The Yorkshire Vet star fears 'sudden death' as they tackle 'rare' emergency

Tensions soared on the latest episode of Channel 5's Yorkshire Vet, as Shona Searson encountered a critical situation right from the get-go.

The drama unfolded quickly when viewers learned that during a routine visit, one of Shona's colleagues stumbled upon a sheep suffering from prolapse.

While en route, Shona expressed urgency, saying: "She's called me to come straight away. Time is of the essence because it sounds as though the ewe's uterus is out, which very, very rarely happens before they've started lambing."

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Local sheep farmer Jo underlined just how dire the predicament was, explaining if the ewe didn't stop pushing, it could result in fatal consequences for both her and her unborn lambs.

Shona didn't mince words regarding the dangers at hand, noting: "I've seen them have horrendous injuries like prolapsed guts coming out. We could lose everything if we don't act quickly."

Upon arriving at the scene, Shona confessed she had never seen such an extreme case of prolapse, reports .

Focusing on the immediate task, she commented: "Priority is to get the lambs out because I don't think we'd be able to get the uterus back in until we've got the pressure of the lambs out of the abdomen."

With little time to waste, Shona informed Jo of the necessity for an urgent C-section and sprang into action, all the while acknowledging the high stakes for the affected sheep.

Shona detailed the risks at stake, stating: "The longer the uterus is out, the more chance of damage to that and the more chance of toxicity when we put it back in again. The toxins and the bad blood go around the body and can cause quite sudden death, so we really do need to be quick."

Tragically, the pair of lambs that were delivered from the ewe didn't make it, shifting the focus onto ensuring the survival of the sheep herself.

While examining the dire circumstances, Shona detailed the challenges they faced; her cervix hadn't fully dilated, complicating efforts to reposition the uterus.

Utilising a somewhat unconventional method of pouring salt onto it, the vet explained as she worked: "The salt absorbs some of the water and it helps you reduce the size of some of what's prolapsed. I'm trying to really gently get this uterus back in. We absolutely cannot leave her like that."

After successfully managing to replace the prolapsed organ, Shona treated the ewe with antibiotics.

Revisiting Jo's farm on the programme three weeks post-prolapse, the viewers discovered the ewe had recovered well under Shona's care and hadn't suffered another prolapse.

Jo beamingly disclosed that they'd named the resilient ewe 'Shona' in honour of the vet. Additionally, she declared that they wouldn't be breeding from Shona again, allowing her a peaceful life grazing the fields.

The Yorkshire Vert is available to watch on My5.