Price of kissing spines operation?

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Horsemad2

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Hi, I have been concerned about my horse for a while now and after talking to people and searching on this site her symtoms/behaviour seem to be like all the horses on here diagnosed with Kissing spines. I will be contacting my vet tommorrow so we can start investigations however, I have heard the operation is very expensive and may go over my £5000 veterinary limit through my insurance. Please can anyone that has been through the operation give me an idea if this is the case. My mare is fantastic in every other way and I want to do all I can to have a great future with her as she is rather 'unpredictable' to ride at the moment!

I have been through all the usual routes back speacilists, new saddle fitted and teeth checked regularly, also don't think it is hormones as not generally a 'mareish' mare!

Look forward to hearing from you.....
 
I have had the op done on one of my horses about a year ago and it cost about 8k all in plus the rehab time the horse was at 2 star level so we are just starting to work him now and he has his first open novice in a couple of weeks

Andy Bathe at Rossdales did the op and we were very pleased so far with the results , however it will only be a sucess if he returns to his previous level of competition.

We were not insured for this op and now have another novice horse with the same problem because of the level that he is at we will not be going ahead with the op
 
Many thanks for your reply, my horse is just for general riding but I would be willing to pay the extra £3000 if it would mean she would be pain free and happy for many more years however, I do not have a bottomless pot and I guess the price will vary from case to case due to the severity and how many 'kissing' there are. But you have given me an idea of costs, thanks again and I hope yours makes a full recovery.
 
My horse is having ks surgery this week & I was quoted around £3k.
However he has already had nerve blocks xrays & gamma scan plus steroid injections and physio so have already spent at least £2k. So will go over the £5k insurance limit but hopefully not too much.
Even if you find that it is kissing spines you may be able to cope with it by steroid injections and physio, which of course would be a lot cheaper. Good luck!
 
Give Svend Kold a ring at Willersley, he will quote and stick with his price, if you tell him your insurance limit he will usually work with you on that so long as there isn't loads of effected vertabrae.
 
Agree with Dressage babe, call Svend Kold at Willersley, he is the best. The diagnosis was the expensive bit for me (£1800 for all the scanning etc), the actual op 2yrs ago cost £2500 including 10day stay at Willersley, nursing care & drugs, they were very happy for me to come and see my horse a couple of times a day and I saw him 3hrs after his op. (felt the need to stay in a local b&b for the week as couldn't bear to leave him by himself!) Their care was excellent, I just knew he was in extremely safe hands, he was off the lorry being x-rayed within 20mins. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend them, they turned an awful experience into something bearable.

Please PM me if you need any help, by the way butterbean has a point it may not be KS and even if it is they could try the palliative route of injections etc, it didn't work for Ryan but does for some, also be aware if you go down the op route, if your horse is older or has other issues that is a prime concern in the success of these operations along with a good rehab work
 
Thanks for your helpful reply, my vet came out yesterday and is referring her to Willersley clinic for further investigations, as whatever it is I need to get to the bottom of it for both my horse and my safety!
Will let you know how I get on....
 
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