VIDEO – Ben Fogle returns Vet School to prime time

Growing up, presenter Ben Fogle says he was “desperate” to become a vet, like his father

University of Liverpool’s School of Veterinary Science returns to prime time this week, as a second series of Channel 5’s Animal Clinic begins.

Headed by presenter and adventurer, Ben Fogle the show will continue delivering its unique insight into one of the world’s leading veterinary institutions.

The son of celebrated author and veterinary surgeon, Bruce Fogle OBE, Ben follows the lives of the highly skilled professionals and students at the University’s three state-of-the-art animal hospitals on the Leahurst Campus, as well as the busy First Opinion Clinic which has recently opened new facilities in Liverpool city centre.

Professor Susan Dawson, Head of the School of Veterinary Science, said: “The fact that Ben’s father was a vet means he has a real appreciation of what we’re doing, and the effort and consideration the vets give to patients, and the clients that bring them in.

“It’s really nice having someone with that background to help us present our work at Leahurst, so people can see the fantastic job we do.”

In this series of Ben Fogle’s Animal Clinic viewers will see one of the vets at the Small Animal Teaching Hospital, Cardiologist Hannah Stephenson, treat Norah, a much loved Bearded Collie with a tumour-like mass on her heart. The show also follows the specialist farm vets who act as emergency midwives for ewes during the lambing season.

Ben says he enjoyed “immersing himself” in the environment at Leahurst

In the Philip Leverhulme Equine Hospital, Veterinary Surgeon Neil Townsend treats a horse with a potentially fatal case of the gut complaint colic, while Orthopaedic Surgeon Rob Pettitt is called to an emergency case involving a highly endangered species of antelope.

Professor Dawson said: “I think the show gives people a real flavour of the work we do at Leahurst. The focus is on the clinical areas and I think it shows the care and excellence of our very skilled veterinary surgeons looking after the animals, both referral and first opinion. Our reason for having these resources is to teach the next generation of the profession, for our students to see and experience investigation, diagnosis and the care of patients first hand.”

Ben Fogle’s Animal Clinic started on Channel 5 on Wednesday October 30, at 8pm. For further information, please visit: http://www.channel5.com/shows/ben-fogles-animal-clinic

To find out more about the University’s School of Veterinary Science, please visit http://www.liv.ac.uk/veterinary-science/