Injection spineous process joints (KS)

[Green Bean]

Apologies if this has been done to death a bit, however..
My horse has seen the vet today as I am concerned about her back, based on what a chiropractor has said (she is also a vet, but not my vet). Two years ago she was diagnosed with two kissing spine behind the whither (a common location). This was confirmed via x-ray at the time. My vet has examined her today and advised that it would be best to repeat the x-rays to see if there has been any deterioration, improvement or if things have stayed the same. Based on this, they could decide to inject the affected joints. She said that the gap between injections would be every two years, depending on how she responds. I was surprised the gap between injections is so long, being a bit new to this. It would make sense as her previous one was two years ago but wonder if anyone has had any experience with this sort of thing?

 

[Bellaboo18]

My honest thoughts from my experience;
Kissing spine is secondary to something else.
It's degenerative so it's highly likely there's been some deterioration if nothing else has changed.
I'd think 2 years is very optimistic for the injection to last.
It must be extremely painful.

 

[paddi22]

I have had a few come through here with kissing spine. Most got the injections and they were very successful. some horses with mild touching spines only needed to be done once - once they got correct work to get the muscle, and treatments like mesotheraphy and physio, they were fine and all stayed happily in work. Another horse got injections every five years or so, and also stayed happily in work, he's in his 20s now and still eventing. I've only had one that got injections and was uncomfortable in work, but that was due to SI issues as well, as Bellaboo said, there can often be secondary issues, especially in exracers for example.

Kissing spine varies from horse to horse. From the ones I've had, I've found management to be essential. And learning how to build up the back properly through correct work over poles and hills etc. But a good vet and X-rays is the only thing that will tell you.

 

[SEL]

I've got one with a minor KS diagnosis at the moment - but it's on top of some very quirky foot X rays.

Vet has said the injection would probably give me 6 months of pain relief to try and build up her muscle tone. Currently though my plan is to see whether we can get her sound because she's never given my physio cause for concern across her back so it could be the KS is incidental

 

[ycbm]

Kissing spine is secondary to something else.

With the location described by the OP, I agree it's likely but the surgeon who operated on mine said he saw horses who had obviously been born with it, as mine had, behind the saddle.

It's also now known, I believe, to have hereditary aspects to it.
.

 

[Green Bean]

Following up on my original post, my mare had the x-ray last week Tuesday. I walked her twice a day as instructed by the vet and am now on the week where I can lunge or hack her. She seems to be responding well. The x-rays showed the original 2 spineous processes touching as diagnosed before then 3 more that were barely touching. She had 5 injections and the day in her stable before being allowed out into her paddock. The yard manager said yesterday that she is walking calmly to and from the fields now, whereas before she was a bit of a pain to bring in. I am wondering if this has anything to do with the injections, maybe she is just feeling better in herself. Either way, I have 2 years to monitor her, and now that I am clear on what is normal behaviour (she is a madam so not always easy to distinguish between normal behaviour and temperament) I can keep an eye on a few behaviours that are signs of being uncomfortable plus having the chiropractor regularly.

 

[Birker2020]

Apologies if this has been done to death a bit, however..
My horse has seen the vet today as I am concerned about her back, based on what a chiropractor has said (she is also a vet, but not my vet). Two years ago she was diagnosed with two kissing spine behind the whither (a common location). This was confirmed via x-ray at the time. My vet has examined her today and advised that it would be best to repeat the x-rays to see if there has been any deterioration, improvement or if things have stayed the same. Based on this, they could decide to inject the affected joints. She said that the gap between injections would be every two years, depending on how she responds. I was surprised the gap between injections is so long, being a bit new to this. It would make sense as her previous one was two years ago but wonder if anyone has had any experience with this sort of thing?

My 10 year old horse who I've owned for 5 months went to the clinic yesterday for investigation and a couple of processes were seen on the xray as rubbing together but not at the top of the process, but half way down.

It was decided that we'd inject the SI which has an existing problem and also the hocks as just because something shows up on xray doesn't mean the horses is suffering from the condition. So we are going to see how he gets on with the SI and hocks medicated and ridden correctly as the pro rider has been doing a sterling job so far.

Then if there is still no improvement or he continues to play up (which he is doing more of now) then we will proceed to medicate the back, he said he'd be able to put the steroid in between the gap (as much as is possible).

The vet is emailing me the x-rays so soon as I get them I'll put a picture on for you of what mine looks like.