Barbaro Has Laminitis--very poor prognosis...

[spindrifter]

http://www.tampabays10.com/news/national/article.aspx?storyid=35323

Barbaro has bad case of laminitis, could eventually have to be euthanized
KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. (AP) — The condition of Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro has taken another turn for the worse — and veterinarians say he has a “poor” chance of recovering from a severe inflammation in a hind foot.

It could lead to a decision to euthanize the horse.

This is one of the worst of the complications that they had feared could develop, as they treated the horse for the injuries he suffered in the Preakness Stakes in May. In fact, Doctor Dean Richardson says it's about as bad a case of laminitis as a horse can get.

<snip>

Richardson, speaking to reporters at the Pennsylvania veterinary hospital where the horse underwent surgery the day after the Preakness, says Barbaro will only be kept alive if he's going to be “acceptably comfortable.” He says so far, Barbaro is eating and drinking well, has a normal heart rate, and is able to get up and down in his stall.

<snip>

[qanda]

1. So sad

I know it doesn't look good, but I hope he's going to be okay.

[benburch]

2. Previous discussion here.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1623397

[Jack from Charlotte]

3. Price of glue plunges. (nt)

*

[TheCowsCameHome]

4. It could still beat Lynn Swann in the PA gubernatorial race.

Barbaro is a lot smarter, too.

Sad to hear the horse is doing poorly.

[SlipperySlope]

5. Poor thing - N/T

[CottonBear]

6. Laminitis can be deadly. The prognosis for an otherwise healthy horse

with laminitis is not good at all. A horse with severe leg fractures is doomed. :( Poor Barbaro. His chances were never good to begin with. The laminae separate from the hoof wall (for a variety of reasons including injury which causes uneven pressure on the hooves, overeating, bad trimming of the sole and frog and trauma to the hoof) and the coffin bone can protrude from the hoof sole. It is horrible. I have seen horses suffer for over a year before having to be euthanzied.
:cry: He is a beautiful horse.

[shain from kane]

7. They shoot horses, don't they? Git-R-Done. n/t

[Gabi Hayes]

8. yeah, baby, but let's make sure we keep torturing them first.

when do we get to have bullfighting here?

love the cockfights

bring back bearbaiting, while we're at it

[Jack from Charlotte]

9. There was an early 70's horse named..Hoist the Flag, who broke his leg....

right before the Ky Derby. They amputated and made him a prosthesis. That was radical stuff for a horse back then. Went to stud and lived into the mid 90's, I think.

[JoDog]

10. No horse prosthesis

Hate to contradict you friend, but there has been no luck with horse leg prosthesis yet. Hoist the Flag did suffer a devastating injury to his right rear leg below the hock/knee (roughly the same place as Barbaro) in 1971. His life was saved using radical surgery techniques, more refined versions of which were used on Barbaro. He did go on to a long, happy horsey life. His immediate descendants include the undefeated Personal Ensign, and her grandcolt, 2002 Kentucky Derby winner War Emblem.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8925-2002Jun6.html

The problem with horse prosthesis, from what I understand, lies in the circulatory system. Each of the horses legs operates as an auxiliary heart, pumping blood back up the leg and back to the heart. No prosthesis made so far can simulate that effect. Since I'm not a vet or anything, I could be wrong and hope someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

All that being said, I hope they can save Barbaro. I've watched horse racing all my life, and he was good. Very good. Could have lived up to the hype. It sounds like his doctors are willing to fight for him as long as he still seems to have a will to live. The next few hours will probably tell the tale.

[shain from kane]

11. Maybe the doctors can beat him with a whip to motivate him.

"...his doctors are willing to fight for him as long as he still seems to have a will to live."

[Gabi Hayes]

12. amen.....Belleville!

one of my oldest friends is from there....used to go down there all the time in college

ever heard of The Derby?

bet you're too young

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

13. Maybe I'm a cynic.

But that makes me wonder if they're keeping him alive to get as much semen out of him as possible.

[Corgigal]

14. That's not allowed

Thoroughbred race horses have to do live breeding.

I think the owners are doing it because they should try. If I was as wealthy as they are, I would have made the same decision.

[mopinko]

15. nope

no artificial insemination allowed with thoroughbred horses.

[wildhorses]

16. welcome to the Lounge

and thanks for your very informative first post!!!
Please feel free to come early and post often...
:hi:


and oh yeah:cry: for Barbaro.