Kissing Spines

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Allie2012

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Could really do with some help and advise. I’ve had my 5 year old horse 6 months – he’s always been fit having gone from racing straight into polo but has a very high head carriage and poor topline condition. He was lame and out of work for a few months and its then that he started to show behavioural problems(mainly bucking) when I bought him back into work. I assumed it was an energy issue so I restricted his feed and grazing for a couple of months, lunged him before riding but even when in a placid mood he’d buck as soon as I asked him to walk on. The next thing on my list to score off was back pain and on Monday this week I took him to the hospital for assessment and xrays. He’s been diagnosed with kissing spines – but I’d never heard of it before and its come as a massive shock. My vet wouldn’t even consider or discuss the operation but has suggested other treatments including cortisone injections or another type of injection that show down bone regeneration (I cant remember the name of that). The thing is he’s only 5yrs old and I really don’t want him to have injections and for the rest of his life. The other problem I have is that I live in London (my parents look after my horses for me in the week and I’m with them every weekend) so its too dark for me to go down after work in the Autumn/winter meaning I can only lunge him at weekends to build up his topline and there’s no one local who I’d trust with my horses.

My dilemma is this …(1) do I need to build up his topline first to strengthen and support his back before starting with steroids and physio. I’m sure its only since loosing muscle condition t that KS has become an issue for him … if so am I better wait until spring to start his treatment? (2) Are injections one of treatments or ongoing for the rest of their lives (3) What would you do??

He’s only a baby and I just want this to be over for him. Whippy is my ultimate horse and my best friend in the whole world… we’ll have another 25 years together so don’t care how long it take to get him better I really just need advise on how to proceed based on your experiences. Big thanks, Allie & Mr Whippy xxx
 
My horse was operated on at 6, he had genetic KS and was very lovely but utterly unpredictable. I think you need to understand why the vet won't discuss an op. Find out how many bones are touching or crossing and where - does it make it inoperable? and also is there anything else wrong with him? Sometimes KS causes secondary symptoms but also some ex racers can be prone to arthritus etc so is there another problem that makes operating on the KS not worthwhile like navicular etc etc?

My horse had 3 problem areas all directly under the saddle, as you say it is when they lose condition and you start to get them back in to work that it shows up because it is incredibly important for them to have strong muscle in the back from correct long and low work to allow their backs to support a rider. I tried the palliative route and injections and it cost a lot but didn't work. Imho, palliative keeps them ticking over but surgery is probably the only way to cure and there are now many methods of surgery which could resolve the problem for you, some with standing surgery.

For what it's worth, I had my boy operated on, rebacked and that was 7years ago, he is ridden 5 days a week, can jump, now hacks alone as well as in company (impossible alone pre op!) and can do a competent Novice dressage test if he is in the mood. We are still improving doing more and more. He is a very capable little horse and I'm glad I did it.

I think a bit more research is needed on your part and I learned to long line and got him used to a pessoa pre op. The fitter he is the better he will come through the op so yes work him as much as possible as long as it is safe, especially with the methods you intend to use post op so he is comfortable with it. My boy woud not accept a pessoa so we found other ways to get him to stretch with the long lines which worked brilliantly, I am very proud of how far he has come.

Good luck, it is horrible to get the diagnosis but there is a lot of success now with KS so please don't panic go investigate some more.
 
Hi Beth – thanks for your speedy and detailed response. I’ve seen the x-rays and there’s about 7 or so vertebras that touch under the saddle area. No mention of arthritis or anything else – surely he’d be too young for all that? He also had a lameness assessment on Monday and the vet was satisfied he was sound I don’t think that was the reason why. I think they are trying to be conservative and trying the treatment route first. Plus she thinks his bucking is possibly down to behavioural problems (surely all horses with KS have a degree of this though) . He didn’t do himself any favours – he had an anxiety attack at the hospital… got himself into a bit of a state rearing, bucking and kicking out. He is highly strung but never that bad – I know its back pain but having seen that episode the vet probably isn’t so sure.

