Calling Kissing Spines Victims

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mischamoo

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My boy is in his 3rd week of his rehab after having injections into the spine 3 weeks ago.

I’ve been having a few issues with his tacking up into his Equiami and at first it seemed to me it was a pain reflex so I referred him back to the vets who asked for him to go on a bute trial for a week to see if that made much difference and to eliminate any pain should there be any. She immediately thought it was a behavioural issue but to try the bute trial in case he was experiencing any pain.

He’s done the week’s trial and although his behaviour seems a little better, he still seems a little spooky and resistant to having this Equi on (I must add that once it’s on he’s quite happy to work in it – it’s just the initial tacking up and leading to the school where I experience lurching forward, ears pinned back, spookyiness) – my vet thinks it’s behavioural and to just keep persisting with him and work him through it until his assessment again in 3 weeks time.

I should have put the saddle on last Wednesday to start lunging in his saddle but have been reluctant to do so for I suppose fear of his reaction to having the saddle on his back. The programme is intending I be on his back next week to ride him gently for 15 mins each day - :0 – which I have to admit I am fearing a bit.

Before the diagnosis, this wasn’t the sort of behaviour I experienced from him – generally a “bomb-proof” TB and a pleasure to hack and would often take learners out. But this recent change in behaviour has unnerved me a little.

Could it be behavioural and a combination of lack of work and feeling fresh (he was ridden for at least an hour every day before the diagnosis, now he’s just lunged 30 mins per day in his Equi) – he certainly doesn’t appear to be in any pain that I can see and is quite happy galloping and bucking round the field with his friends on a daily basis and I have to admit he looks much better at the moment then he’s looked in a while, he seems to have built up a bit of muscle tone he never had. He’s been on 24/7 turnout for the past couple months. Could this be behavioural and what I hear of as “remembered pain” and the lurching forward when tacking up is simply a reaction to expecting pain he used to experience before he had the injections?

Sorry to drag on but am at a bit of a loss and I know I should take heed of my vets advice and persist for the next 3 weeks with the rest of his work programme but his behaviour is un-nerving me a little and am losing a little confidence when handling him to tack up.

If anyone has any similar experiences or advice, I’d love to hear it!
 
Hello I never had the injections in my horses back but I can relate to some of this from when I came back into work with my horse after his rehab. he was very touchy for a little while when I tacked him up to begin with. Not learching but used to try to duck away from it all but this behaviour did not last long with him and he is now fine. Did the vet say you would know if the injections did not work?? I dont know if they are garenteed for every horse to work????? How was he before to tack?? To me this sounds like pain and I would want the vet to come and watch this experience
xxx
 
I would say it is a pain reaction, my horse never had the injections either, I went straight for the surgery option. I agree the vet should perhaps see the reaction, could she nerve block the back?
 
annunziata said:
Hello I never had the injections in my horses back but I can relate to some of this from when I came back into work with my horse after his rehab. he was very touchy for a little while when I tacked him up to begin with. Not learching but used to try to duck away from it all but this behaviour did not last long with him and he is now fine. Did the vet say you would know if the injections did not work?? I dont know if they are garenteed for every horse to work????? How was he before to tack?? To me this sounds like pain and I would want the vet to come and watch this experience
xxx
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He has always been a bit tetchy when tacking up - and before the diagnosis he would occasionally lurch forward and duck away from the saddle when tacking up so it's not completely new behaviour to me, I suppose I just expected a miracle and for this to stop when he had the injections.... :rolleyes:

I have to admit I didn't question the vet at the time of the diagnosis if I was know if the injections would work, I think I was still upset and in a little shock with the diagnosis I received there were probably a few points I forgot to raise with the vet at the time.

I do remember the vet saying however to give the injections a go with the work programme before considering alternatives (surgery) so I assume she expected some possible positive response to the injections otherwise she wouldn't have tried them (I fully trust my vet and judgment and don't believe the injections would have been pursued first as a treatment if it was thought there may have not been a positive reaction to them).
 
WellyBaggins said:
I would say it is a pain reaction, my horse never had the injections either, I went straight for the surgery option. I agree the vet should perhaps see the reaction, could she nerve block the back?
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The reaction to the tacking up can be inconsistant (sorry forgot to mention in my earlier post) for example last night he was absolutely fine when tacking up but there are less of these times then when he provides a reaction to the roller going on.

Thanks for the comments, I will give the vet a call and maybe insist she pops out to see him. Would be interesting to hear from anyone who's horses also had the injections and how they got on.

I do have a gut feeling that the injections may not be a positive treatment for him and I do think the vet will suggest surgery as an option when she sees him again in a few weeks time.
It's something I need to check with the vets but I believe they perform kissing spines surgery at the practice and from research I've done I understand there are two different surgical procedures - would appreciate any feedback on what option has proved a positive procedure for your horse?
 
have you rposted this on the horses with kissing spine page on Facebook?? I know there are a number of people on there who have had the injections who maybe able to shed light.

I am sure the injections work to a degree it was not an option for me as Moose was so severe and the pain was to bad for him so we went straight for surgery

I would check with your vet as she will know the answer the best!!!!
 
annunziata said:
have you rposted this on the horses with kissing spine page on Facebook?? I know there are a number of people on there who have had the injections who maybe able to shed light.

I am sure the injections work to a degree it was not an option for me as Moose was so severe and the pain was to bad for him so we went straight for surgery

I would check with your vet as she will know the answer the best!!!!
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Thanks Annunziata, will take a look at posting on the FB page too for different experiences. PS - saw your dressage vid on the page - looking fab!
 
Doesn't sound like much fun for you :( When you put the roller on, do you do it up loosely to start with, gently tightening it over the space of a few minutes? If it is behaviour you may well have to get a bit tough with him and as it's just while tacking up/walking to the school I'd try and do it as quickly but gently as possible and get him to the school in a very workmanlike fashion (hat firmly on!).
What you could try is just lunging him in his bridle, take the equiami to the school and when he's warmed up then putting it on. I assume you first put the equiami on loosely and gradually tighten that up as well?
Join the FB page, there are loads of us who have all been through it sadly :rolleyes:
 
Bubbles said:
Doesn't sound like much fun for you :( When you put the roller on, do you do it up loosely to start with, gently tightening it over the space of a few minutes? If it is behaviour you may well have to get a bit tough with him and as it's just while tacking up/walking to the school I'd try and do it as quickly but gently as possible and get him to the school in a very workmanlike fashion (hat firmly on!).
What you could try is just lunging him in his bridle, take the equiami to the school and when he's warmed up then putting it on. I assume you first put the equiami on loosely and gradually tighten that up as well?
Join the FB page, there are loads of us who have all been through it sadly :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Yes roller is put on very loosely to start with then tightened up once we've got to the school, the ropes on the Equi-ami are only put on once he's had a walk round on both reins for 5 mins, I add that he never seems bothered by the ropes when they go on and he's had a walk about, it's just initially the reaction from him is when I'm tacking up and he tries to lurch forward or flick his ears back.

I have to admit too that I am a bit soft on him and have been told a few times to be firmer so maybe i can action on that point more effectively aswell to see if that improves the situtation if this does boil down to behaviour.
 
Hiya. My gelding Bertie had steroid and tildren injections in January after a KS diagnosis. He has never showed any signs of pain since, so I think you're right in getting the vet to come and see his reaction. xx
 
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