The Supervet: Noel Fitzpatrick

Noel Fitzpatrick treats Koa, a six-month-old Bouvier des Flandres who is suffering from a badly deformed back leg, causing huge pain. Patricia brings her beloved 11-year-old Rhodesian ridgeback, Kwanda, to Fitzpatrick's Guildford hospital with an eye infection that she fears may be the sign of something more sinister. Dr Laurent Findji confirms it is bad news - a malignant tumour.

Noel treats an 11-month-old dog who has a severely dislocated hip which Noel suspects is the result of trauma experienced at the tender age of only two months. Elsewhere, overweight Ladradoodle Fletcher is brought into the veterinary practice all the way from Scotland after previous surgery to fix a bad ankle fracture has failed, and a tiny hedgehog needs treatment on his broken hind legs.

Noel suspects that an 18-month-old Australian Shepherd dog may be suffering from nerve compression, and an 11-month-old pug shows signs of neurological damage. It transpires that she has bone malformation that is squashing her spinal cord. Elsewhere, there is an emergency admission when a Jack Russell puppy called Bella is rushed in with a crushed pelvis after a freak accident.

A French bulldog called Dave has a spinal deformity, and Noel discovers that not only does he have a genetic malformation of his sacral and lumbar vertebrae, but also excess bone in the pathways where the nerves travel to his legs. Meanwhile, a six-year-old terrier has lost a paw after being attacked by another dog, and the only options appear to be replacing the paw with a bionic implant or amputating the entire limb.

Noel treats a seven-month-old fox red Labrador puppy with lameness, caused by a joint defect called osteochondritis dissecans. He explains that medicine can be given, but in the end the dog may end up requiring a complete ankle replacement or a joint fusion on both sides. Jo has travelled 400 miles to bring her beloved four-year-old springer spaniel to see Noel. The pooch's kneecap keeps slipping in and out of her knee joint, and despite several previous procedures, the problems persist. After an examination by Noel, Jo faces the further worry of osteoarthritis.

Spaniel Scrumpy is suffering from lameness and Noel discovers he has a collapsed disc and severe elbow arthritis. He already has a chequered medical history totalling six previous operations to his elbows, hip and knee. Meanwhile, there is an emergency admission when a 15-month-old dachshund arrives with a mystery brain condition, and Noel and his neurology colleagues have their work cut out to identify the cause. When his condition rapidly deteriorates overnight, suddenly the life of this much-loved young dog hangs in the balance.