on the dog walk.
41:50I walk her three or four times a day.
41:52And she's getting stronger every day.
41:54She really is.
41:56Today, Willow has returned to escort best friend Luigi home.
42:01That's if he wants to leave.
42:03Noel has been hand feeding him chicken pate.
42:06I'm a little bit upset about it, I'll be honest.
42:10We give him cucumber, iceberg lettuce he loves.
42:14Here, he's being hand fed chicken pate.
42:17He's not going to want to come home.
42:20So this is what you do.
42:23See he's walking really well.
42:25Oh, my God, yeah.
42:27Oh, look at that.
42:28So he's in great shape.
42:29Look at that.
42:30That's amazing.
42:32Hopefully I can sign him off for Christmas.
42:34Oh.
42:36I didn't expect him to be walking that well.
42:38I have to say, that's amazing.
42:40It never ceases to amaze me.
42:42Even in a dog this age, how they bounce back and they're like...
42:45We were really close to saying goodbye.
42:48But, I mean, look at him.
42:50It's amazing.
42:51There's a lot more love and time.
42:53Yeah, yeah, a lot more sausages in the world, mate.
42:55There really are.
42:57It's mad to think that we came here with two dogs that couldn't walk.
43:02Couldn't stand up.
43:03And we're going home with two dogs that can walk.
43:06Which is absolutely mind-blowing.
43:10We're not here.
43:12We've got presents.
43:13Are there presents?
43:15Come on, girl.
43:17It's been a challenging year.
43:20I don't know what was in the air, but everybody sort of fell apart.
43:23That's hilarious.
43:25Is it edible?
43:27It's good.
43:28And now everyone's back on their feet.
43:30So, Christmas is going to be fantastic.
43:32Come on, then.
43:33Let's go.
43:34Let's go outside.
43:38Go on, then.
43:39Freedom!
43:41Willow, slow down.
43:45Go, go, go.
43:47It's just phenomenal.
43:48You can look at them now and look at Willow.
43:50She couldn't move when she got in.
43:53And you take off the lead.
43:54She's off.
43:55She's like a rocket.
43:57Oh!
43:58Nice bit of glass.
44:00Luigi's really strong.
44:01That night when we really thought we were going to say goodbye.
44:04Now he leaps up onto the sofa.
44:07It's just amazing, the life he's got back.
44:10Honestly.
44:11He's living his best life, I think.
44:12Here's the kitchen. Come on, come on.
44:13Oh, over the shoulder.
44:14One of my favourite angles.
44:15It looks like a drunk Father Christmas.
44:18We're just feeling incredibly lucky that all of them have pulled through and just recovered so well.
44:36You're going to have a good Christmas, yes?
44:47Happy Christmas, Domino.
44:49Happy Christmas, Diamond.
44:51It's a special time for Will and his adopted family.
44:55This year they'll be spending their first Christmas together.
44:58Christmas is going to be so different for Domino and Diamond.
45:10They now have a home.
45:12There's no Christmas spirit with Domino.
45:14It's like, I will just chew these antennas up.
45:18It's destroying Christmas.
45:23I love watching them play.
45:25They just look so happy.
45:26It is honestly one of the things that makes my heart leap the most in my life at the moment.
45:41It's like having these enormous headies that give out this love.
45:46This boundless love.
45:48The future for these dogs is ultimately, I mean everyone's saying it anyway, crust.
45:53Happy doggies.
45:56Has a rescue dog ever won crust?
45:59I don't know.
46:00Probably not.
46:01Stop me.
46:02Won one talent show.
46:04They could win another talent show.
46:06Don't let Daddy down.
46:08Oh.
46:12Come on.
46:23You pretty much.
46:24Come on out.
46:25Oh.
46:26Oh.
46:30You.
46:31Oh.
46:33Oh.
46:34Oh.
46:36Oh.
46:37Oh.
46:38Oh oh.
46:41Oh.
46:42Oh.
46:43Oh.
46:44Oh.
46:45Oh.
46:46Oh.
46:47Oh.
46:48Oh.
46:49Oh.
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