Cotts Equine Hospital

14/02/2025

The next talk from Shaun will cover Equine Emergencies and First Aid on Wednesday 19th February. Details below on how you can book and what he will be discussing!

On the subject of Equine well being, this weekends on call squad are Holly in Swansea, Eliza in Cowbridge and today's Question master, Jack in Pembrokeshire (who has promised to not give any clues out ahead of tomorrow should you see him tonight!)

Please call 01834 860871 if you need them. Please do not call the Vet directly.

Wishing you all a warm and happy Valentines weekend 🥰

📣 We're getting excited for our upcoming online talk "Equine Emergencies and First Aid" with Dr Shaun McKane BVSc, BSc(vet), PhD, DipACVIM, DipECEIM, MRCVS in conjunction with Cotts Equine, next Wedn 19th Feb. 7-8pm! Here's the booking link!
https://bookwhen.com/bhswales

In this talk, Shaun will cover the three most common emergencies that require veterinary assistance: Colic; Wounds; and painful eyes. Occurring suddenly and always unexpectedly, there are some important things that owners can do to help their horses and reduce complications.

Aiming to help horse owners and those who care for them, to be able to assess the horse and administer prompt first aid in the time before veterinary help can arrive. Shaun will also highlight the important signs that would indicate when urgent help should be sought.

An essential talk for anyone who looks after horses! 🐴🐴🐴

14/02/2025

We are feeling the valentine love today at Cotts and offering you a chance to win a treat-filled goody bag, whilst gently testing your horse knowledge.

As chief question master, Jack has been busy creating five questions that he says are 'educational and romantic' ...❤ 😃. So all you have to do is answer A, B, C or D for each question in the comments section below and you'll be put into a draw for the goody bag. It's as simple as that!

Both the answers and the winner will be announced tomorrow - so come on, what are you waiting for?! Click the link below where you will find both the questions and goody bag details, and get those heart-shaped thinking caps on 🥰🐴. Good luck and Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

St. Valentine's Veterinary Quiz: Horse EditionTest your love for horses and their health with these 5 romantic (and educational) questions! Simply go to the comments section on our Valentine's facebook post and write your answers A, B, C or D for each question and you could in with the chance to win...

13/02/2025

Jack and Georgie giving the horses at Folly Farm Adventure Park & Zoo the once over today - making sure you all get the most gleaming of photogenic smiles on your visits!

11/02/2025

11 years and counting! Celebrating the fabulous Sharon today on her work anniversary.

Sharon diligently looks after the stables and our in patients at weekends with a care and compassion that goes above and beyond. There cannot be many of you that haven’t met her and know exactly what we mean.

Thank you for everything Sharon. Here’s to another 11 (and more! 😉) years!

07/02/2025

On the subject of Out of Hours; it's that time of the week again! And this week, Katy in Cowbridge, Ilaria B in Swansea, and Theresa in Narberth will be there to look after you throughout the weekend.

Please call 01834 860871 if you need them. Please do not call the Vet directly.

Happy weekend everyone!

At Cotts, we are proud to be an independent equine practice providing complete, 24/7 ambulatory first-opinion and referral services 365 days per year. All emergency work is carried out in-house, meaning that your horses have continuity of care and a familiar face on hand at, what can be a very stres...

07/02/2025

Out of Hours Care - a quick guide for both registered and non-registered clients following the recent changes in the veterinary industry.

https://www.cottsequine.co.uk/post/out-of-hours-care-how-does-it-work

At Cotts, we are proud to be an independent equine practice providing complete, 24/7 ambulatory first-opinion and referral services 365 days per year. All emergency work is carried out in-house, meaning that your horses have continuity of care and a familiar face on hand at, what can be a very stres...

06/02/2025

Following our CT post yesterday, this case involves X**a, an 11 year old Mare, who came to us having tripped after a jump and subsequently developing a left forelimb lameness.

Initially, we performed diagnostic analgesia which confirmed that the injury was in the foot. Suspicious that there would be concurrent bone and soft tissue damage, we performed a plain and contrast enhanced CT on the same day. This is a much more cost effective approach than performing a combination of radiography and further referral for an MRI with roughly a £1k saving.

𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘀: A mild to moderate Deep Digital Flexor Tendon injury (consisting of a dorsal border tear of the medial lobe within the navicular bursa), inflammation of the navicular bursa, navicular disease and coffin joint osteoarthritis.

𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: Remedial farriery was performed, additionally the coffin joint and navicular bursa were medicated with Alpha-2 EQ, a potent orthobiological anti-inflammatory molecule designed to treat joint inflammation and soft tissue injuries.

𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲: X**a has responded well to the treatment, and we are pleased that her owner has been able to bring her back in to training.

05/02/2025

As you know, our new CT machine is now up and running and providing some fantastic imaging to help us accurately diagnose our patients.

CT scanning is not only excellent for imaging bone, it also allows comprehensive soft tissue detail when contrast enhancement has been utilised. In other words, CT can be used to diagnose bone and soft tissue injuries up to and including the knee or hock - providing much more detail than conventional imaging techniques, such as digital radiography and ultrasound.

These 3D reconstructions show contrast material in the venous system of forelimbs, which was injected via a catheter in the cephalic vein following application of a tourniquet above the knee - and as you can see, the detail is incredible.

If you have any lameness or performance related concerns, please get in touch to make an appointment. Not only is it a quick, highly effective way to diagnose any potential issues, but also, importantly, a stress free method for the horse.

We have spent the last few months gathering some interesting cases and findings and over the next few weeks, will be sharing some of these with you. The advancements in technology over recent years, and what it means for Veterinary medicine is nothing less than mind blowing.

Watch this space…

Equina by Asto CT

05/02/2025

Its never easy saying Goodbye, but after almost 10 years, we said a very sad one to Becky on Friday.

Becky was one of our amazing Veterinary Nurses, and many of you will have met her over the years. Knowledgable, efficient and calm - she will missed on many levels.

We wish you all the very best Becky. Goodbye, good luck, and don’t forget where we are!

03/02/2025

We are hiring and we would love to hear from you!

We are looking for a Pharmacist / Stock controller to join our friendly team. If this sounds like something you might like, then please click the link below for more information, and apply today!

We look forward to hearing from you. Please share to anyone that you think might just fill the bill 😀

https://www.cottsequine.co.uk/post/job-vacancy-pharmacist-stock-controller

Location: Cotts Equine, NarberthSalary: Negotiable depending on experienceJob Type: Full-time, PermanentAre you passionate about supporting the equine veterinary sector and ensuring that critical supplies are always available when needed? Join our dedicated team at Cotts Equine; an established equin...

24/01/2025

Global belly laugh day and it’s a Friday. A fitting start to the weekend. Here’s hoping yours is filled with many of them.

On the subject of which; it’s the Friday on-call roll-call, and this weekend sees Graham in Pembs, Holly in Swansea and Kelly in Cowbridge all on call.

Please call 01834 860871 if you need them. Please do not call the Vet directly.

Happy weekend!

20/01/2025

Although it may seem like a long way off right now, Spring is just around the corner and with that, the inevitable annual midge onslaught. Sweet Itch is an allergic reaction bites and affects many horses causing itching and irritation.

This three-minute read will help provide a few pointers for dealing with Sweet Itch, but if you have any questions or need further advice, we are here to help and you can contact us at any time on 01834 860871.

https://www.cottsequine.co.uk/post/sweet-itch-spotting-preventing-and-stopping

How to ditch the itch!Every year as the weather gets warmer, we start to see horses with sweet itch. This is an allergic reaction to the saliva of Culicoides spp; more commonly called “midges” - although it is worth noting that they can often be allergic to other biting insects such as mosquitos...

17/01/2025

Halfway through longest month of the year and the nights finally appear to be getting lighter little by little. Which is fortunate for our on call trio this weekend.

James in Cowbridge, Ilaria P in Swansea and Jack in Pembs will all be on call for your call, should you need them.

Please call 01834 860871 if you need them, and as ever, a polite request not to call the Vet directly.

Have a lovely weekend. We’re nearly there!

17/01/2025

Shaun will be the giving a series of talks for BHS over the coming weeks and the first one is next Wednesday evening.

Please see the link for details on how you can take part in this event.

