| Kentucky Derby winning horse "Barbaro" has a | | | | |
| potentially fatal disease in his left rear | | | | The veterinarian said that though the |
| leg, but veterinarians are pledging to do all | | | | complication is serious, Barbaro continues to |
| they can to save him. | | | | eat well, his weight is maintained, his heart |
| | | | rate is normal and the stability on his right |
| Chief surgeon Dean Richardson said in a | | | | hind leg is good. |
| conference call Thursday that Barbaro has a | | | | |
| severe case of laminitis, an inflammation | | | | Laminitis is an inflammation of the |
| that has virtually destroyed the colt's left | | | | connective tissue between a horse's hoof and |
| rear hoof. | | | | the bone in its foot. If the tissue is |
| | | | damaged, the horse loses the connection |
| The inflammation developed because Barbaro | | | | between the bone and the hoof. |
| had to bear most of his weight on his left | | | | |
| hoof after his right hind leg was shattered | | | | The condition is extremely painful. The only |
| at the Preakness Stakes May 20th in | | | | treatment is for a horse to regrow the hoof |
| Baltimore. | | | | wall, in much the same way a human being |
| | | | would have to re-grow a fingernail if the |
| Richardson said that as long as Barbaro is | | | | nail had been ripped off. |
| not suffering, vets will continue to try to | | | | |
| save him. However, Richardson said recovery | | | | Some information for this report was provided |
| will take nearly six months, and the horse | | | | by AFP and AP. |
| could be euthenized at any time. | | | | |