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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
   
Location: North Dakota | One of my horses was diagnosed w/ kissing spine today. My vet injected his back so hopefully that in conjunction with muscle relaxers will get him on the right track. My question is, what therapies/products have you found help keep horses w/ this condition pain free? She mentioned BOT and accupuncture. Just curious what others have to say. |
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 Troll Patrol
Posts: 7298
Location: Greenville Texas | I was told a good thing to help this condition IS...horse needs it's top line strengthened thru the proper exercises. It needs to learn to carry it's head lower which raises the back UP which helps the bones along the spine to have space between them.
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 Party Girl
Posts: 12293
Location: Buffalo, Wyoming | I have no experience but there are a few on here that have said skip everything and go right for the surgery.
Sending good luck vibes your way. |
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| Is this the horse you posted about with the sore back? If so, then yes, KS really can be a bear depending on how severe it is. I know you're on somewhat of a budget, and I'm not sure who around there could do a surgery for you, but I WILL say that Dr Honnas in Bryan Texas usually doesn't mind checking out xrays and giving you his opinion of them to give you a good idea of the severity that you're dealing with. Otherwise, yes, some horses respond great to just injecting alone, and Legend might be helpful to lessen the inflammation before you run. Previcox might help, too, depending how severe it is. Other than that, just be prepared for all the other stuff to get sore, hocks, stifles, etc, because of compensation if you can't keep the pain level under control. This in the long run can cause arthritis, which of course is never ending. Other than that, keeping him under a saddle that fits beautifully, lots of long collected work to really help him pick up his back might help too. I'm sorry you're dealing with this. I have, and it really, really stinks.
I ultimately went with the surgery, and I'm so happy that I did. His back doesn't hurt anymore. :) |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | I'm going to try and maintain it without surgery first, since yes, I am a poor college student. If worst comes to worst then we'll go down that road eventually. In a way I'm happy because I KNOW what I'm dealing with. The other horse I took to the vet went from not being able to trot a circle to only being slightly off in the course of a month and a half, but the vet can't find why! Everything appears normal! So now he's on pen rest for 6 months. Of course it had to happen the week we decided to put him up for sale! Grrrr. |
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Member
Posts: 45
| I have a horse with Kissing Spine . I was wondering what did you vet inject his back with ??? |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 372
| Injections and fitness will work to a point depending on the severity of the condition.
If it continues to worsen the only thing that will fix is surgery |
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 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | My mare Bunny has one kissing lesion in her back. I too am NOT going to rush into surgery on her. If she was more severe, then yes, but I am trying to manage it medically first. We injected with flumethasone, sarapin, and something else I can't remember off the top of my head. He also gave me exercises to do with her and told me to absolutely not swim her. He also said to take my flex tree off and put a treed saddle on her that will disperse the weight more evenly across her back and not concentrate it in one spot.
I will run her sometimes on bute or previcox but not all the time. |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | Has anyone used a Theraplate for KS? I'd never drop $4k on one, but my barn owner just did so I'll have free use of hers if I so choose. I texted my vet but haven't heard back yet. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 381
| Did your horses diagnosed with KS show back soreness when palpated? |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 700
Location: Driving, Grooming, or Saddling for a Kid! | mesotherapy! Has done wonders with one gelding that we run! |
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 Veteran
Posts: 174
| It has been suggested that my mare might have this.. Can someone please tell me what symptoms their horses had ect? |
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 Tough Patooty
Posts: 2615
Location: Sperry, OK | You can shockwave the area too. The shockwave will increase circulation and help to speed the healing process. I have seen good results with this. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 926
| I've got one, we did meso therapy and injections. Had 2 vets review, both agreed try conservative, i.e. injections and meso therapy first. Worked only if you don't want to run barrels for my guy. So he's taking the summer off, and we're having surgery late fall to be ready for next year.
If I had it to do over, and it was more than one area, I'd go straight for the surgery although vet's will disagree. I've spent a grand on stuff that didn't really help that could have gone toward the surgery.
My thought is be realistic. My gut told me after the first one that this guy wasn't going to get fixed with injections, but I did what 2 vets recommended...sometimes the gut knows best.
Good luck. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1062
Location: Probably On the Road to the Next Barrel Race! | classicpotatochip - 2015-04-24 10:41 AM Is this the horse you posted about with the sore back? If so, then yes, KS really can be a bear depending on how severe it is. I know you're on somewhat of a budget, and I'm not sure who around there could do a surgery for you, but I WILL say that Dr Honnas in Bryan Texas usually doesn't mind checking out xrays and giving you his opinion of them to give you a good idea of the severity that you're dealing with. Otherwise, yes, some horses respond great to just injecting alone, and Legend might be helpful to lessen the inflammation before you run. Previcox might help, too, depending how severe it is. Other than that, just be prepared for all the other stuff to get sore, hocks, stifles, etc, because of compensation if you can't keep the pain level under control. This in the long run can cause arthritis, which of course is never ending. Other than that, keeping him under a saddle that fits beautifully, lots of long collected work to really help him pick up his back might help too. I'm sorry you're dealing with this. I have, and it really, really stinks. I ultimately went with the surgery, and I'm so happy that I did. His back doesn't hurt anymore. :)
THIS. It is of PARAMOUNT importance that you go directly to someone who specializes in kissing spine, Dr. Honnas being one of only 2 or 3 in the US who do the surgery, that are veterinary SURGEONS. If your horse is worth much value to you, do NOT monkey around with anything less than the best. You will wind up disappointed and hurt, not to mention the pain your horse is in. Dr. Honnas WILL read other vets x-rays. Don't delay, please. I lost a great barrel and pole horse that was worth a lot of money, because I didn't go straight to Honnas. She was worth a whole hell of a lot more than the $4,000 surgery. I cheaped out, and it cost me her life :( |
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Location: Stephenville, Texas | Check out Vernon Purdy's saddles on Facebook. His tree is perfect for a horse with kissing spine. His info is on there and he can explain it much better than I can. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 639
Location: God's country...aka TEXAS | ekd80 - 2015-05-12 2:12 PM
It has been suggested that my mare might have this.. Can someone please tell me what symptoms their horses had ect?
Some buck, run off etc. Some have no symptoms really. Mine just quit running like he used to. Just get a simple back x-ray and you won't have to wonder. It will save time and money in the future! |
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