Ever wondered what your vets are doing at Christmas? Well, there will be vets on duty up and down the country: vets in the UK are not permitted to close up shop without making sure that there is cover for emergencies. So, if they’re on duty this year, it might well look something like Sophie’s composite Christmas…! 

7.50am  

I arrive at work after a chocolate-based Christmas Day breakfast. It’s not the best shift of the year to have pulled, but as I’m greeted by Jen, the head nurse, and her rendition of ‘I wish it could be Christmas every daaaayay’, I can’t help but smile. Let’s see what’s in store…… 

8am 

Bags down and scrubs donned, the vets meet in kennels for ‘rounds’. We move through the inpatients while the night vet passes over information about each animal; when they came in and why, what has been done, and what the forward plan is.  

  • In Kennel 1 is Jax the Schnauzer. He is in with a severe flare up of pancreatitis after eating a plate of gammon fat. His owner was preparing food for the big day and left the discarded fat on the side… Jax seized the opportunity with both paws but the next day was refusing to eat, vomiting, and had a very painful tummy. His day vets diagnosed him with acute pancreatitis and admitted him yesterday for iv fluids, pain relief and medical treatment. 
  • In Kennel 2 we have Goose the Labrador who found a box of Green and Blacks chocolates wrapped under the tree. 70% cocoa, the best! Unless you’re a dog that is. He ate the lot whilst his owner was at work, and by the time she got home was showing signs of chocolate toxicity – panting, hyperactive, a racing heart, and packaging strewn across the lounge carpet. If only Aunty Pam had declared what was in the present before it was unknowingly placed under the tree. He will need close monitoring for any seizures, and his heart rate and blood pressure regularly checking. 
  • Kennel 3 is ready for Ruby, a springer spaniel who is coming in soon. She was seen yesterday after falling down a rabbit hole on the family Christmas Eve walk. A soft tissue injury was suspected and she was given pain relief overnight but is still non-weight bearing lame this morning. She will need admitting today and sedating for x-rays to check for any bone fractures.  
  • In the cat ward, Daisy is sleeping. She had a hindlimb amputated yesterday after an aggressive tumour was found in her leg. The tumour has been sent to the lab for analysis and she has been kept in for pain relief and monitoring overnight. Her wound is looking clean and she ate a good breakfast this morning. She just needs more pain relief at 11am and can hopefully go home this afternoon.   

I write nuggets of information down and start formulating a rough plan for the day in my head.  

8.30am 

That’s rounds wrapped up. The night vets head home for a well-deserved power nap and to enjoy Christmas with their families.  

I make a plan with the nurses: they will get the x-ray room prepped for Ruby and draw up her sedation ready, then take blood samples from Jax and Goose for ongoing monitoring. I have two new patients waiting patiently in reception to see in the meantime.  

9am 

In the consult room I’m greeted by Charlie, a bouncy 6 month old Cockapoo puppy who’s very excited to be at the vets, accompanied by his less than excited looking owner. In the chaos of the morning, Charlie has eaten a box of 6 mince pies, foils and all. Luckily for Charlie, his owner knew that grapes and raisins can cause serious (or even fatal) kidney failure in dogs and bought him quickly down to us. It’s only been 2 hours since Charlie ate the mince pies so we can give a simple injection to make him sick and stop the raisins being absorbed any more. I give the injection and leave him with Jen the nurse while I speak to the owner about the options we have afterwards. Charlie duly obliges and is reunited with his mince pies in reverse. Two of them still sit in their foil cups. Curious. 

9.30am 

In the other consult room I meet Simba, a beautiful ginger cat who’s owner has bought him in with a wound on his flank. He came home unusually late last night and his owner immediately knew something was wrong when he hid himself away upstairs. She discovered a wound under his thick fur so sensibly didn’t feed him overnight and has bought him in first thing for an assessment. Simba seems otherwise bright and well. Unfortunately the wound is bigger and deeper than it first appeared and will need stitches. I discuss a plan with the owner and admit Simba for a general anaesthetic to clean and suture the wound.  

9.55am  

The nurse gets Simba settled in a kennel while I make a general anaesthetic plan for him and write up my notes.  

10.05am 

Ruby arrives. I admit her for sedation and leg x-rays.  

