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| I have been searching for info or opinions on surgery options for a gelding I have that has kissing spines. Just wonndering if it is better then injections? Any advice or personal experience would be great as well as advice on where to possibly get it done? I’m in the northwest but would be willing to haul almost anywhere if I need to. |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
  
Location: Arkansas | I bumped up 2 threads, but there are more on here that talk about it |
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| Thank you. I read through those threads now but curious if there is any more feedback on surgery? |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 639
Location: God's country...aka TEXAS | Do the surgery ASAP! The longer you wait, the more damage is done. They will ruin their hocks, stifles, SI, etc from compensating from the back pain, even with injections. I speak from experience. I have one that had to have 2 kissing spine surgeries. |
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 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | I'm the opposite, I try to avoid surgery. I want to be 1000000% convinced the issues are from kissing spine and not elsewhere. And I want to make sure that injections don't work before I tell someone to do surgery. There's always a risk when you do surgery on anything (not just kissing spine surgery specifically) and it better be really necessary in my opinion. |
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| casualdust07 - 2018-12-03 10:25 AM
I'm the opposite, I try to avoid surgery. I want to be 1000000% convinced the issues are from kissing spine and not elsewhere. And I want to make sure that injections don't work before I tell someone to do surgery. There's always a risk when you do surgery on anything (not just kissing spine surgery specifically) and it better be really necessary in my opinion.
Did you have a bad experience with surgery? |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| It is so horse by horse.
We have a head horse that has it. He was a backup barrel horse for me until I started asking for more, i strongly suspect his back was the root of his problem, but it is now in his head. He’s a jam up head horse so it’s not worth the anxiety for both of us to try and run barrels. What we know of his history I suspect there’s more to it than just his back as well.
We have him injected, so far once a year. He tells us when it’s starting to bother him again, a little anxiety in the box, not pulling quite as strong, and a little tender the day after roping. Injections and a few days off he’s good as new.
Our vet advised that they’ve done the ligament release surgery and still had to inject some - in their opinion if the injections are working the surgery is unneeded. For us they are working and $250/yr is pennies to keep him working, he’s won that back at many a jackpot or earned it pasture roping loose cattle.
Our vet does not do the more invasive bone removal surgery, but many horses have had it done and gone on to win lots - Tiany Schuster has one (forget which) and Jackie Jatzlau also talked about Itsgoodtobetheking having surgery for it - I don’t think she mentioned which type of surgery. |
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My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | justgofaster - 2018-12-03 3:16 PM
casualdust07 - 2018-12-03 10:25 AM
I'm the opposite, I try to avoid surgery. I want to be 1000000% convinced the issues are from kissing spine and not elsewhere. And I want to make sure that injections don't work before I tell someone to do surgery. There's always a risk when you do surgery on anything (not just kissing spine surgery specifically) and it better be really necessary in my opinion.
Did you have a bad experience with surgery?
She's a vet so may just be saying that from her inside POV. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Chandler's Mom - 2018-12-03 7:48 PM justgofaster - 2018-12-03 3:16 PM casualdust07 - 2018-12-03 10:25 AM I'm the opposite, I try to avoid surgery. I want to be 1000000% convinced the issues are from kissing spine and not elsewhere. And I want to make sure that injections don't work before I tell someone to do surgery. There's always a risk when you do surgery on anything (not just kissing spine surgery specifically) and it better be really necessary in my opinion. Did you have a bad experience with surgery? She's a vet so may just be saying that from her inside POV.
My thought too  |
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You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | Southtxponygirl - 2018-12-03 8:05 PM
Chandler's Mom - 2018-12-03 7:48 PM justgofaster - 2018-12-03 3:16 PM casualdust07 - 2018-12-03 10:25 AM I'm the opposite, I try to avoid surgery. I want to be 1000000% convinced the issues are from kissing spine and not elsewhere. And I want to make sure that injections don't work before I tell someone to do surgery. There's always a risk when you do surgery on anything (not just kissing spine surgery specifically) and it better be really necessary in my opinion. Did you have a bad experience with surgery? She's a vet so may just be saying that from her inside POV.
