Kissing Spine: newest treatment/studies

[Fletcher605]

My horse was diagnosed with kissing spine last May after she tried rocket launching me to the moon. I did a bone scan and X-rays.

I spent the summer trying several treatment plans. We did shockwave, injections, time off, lunging with the Pessoa/riding long and low/billions of trots poles, massage, acupuncture/laser. NOTHING worked. And then I made the decision to have her get the operation. It is THE best decision I’ve ever made for her. I just wish I did it months earlier. She has ZERO back pain now.

I’m at 3 months post op now and got the OK to start riding. My vet said she will be able to go back to eventing. However. I plan on taking my time! Good luck!!!

[beowulf]

@Fletcher605 how are you and Maresy doing?

[blueribbonpanel]

QUESTION ON KS: Please reply!

Nine yr old gelding who shows absolutely no signs of having KS, but xrays show the KS exists. The horse is in normal work, ridden 3-5 times a week and also jumping 2-6 to 3’ fences a few times a week. Horse is working beautifully. Does this happen alot. Doesn’t make sense to treat this condition now, right?

[CindyCRNA]

@blueribbonpanel

QUESTION ON KS: Please reply!

Nine yr old gelding who shows absolutely no signs of having KS, but xrays show the KS exists. The horse is in normal work, ridden 3-5 times a week and also jumping 2-6 to 3’ fences a few times a week. Horse is working beautifully. Does this happen alot. Doesn’t make sense to treat this condition now, right?

KS is more common than we know but if your horse is asymptomatic, leave it.

[Gumby80]

Agree with Cindy, but you could consider doing some of the strengthening exercises recommended for KS horses anyway (lunging in a Pessoa etc). Lots of turnout is thought to help as well, if you can swing it.

[CindyCRNA]

@Gumby80

Agree with Cindy, but you could consider doing some of the strengthening exercises recommended for KS horses anyway (lunging in a Pessoa etc). Lots of turnout is thought to help as well, if you can swing it.

Yes we do that. The Pessoa was a great tool.

[beowulf]

@blueribbonpanel

QUESTION ON KS: Please reply!

Nine yr old gelding who shows absolutely no signs of having KS, but xrays show the KS exists. The horse is in normal work, ridden 3-5 times a week and also jumping 2-6 to 3’ fences a few times a week. Horse is working beautifully. Does this happen alot. Doesn’t make sense to treat this condition now, right?

Why was his back x-rayed if he showed no signs of KS? If he showed no symptoms why have an x-ray of the spine at all?

I suspect if you x-rayed his spine, you must know something was bothering him.

I think lots more horses have KS than we think - it’s important to keep an eye on any behavioral quirks. My also 9y/o TB had no usual traditional symptoms for KS either other than an occasional slip behind and difficulty in very sloppy footing. He will have mesotherapy once it is warmer (too cold to inject ATM here).

I will say that my vet has said there is not a substantial correlation between how the x-rays read and how the horse performs - some horses have painfully obvious overlapping processes without pain, while others have only mild impingement and are unrideable. He says don’t listen to the x-rays, listen to the horse.

[Gumby80]

@beowulf

I will say that my vet has said there is not a substantial correlation between how the x-rays read and how the horse performs - some horses have painfully obvious overlapping processes without pain, while others have only mild impingement and are unrideable. He says don’t listen to the x-rays, listen to the horse.

My vet/s said the same thing, and not just in regards to back xrays, but also neck, hocks etc. It’s tough: is the horse really not bothered, or are some just more stoic than others?

[beowulf]

bumping this up for a poster on another thread

[Fletcher605]

@beowulf

@Fletcher605 how are you and Maresy doing?

VERY happy I did the surgery. Ive really taken my time with my girl and not rushed back into hard work and competing. Rehab is KEY!

[LuvRedHeads]

@beowulf I spoke yesterday with a woman I used to board with. Her 10 yr old TB gelding was diagnosed with KS last year. She did the steroid back injections and pessoa lunging rehab. That was enough to get him comfortable and she hasn’t needed to do further treatment or surgery. So that is encouraging!

[beowulf]

@LuvRedHeads

@beowulf I spoke yesterday with a woman I used to board with. Her 10 yr old TB gelding was diagnosed with KS last year. She did the steroid back injections and pessoa lunging rehab. That was enough to get him comfortable and she hasn’t needed to do further treatment or surgery. So that is encouraging!

exciting! thanks for thinking of me. I think instead of making that rig I’ll buy the one you PM’d me… now we just got to wait for the rain and mud to abate… can’t lunge in a grass puddle, can we? :lol:

[mfleming13]

My surgical vet has had good results with the ligament snip surgery as well. Gave an UL show jumping horse his career back. Shockwave is a solid option if you want to go a non-invasive route. Back on track products can help but KS is skeletal so I would lean towards injecting the back or doing Osphos.

Lunging in the pessoa rig helps a ton as well, gets them to work their back and build their muscles up without having to deal with the weight of a rider. My vet recommends this for KS and SI horses. Find a good fitting saddle as well, sometimes that can make all the difference.

There’s certainly no shortage of options for KS out there, but finding the right one can be a bit daunting sometimes. If it were me I would go ahead with an injection, followed by shockwave, followed by rehab in the pessoa rig and then maybe reevaluate after that and decide if you want to spring for the surgery or not.