10.20am 

I check on Charlie the mince pie puppy. He has had the wind taken out of his sails somewhat, but still wags his tail and comes over to say hello. I discuss options again with the owner – whether to admit him for precautionary iv fluids and monitoring, or to send him home with some activated charcoal to eat and a re-check in 2 days. The problem here is that although we know there is a risk of kidney problems, we don’t know for sure how big the risk is for any individual dog. Charlie might well be absolutely fine without fluids, but there is a chance he might not. The owner prefers to err on the side of caution so we take some base-line bloods, get an iv canula placed and start him on iv fluids. He settles into kennels well and I know he will get his fair share of cuddles during his stay.  

10.45am 

I ask the nurse to sedate Ruby for her x-rays and finish writing my notes. 

10.55am 

Sara the nurse brings me a steaming cup of tea and two chocolates; Whispas, my favourite. I thank her, eat them immediately, and leave the tea to cool whilst I finish my notes. 

11am 

Ruby is very sleepy and we position her for x-rays. They unfortunately do show a hairline fracture in her bone. This should heal fine without surgery, but she will need to be in a splint for about 6 weeks whilst the bone heals. The nurse expertly places a splint bandage and reverses her sedation. I dispense some ongoing pain relief and ring her owners with the news. 

11.20am 

I remember my cup of tea. Have a sip, it’s just on the wrong side of warm, but still worth drinking I reckon.  

I ask the nurses to pre-med Simba for his stitch-up. 

11.23am 

Regretting my tea drinking decision. Make a fresh mug.  

Look over Jax’ and Bruno’s blood results and alter their treatment plans accordingly. Change their hospital sheets and make the nurses aware so they can oversee their care in kennels.  

12.00pm 

The nurses tell me Simba is all prepped and ready for his stitch up. They have already cleaned the wound carefully under sedation, so I induce his anaesthetic, scrub up and carefully suture the wound back together.  

12.15pm 

During the stitch up I’m told a dog needing a caesarean is on her way down.  

Finish the stitch up and leave Simba in the nurses’ capable hands for his recovery.  

12.45pm 

Phoebe arrives. She has had 2 puppies at home but the next seems stuck in the canal. I grab half a sandwich before going to assess her. Suspicions are correct – the puppy won’t budge and she needs a caesarean. Rally the team and prep her immediately for surgery.  

3pm 

4 beautiful puppies! Sadly the one which was stuck had passed away, but the squeaks and squirms of the rest put a smile on everyone’s face. Phoebe recovers well from the surgery and we plan to get her and her Christmas babies back home ASAP once we’re happy they are all feeding. The owner is thrilled and asks if we would like to name the pups we delivered. We each choose a name and Holly, Eve, Dash and Sprout will head home with their proud mum.  

3.30pm 

Lunchtime. A bit late but the feel-good factor of Phoebe and her puppies makes up for it. Ring home and catch up on the day’s antics. Turns out it has been just as hectic there as it has been at work…! 

4.30pm 

Back to it. I start by checking on the inpatients.  

Simba has recovered well from the stitch up, has eaten, and the wound looks good. I ring the owner to say he can be collected later, then dispense medication ready for him to go home with.  

Charlie is unfazed by this morning’s mince pie ordeal and is looking for more food. I take him out for some puppy cuddles and fresh air.  

Goose and Jax continue to improve and I’m hopeful they can go home tomorrow.  

Ruby is due to be discharged by the nurse shortly. 

5.30pm 

I meet Daisy’s owners to discharge her. It will be a few days before we get the results of her tumour so the prognosis for her is still up in the air, but for now she is comfortable and managing on 3 legs very well. She goes off to enjoy the rest of Christmas in the comfort of her own home. 

6pm 

I make a cuppa and nab a few more chocolates from the tub. I sit at my computer and go through the day’s diary to make sure all loose ends are tied up.  The night team will be in soon. I wonder what’s in store for them? 

A busy one today, but all my patients are settled and doing well. What a lovely feeling. A stitch up, a chocolate toxicity, a mince pie eater, acute pancreatitis, a leg amputation, a bone fracture, a caesarean, and a partridge in a pear tree. All in a Christmas days’ work, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

We’d like to wish you all – vets, animal health professionals, farmers and smallholders, horse owners, and pet owners, guardians and parents – a very Q-word and peaceful Christmas, from all of us at VetHelpDirect.