Just been told my horse has Kissing Spine treatment???

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opinionuk

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I just wondered has ever experienced the following, my horse is intermittently lame and doesn't work through from behind so I took her to the equine hospital to get her checked over, they did 4 nerve blocks on her hindquarter and nothing could be located, she then had xrays on the hock and stifle and nothing was found, the vet wants to go further xrays up the leg but surely this would then be a tissue problem?

An xray was also taken of her spine hence why i found out she has kissing spine

Does anybody think that the hindquarter issue would be related to the kissing spine?
The treatment offered was cortisone injections in first instance.

Shes only 4 and I brought her 6 months ago with a 5 star vetting to event which is obviously out of the question now, absolutely devastated.

Physio has also been suggested by various people has anybody had any success with this?
 
Hi Opinionuk,

First off don't be overly concerned about the kissing spine diagnosis - they reckon that with the x-ray technology today over 80% of horses would show some form of spinal closeness, it really does depend on how bad your lad is.

We discovered close spinal processes in my 12 yr old a few years back when we were investigating his unwillingness to engage behind. It was most evident on the lunge asking for a canter transition from trot, where he struggled and ran before breaking into a horrid 4 beat canter. Being ridden it was less noticeable as i was able to hold him together.

I reckon the root cause of the problem (in my case!) was overwork - the horse no longer had the musculature to suport his spine as it should have, which led to an initial closeness of the vertebrae, this then led to pain, which then meant that the horse braced his back muscles and hence further reduced his muscling - a really nasty viscous circle. I completely re-evaluated the way I rode the horse, from making sure that i was gentle on his back to ensuring that each and every work session started with him long and low and then finished with him long and low. By giving him a cocktail of steroids and cortisone we got rid of the pain which meant we had three months or so to rebuild the muscling - a lot of time was spent on the lunge in a pessoa and trottign around the school with head between knees! However after six months of remedial work he was back in action and felt better than he ever had! Since then he hasn't been reinjected. but I still put him on the lunge once a week and guage if he is sore by asking for a canter transition - if he's not clean and engaged we back off him for a bit and let the back recover.

That was three years ago, for the last two years he's been happily competing at Advanced (BE). I still spend a ridicoulous amount of time making sure that he's using himself, but so far so good!

Don't think that kissing spine will write off your horses eventing career - it is just like any other condition, be it mud fever or bad feet, provided it is managed correctly there is no reason you can't do what you want to! There are HEAPS of 4* horses that get twice annual cortisone and steriod injections into the spine!
 
Thank you this has put my mind at rest so much, I am going to go down the route that you did and see if this has any effect, I haven't got anything to lose I have the same experience that she is worse on the lunge then when she is ridden, maybe I have been over riding her, I had lessons on her twice a week (an hour each lesson), hacked out one day a week, lunged 1 day a week and 2 days off.

When I first got her she didn't like a saddle being put on her so got it professionally fitted, she didn't like me mounting on her but shes fine now, she napped and reared when i rode her out on own, she still naps but I can anticipate it now and turn her in circles and kick her on, def improvement.
The physio said to lunge her on the pessoa to get her long and low and the day after the lunging when she was ridden her striding was much longer, she rides quite short stridden as she is 16'2 ISH, I really don't want to have more xrays not just because of the money as her welfare is my main concern even though shes not insured!
 
hi, yes kissing spine can affect hind end as they wont engage and will appear inconsistant. If you have been offered cortisone injections i asume it is only a mild inpingment ( mine had cortisone) with the right work you can prevent it from getting any worse. Pessoa work and builing the right muscle ect. Lots of horses have huge KS and still go on to compete to a high level after surgery.
 
Hi,

Thank you for that, when your horse had cortisone injections how long did they take to make a difference and do I need to rest her until they 'kick in'

I have spoken to the vet and the physio and it seems that it is a moderate case of kissing spine and she has suggested cortisone injection and a course of physio which will last around 6-8 weeks or more if needed.

My intention is for her to be lunged on the persona twice a week, the physio will see her back once a week, I will long rein her twice a week and she will have 2 days off, do you think this is a suitable schedule for her? shes only 4 nearly 5 so I guess she shouldn't be pushed that much?

Advice please ..
 
the injections take no more than 24 hours to make a difference, i was told to get on him and start walk work as soon as i got him home. He had injections in hocks also. his have lasted 6 months and i can now see a huge difference (he extremely stiff!) so the vet is out to re access him. but do bear in mind you will have to change to way she has now adjusted to going to compensate. Pessoa work is good. i do a day or two of pessoa work and hack also, to add some small hills in ect.
 
If all goes well and we manage to get her muscles
all sorted do you think I would be able to compete her at novice
level or is it over before it began do you think?
 
no its not over yet! most high level event horses prob have KS! she will tell you if she cant do it, you will know your horse and know when it is in discomfort! you can but try! some horses have mild KS which will have never been diagnosed and they still carry on as normal.
 
There are differing schools of thought re rest after injections, but having seen the effectiveness in a rested and non rested horse, I'd say five days box rest every time.
I second the pessoa advice and agree, the majority of horses X rayed would show kissing spines..doesn't mean it affects them that much though.
 
I am absolutely gutted about my mare, I hear positive things about kissing spine and then one negative comment just breaks my heart.

The vet is coming to the yard later to discuss the options and let me have the full prognosis absolutely dreading it she is only 4 years old and I've only had her 6 months I have absolutely no idea what the future will hold and what I should do with her for the best, there are so many different opinions from the vet and the Physio and i've no idea whose advise to follow, surely the physio would know more than the vet?

The Chiropractor that I am using is a McTimoney-Corley Spinal Therapist not sure if that is good or not?
 
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