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karahan
Bronze Member
 England
51 Posts |
 Posted - 15 May 2008 : 11:15:18 AM
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My 7 year old gelding has got a really bad back and my vet mentioned kissing spine, if this is the case, what does that mean for my boy??
The vet has advised rest and bute at the moment, but if no better by next week he's got to have bone scans..I can safely say that I am really worried about this.
Any advice would help please x
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honey
Platinum Member
N. Ireland
2634 Posts |
Posted - 15 May 2008 : 11:24:12 AM
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| i looked into it a little bit. there is treatments for it non surgical and surgical. sometimes as your vet said rest and bute sorts the problem out, other treatments are steroid injections into the site of the extra bit of bone to stop any more bone forming and to decrease it so it no longer rubs, and their is surgery where they take the tip of where the extra bone is and there is a good chance of full recovery, What is his sypmtoms just out of curiosity as i did some reading and my stallion was showing very strong signs when i tried to bring him into work, so i gave him a good 6-8 months of a few months was box rest, and started with him slowly in hand and built him up, down sized his saddle so an inch smaller so it now no longer sits where his back was giving him trouble(he used to get a lump on his vertabrae that wasn't really painful but then he rode funny). So far so good with him, last year he picked up some really bad habits, and he was just doing the same at the start but a friend came down and we did some work and no hes fine i think he was still thinking it was sore when it wasn't. Good luck and let us know how he does. |
    
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bxps
Silver Member
United Kingdom
403 Posts |
Posted - 15 May 2008 : 11:25:05 AM
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My Anglo, Skyboy Adam before I bought him had a kissing Spine operation followed by a good six to nine months field rest.
Although he wasn't the fastest or quite had the temperament for it, he then went on to race in Arab flat races, giving me my first ever race ride.
He is now on loan and being spoilt rotten, ridden, lunged, jumped I expect and his future looks very rosie.
So the future need not be bleak for your boy..... just a dent in your bank balance.
David BXPS Racing |
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Offira
Platinum Member
England
1583 Posts |
Posted - 15 May 2008 : 2:06:05 PM
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I have been through this with one of mine. An xray confirmed a number of vertebrae were kissing probably due to injury many years ago (cost with initial consulation £420). The treatment options I was given are:
1. a bute given 2 hours before each time i ride him
2. shockwave treatment (£150 a time - 3 goes needed which effectively numbs the back for a period up to 6 months)
3. spinal surgery to remove the impingements (££££s)
4. acupuncture (same price as shockwave)
5. get a saddle with air panels (flair/cair)
I didn't like the idea of masking the pain with bute or shockwaves as further damage could be done with everyone unaware. I have accepted that he will never go round Badminton  and he is now in a coping situation. He loves being ridden and goes in self carriage with a lifted back etc so he has two short schooling sessions and two short hacks a week to keep himself in good shape and involved. The hacks are no longer than an hour and I hop off to give him a break half way and downhill.
He will have acupuncture and in a year's time (or sooner if there is a change for the worse) will re xray to reassess the situation. Apart from an initial course of bute and rest he is bute free and shows no signs of pain.
Horses who have had the surgery and the shockwave treatment do go on to compete, it's just not something I would do with my particular horse.
Honey, if you google kissing spine you will get a good idea of the symptoms. My own horse's symptoms were very complex, he had a bad start in life and ended up being pushed round from home to home getting progressively more dangerous. Very sad for him  and all the people he frightened half to death . He is fine now though  |
Edited by - Offira on 15 May 2008 9:41:05 PM |
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Kirsty5278
Platinum Member
England
2682 Posts |
Posted - 16 May 2008 : 09:00:52 AM
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| My sister in laws horse has kissing spine. She continues to ride/school/hack/dressage with him. She has bought a falir saddle.... I don't think she has had to have any special treatments for him for some time... they are certainly living a normal life though - he's a HUGE MASSIVE gentle giant and makes my little arab look like a shetland!! |
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