kissing spines

[1964]

hi, is there anyone who has given there horse the operation for kissing spines as my horse has it and needs the op but really worried about all the after care that is involved, so was wondering how other people have coped and if you could give me your views.
my horse ahs got it just by the withers T11, T12 and T13. so havent been able to take him up as he wont allow the girth to be done up, but has had a steriod injected into the affected area and he has allowed me to put some pressure on the area which he wouldnt allow before so we know the is the affected area and my vets says he needs the op, but really would like to know how other people have coped.
so look forward to any advice from anyone,
regards Anita and my lovely boy OZ who is 8yrs old T/B who is an ex-racer

 

[debradley]

Hi my horse has just recently had T14 T16 & T18 removed about 18 weeks ago. She was doing incredibly well until her horrible accident Monday morning which wasn't related to her KS op. She is 12 yrs old.

Honey's back has practically fused before the op and the only option was the op or PTS so went for the op. The programme for recovery is quite intensive but not time wise you just have to be very dedicated. The first six weeks they are on box rest and are allowed to be led out in hand twice a day to munch on some grass. After the six weeks you then start the rehab part, but this is very gradual. At first they may only be able to actually go for a walk for 5 minutes at a time say twice a date and gradually you build up the work regime until they are lunging over poles/ raised poles for 20 mins max a day. Once you get the all clear from the vet who has operated you can then go back onboard, but even then it maybe that the horse can only take your weight in walk for about 5 mins.

I know it seems very daunting, but it's well worth it. Honey's results/improvement in a very short time were amazing. Please pm me if you need any support or have any more detailed questions only to happy to help.

 

[squirtlysmum]

Hello,
You'll get some really positive feedback from us 'KS been there' types.
My 5 year old had the top of two of his vertebrae removed under his saddle area last December and although we are still taking things very slowly, as he has a number of related mental issues, things have improved a huge amount. He saw a chiropractor this week who sorted out a bit of muscle tightness but commented on how well his spine moved although he did say it was probably still healing.
So I recommend having the op, the initial aftercare is very easy and then lots of physio and ground work.
Let us know how you get on.

 

[1964]

thanks for your reply, hope to going ahead with the op in feb 08, but worried about his mental issues as he thinks that every time he is having a girth done up its going to hurt.
but got to give it a go as he is only young. tahnks again
anita

 

[Bert&Maud]

My last horse had the op at 14 years of age. The mental issues are certainly a consideration, as from then until he was pts at 25 you always had to be very careful when you got on him. By sheer coincidence, current horse has KS too. His is inoperable, but he has been saddled by Kay Humphries and is quite happy hacking out. She is brilliant, and I would recommend anyone with a horse with back issues of any kind to get her to come and help. My boy has had his saddle re-lined with serge (very soft) and a half panel (his KS is just behind his wither too and affects the freedom of his shoulder) but he is so much happier now that Kay has altered his saddle.

 

[kerilli]

i had a horse operated on for it years ago. very successful, his horrible megabuck never reared its ugly head again, he came back to full work and jumping. i would recommend it.

 

[seza]

We are just going through this with one of our thoroughbreds - ex racer - and have been recommended Sven Kold at willesey Equine in gloucestershire. Apparently he is a world expert and gets great results. Hope it works out for you.
Sarah

 

[1964]

thanks to all that have replyed, iwent to leahurst with my horse and wasnt happy with them at all they just sent me home with some pills to desencatise, him its what is used for people that have fits ( Gabapentin ). i went back to my own vet who has sorted out more for me than them and they are going to do the operation themselfs as they have done it b4.
he has told me though that im going to have to have a fitted saddle made for him after as his back is going to change.
but never mind as long as i can get him sorted i will be happy just have to work on his mental issues.
thanks again anita x

 

[BethH]

Go to Svend Kold at Willesley he is the best. My horse was operated on 18mths ago by him and has been out doing dressage (just prelim level) this summer and getting some lovely comments from the judge. Not bad tho for a horse whose behaviour was so bad he was possibly going to be PTS as he was in constant pain and also not bad for a horse that was backed and re-started from scratch after the op so he has come a very long way in 18mths.

