What does 'spurs on the spine' mean?

[ladybones]

HI everyone,

I sold my horse about a year ago, he was amazing and i was very much in love but i outgrew his abilities and he went to a brilliant home where he does what he's good at. I keep in regular contact with his new mum and i got a text this eve saying he has been diagnosed with 'spurs on the spine' ive googled it and nothing came up ao i was just wondering if one of you could explain to me in layman's terms what this means and what the treatment etc is for it?

Thanks in advance

 

[ajn1610]

I guess they are describing a bony growth on the vertebrae something like that? Not an expression I've come across before either.

 

[smellsofhorse]

Sounds like kissing spine.
Bony growth like hooks on the vertebrae.
Not heard it called that before so could be wrong!

 

[tallyho!]

I'm surprised you didn't find anything on google - it's very common in humans and horses.

Try Bone Spurs on Spine.

It's an osteophyte, which means bone grows where areas of excessive wear and tear occur, or where there is joint disease or inflammation.

Kissing spine is bone fusion, the two are very different and treatment is different.

Chances are the vet means that the horse has osteoarthritis in spinal area. If it is in the spine, it will also be in other joints. It's degenerative and will continue to worsen.

Steroids, pain killers are treatment options and horse will have to keep moving or it stiffens and causes more pain. Surgery to remove bone spurs is an option but it invariably reoccurs.

Sorry I've gone a bit technical, I work in spinal units and in rheumatology.

 

[TicTac]

I'm surprised you didn't find anything on google - it's very common in humans and horses.

Try Bone Spurs on Spine.

It's an osteophyte, which means bone grows where areas of excessive wear and tear occur, or where there is joint disease or inflammation.

Kissing spine is bone fusion, the two are very different and treatment is different.

Chances are the vet means that the horse has osteoarthritis in spinal area. If it is in the spine, it will also be in other joints. It's degenerative and will continue to worsen.

Steroids, pain killers are treatment options and horse will have to keep moving or it stiffens and causes more pain. Surgery to remove bone spurs is an option but it invariably reoccurs.

Sorry I've gone a bit technical, I work in spinal units and in rheumatology.

Well put and exactly right!