Anyway – your message gives me massive hope of how he could be one day – even how he is now I find him magnificent to ride – just occasionally unpredictable and as you also commented – unable to hack out alone.. Thanks again for your advise on things I need to read up on. It will!! Big thanks again
 
I'm glad it has helped you, I was in utter despair when Ryan was first diagnosed. I suspect you will find the behaviour issues you are experiencing are for the most part down to the KS, Ryan was a nightmare when he was tense (which was most of the time) he is so much more relaxed now, you need to sort the KS before the niggling pain becomes ingrained as the hardest thing I had to tackle was not the physical but the mental issues. Do loads of groundwork and the Kelly Marks perfect manners book and follow on with long reining tips may be useful to you. I truly belief that learning to long rein properly and preofessionally saved his life and stopped me getting seriously damaged!

All crossed for you
 
Just ordered Kelly Marks book off Amazon and also "Long Reining: The Correct Approach (Cadmos Horse Guides) by Alfons Dietz" - are there any other good books/DVDs that you can recommend ? I've also ordered the Equilibrium Massage Pad.. Cant wait to get started. Huge thanks again xxx
 
As others have already said - don't panic & do as much research as possible (which is what your are doing by posting here!).
My ex racer was diagnosed with KS last autumn after a summer of intermittent performance issues. TBH she has never reacted violently - just unwilling to go forwards properly sometimes and occasional refusals jumping. So rather a different situation to you but I was worried (and still am!) that I've got a 6 year old with no career to look forward to. However I've been working hard with her and she is definitely improving, getting good scores dressage and jumping well too. Key for me has been long-reining rather than too much lunging (on my physio's advice) lots of walking as a warm-up, using the massage pad makes a big difference for her, carrot stretches etc etc. I have to say my vet is great but my physio has probably given me more useful advice - they work closely together which is good. She had her back medicated but I didn't notice any difference, also 2 weeks on bute made no difference so despite the xrays looking pretty awful it doesn't seem to be having a huge effect on her at the moment. I'm planning (finances permitting) on sending her away for a few weeks just before the start of the eventing season to somewhere with good hacking and hill-work to really build up the muscles - I have poor hacking at home and it's difficult fitting in the fitness work until the lighter evenings arrive.
Hope everything works out for you, so many horses have KS and as other people have said it doesn't need to be the end of their career.
 
Mine was diagnosed 2weeks ago, and vet advised op. He only has 3 bones touching under saddle but as the insurance claim is only valid for 12months it would mean I would be paying for injections every year. He is currently awaiting a bone scan, as when area was nerve blocked he showed no real improvement under saddle. He is not lame and still in work, jumping etc. (The use of a pessoa is vital for the rehab, both physio and vet have recommended him being lunged with one, he is anyway so that wasn’t a real issue)
Mine is 8, and I asked the vet would he have a full competitive career again after surgery, as If he wouldn’t I would have had no choice but to pts, as he couldn’t just be happy hack.
Good luck with yours.
 
As others have said, injections etc. are just wallpaper - they cover the problem but don't cure it. If you have insurance I would go for the operation, rather than waste your insurance money and time on injections.

There is now a new method of keyhole surgery for treating KS. Rather than removing alternate processes and the long rehabilitation afterwards, the ligaments between the processes are severed which allows the spine to open up, thereby relieving the pain from the bones touching. There have been a few posts on here about this op. which seems to be very successful, much shorter rehab and about a quarter of the cost.

Cotts Equine Vets specialise in this op. but I know the vet will travel to do it elsewhere - worth looking at their website.
 
Hme... first of all, a large recent German study has shown that many horses have kissing spines according to x-rays. Many of them do never show problems, other that do show them do not show kissing spines on the x-rays... so much about x-rays of the spine...
Now to your problem: I know of a similar case. In his case not the x-rays but a scintigraphy showed an inflammation between two joints of the spine. He got a cortisone injection and from then on had to work extremely regularly (advised was 7/7 days). It took roughly 5 months before he showed no more signs of irregular footing of his back leg. He is totally fine now. The horse was only a little older than yours. - Try to find somebody to work your horse every single day.. Only the treatment I fear won't help.
 
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