Wessex Equine

Wessex Equine Dedicated Equine Veterinary Practice

01/07/2025

**IMPORTANT NOTICE**

We are moving to a new system today and tomorrow and expect some disruption. In light of this we ask that if you have any non-urgent queries or medication requests please email rather than call us.

If you have an emergency or a same-day visit to book in please don't hesitate to call us on 01793 739220.

Whether your horse has had kissing spines in the past, is being treated for it currently, or doesn’t have them at all, b...
24/06/2025

Whether your horse has had kissing spines in the past, is being treated for it currently, or doesn’t have them at all, back health is still an important component of horse care.

See our handy tips for keeping them feeling well below!

Remember, if you have any concerns about kissing spines at all or would like to know more about the condition, please don’t hesitate to contact us on 01793 739220!

There are multiple options for treating kissing spines. Modern treatment is minimally invasive and more affordable than ...
18/06/2025

There are multiple options for treating kissing spines. Modern treatment is minimally invasive and more affordable than you may think.

The first line of treatment recommended is usually steroid injections. This is where steroids are injected between or around the affected processes. It can be a very useful way to prove pain in the area as the horse’s symptoms should resolve with the steroid injections, however, the effectiveness can be very dependent on the horse.

The second line of treatment is usually surgery. There are two types of surgery to resolve kissing spines depending on the severity and how far progressed the condition is. These two options are as follows:

- Desmotomy – cutting ligaments between processes to widen the spaces

- Osteotomy – removing excess bone involved to widen the spaces

Both options are standing surgeries and the horse is likely to return with 4-5 staples over the wound and a plaster. You would then box rest for 2-4 weeks and follow the hospital provided rehabilitation plan for a further 10-12 weeks to teach the muscles to work correctly.
Physio treatment is often recommended alongside both steroid and surgical treatment of kissing spines and acupuncture can also be beneficial.

If you have any concerns about kissing spines at all or would like to know more about the condition, please don’t hesitate to contact us on 01793 739220!

16/06/2025

Please don't forget to nominate! 🙏

16/06/2025

We’re proud to prioritise the safety of our vets and nurses and even prouder to have showjumper Jasmin Head supporting the move, speaking with one of our partner equine veterinary practices about why it matters that vets and nurses wear head protection when handling and treating horses.

As previously mentioned it can be difficult to diagnose kissing spines as often the symptoms overlap with other conditio...
12/06/2025

As previously mentioned it can be difficult to diagnose kissing spines as often the symptoms overlap with other conditions, however, some of the ways we can do this are as follows:

🐴Palpation of the back – this is usually done by your vet or physio and assesses the horse for any pain
🐴Physio feedback – repeated findings of pain or soreness in sessions can indicate kissing spines
🐴Diagnostic imaging such as x-rays: one dimensional images that will show changes to the spinous processes which indicates the presence of kissing spines. The spinous processes will be close to each other but not touching in the image as they will only touch when the back is weighted.

If you have any concerns about kissing spines at all or would like to know more about the condition, please don’t hesitate to contact us on 01793 739220!

There are many indications that your horse may have kissing spines, however, these symptoms often overlap with other con...
10/06/2025

There are many indications that your horse may have kissing spines, however, these symptoms often overlap with other conditions making it difficult to diagnose.

Some symptoms you may find include:

- Reluctance to move forward
- Reluctance to have saddle on/girth up
- Rushing forwards under saddle
- Cold backed behaviour such as mounting issues (not standing still/head - tossing/ears back)
- Difficulty working in a consistent outline
- Lameness/ulcer issues
- Bucking
- Sensitivity along top of back and hindquarters

If you have any concerns about kissing spines at all or would like to know more about the condition, please don’t hesitate to contact us on 01793 739220!

A kind reminder from all of us at Wessex Equine 🐴Our team works incredibly hard to provide first-class care for your hor...
06/06/2025

A kind reminder from all of us at Wessex Equine 🐴

Our team works incredibly hard to provide first-class care for your horses, alongside excellent client service to our clients. But lately, some of our vets and office staff have been on the receiving end of rude, aggressive and demanding behaviour from a small number of clients - and that’s just not ok.

We understand these are difficult times for many, but this is not a reason for treating others with disrespect. Even a single abusive call can have a lasting impact on the wellbeing of a team member.

Our vets often go above and beyond - working long hours, covering a large area, and dealing with emergencies in all sorts of conditions. Our support staff manage a constant flow of calls, emergencies, insurance queries, and more, with professionalism and care.

We will not tolerate abusive behaviour toward our staff. Calls of this nature will be ended immediately, and in some cases, we may ask clients to seek veterinary care elsewhere.

To the vast majority of our clients - thank you. Your kindness, patience, and support mean the world to us. You make our challenging days easier, and we truly appreciate you.

A little kindness goes a long way 💙

“Kissing Spines” is the term used when the dorsal spinous processes are overriding or impinging.Kissing spines can be a ...
04/06/2025

“Kissing Spines” is the term used when the dorsal spinous processes are overriding or impinging.

Kissing spines can be a primary or secondary issue depending on horse’s history.
It can be a primary issue when caused by conformation issues such as the horse being sway or short backed, bum high, or even having scoliosis.
However, it can also be secondary when it is caused by something else, such as lameness or other health issues.

If you have any concerns about kissing spines at all or would like to know more about the condition, please don’t hesitate to contact us on 01793 739220!

Have you booked your strangles vaccination yet? We are now stocking the vaccine and will be running a Strangles Vaccinat...
09/05/2025

Have you booked your strangles vaccination yet?

We are now stocking the vaccine and will be running a Strangles Vaccination Amnesty between the 22nd of April and 23rd of May. This means that if you book your first strangles vaccination between these dates the second will be FREE!

Give us a call today to book in and protect your horse against Strangles!

Did you know the main cause of Strangles outbreaks is thought to be the movement of horses, not just carriers?!Every hor...
07/05/2025

Did you know the main cause of Strangles outbreaks is thought to be the movement of horses, not just carriers?!

Every horse can get strangles. Every person can make a difference.

Don’t forget about our Strangles Vaccination Amnesty between the 22nd of April and 23rd of May. This means that if you book your first strangles vaccination between these dates the second will be FREE!

Today is the start of Strangles Awareness Week 2025!Don’t forget about our Strangles Vaccination Amnesty between the 22n...
05/05/2025

Today is the start of Strangles Awareness Week 2025!

Don’t forget about our Strangles Vaccination Amnesty between the 22nd of April and 23rd of May. This means that if you book your first strangles vaccination between these dates the second will be FREE!

Give us a call today to book in and protect your horse against Strangles!

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