Posted on 07/14/2006 6:58:52 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican
KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. (AP) -- Barbaro was doing "much better" Friday morning, a day after his veterinarian said the Kentucky Derby winner was a "long shot" to survive a potentially fatal hoof disease.
"He had a good night last night, and even slept on his side," Dr. Dean Richardson told The Associated Press early Friday before re-entering the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals to check again on the 3-year-colt. "He's doing much better."
Richardson appeared a bit more upbeat than he was Thursday, when he told a packed news conference that Barbaro has a severe case of the disease laminitis in his left hind leg, and termed his condition "poor."
Barbaro looked every bit the champion Thursday, but it's how he acts in the next few days that will determine how much longer he lives.
Laminitis, Richardson said, is an "exquisitely painful" condition, and Barbaro has a case so bad that 80 percent of the Derby winner's left hoof wall was removed Wednesday. It could take as long as six months for the hoof to grow back. The disease is often caused by uneven weight distribution to a limb, usually because of serious injury to another.
Barbaro shattered three bones in his right hind leg just a few yards after the start of the Preakness Stakes on May 20.
While the news was good Friday, Barbaro's condition could change at any time.
"If he starts acting like he doesn't want to stand on the leg, that's it -- that will be when we call it quits," a blunt Richardson said Thursday at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center.
"It could happen within 24 hours," he added.
(Excerpt) Read more at sportsillustrated.cnn.com ...
It is unlikely that Barbaro will ever be a stud horse. The governing association requires the stud to "cover" during fertilization. The doctors believe that his leg will never have the integrity to support the weight. This additional setback doesn't help.
More pics of Barbaro here:
http://www.sabinalouisepierce.com/Barbaro.htm
GOD (not so much a liberal word) ............. I pray that I'm right.
Pray..........he's a darling and deserves to live.
****
I love all you folks who have kept the feeling and yearning for this good animal. Thank you so much .......... it matters. And it says so much about your overwhelming goodness!
BUMP! I concur.
Aaah .. thanks.
Edgar Prado visited Barbaro today
The news [about the laminitis] left Prado scrambling to make a trip to visit the horse at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Penn. He just returned from California, leaves for a race in Florida tomorrow and heads to Peru, his homeland, on Sunday.
"The drive is really far and the traffic was awful, but we had to do this," Prado's wife, Lilian, said. "It was the only time he could see (Barbaro)."
The injured horse's stall felt more like a fruit stand than a barn, Prado said. Baskets of apples, carrots and candy -- all sent by the horse's fans across America - were everywhere.
Prado grabbed several carrots and fed the horse, which chomped down more than 10, the jockey said. It was an affirmation of the good appetite Dr. Richardson had described the day before, Prado added.
"The horse appears to be handling things well," he said. "He wanted to get out of the stall today, which is a good sign."
Thank you for your fine heart, onyx.
I hear what you're saying, but all things being equal, what do you think would have happened to this horse if he were a gelding?
I don't think it's all for the horse.
"Pray..........he's a darling and deserves to live."
I totally agree and will continue to keep beautiful Barbaro in my thoughts and prayers to God.
Where there is life,(and good people who love much and care deeply), there is ALWAYS hope.
pattyjo
4:00 P.M. Update
Barbaro’s condition remains stable
http://www.vet.upenn.edu/newsandevents/news/Barbaro_Update7-14-1.htm
I missed all the big races this year. I didn't know that Barbaro had broken his leg during the Preakness until the
news yesterday about the laminitis. Damn! It reminds me of
the race about 30 years ago when Ruffian broke her leg. Back
then the only option was to put them down. I keep a small photo of her on my key chain.
I wish the best of everything for Barbaro and his owners.
I like this horse and hope he gets better, but why do people keep on posting pictures of this horse? There's not a handful of people could tell you the difference between this horse and any other brown horse.
Thrashing around the stall and generally out of control.
They now put the horse in a pool to come out of anethetic and that makes it a bit easier for them.
This horse is not yet out of danger as it is the unbroken hoof that is giving all the trouble.
We continue to hope for the best and it's so gratifying to know that so many people are rooting for this horse.
When I first heard this on the news today, it cheered me up. But then I heard that whatever he has in his left leg is incurable, so that brought me down again. I hope he makes it, but it looks like his chances are slim.
"But then I heard that whatever he has in his left leg is incurable..."
It most certainly is curable. Difficult, yes. Incurable, no.
http://www.equinenaturaltherapy.com/laminitis.htm
Nonsense. Barbaro is the one on the left.
You're right. I had forgotten about that.
I know laminitis is baaaaad news so I'm hoping for the best for all concerned.
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