Kissing Spines

Seek veterinary advice if you suspect this disease.

Kissing spines is a skeletal abnormality which describes a condition in which two or more of the spinous processes are positioned in a way that they touch or rub against each other. Kissing Spines can lead to back pain, arthritic changes, bone cysts and other problems.

Symptoms

Common in

Treatment

Depending on the severity, treatment of Kissing Spines varies. For horses with only mild malformation, correct, gymnastic exercise may be sufficient. Changing, refitting and regularly controlling saddles is also helpful.

In more severe cases, treatment may consist of surgery, shock wave therapy, other non-invasive techniques and injections of corticosteroids to reduce inflammation. Treatment can relieve some of the pain and stiffness, making the majority of horses more comfortable. Horses that respond well may be able to be ridden normally again.

Prevention

Kissing Spines can not only be caused by genetic predispositions but also by improper conditioning, poor posture, conformation issues and training under saddle at a very young age. Therefore to prevent Kissing Spines from developing, it is important to train the horse with fitting equipment in a health-preserving and balanced way.