KISSING SPINE SURGERY - WHICH HOSPITAL?

nbred

nbred

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Hi all,

My lovely horse has unfortunately got to go for surgery, he has 2 impinging spinal processes and alternative treatment has not worked.

Please could you let me know which hospital you went for and what rehab programme they gave you as i believe they difer. I am based in Essex so ideally i would like one realitively close ie Newmarket but i have read that Sven at Willersley Equine is the best surgeon for the job. I am willing to travel, i just want the best for my pony. He is a 9 yrs old, 17h IDx, well muscled after alot of passoa,lunging and in hand pilates type work, so i am guessing now would be the best time to go for it, my insurance runs out in Oct.

I am so upset about the whole thing, it really is an emotional roller coaster and to top it off it would have been a year tomorrow that i lost my lovely little 5yrs old TB to a hock injury, i bought Mac after my TB was PTS and i have had nothing but agro. Feel pretty crap atm BUT i am trying to be positive and i am determined to get my boy back to his normal happy self, what ever it takes

:) xx
 
Another poster mentioned an alternative less invasive surgery a couple of weeks ago that is being carried out in an equine hospital in Wales. It's something i had looked into for a client as they appear to be having very good results. The practice is Cotts Equine and from memory there's lots about it on their website. I do think they are quite far West though so might be furthet than you would want to travel.

I have quite mixed feelings about kissing spine surgery, and if this approach works as well as they reckon it's something i would be more inclined to consider if i had an affected horse. Otherwise Svend Kold is fantastic, but any of the Newmarket hospitals would do a good job I'm sure.
 
My mare was operated on by David Rutherford at Fellowes Farm Equine, Abbots Ripton Cambs 18 months ago. She had 4 vertabrae removed and made a full recovery.
 
Svend operated on my boy as you know, he has made a full recovery as have all the KS horses I know about, where the outcome isn't good it's usually because of other issues.
Svend has been at the forefront in research in KS but there are many vets doing the op very well. I would actually, I think have chosen the standing sedation but Svend doesn't do that. I would choose somewhere more local to you for your op. Good luck.
 
Svend operated on Ryan 6yrs ago - would thoroughly recommend him as the best, the care & pain relief (uber important!) at Willesley was superb.

I have also heard that my vets Bell Equine (Mereworth, Kent) who are a large specialist Equine practice do the standing surgery for KS now, you could chat to them, but I put my boy on a lorry for 4 1/2hrs from Kent to Gloucester to Svend Kold as he is the best and I wanted a surgeon who carried out this op day in and day out and had masses of experience which he does, I thought well I'm only doing this once! It was 6yrs ago though and I am told things have moved on quite a bit since then.

Good luck, it is a very emotional and tiring experience, but if I can get my horse through it (he was rather difficult) and he is still being successfully ridden 6yrs on, then I am convinced you can too if you are careful with the rehab and go slowly but surely.
 
Had two of mine at rossdales

Andy Bathe removed 4 on one and 4 on another.

100% on both.

Good luck

As someone above says pain and management is KEY!!!!! Don't be tempted to take off painkillers too quickly!
 
foraday said:
Had two of mine at rossdales

Andy Bathe removed 4 on one and 4 on another.

100% on both.

Good luck

As someone above says pain and management is KEY!!!!! Don't be tempted to take off painkillers too quickly!
Click to expand...

Andy also did mine - interesting he needed 4 out as well (or is that andys trade mark amount?!).

Horse has recovered well but I've given him the summer off as Ive another horse and I know how long my muscles took to recover after I had a back op. Fingers crossed he will be fine but proof will be in the riding!!
 
my horse is currently being looked after by svend - she has 8 impinging processes and also lame left fore - back has been medicated and sorting left fore lameness out first before continuing with back - but i would choose svend anyday
 
My horse had 5 spinal processes removed at Rossdales Newmarket. He has made a fabulous recovery and I was back riding him after only 3 months. We have however, had a setback. He had a panic reaction to being saddled a few weeks ago and so I have decided to give him a few months off and start again after he has had some 24/7 turnout. Unfortunately this weather has prevented it so far!
 
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