Kissing Spine and Vestibular Disease In Horses - #119 The Horse's Advocate Podcast

In this podcast, I discuss two diseases that affect horses: Kissing Spine, which involves the overriding spinous processes, and peripheral vestibular disease, which is discussed at about the 16 to 17-minute mark. Kissing Spine is a relatively new condition discovered thanks to advancements in X-ray technology. The images show abnormal bone on and between the upright vertebrae spines. However, some veterinarians question the significance of finding these lesions on the X-ray of the thoracolumbar spines as the cause of pain in the horse. According to a new paper, lesions seen on X-rays may be developmental in young horses and not necessarily a result of weight placed on the horse's back. Peripheral vestibular disease causes a head tilt, one drooping ear, one half-closed eyelid with an unconstricted pupil, and a nose drawn to one side. There are several potential causes, the most common being "idiopathic," which means the cause is unknown. Fortunately, advancements in diagnostic technology are providing more information to identify the underlying cause. While advanced technology is critical to understanding equine health, it is essential to use it cautiously to avoid accepting visible differences as causal. Just because we observe them does not necessarily mean that they are problematic. Sometimes, we need to look elsewhere for the root cause of the issue. ********** TheHorsesAdvocate.com is a website for learning about horses, horse barns, and farms. Its membership side allows horse owners to attend live meetings to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of what they have learned on the site. Membership helps support this message and spread it to everyone worldwide working with horses. HorsemanshipDentistry.com is a website that discusses how and why I perform equine dentistry without immobilization or the automatic use of drugs. I only accept new clients in Florida. TheEquinePractice.com/appointment HorsemanshipDentistrySchool.com is a website for those interested in learning how to perform equine dentistry without drugs on 97% of horses. There are eight spots a year for interested students PLUS, there is a separate online course for those wanting to learn how to do this but can never get to South Florida for hands-on training. Show support for The Horse's Advocate by wearing a hat or shirt or drinking from a cup, all with the official logo. Go to this link for our swag ( https://the-horses-advocate.creator-spring.com/ ). Please give a thumbs up or 5-star review and share these everywhere. I know horse owners worldwide listen, and the horses need every one of you in "Helping Horses Thrive In A Human World."