Barbaro Setback

Update from Dr. Dean W. Richardson on Barbaro’s condition

January 28, 2007

KENNETT SQUARE, PA — On Saturday, January 27, Barbaro was taken back to surgery because we could not keep him comfortable on his right hind foot. That foot developed a deep subsolar abscess secondary to bruising when he went through a period of discomfort on the left hind foot. It is not laminitis but the undermining of the sole and part of the lateral heel region are potentially just as serious. We attempted to manage the right hind foot in a cast and then in a custom fabricated brace but it was impossible to have access to the foot for treatment as well as acceptable stability and comfort. We elected to place his right hind in an external skeletal fixation device in order to provide the foot a chance to heal. This means that two steel pins have been placed transversely through his right hind cannon bone. These pins are connected to external sidebars that in turn are connected to a lightweight alloy foot plate. This results in the horse eliminating all weight bearing from the foot; the horse's weight is borne through the pins across his cannon bone. There is significant risk in this approach but we believed it was our only option given the worsening of the right hind foot problem. The major risk of the external skeletal fixation device is that the bone bearing the weight can fracture. Unfortunately, we felt we needed to take this risk because this approach offered our only hope of keeping Barbaro acceptably comfortable.

He had a perfect recovery from anesthesia and has been in and out of the sling since then. His left hind foot appears to be stable at this time. We remain concerned about both front feet. Remarkably, his attitude and appetite were excellent overnight.

We will continue to treat Barbaro aggressively as long as he remains bright, alert and eating. This is another significant setback that exemplifies how complex his medical situation remains because both hind limbs have major problems. Barbaro remains in the Intensive Care Unit of Penn’s George D. Widener Hospital at New Bolton Center. Updates will be provided when new information is available.

For more information on Barbaro, please see www.vet.upenn.edu.

http://www.vet.upenn.edu/newsandevents/news/Barbaro_Update1-28.htm

:( ;( :cry:

eventually it may benefit other horses or even humans, but JEEBUS that is a lot of $$$$ for one animal. I wish him a real recovery, if I had unlimited time and funds I am sure I would do the same for any of my animals. Unfortunatly I live in the real world.

Last time I saw a Barbaro update I got the dicks saying "how can you be concerned about some horse when people are dying in Iraq," as if wanting to help both is impossible.

Hopefully they are among those who've been saying "I'm leaving & not coming back" over the past few days...

Hope he winds up fully healthy again soon.

It's not looking good. :(

http://www.timwoolleyracing.com/news/2007/01/barbaro_updates_180.php

I still would have put him down months ago. I feel that it is our
duty as responsible horse owners to take the best care of them
that we possibly can, but I don't feel it is the right thing to
do to keep one going through unending surgical procedures and
pain medication.

they hadn't done so well at managing Barbaro's pain and he didn't show so many signs of fight in him. But I think the lack of proper hoof growth in the left hind leg is the telltale sign now and this problem on top of that ... well, I think now it's too much. I expect he'll be put down this week. :( It's gonna be rough when and if it happens.

Yep real humane I'd say. Fuckwads!

like fingernails?

The cells that became fingernails in humans and claws in cats became the wall of the hoof in a horse.

That wall is bonded to the interior structure of the foot by the laminae, a bond subject to compromise by various factors, that's what's called laminitis. Imagine hitting your finger with a hammer and the naiml peeling away.

Now imagine if the exposed area of your finger was what you stood on.

But when a horse is not well, or subject to confinement, or both,
they don't grow much.

Sometimes a horse will have what we call "fever rings" on his feet.
This is a slightly bulged ring of hoof wall that occurs when a horse
has a really high tempature. It has to be a very high temp, 103 or
higher. But if a horse comes into your barn with a fever ring an inch
or so from the coronary band, you would know the horse had a spiked
temp and maybe a serious illness in the last few months.

A hoof wall grows strong and evenly when the horse gets regular exercize
and is in healthy condition. Their hoof condition is similiar to our
hair and nails condition. If your hair and nails are breaking, you
are probably missing something in your diet.