Cotts Equine Hospital

19/06/2026

It's looking to be a hot and humid weekend ahead, but our team is ready to keep your horses covered ☀️🐴

Our vets on duty this weekend are:
📍 Jasmin covering Cardiff
📍 Ilaria covering Swansea
📍 Theresa covering Pembrokeshire

Meanwhile, our surgeon Richard will be covering hospital inpatients and emergency referrals, supported by Anna and Alice who will be providing round-the-clock care for our patients throughout the weekend.

Whether out on the road or in the hospital, our team is here 24/7 to provide care and support when you need us.

If you require veterinary assistance over the weekend, please call the practice on **01834 860871** rather than contacting the vet directly, so we can ensure emergencies are prioritised and directed appropriately.

18/06/2026

16/06/2026

From a serious injury to being back under saddle, Laugharne has been on quite a journey 🐴💙

Earlier this year, Laugharne was referred to our Cowbridge Hospital after managing to get into an argument with a gate. Following an initial assessment by one of our ambulatory vets, Nicola, he was admitted for treatment of a significant heel bulb laceration.

The injury required surgical debridement and coronary band repair under general anaesthesia, followed by placement of a cast to support and protect the area during the critical early stages of healing. With hoof tissue taking time to regenerate, this meant a minimum of three weeks of box rest, followed by a carefully managed rehabilitation programme.

For many horses, prolonged box rest can be challenging, particularly for an ex-racehorse who had been fit and ready for the eventing season. To give him the best chance of a successful recovery, Laugharne remained with us in hospital while his cast was in place. Alongside intensive nursing care, he received potassium bromide and a variety of stable enrichment, including toys and activities designed to keep him occupied and relaxed. He coped so well that we were able to keep the cast on for an additional week, allowing further healing of the injured hoof before progressing to the next stage of his recovery.

Following cast removal, remedial farriery played a vital role in supporting the healing hoof capsule and ensuring the best possible outcome during rehabilitation. Close collaboration between our vets, nursing team and farrier has been key throughout his recovery.

Now, twelve weeks after the initial injury, Laugharne is back home and enjoying ridden exercise once again. His recovery is progressing brilliantly, and we're delighted to see him back doing what he loves.

Swipe through to see the injury before surgery, following repair and cast placement, the healing achieved after cast removal, some of Laugharne's time in hospital, and his return to work.

Keep an eye on our page next week when we'll be sharing a blog on the importance of enrichment and management strategies for horses on box rest.

12/06/2026

Weekend Team Update

💙 As we head into the weekend, we'd like to take this opportunity to wish a fond farewell to Annie, who spent her last day with us today. As a valued member of our office and reception team, Annie has been a reassuring voice on the end of the phone and a friendly face to so many of our clients whilst at Cotts.

Thank you for everything you've done, Annie. We wish you all the very best for the future - you'll be missed by both the team and our clients.

Our vets on duty this weekend are:
📍 Eliza covering Cardiff
📍 Holly covering Swansea
📍 Graham covering Pembrokeshire

Meanwhile, Bruce and our hospital team will be on hand providing care for inpatients and emergency referral cases throughout the weekend.

📞 As always, if you require emergency veterinary assistance over the weekend, please call the office on 01834860871 so that we can direct and prioritise emergencies appropriately.

11/06/2026

Equine Influenza Update - Please Remain Vigilant

After a slight pause in our updates, we wanted to share the latest information from EIDS regarding the ongoing Equine Influenza outbreak across the UK.

Over the past couple of weeks, confirmed cases have been reported in Pembrokeshire, the Vale of Glamorgan, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Monmouthshire and Rhondda Cynon Taff, highlighting that the disease remains active within Wales.

Nationally, 95 outbreaks have now been reported to EIDS since late March, with concerns that further cases may emerge following recent large equestrian gatherings.

We encourage all horse owners to:
✔️ Ensure vaccinations are up to date
✔️ Monitor horses closely for signs of respiratory disease, including coughing, nasal discharge and raised temperature
✔️ Take extra care if horses have recently attended shows, competitions, sales or other events
✔️ Contact your vet promptly if you suspect your horse may be unwell

Early reporting and investigation of suspected cases are vital in helping to limit the spread of disease and protect the wider equine community.

If you have any concerns about your horse, please don't hesitate to contact our team on 01834 860871.

11/06/2026

🌼 Buttercups: Pretty to Look At, But Best Avoided.

At this time of year, many horse owners notice fields turning yellow with buttercups. While they may look harmless, buttercups contain ranunculin, a compound hydrolysed to protoanemonin when plants are damaged, such as during chewing, which can cause irritation to a horse's mouth and digestive tract if eaten in significant quantities.

Fortunately, most horses avoid eating fresh buttercups because of their bitter taste. However, if grazing is poor and there is little alternative forage available, horses may be more likely to consume them.

Signs of buttercup ingestion can include:
- Drooling or mouth irritation
- Redness or blistering around the lips and muzzle
- Mild colic signs
- Gastric ulceration
- Diarrhoea in more severe cases

The good news is that buttercups lose their toxicity when dried, so they are generally not a concern in hay.

To reduce the risk maintain healthy pasture through appropriate grazing management or topping, avoid overgrazing, provide sufficient forage when grass is limited and consider pasture improvement measures where buttercups are becoming dominant.

If you have any concerns about toxic plants or your horse's grazing, please don't hesitate to contact our team for advice.

10/06/2026

A reminder that our Equine Influenza Vaccination Amnesty is running until Thursday 18th June.

If your horse is unvaccinated or has lapsed vaccinations, now is the perfect opportunity to get protected, with the second vaccination in the primary course provided free of charge.

Contact the office on 01834 860871 for more information or to book.

Equine Influenza Vaccination Amnesty

Vaccination remains the most effective way to protect your horse and help reduce the spread of disease. To support clients in getting horses protected, we are running an Equine Influenza Vaccination Amnesty from today until Thursday 18th June.

- If your horse starts a primary flu vaccination course during this period, the second vaccination will be provided free of charge.
- The second vaccination will be administered 4 weeks after the first vaccination.
- Suitable for previously unvaccinated horses or horses whose vaccinations have lapsed.

Please note that visit fees still apply.

If you would like to book your horse in or discuss your vaccination status with the team, please call the office on 01834860871.

09/06/2026

🫏💕 Four little donkeys, one big team effort!

We recently had the pleasure of welcoming this adorable quartet to Cotts Equine Hospital. Two of the donkeys came to us for treatment, while their two best friends tagged along as companions to provide moral support - proving that friendship really does make everything better!

They quickly won the hearts of our nurses and surgeons, bringing plenty of smiles (and a few brays!) to the hospital. We're delighted that they're all doing well and are heading back home together this evening.

A huge thank you to their dedicated owners for entrusting us with their care, and to our wonderful Cotts team for providing the very best care to patients of all shapes and sizes.

Sometimes, the best medicine comes with long ears and loyal friends! 🫏🫏🫏🫏