Finally have answers!!

D

Deltofe2493

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 April 2021
Messages
318
Visit site
Some of you may remember a little while ago my horse started with some kind of 'stringhalt' / abnormal gait and talk of ulcers. The strange thing is, she came sound, or looked sound to me and my instructor so we cracked on. But when the gait started again this weekend I booked her in for a work up first thing Monday morning.

So yesterday, I FINALLY have answers - more than I anticipated though!

1. Potential cannon bone fracture/bruise. Will need an MRI to confirm.
2. Suspensories inflamed as a result of the cannon bone - needs PRP
3. KISSING SPINE!!! If ulcers are found which is likely, I am assuming this is secondary to that plus bilateral lameness in hind feet. Lack of condition and therefore not able to work correctly. Has anyone had any experience with managing this? i.e injections or surgery? Positive experiences only please! Vet is leaning to more conservative route as once more comfortable elsewhere this may imorove. Means keeping in consistent work which I am fine with as I ride 5 days a week anyway
4. Rotating pedal bone in both hind feet - fixed with remedial shoeing

Little babe is being scoped this morning (probably as I am typing).

I've also got myself a spot at a rehab facility end of April which will be the end of 6 weeks box rest so is perfect. And is the yard I went to see a couple weeks ago where they had no space.

I am a first time horse owner and this is a lot to take in, a year ago this week passed a 5 stage vetting!! Sharing my findings in case anyone finds themselves with similar symptoms in the future and is frantically googling like I have been.
 
paddi22

paddi22

Well-Known Member
Joined
5 December 2010
Messages
6,362
Visit site
so sorry to hear, that's a long list to get back! there are a lot of threads on kissing spine, so do a search and you will find some good info. I have a few with kissing spine and nearly all stayed happily in work, even into their 20s . I've posted on the other threads about this.
 
W

Widgeon

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 January 2017
Messages
3,830
Location
N Yorks
Visit site
That is a long list but hopefully once you start resolving some of them, the others (KS and inflamed suspensories) will begin to settle down / be controllable with management? At least it sounds like you know exactly what you're dealing with now, that's worth so much. Very best of luck finding the right treatment and management to get her comfortable.
 
D

Deltofe2493

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 April 2021
Messages
318
Visit site
I am so glad I've done it. I was nervous to go ahead with it as I didn't want to take her in and the vets not find anything and it would have been a waste of time. Or they found something which would mean the worst of the worst.

Exactly, now I know what to do we can manage this and we have a plan. Poor girl must have been in so much pain :(

I will defo have a look @paddi22 thank you!!
 
Birker2020

Birker2020

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 January 2021
Messages
10,549
Location
West Mids
Visit site
Deltofe2493 said:
Some of you may remember a little while ago my horse started with some kind of 'stringhalt' / abnormal gait and talk of ulcers. The strange thing is, she came sound, or looked sound to me and my instructor so we cracked on. But when the gait started again this weekend I booked her in for a work up first thing Monday morning.

So yesterday, I FINALLY have answers - more than I anticipated though!

1. Potential cannon bone fracture/bruise. Will need an MRI to confirm.
2. Suspensories inflamed as a result of the cannon bone - needs PRP
3. KISSING SPINE!!! If ulcers are found which is likely, I am assuming this is secondary to that plus bilateral lameness in hind feet. Lack of condition and therefore not able to work correctly. Has anyone had any experience with managing this? i.e injections or surgery? Positive experiences only please! Vet is leaning to more conservative route as once more comfortable elsewhere this may imorove. Means keeping in consistent work which I am fine with as I ride 5 days a week anyway
4. Rotating pedal bone in both hind feet - fixed with remedial shoeing

Little babe is being scoped this morning (probably as I am typing).

I've also got myself a spot at a rehab facility end of April which will be the end of 6 weeks box rest so is perfect. And is the yard I went to see a couple weeks ago where they had no space.

I am a first time horse owner and this is a lot to take in, a year ago this week passed a 5 stage vetting!! Sharing my findings in case anyone finds themselves with similar symptoms in the future and is frantically googling like I have been.
Click to expand...

Firstly thanks for sharing and updating us. Its really interesting although heartbreaking for you, but at least you have your answers and can go from there. Hope the scoping goes well today and you don't find much of concern, also hope you can sort out those feet, sounds like you have a good farrier.

I've got similar with my boy, two spinous processes rubbing - doing the same as you, treating other areas in case its a red herring and of no importance.

So had SI and hocks medicated and restarting yet again with the pro rider riding from tomorrow hopefully riding three times a week again, bless her. I don't know what I'd do without her, I really don't.

Suspensories also a possibility with mine. I'm not entirely sure he has ulcers, the only symptom is girthiness and the acid ease hasn't relieved that, so if its remembered pain from the previous saddle fit or just uncomfortableness from SI and hocks, I'm hoping he gets better with girthing.

