Veterinary surgeon gives Barbaro poor prognosis
Derby winner's chances for recovery from 'catastrophic' laminitis slim
By Paul McMullen
Sun Reporter
Originally published July 13, 2006, 2:03 PM EDT
KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. // The chief veterinary surgeon treating Barbaro gave a bleak prognosis today for the Kentucky Derby winner.

The horse is suffering from a "catastrophic" case of laminitis in his left foot, an infection that has caused him to lose considerable tissue there. Under the best-case scenario, it would take another six months to heal, but according to Dr. Dean Richardson, Barbaro could be euthanized in the next 24 hours if he begins to experience severe discomfort.





Richardson said dead tissue was removed from Barbaro's foot yesterday and said the horse's pain was being treated with "epidurals, other pain management."

"If they stop working, we're going to quit on the horse," he said.

Richardson said Barbaro's chances for recovery were slim.

"I don't want to put a percentage on it," he said but called the horse's prognosis "poor."

"I'd be lying if I said anything else, but [recovery from laminitis] isn't unheard of," he said. "As long as the horse is not suffering, we're going to continue to try. It's worth the effort. I'm not going to sugarcoat it. It's a long shot."

"If you asked me two weeks ago, I thought we were going to make it," he said. "Today I'm not as confident, which for me is unusual."

During a 23-minute briefing at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine's New Bolton Center, where he is the chief of surgery, Richardson discussed the turn for the worse Barbaro had taken in the last week.

The horse has been at the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals since pulling up less than a furlong into the Preakness with three fractures in his right hind foot. Richardson warned of the danger of laminitis developing in the left hind foot, because of the additional stress it would be under.

The lamina attaches bone to the hoof wall. Laminitis describes the condition when it is infected. Richardson likened what Barbaro is enduring to the regeneration of a human toenail or fingernail that has been yanked out, only on a limb bearing considerably more weight.

"A horse walks on the tip of its middle digit," Richardson said. "Evolutionally speaking, it essentially is walking on the nail of its middle finger. The bone inside the foot has to be attached to the nail, by tissue called lamina. Inanimate tissue goes to animate tissue. It's a loose connection between the bone and the foot, that's exquisitely painful to the horse. The only way to cure is many months of the horse growing a hoof wall, the same way you would regrow a nail if it pulled out."

Richardson described the severity of the laminitis in the bleakest terms.

"The left hind foot is basically as bad as laminitis gets," he said. "The horse is as bad as it gets. We removed a large section of the hoof wall. It's in a foot cast. Twenty percent of the hoof wall is still attached. The horse is reasonably comfortable. He's in a foot cast, with foam padding and antiseptic dressings, to see if we can regrow the foot."

Richardson said that if Barbaro were to develop laminitis in his right hind foot, "we would not continue."

Barbaro is recuperating from the latest procedure, his fifth in 10 days, resting in a sling that allows him to move his haunches.

"The reality is, when you come in to see the horse every day, he nickers to you, he's eating well," Richardson said. "He's capable of walking around the stall. His heart rate is low, and his temperature is back to normal after the previous surgery. The ability on his right hind leg appears to be doing well."

Richardson said that he was in constant communication with Roy and Gretchen Jackson, the horse's owners, about Barbaro, and that all were aware of the scrutiny they are under.

"Their only concern is for the horse's comfort," Richardson said, raising the reality of Barbaro being euthanized. "We are only going to go on as long as everyone is convinced that they can come in every day, and [Barbaro is] going to be comfortable."

"It's very difficult for the Jacksons. It's hard for us. It's hard for them. The Jacksons are going to be second-guessed, if we quit now, if we quit then, if we quit too early, quit too late. It is subjective. There are a lot of people involved in making this decision. Every person involved cares about the well-being of the horse."


UPDATE!

Signs improving for Barbaro
Attitude, appetite better; Kentucky Derby winner remains stable
By Ken Murray
Sun reporter
Originally published July 17, 2006
KENNETT SQUARE, PA. // Barbaro's attitude and appetite were upbeat again yesterday, as the vigil over the injured Kentucky Derby winner reached an uneventful 57th day at the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals.

Dr. Dean Richardson, chief of surgery at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center, said in a statement that Barbaro got another restful night Saturday and remains in stable condition.





"His vital signs are good and his attitude remains positive," Richardson said. "He is acceptably comfortable today, and his appetite remains excellent."

Barbaro suffered three fractures in his right hind leg in the Preakness Stakes on May 20, and has since developed laminitis in his left foot.

After surgery last week to clean out an infection in the right leg and another procedure to remove 80 percent of the left hoof, Richardson said the prognosis for Barbaro's recovery was poor.

