The Yorkshire Vet returned to Channel 5 screens on Thursday, 29 May, marking the much-anticipated 20th season of the cherished documentary series. Viewers were once again drawn into the compassionate and often complex world of veterinary care in Huddersfield and at Cannon Hall Farm, following vets such as Julian Norton, David Melleney, Matt Smith, and Shona Searson.
This episode showcased a range of cases—from Peter Wright’s cautious approach to trimming a parrot’s claws to Julian performing surgery on a Romanian rescue dog. Shona also took the opportunity to share equine first aid tips with local horse and pony owners.
However, the episode’s most gripping moment came when vet Matt Smith was urgently called to Cannon Hall Farm after Amber, a much-loved Shire horse, sustained a severe eye injury. Racing against time, Matt explained the gravity of the situation to viewers: “I’ve just had a phone call from Phil and Georgie at Cannon Hall. They’ve told me Amber’s got a nasty cut to her eye. It looks quite bad.”
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Matt’s concern was palpable as he recounted Amber’s significance at the farm, noting, “Amber is one of their favourite Shire horses. She actually came second at The Great Yorkshire Show last year.”
Aware of the delicate nature of eye injuries, Matt shared, “I’m a bit concerned as eyes are very, very tricky things to work with. They’re even harder to try and stitch back together. I’m getting there as quick as I can to see what I can do with it.”
Meanwhile, back at the farm, Phil and Georgie did their best to calm Amber, who was clearly distressed. Georgie admitted the outlook was worrying: “It doesn’t look the best. It could just be that she’s done it on the fencing somewhere. It’s not looking great.”
Phil feared the worst: the possibility Amber might lose her eyelid or, in the worst case, the eye itself if the injury was untreatable.
Thankfully, Matt was able to treat the injury despite its challenging location. On a follow-up visit, he expressed relief at Amber’s recovery progress: “I think she was very lucky to not actually damage the eye itself. The longer it’s left, the more swelling occurs and the more chance of infection.”
The dedication and quick action of the veterinary team ensured Amber was on the mend—a testament to the skill and compassion that The Yorkshire Vet series celebrates.
The Yorkshire Vet continues to air Thursdays at 8 pm on Channel 5, with episodes available to stream on My5.