Barbaro Suffers Significant Setback

(AP)  Barbaro has suffered a significant setback in his recovery from laminitis, with damaged tissue removed from the Kentucky Derby winner's left hind hoof.

Barbaro was being treated aggressively for his discomfort and is in stable condition, according to a statement released Wednesday morning by the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center.

The tissue was removed Tuesday night.

"Things were marching along pretty smoothly until this," Barbaro's co-owner Gretchen Jackson said. "We've been there before with him. He's a horse that wants to live."

The setback comes one week after a new cast was placed on Barbaro's laminitis-stricken left hind foot to help realign a bone.

It was the first dose of bad news after months of progress that included owners Gretchen and Roy Jackson and chief surgeon Dean Richardson talking about releasing Barbaro from the hospital as soon as the end of the month.

"It's sad that's he's had a setback because he was marching along toward living outside the hospital," Jackson said. "The only thing we care about is that he's not in pain."

Barbaro had become uncomfortable on his left hind foot and a cast was removed after some new separation on the inside portion of his hoof was found.

Barbaro shattered his right hind leg in the Preakness on May 20. In mid-July severe laminitis, a potentially fatal disease caused by uneven weight distribution in the limbs, resulted in 80 percent of Barbaro's left hind hoof being removed.

"I was there yesterday and it was obvious he was not comfortable in that foot," Jackson said. "The easiest and best way to work on Barbaro is when he's laying down. They had to wait until he was laying down and when they removed the cast, they discovered some reason for him feeling pain."

Just over a week ago, Richardson said Barbaro's right hind was getting stronger and should eventually be healthy enough to allow the colt to live a comfortable, happy life.

But he also warned: "Barbaro's left hind foot, which had laminitis, remains a more formidable long-term challenge. The foot must grow much more for him to have a truly successful outcome."

[nothappyatall]

The latest setback reported today 1/28 doesn't look good, he is going backwards in th recovery and that's not a good sign :(

[nothappyatall]

See also the center's newsletter, and the paragraph below shows how many people have really taken an interest in this case;

http://www.vet.upenn.edu/bellwether/v65/article1.shtml


Barbaro also has a message board set up in his name for the thousands%u2014more than 50,000 as of early August%u2014of well-wishes sent to him electronically. The School's Web site (www.vet.upenn.edu) had a fourfold increase in hits%u2014some days, especially those with press conferences, reaching as high as 177,000, compared to daily pre-Barbaro numbers of 500 to 1,000. Visitors can check updates on Barbaro's condition and photos posted for the media, as well as explore other sections of the site to learn more about the School providing Barbaro's treatment.

[nothappyatall]

See the New Bolton center's page and an 18 minute video about their facility and treatments, I think after viewing this if anyone doesn't agree that this horse's best chance to live is HERE!
Due to munging urls here you will have to copy/paste the 2 lines and ensure there is no spaces between them;

http://www.vet.upenn.edu/nbc/facilities/onanygivenday.htm

[nothappyatall]

"How do you tell that a horse wants to live?"
Posted by sueneely

ALL creatures want to live and survive, it's instinctual at the very least and is one of the strongest emotions there is- survival.
An animal that has "had it" will show plenty of signs- depression, lethargy, going off food, reduced or ceased movement, reduced or ceased interest in their surroundings and events such as a person coming near.
During procedures like medical care, the animal can either resist or be encouraged to go forward much like a coach encouraging a weight lifter to try harder, and getting a response.

mjv2944: JOCKEY CLUB rules may forbid anything but a live cover, but that does not preclude breeding to carry on a bloodline or for other purposes, the club is but ONE of many. Animals are routinely A.I'd and it's routine in purebred dogs.

ampsanne: this is only (I hope!) a setback, setbacks occur in medical treatments all the time, this horse may not make it but he had been rallying till this new setback, the body has a huge capacity to repair itself- given half a chance, he needs more time and the next week or so will probably this time determine if he survives or not.

[ampsanne]

I'm afraid with this set back that the time has come to put Barbaro down. I've been rooting for him right along. As a pet owner I can understand that you want to give the animal a chance. But if this is going to be an ongoing thing, why put him through it? I can't even imagine what the vet bill has been so far snd like someone said they will never recover the money from stud service with Barbaro. I'm hoping they'll do the humane thing and put him to sleep.

[bossmare2]

Barbaro should have every chance to live. I agree he should not have to endure any kind of pain. I also agree that animals will "tell" you when it is their time to die. I had a 22 year old mare who I had rescued. She had been so neglected she was terribly underweight and malnourished. I was able to bring her back and she lived two more years. However, one morning I went out to feed and saw her in the corral. I knew instantly she had to be put down just by the way she looked. She was sent to heaven that afternoon. I don't want Barbaro to die, but if it is his time, please put him down by injection.

[mjv2944]

newster

The horse can be used for breeding only if he can fiscally cover the mare. Jockey Club rules forbid artificial insemination.

[mjv2944]

newster
ster

[sueneely]

How do you tell that a horse wants to live?

[nothappyatall]

As far as I have seen thus far, the horse is not suffering and is getting the best care available and wants to live, the horse will say "enough" in his own way and animals are generally pretty clear if you know the language.
I just lost a 10 yr old dog to cancer 2 weeks after she became ill, and then started to recover. New Year's day I went in the kitchen and she was unable to lift her head or rise, but thumped her tail on the floor, I called my vet out right away to put her down, she clearly showed me that day was "it"