I'm saying it as a vet, who wants to make sure that I don't ever do anything unless its absolutely medically necessary. (Despite how lots of people think we do things just to make money.) There are always risks with surgeries- infection, anesthesia, anesthesia recovery, incisional infections, post op adhesions, what if the surgery doesn't fix the behavior, etc..
I'm also saying it as an owner who has had a few "no big deal" procedures go wrong in my life. One ended up in a pro caliber winning horse becoming broodmare sound due to a poor anesthesia recovery (that no one could have predicted or changed the outcome), for a procedure she could have lived without.
So because of that, I really really want to make sure that the potential benefits outweigh the potential risks.
Edited by casualdust07 2018-12-03 8:22 PM
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 599
| One of mine has been feeling “different” and sore all year. After muscle relaxers, adequan, fine lameness exams....one vet recently frayed his back and found touching spinous processes. He also ultrasounded his psoas muscles from inside. One side is thicker than the other so we’ve been trying to treat the muscle and are hoping he’s a “non-symptomatic KS” case. So he’s on 1g bute daily and very light exercise.
I’m going to get a 4th opinion because I am not convinced we’ve figured out the problem. No attitude change (under saddle or on the ground), he runs around the pasture playing and bucking every day....the ONLY symptom I have is that he feels stiff at the trot. Walk and canter are fine. Sometimes you can see it from the ground when he’s lunged at the trot, sometimes you can’t. But I can feel it every time.
For this if you with KS experiences, could this be the case????? |
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My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | Bump |
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| casualdust07 - 2018-12-03 8:21 PM
Southtxponygirl - 2018-12-03 8:05 PM
Chandler's Mom - 2018-12-03 7:48 PM justgofaster - 2018-12-03 3:16 PM casualdust07 - 2018-12-03 10:25 AM I'm the opposite, I try to avoid surgery. I want to be 1000000% convinced the issues are from kissing spine and not elsewhere. And I want to make sure that injections don't work before I tell someone to do surgery. There's always a risk when you do surgery on anything (not just kissing spine surgery specifically) and it better be really necessary in my opinion. Did you have a bad experience with surgery? She's a vet so may just be saying that from her inside POV.
I'm saying it as a vet, who wants to make sure that I don't ever do anything unless its absolutely medically necessary. (Despite how lots of people think we do things just to make money. ) There are always risks with surgeries- infection, anesthesia, anesthesia recovery, incisional infections, post op adhesions, what if the surgery doesn't fix the behavior, etc..
I'm also saying it as an owner who has had a few "no big deal" procedures go wrong in my life. One ended up in a pro caliber winning horse becoming broodmare sound due to a poor anesthesia recovery (that no one could have predicted or changed the outcome ), for a procedure she could have lived without.
So because of that, I really really want to make sure that the potential benefits outweigh the potential risks.
Thank you so much for your feedback! I know there are risks and that’s why I’m trying to gather as much information as I can before I make any decisions. This horse had injections in July and that seemed to help at the start but already is starting to show signs of pain in his back and hind end. I have also tried meso therapy and am currently working with a dressage trainer to try and strengthen his muscles but it seems the more fit he gets the worse it is. |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | I'm a member of a FB group called "Horses with Kissing Spine" lots of info and discussion about different treatment options on there. It really is a horse by horse issue. I have a horse that was diagnosed with KS 4 years ago and has not had surgery. A combination of injections, supplements, and his BOT sheet keep him reasonably comfortable and ride-able. We're giving straightness training a go this winter to help strengthen him and help with his flexibility. |
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My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | Bump |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 599
| Update: i did get another opinion and that vet thought his back soreness was directly related to hock soreness. She injected each hock in 3 spots in January, and my horse has been 100% ever since!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! His hocks were discussed in all other lameness exams and all the other vets said they were within normal limits. His back xrays were sent to a surgeon at UGA, who said he didn’t think the spine was causing the reported symptoms. |
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