Cost for kissing spine bone shave and ligament snip operation

[Green Bean]

I know this is a bit of a 'how long is a piece of string' question but wonder if anyone is willing to share their costs for this operation and for how many spinous processes it included. My horse is excluded on her insurance as an x-ray showed KS so I am looking at what costs I would be in for if I made the decision to go ahead. She doesn't appear to be in pain at the moment so the vet is happy that any pain is managed with Danilon which I haven't had to give her for around 6 months now but would like to read about your experiences with cost (I know success or lack thereof is completely dependent on the horse so am not looking for that)

 

[Lady Jane]

Ask for a quotation. I'm always given a quotation for this type of thing, its a perfectly reasonable thing to request

 

[Melody Grey]

I’d be guessing with an exact figure but the last horse I had with KS had the full surgery under insurance- 4 or 5 processes I think. There was quite a bill for medication and aftercare in clinic and yard visits to remove staples etc as well. The operation was done standing, but with a lot of anaesthetic! This would be about 6 years ago now but I can remember thinking I couldn’t have done it without insurance and it did outweigh the value of the horse. The ligament snip is less, but at the time there was no long term evidence for how effective it was, although that may have changed now?

 

[Melody Grey]

It sounds potentially like yours might be more a candidate for the ligament snip or working correctly to build supporting muscle OP if you’re managing without meds? I was told that Danilon wouldn’t touch serious osteo pain.

ETA: there are some great Facebook groups (horses with kissing spine) etc where I’m sure people can tell you costs from recent surgery.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

A lady I met rehab thoroughbreds for a charity which eventually rehome them. She said they very rarely need to operate ( only very severe cases) and that a lengthy rehab program is what they followed. Obviously be guided by your vet but it may be worth looking into?

 

[ycbm]

£3000 minimum excluding follow up and physio costs.

 

[sbloom]

It sounds potentially like yours might be more a candidate for the ligament snip or working correctly to build supporting muscle OP if you’re managing without meds? I was told that Danilon wouldn’t touch serious osteo pain.

ETA: there are some great Facebook groups (horses with kissing spine) etc where I’m sure people can tell you costs from recent surgery.

I would tentatively agree with the correct work, if the mare is asymptomatic I'd look first to a rehab programme, perhaps working with The Osteopathic Vet to get a more holistic assessment and then work with one of his bodywork and rehab work teams/associates. Probably cheaper even if at livery for the beginning of the rehab.

Vets have a certain tool kit, if they have snips and bone shaves as their options, it's either do it or don't do it, intensive bodywork isn't something it's easy for them to learn about. Some will talk about basic polework etc, but they really don't see the kinds of changes that can be achieved over the medium term, bit like so many being anti barefoot as rehab for terrible hooves.

 

[Green Bean]

Thanks everyone for your responses. I think my best option is rehab and pain meds if required. Thankfully, the yard where she is kept are quick to spot anything going on with her way of walking and call me if they spot something of concern. It has been quite some time since I have had "a call" to say something doesn't look right. I have taken it slowly with rehab, and had a stint of rehab for a field injury so she has plenty of down time, working on her core and I no longer lunge her based on a recommendation from my vet (lunge with long and low was recommended immediately after her diagnosis).

 

[sbloom]

Thanks everyone for your responses. I think my best option is rehab and pain meds if required. Thankfully, the yard where she is kept are quick to spot anything going on with her way of walking and call me if they spot something of concern. It has been quite some time since I have had "a call" to say something doesn't look right. I have taken it slowly with rehab, and had a stint of rehab for a field injury so she has plenty of down time, working on her core and I no longer lunge her based on a recommendation from my vet (lunge with long and low was recommended immediately after her diagnosis).

I would seek out some specialist help as you move forwards, great that they'll spot if there's a set back but this about building posture rather than spotting problems. Lunging can be absolutely the best way to develop posture, it's all about the "how". Have a look at the work of Manolo Mendez as a really good example.

 

[Darkly_Dreaming_Dex]

Had four ligaments snipped, vet quoted guide price up front and it was £1400

 

[Goldenstar]

I had five processes reshaped no snips , as I did not like the odds for good out come for that when I researched it .
It’s a few years ago 4 ish it was £1300 and I spent about the same again on the aftercare and physio my horse had a lot pain when he immediately got home and needed extra visits to handle this .
The result was magic the horse completely changed shape and was transformed five months later you could not see the op had been done and vet said he would gone through a five stage vetting without a noticing .
Sadly I lost the horse because the poor boy had two bowel tumours.
He was a wonderful boy .
Its at the limit of what I think it reasonable to put a horse through .

 

[Birker2020]

Sadly I lost the horse because the poor boy had two bowel tumours.
.

What a rotten shame after the op had been so successful. Sometimes horses just break your heart x

 

[Goldenstar]

What a rotten shame after the op had been so successful. Sometimes horses just break your heart x

Yes I was very battered at end of all that , he was such a lovely horse .