Kissing Spine & Arthritis in Hocks

K

karen.close

Well-Known Member
Joined
9 February 2011
Messages
86
Location
Birmingham, West Midlands
Visit site
Today my 13 year old ISH gelding has been confirmed with the above, he had a bone scan, x-rays and nerve blocks due to slight lameness on the right hind...

He had not been showing any signs that would have suggested to me he had kissing spine, he has been jumping 3.3 courses and doing very well in ridden classes, he's always seemed sometimes slightly stiff from behind and I have always had a niggling feeling that he may be showing some arthritis in his hind legs...

The problem came to light whilst doing our walk & trot test, he had a bit of a to do on the box whilst travelling to the show with another horse (kicking out) and just didn't seem great in warm up, the whole test was just wrong, he felt tense, wasn't listening to my aids and just generally didn't feel comfortable, the judge called me over after watching and suggested he may have done something to his pelvis....ever since that day I have felt he wasn't quite right and pushed to get him further checked out as my local vet did all flexion tests and lunging session...

So hence he has come back with the diagnosis after spending 4 days at the local equine hospital....

I need help on getting my head round it all, firstly he is showing KS on vertebra's 15,16,17, arthritis in his right hock, right fore, and base of neck.... the vet has recommended tildren injections into his hocks with the possiblilty he will only ever possibly need 3 over a course of 12mths, cortisone injection in his back and the rest of his days on 2 doses of bute due to the fact that although he has all these issues they are only mild and she feels the KS is actually not causing him that much problem. She says she is trying to look at the bigger picture of the whole of the horse and that he has a lot of LITTLE things going on and surgery is not needed due to the mildness and the arthritis..

I have asked the question of bute messing with the horses liver (as I have heard of this) and she assures me on such a small dosage this would not be the case, she has also given me a run down of the cost and to be honest although I'm not exactly awash with cash I would put his needs before anything else...

Am I though just masking the problem with all these injections and bute, she has told me I should be able to continue the work I have been doing, regular hacks and low level jumping on straight, and my ridden classes but no dressage however this just doesn't seem to be sitting comfortable with me..

Should I be jumping for joy that this isn't major surgery needed and at least I still have my beautiful boy or should I be looking at what appears they are doing the right thing for him but really it isn't..

Appreciate thoughts on this and if anyone else has experianced the two things hand in hand, I know there are a lot of forums on KS but not much on the two together and the prognosis of it all...

I'm fully aware KS does not get better unless treated with surgery but she thinks he has prob had this for a long time and learnt to cope with it as he is not shown any signs of cold backing, refusal at jumps, rearing, bucking and may actually not need any surgery ever...
 
I am sorry to hear about your horse. If I were you I would feel inclined to try the treatment and see how it goes. There is obviously a lot for you to come to terms with. Big hugs. X
 
My mare was diagnosed with KS 10 years ago, a quite serious case and we managed it with lunging, physio, acupuncture, shockwave therapy among many other things, the management continues to this day and she is amazing though she never jumped again.

The management of KS with arthritic changes in the hocks would be challenging as the two would contradict each other, however if the KS is mild and has not caused too much of an issue then I would run with the Tildren. If you want something more natural, you could speak to the vet to see if they do IRAP.
 
Thank you.... I'm still trying to come to terms with it all... Collected him today after he had his treatment of tildren and injection in his back..4 days box rest and he can then be turned out and will be accessed in 4 weeks. It was lovely to see him and he was in a good mood and just generally seemed great.

I can't help but feeling a little bit down beat about it all as the more I read the more depressing the whole picture looks.. I kind of felt today coming from the hospital fobbed of as because the treating vet said one thing to me and I get there to pick him up and it's completely different. She was going to show me x-rays, said he could be turned out, said I could start riding in 2 weeks and it all changed on collection.. Was very distressing.

I put he was to be on bute however there was none for me and told it would be down to my one vet to decide as and when he needs go on it, my own vet x-rayed his hock and didn't even pick up he was lame, how he is going to judge when he needs it, my faith had completely gone and I just feel because of us going through our insurance we are a way of making some money, I'm sorry but that's just the way I feel right now :(
 
I'm really sorry, this isn't what you are going to want to hear.

We've just had two different horses go through one of these each (mare with KS, gelding with hock problems) and I would be putting to sleep in your case.

The KS operation itself was fine, but my god, the progress afterwards has been bloody. She's been so unhappy and 3 years on we are just about maybe seeing the first pieces of light.

I hope it all works out for you xx
 
The vets want to run this course though, pts has never been mentioned, my heart is telling me this Is real bad but the vets are telling me this is mild and can be managed. I love this horse dearly and would do anything to have him right. Surely when he gets to the point of needing bute this us not good, I mean ok low dosage at first but eventually it's going to get worse and he'll need more and more, am I just being negative here xxxx
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top