My reason for recommending Svend is partly because he is clever at the op and therefore the horse is under anaesthetic for a shorter time, partly because I felt a complete wreck at putting my horse through it but when I took him for the op I just knew he was in safe hands, partly because they managed pain relief so well (I saw him 3 hrs after the op stuffing his face with hay!) and also becaused I asked about 100 questions and Svend took the time to answer them all.

Please feel free to pm me if you would like to ask anything or need any help or advice - it is a long hard road with some very difficult days but in my case well worth the effort. I would describe the journey as taking a rollercoaster ride so that you can appreciate the merry go round at the end!

 

[debradley]

Oh Beth what an ideal way of describing it, you're so good at this, and I wholly agree with getting Svend to do it.

 

[1964]

+thanks for your replys, ive heard alot about svend on this site, can you ask your horse to be refered to where you want to send them?
will probably go through it but really worried.
hows honey doing bed hope she is well today?

 

[BethH]

Ask your vet to refer your horse to Svend, he will request a copy of the x-rays and have a look first to make sure he can help you, if he can, he will then contact you to book your horse in, I chose the time of year so I had enough time to get Ryan fit before the op and so that the evenings were lighter so could do the rehab after work. I booked in October for him to be operated on at the end of March, they were quite surprised but let me book that early! Make sure you don't feel pressured and have a really good think before you go ahead, you have to be absolutely certain this is the way forward you are happy with. Willersley have a web site with a profile on Svend so have a look at that too.

Debradley thanks for your comments, when I look back at the last 18mths I don't know whether to laugh or cry, but boy have I learnt alot! It is just lovely to see Ryan looking so well (very fat!) even though he is being a complete git at the moment! Every September he gets personality disorder syndrome!!! Am keeping everything crossed for you, I feel sick at your rotten luck and am praying that honey gets through all of this and is 100% soon. Please let me know how she is getting on.

 

[1964]

hi beth thanks for your advise, i have looked up on the site about svend and he is highly spoken of by alot of people,
the olny other problem that i have because of leahurst wasting alot of time and revisits i only have £2,500 left on my insurance and have no transport costs left either as i dont have my own transport have to pay some one sle to do it, costs alot of money,
well got alot to think about, w3aiting for my vets to put me intouch with some of there clients who have gone through the same thing and hopefully be able to go and see them and there horse, i live in shropshire so if there is any one out there who isnt to far awqay from me and i could come and see you and your horse that has gone through kissing spines would be very gratefull
thanks anita x

 

[BethH]

Well you don't have to rush this, which can give you a bit of time to save if you feel this is the right way forward for you. The most expensive thing I felt was the diagnosis, Svend is about half the price of other surgeons because in his view if he cuts off 1 of the crossing bones the whole thing stops crossing if that makes sense, most other surgeons take the whole lot out. That is why the horse is under anaesthetic less time which reduces the cost for the time in theatre etc. Ryan's op, 10day livery stay at Willersley drugs etc cost about £2,500 (Liphook was roughtly £5-6k!) which I was amazed at, my friends dog op was a similar price! I transported Ryan from Kent so had to pay for a 4hr journey each way which cost a fortune but I can give you the name of the transporter as he was superb and had a wonderful manner with horses and was the cheapest quote too, he is based just round the corner from Willersley and they recommended him. After the op and horsebox fees I paid out roughly another £1k over a year on vet check ups and physio etc etc. If you are ever in Kent you are welcome to see Ryan, but you can't even see his scar, he is not naturally built to use hind end well as he is slightly straight in the hock and fairly forehand heavy being a connemara cross but before he couldn't track up and now when he can be bothered he can over track by at least a hoof, which for him is amazing!

If you want to ask me any questions feel free to pm me and I am sure you will get loads of good advice from the other guys on here who have been through the same thing, the one thing they all have in common is a fighting spirit to get their horses through it and out the other side, so it is uplifting to hear from them as they are so positive.