Posted on 07/29/2006 4:10:24 AM PDT by gate2wire
The condition of injured Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Barbaro's left hind hoof, stricken with severe laminitis, is steadily improving and has begun to regrow, said Dean Richardson, D.V.M., chief of surgery at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center. Although he described Barbaro's overall condition as "very guarded," Richardson was more upbeat on Thursday night than he has been in weeks.
"We change the bandage on his left hind every day now and it's improving regularly," Richardson said. "It looks like he's starting to grow at the coronary band again. It's where the hoof grows down from. It's where he's going to have to grow a new hoof, so that was nice to see."
(Excerpt) Read more at thoroughbredtimes.com ...
Ping
Good news! Thanks for the update. I am so glad they are working with Barbaro, not just for this horse's sake, but the knowledge they are gaining and the medical techniques they are learning will prove invaluable to many horses in the years to come.
Good news.
Long way to go, but very encouraging.
Barbaro is definitely a winner. What a noble animal.
Thanks for posting. I hate missing news on Barbaro.
I'll ping if you'd like.
ping
Please do. And thanks again.
Thank the Lord. Score another one for praying!
Will do and you're welcome.
"..prognosis remains very guarded, but we're not even remotely considering quitting on him right now," Richardson said."
Understood. And I'm not giving up on non-quitter Barbaro either. Truly hope the dear boy makes it.
For sure. I was really concentrating on that left hoof re-growth - even threatened the Knox gelatin treatment, until I *thought* about it some more. (The sacrifice of the horses who have gone before.)
Now we can focus on the muscle tone. Not much can be done about that, I don't guess - but sheesh, he was in the tip-top, supreme, A#1, pluperfect condition any horse anywhere could've been in when this happened, so a "little" loss of conditioning for him doesn't even mean down to "average" yet. Not like he's getting a beer belly yet, I don't imagine.
Grow, Barbaro's hoof, Grow!
Oh, good to hear!
Thanks for the update!
Ping!
(Almost typed pig!) Ha!
Could you please ping me to future Barbaro updates? Thanks!
I'd be happy to.
"(Almost typed pig!) Ha!"
Just don't "pig" anyone.
Pig me and you're toast!
The vet seems to have as much spirit as Barbaro! I wonder if he has an incentive deal, like a share if the horse survives.
If any horse deserves to live right now, it's Barbaro.
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