As of yesterday, however, Barbaro seemed to have responded well to his surgical procedures. The difference in the horse during the weekend and last week was evident to Peter Brette, assistant trainer under Michael Matz, when he visited Barbaro yesterday.

"He was bright, he was alert and he's sort of - he's always had a bit of sparkle in his eye," Brette told The Philadelphia Inquirer. "Last week when I went to see him, he didn't. He was obviously very tired, and we were all very worried last week.

"We're still very worried, but it's very good for me to go in and see him like this. Once you see him as he is, it just puts the Preakness a little further in the back of
[Edited 7/17/06 5:06am]

well sorry to offend anyone. It's an animal, and horses are killed daily. They shouldn't have tryed to save the beast, anyone with sense knows broken legs for horses are a death sentence.

What they should have been doing is manually getting out the reason they wanted to save the horse in the first place.

Barbaro has gotten better health care and attention since his unfortunate accident than many humans within the same state of Pennsylvania will ever know.

I hate to hear about an animal suffering, and his situation is tragic.

But it doesn't warrant this much media attention, IMHO.

why do people sign get well cards for a horse that can't read?

on the plus side...he's hung like a horse
[Edited 7/13/06 19:10pm]

MickG said:

False.

Anyway, I think that they should euthanize it. Poor thing is probably in horrible pain.

MickG said:

I can't tell if you're joking, but that isn't allowed in horse racing. It's illegal.
[Edited 7/13/06 19:56pm]

downtownsasquatch said:

What isn't alowed? I was saying they were just hoping to set him out to stud if he got better. Are you saying the couldn't take the horses dna?

I guess I shouldn't assume the horse is male. I think I heard it someplace.

hope he recovers.... wish there were some way he could have s leg brace or something

MickG said:

Yes, she's saying cloning is illegal in racing, as in any other sport.

it is illegal without question you cannot clone a horse in racing, shit if that was the case secretariat and Bold reason ( the best fuckin' race horses ever) shoulda been
[Edited 7/14/06 8:01am]

He is doing much better today, but long-term.. well I dunno.

I don't know if I can watch horse racing anymore after Charismatic's breakdown a few years ago, and now this. That's not even mentioning what some of the jockeys have to go through just to compete, and their potential risk of injury.

My sister was at the races a few weeks ago, and she told me about this one horse, after winning the race stumbled, and tumbled head over end. The jockey somehow managed to jump clear and wasn't injured at all, but the horse couldn't get up. The vets and trainers covered him with some tarp, the horse apparently still alive, but unable to move. They had to transport the animal off the track. The crowed was stunned into silence. There was little enthusiasm left for the few remaining races.

She doesn't know for sure, but given the scenario and seriousness of the situation, most certainly the horse had to be euthanized.

It's great when nothing happens, but then when these horses just push themselves to or beyond the limit through training and a subsequent a willingness to please, it's difficult to watch when a tragedy happens. Yeah, I know other sports are dangerous, but there something about horse-racing where the animal doesn't choose to be in that arena. I can't really explain it. People make the choice to be involved in risky situations, but animals are sort of used. I know that's just the way it is, but it's sad in a way.

Finess said:

"In The 2025 Kentucky Derby the winner is.....Secretariat XIV!!!"

Teacher said:

now thats funny as hell, i was waitin for that... LOL

Finess said:

"Secretariat XIV is ahead by a length, followed by Bold Reason XIII and Secretariat XI, head to head. Trailing behind are Bold Reason VII and Bold Reason IV, while Secretariat V is falling further and further behind."

ThreadBare said:

Agreed.

Animal racing in any form is evil.

applekisses said:

Agreed.

INSATIABLE said:

I think you should give me $2,000

applekisses said:

Agr.....iculture.

INSATIABLE said:

horses are not meant to race or to show, imho.

it seems like all of their problems stem from these activities.

i'm sure horse people (shudder) will think differently, but that's because they are crazy and scary (for the most part, there are two normal ones who i know).


but what do i know? i'm a small animal and exotics kinda gal.

HASN'T IT BEEN 24 HOURS YET?

meltwithu said:

It's a special reading horse.

MickG said:

I heard on the news the horse was doing quite a bit better.He might pull through yet.

ThreadBare said:

It does when tens of millions of dollars is on the line, sweetie. Those horses don't come cheap, you know.

HoneymoonXpress said:

I go back to the contributions Barbaro will make to society, as opposed to a poor person receiving much inferior care... A horse vs. a person...

Can someone answer something for me? I'm totally ignorant of horse physiology.

Why is it a horse has to just friggin' die when it's hurt!? People break limbs, as do dogs, cats, yada yada yada... And they recover.

Why is it that a horse injury so threatens their life?
[Edited 7/16/06 21:16pm]

MickG said:

That Horse was just like part of my family.