Kissing Spine..

[JackHorseRocks]

My 9yr mare has just been diagnosed with kissing spine. Its only one process which is over lapping, and my vet and the surgeon has suggested surgery straight away to remove it (booked for next week)
She is good on box rest and doesn't stress to much.. so i'm looking forward to getting her feeling better!

Even though I've been told i'm cruel for putting her through the op, I am going to give it a go as cant give up on her, because she's only 9 and had a very difficult start..

I just wanted to hear of your KS stories? Specially any success stories? And how long was your recovery period (specially the box rest?)

Thanks for reading!

 

[mischamoo]

Even though I've been told i'm cruel for putting her through the op, I am going to give it a go as cant give up on her, because she's only 9 and had a very difficult start..

Why have you been told you're cruel for putting her through the operation OP?

My boy was diagnosed with KS in 5 places, he's mid-late teens and had a bit of a rough life and I decided not to proceed for that reason with the op as felt unfair on his at his age to have to cope with that as he's only ever been my little hacking monster, so I went down the injection route and 5 months on we're back hacking/schooling and popping a few small jumps and he's working better than ever. If the op is the best solution for yours, I see no reason why you should be considered cruel in any way - having just one process affected means she should recover quickly and respond to the rehab better. What surgery is she having the ligament snip or removal of the affected process?

 

[cptrayes]

My 9yr mare has just been diagnosed with kissing spine. Its only one process which is over lapping, and my vet and the surgeon has suggested surgery straight away to remove it (booked for next week)
She is good on box rest and doesn't stress to much.. so i'm looking forward to getting her feeling better!

Even though I've been told i'm cruel for putting her through the op, I am going to give it a go as cant give up on her, because she's only 9 and had a very difficult start..

I just wanted to hear of your KS stories? Specially any success stories? And how long was your recovery period (specially the box rest?)

Thanks for reading!

Can I suggest that you ask your vet why your mare can't have the ligament resection operation that mine had three months ago to sort out six kissing spines.

It's a lot cheaper. The recovery period is shorter - six weeks to riding again. The infection rates are lower. The scars are smaller. And the success rate is at least as good if not better.

Send your xrays to Cotts Equine, the pioneers, and ask them if she's suitable. They will do them as day cases if you are close enough.


Ps freelance surgeon Graham Monroe did mine in Cheshire. He operates all round the country I think.

 

[Busybusybusy]

Ask the critics 'if they had back problems that caused pain every time they moved in a particular way, and there was a chance that that pain could be taken away by having an operation would they choose to operate?'
Yes there are things that can be done without operating, but many end up needing the op anyway.
There are different ops, the one Cptrayes' horse had and also where they take out the processes, which mine had. Both seem to have good prognoses, but the interspinous desmotomy is less invasive so it's worth speaking to Cotts equine for more info.
Also if you are on face book have a look at the 'horses with kissing spine' page, lots of people who's horses have kissing spine and have had a variety of different treatments. All very supportive and great to be able to pick their brains.