📣 Hi everyone! Our next winter series online talk is ‘Winter Wellness’ with vet Dr Shaun McKane BVSc, BSc(vet), PhD, DipACVIM, DipECEIM, MRCVS in conjunction with Cotts Equine, on Wednesday 22nd Jan 2025 7-8pm.

In this talk, Shaun will cover a few of the most common problems that we see in horses during the winter months. Mud fever, winter diarrhoea and unexpected weight loss affect many horses and owners are often frustrated by these conditions. Aiming to help horse owners to recognise and potentially prevent these conditions requiring veterinary intervention, Shaun will also highlight the important signs that would indicate when a vet’s help should be sought.

Dr Shaun McKane BVSc, BSc(vet), PhD, DipACVIM, DipECEIM, MRCVS gained his veterinary degree from the University of Sydney in 1993, before completing a PhD (University of Melbourne) and then a Medicine Residency (Oregon State University) to become a Boarded Specialist with both the American and European Colleges of Equine Internal Medicine. He later held the position of Senior Lecturer in Equine Medicine at the University of Liverpool before joining Cotts Equine Hospital here in Wales to provide advanced medical care for horses, especially in the areas of respiratory disease, dental problems, ophthalmology and sarcoid treatment.

This is a talk you won't want to miss and a must for winter wellness for your horse! Tickets only £5 pp. For more information and how to book, please just follow the link below!

https://bookwhen.com/bhswales

10/01/2025

The winter chill has hit us hard over the last few days and it looks like it is in to stay for a while longer.

With this is mind, here are our top tips for your equine friends during this period - they feel it too!

1. Water - It might seem obvious, but make sure there is adequate access to water. Hydration is crucial to a horse’s health. Horses don’t tend to drink very cold water, so try and make sure it is lukewarm by adding warm water regularly. Putting a ball or a water bottle in their buckets also helps prevent it freezing over. Try to keep track of how much they drink as impaction colic can happen with reduced water intake.

2. Rugging - It can be really tempting to over rug horses to keep them warm based on how we feel the cold. However, horses will naturally grow a thick winter coat (unless they have been clipped), so it’s important to assess whether rugging is necessary. If left un-rugged, try not to over-groom horses as this can strip the coat of natural oils which help with waterproofing. It’s important to remove any mud from areas where tack will be applied to prevent rubbing. Also make sure rugs fit well and they do not develop rubs from the rugs slipping back.

3. Skin- Check them over regularly, especially in the wetter periods as the risk of Mud Fever or Rain scald increases as skin which gets wet can allow bacteria to enter and start infections.

4. Feed - Try to avoid overfeeding in winter. Horses naturally should lose some weight over the winter months, so always feed according to the amount of work the horse is doing and its current condition. Adding water to feeds can help keep your horse hydrated and reduce the risk of impaction colic.

5. Teeth - In winter we often feed more hay or haylage to our horses instead of a mainly grass diet in summer. Horse with dental problems may struggle with this to keep an eye out for any dropping of hay or not eating as much. Loose droppings or firm fibrous droppings can also indicate they are not chewing properly. Dental check-ups each year are recommended but older horses may need more frequent checks.

If you need any advice about caring for your horses in the winter, you can get in touch with us on 01834 860871 and we would be happy to help.

31/12/2024

*Firework notice*

Please note that we have received notification from Bluestone Resort, Pembrokeshire that the Fireworks scheduled for this evening to mark the New Year have been postponed and will now be at 5.30pm tomorrow, New Years Day.

We would like to thank them for letting us know. It is much appreciated.

May we also take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy New Year and a fantastic 2025.

24/12/2024

The office is now closed for Christmas! Emergency cover will be provided for the rest of the day as usual. Please also note the following times for the Christmas period.

On which note, it has been a really exciting year here at Cotts, and we have a lot to look forward to next year as we continue to make sure that you have the best possible care provided.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 to each and everyone of you for your continued loyalty this year. You really are the best clients that we could ask for.

We end on a very traditional note, with some of the most important members of Nativity getting their final check in before the big night.

We wish you all a very merry Christmas and an even happier New Year. ⛄️

With love from us all at Cotts
x

🎄🎅🐎

19/12/2024

Many festive congratulations to Elinor Rees and Beverley Williams on your competition win!

Please contact the office to arrange collection.

Thank you to all those who entered!

🐎🎄🎅