He also has neck arthritis, not related to him pulling back (I asked the vet if the images on x-ray 11 days after his pull back accident with me were due to his accident and he said it takes 6-8 weeks to show on an x-ray). These again may be a red herring. I wanted his neck xrayed after he was extremely ataxic on a tail sway test and I didn't want the heartache of another wobbler so x-rayed to rule this out. My vet that I used at the time either didn't know or didn't say about the 6-8 weeks time it took for damage to appear.

Poor lad also has coffin joint changes but nothing major.

The very reason I come on this website is because I strive to help others and if I can even help just one person its worth it to me. When my wobblers horse in 2004 was showing ataxia I was convinced he had wobblers but there was nothing much on the internet then to research and I was desperate for help, and no one to talk to. So I know how you feel. Good luck!
 
Last edited:
D

Deltofe2493

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 April 2021
Messages
318
Visit site
Also to add, was quoted £1600 for the MRI this morning (not including sedation), & £1350 for PRP treatment twice weekly.

Annoyingly I took out insurance after this happened and was already on vet record so anything to do with this left leg lameness is excluded.

Luckily vet is understanding and happy to proceed with treatment as if it is a stress fracture and opting for once weekly PRP treatment instead. ?
 
Birker2020

Birker2020

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 January 2021
Messages
10,549
Location
West Mids
Visit site
Deltofe2493 said:
Also to add, was quoted £1600 for the MRI this morning (not including sedation), & £1350 for PRP treatment twice weekly.

Annoyingly I took out insurance after this happened and was already on vet record so anything to do with this left leg lameness is excluded.

Luckily vet is understanding and happy to proceed with treatment as if it is a stress fracture and opting for once weekly PRP treatment instead. ?
Click to expand...
It makes me so annoyed that an MRI scan costs this ridiculous amount of money, however do they justify the cost? I know the outlay for the machine and maintenance for it is expensive but even so.

It's like my previous vets weren't happy with just issuing an invoice for a standard injection, they also had to add 'aseptic technique' to the invoice. And x-rays weren't just charged per plate, they also added 'intepretation of xrays'. It does annoy me.

What is PRP treatment twice weekly? I'm confused. I thought PRP (platelet rich plasma) was a one off injection where blood is taken from the horses neck, put into a centrifuge, and the plasma which then gets separated from the blood is injected into the tendon.
 
SEL

SEL

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 February 2016
Messages
13,782
Location
Buckinghamshire
Visit site
I'm another who thinks kissing spine might be a red herring with the pony I currently have under the vet. She does have a wonky back leg leading to a thickened ligament which needs sorting, but there were no signs of any back issues until she misjudged her brakes in the field and hit a fence.

I'm hoping that if we can sort out the leg and whatever she tweaked in the accident then the KS won't be an issue.

Well done for getting the work up. There's been a few posts recently highlighting how stoic our horses are
 
Quigleyandme

Quigleyandme

Well-Known Member
Joined
8 March 2018
Messages
2,455
Location
County Sligo
Visit site
My big ISH was diagnosed with kissing spines that were too extensive for surgery at age 10. They fused and he continued in ridden work for the rest of his days. He couldn’t manage combinations with a bounce stride between but then neither could I.
 
D

Deltofe2493

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 April 2021
Messages
318
Visit site
Birker2020 said:
It makes me so annoyed that an MRI scan costs this ridiculous amount of money, however do they justify the cost? I know the outlay for the machine and maintenance for it is expensive but even so.

It's like my previous vets weren't happy with just issuing an invoice for a standard injection, they also had to add 'aseptic technique' to the invoice. And x-rays weren't just charged per plate, they also added 'intepretation of xrays'. It does annoy me.

What is PRP treatment twice weekly? I'm confused. I thought PRP (platelet rich plasma) was a one off injection where blood is taken from the horses neck, put into a centrifuge, and the plasma which then gets separated from the blood is injected into the tendon.
Click to expand...

I know - I was expecting maybe £5/600 but £1600!!! Yes my bill has come out to include interpretation of x-rays. I understand it would be charged but you think it would be common sense lol can't have one without the other.

Total bill for basics is £4,700.

Sorry yes PRP is the injection, I got that and the laser thing confused!

If I went for the MRI & laser that would be an additional 2.2k. Practice is slightly concerned that as she went in for the work up anyway I won't be able to claim the scope / KS but will have to pray to the horsey gods!!
 
Last edited:
Regandal

Regandal

Well-Known Member
Joined
5 August 2011
Messages
3,387
Location
Perthshire
Visit site
Re the suspensories and negative palmar angles - the only way I took the strain off the hind suspensories was by removing the shoes and using boots and pads. He arrived in remedial shoes which had done nothing in a year. You really need to build up the digital cushion in the back feet. I hope the horse comes right for you.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TPO
D

Deltofe2493

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 April 2021
Messages
318
Visit site
Regandal said:
Re the suspensories and negative palmar angles - the only way I took the strain off the hind suspensories was by removing the shoes and using boots and pads. He arrived in remedial shoes which had done nothing in a year. You really need to build up the digital cushion in the back feet. I hope the horse comes right for you.
Click to expand...


What boots and pads did you use? Back shoes came off today so plan is to leave to settle and have farrier out to trim until out of box rest.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top