Cotts Equine Hospital

23/10/2026

Happy Friday from Team Cotts!

Our veterinary team is on hand across South Wales throughout the weekend for anything that can’t wait until Monday.

This weekend’s vets on call are:
📍Jasmin – Cardiff
📍Daisy – Swansea
📍Jack – Pembrokeshire

Back at the hospital, Elise, Hanna and Ffion will be looking after our inpatients and supporting any emergency referrals that come through.

If you need us out of hours, please call the practice on 01834 860871 rather than contacting your vet directly, so we can get you to the right member of the team as quickly as possible.

Have a great weekend everyone!

23/10/2026

🔬🥼Did you know… we run our own laboratory?

Having a comprehensive in-house laboratory service means we can process most blood and laboratory samples ourselves, often providing results the same day and helping our vets make clinical decisions and start the right treatment sooner.

Our laboratory capabilities include:
• Haematology & Clinical Pathology
• Culture & Sensitivity
• Cytology
• Molecular Diagnostics & PCR Testing
• Endocrine Testing
• Urine & Faecal Analysis

It’s another area where we continue to invest in our facilities and technology to provide a faster, more comprehensive service for our patients.

21/10/2026

Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) and insulin dysregulation can have significant consequences for your horse’s health, particularly when it comes to the risk of laminitis.

In our latest blog, written by our vet James, we look at EMS and discuss the different metabolic tests we can use to help identify horses at risk.

If you own a good-doer, a horse with a history of laminitis, or simply want to understand metabolic testing a little better, it’s well worth a read.

Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) is an increasingly recognised condition in horses and ponies and, most importantly, is a major risk factor for laminitis. Traditionally, we have tended to associate EMS with overweight horses and ponies - particularly those with a characteristic cresty neck and increa...

18/10/2026

As the leaves turn, the yard routine changes! 🍂 🐴

We want to know: what’s the one task that officially marks the start of autumn for you? Is it the rug shuffle, the mud fever prep, or just that first bag of winter forage?

Drop your seasonal shifts below! 👇

16/10/2026

SYCAMORE WARNING – PLEASE CHECK YOUR FIELDS

We have already seen several cases of atypical myopathy this week, and with large numbers of sycamore seeds around this autumn, we’re concerned that this could be a particularly high-risk year.

Sycamore seeds, seedlings and leaves can contain Hypoglycin A (HGA). If eaten, this toxin can cause atypical myopathy – a severe and potentially fatal disease that causes rapid and extensive muscle damage. Horses can deteriorate very quickly, sometimes within just a few hours.

Please check your grazing now, remembering that the characteristic ‘helicopter’ seeds can travel considerable distances on the wind, so you may find them even when there isn't a sycamore tree within the field itself.

Where sycamore seeds are present, consider restricting access or fencing off affected areas, regularly removing seeds and leaves where practical, and providing supplementary forage where grazing is poor to reduce the likelihood of horses eating sycamore material.

Signs of atypical myopathy can include:
• Sudden weakness or reluctance to walk
• Muscle trembling or stiffness
• Sweating
• A low head carriage
• Dark brown or reddish urine
• Difficulty standing or getting up
• Rapid or laboured breathing

This is an emergency. If your horse appears unwell and has access to pasture where sycamore seeds may be present, please contact us immediately. Early veterinary treatment is important, and don't wait for all of the typical signs to develop.

Please share this post with other horse owners and yards - particularly given the number of cases we are already seeing this autumn.

15/10/2026

Did you know…?

We’re kicking off a new series sharing a few things you might not know about Cotts Equine!

We continually invest in our equipment and facilities so our vets have the tools they need to provide the best possible care, wherever your horse needs us.

Keep an eye out for another Did You Know? next week.

12/10/2026

Meet Daisy, the newest member of our expanding team in Swansea!

Daisy graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2024, having gained equine experience at Rossdales Equine Hospital, volunteered with the veterinary team at the London International Horse Show and completed a research project in racehorse cardiology.

After graduating, Daisy spent two years working in small animal and exotic practice, developing a particular interest in diagnostic imaging, medical cases and completing a further qualification in osteoarthritis management, helping to make sure her older patients were living their most comfortable lives. But horses were always where she ultimately wanted to be, so this year she made the move to South Wales to join our team!

In Daisy’s own words:
“I started riding and volunteering at my local riding school when I was 10, where I loved spending time with all of the horses, learning their individual personalities, teaching beginners to ride and especially training and competing some of the younger horses in dressage.

I always knew I wanted to work with horses, so this year I made the exciting move to South Wales to start this new step alongside the brilliant team at Cotts.

I’m thoroughly enjoying meeting all of our beautiful (and sometimes quite cheeky!) equine patients and their kind and devoted owners!”

We’re delighted to have Daisy joining our growing Swansea team and know plenty of you will be meeting her very soon.

Please join us in giving Daisy a very warm welcome to Cotts!

09/10/2026

📍Job Opportunities:

We currently have two exciting opportunities to join our hospital team at Cotts Equine Hospital, Cowbridge:

Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN): £28,000–£32,000, 40 hours per week plus 1 in 4 on call rota.

Equine Care Assistant: 40 hours per week.

If you’re looking to join a busy equine hospital and become part of the Cotts team, we’d love to hear from you.

Full job descriptions and details on how to apply can be found on our website:

https://www.cottsequine.co.uk/news

Please share with anyone who might be interested!

08/10/2026

What a difference six weeks can make!

Six weeks ago, Fleur was seriously unwell with a persistent fever and infection, and there were some worrying moments when she didn’t initially respond to treatment as hoped.

Fast forward to this weekend and Fleur was back doing what she loves, competing at the Petplan Area Festival Championships at Arena UK in the Medium Freestyle Bronze – finishing a fantastic 18th!

Her owner very kindly got in touch to thank the Cotts team, with special mentions for Graham and Nicola, who helped care for Fleur during her illness.

Seeing our patients back home is always rewarding, but seeing them back out competing just a few weeks later makes it even better.

Well done Fleur – what a comeback! And thank you to her owner for sending us these lovely photos and allowing us to share her story.

07/10/2026

Don’t let autumn grass catch you out.

Warm days combined with plenty of rain can trigger a fresh flush of grass, and for horses and ponies prone to laminitis, that can mean increased risk. Grass sugar levels can fluctuate throughout the year, so it’s important not to think of laminitis as just a spring problem.

Know the early warning signs:
• A short, pottery or uncomfortable gait
• Reluctance to walk on hard ground
• Difficulty or reluctance when turning
• Increased heat in the hooves
• A strong or bounding digital pulse
• Shifting weight between the feet

Laminitis can develop quickly, and early veterinary treatment is important.

If you notice any of these signs, or you’re concerned about your horse or pony, call our office 0n 01834860871. Our veterinary team is here to help.