Kelvin Fletcher and his wife, Liz, feared a repeat of the sudden loss of their cow Cherry when young heifer Elizabeth developed a wheeze. The former Emmerdale star called in vet Hugo to examine Elizabeth at the couple's Cheshire farm, concerned that an earlier illness had returned.
Worrying Wheeze Brings Back Memories
With the flock outside enjoying fresh pasture, there was room in the barn to bring Elizabeth and Ruby indoors for the check-up. Kelvin explained that Elizabeth had previously been treated and recovered, but her wheezing had come back. "She's got a real wheeze again, which is not a good sign," he said.
The scare was particularly unsettling for the couple following the sudden death of their cow Cherry from pneumonia the previous year. Kelvin recalled that Cherry had seemed fit and well before they lost her. She was also in calf, making her unexpected death all the more upsetting. "It came completely out of the blue," he said.
Vet Examination Brings Relief
Cherry had been the matriarch of their small herd. With just two breeding cows as they worked to establish the herd, her loss was both a major setback and an emotional blow. Kelvin described what happened as "just devastating, really" and acknowledged that the experience was still in the back of their minds as they waited for the emotional news about Elizabeth.
During the examination, Hugo noted that Elizabeth had previously suffered from pneumonia. However, he suggested her current symptoms pointed to a problem in her upper respiratory tract rather than her lungs. Her temperature was still within the normal range, although towards the upper end, he explained.
Good News for the Herd
Thankfully, the vet confirmed Elizabeth had laryngitis, giving Kelvin and Liz the reassurance they had been hoping for. "It's not pneumonia, so it's all concentrated up in her upper airway," Hugo told them. "The lungs are clear." He explained that the condition was normally caused by something scratching the throat as it was swallowed. Apart from that, Elizabeth was growing well and in good condition, and he said she needed a couple of injections.
Relieved by the diagnosis, Kelvin and Liz joked that Elizabeth must have been singing with their daughter Marnie. Liz said they were glad it was something Elizabeth could recover from rather than pneumonia. She explained that the young heifer was especially important to their plans, as she would be the next cow they bred from. "It's really good news," she said. "She's looking good." Fletcher's Family Farm is available to watch on ITVX.
