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The Entire Interview with Dr. Dean Richardson is copied below:
Dr. Dean Richardson, the head of surgery at the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center, has been in the public eye since May 20 when he began treating Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro for a catastrophic injury sustained during the Preakness Stakes.
An equine orthopedic surgeon who has been at New Bolton for 27 years, Richardson has handled the attention accorded him with an openness and candor that has endeared him to the media and the public.
A resident of Landenberg, Pa., Richardson and his wife, Laura, also a veterinarian, have a son, Alec, who is a senior at Penn. The couple have three horses that are ridden regularly, and Richardson is an avid golfer.
Born in Honolulu, Richardson is the son of a Navy captain who was a physician specializing in internal medicine. Richardson enrolled at Dartmouth University at age 16 with plans for a career in acting. His plans changed after he became hooked on horses while horseback riding as part of a physical education course. A 1974 Dartmouth graduate, Richardson earned his doctorate of veterinary medicine at Ohio State and has been at New Bolton since 1979.
Previous to Barbaro, one of Richardson’s highest-profile equine clients was steeplechaser McDynamo, who earned a second Eclipse Award in 2005 after undergoing surgery performed by Richardson.
Throughout the extensive surgery on Barbaro’s right hind leg and the resulting recovery that was impacted by a case of laminitis in the colt’s left hind leg, Richardson has handled all the pressure and responsibility with professional calmness. Earlier this week, Richardson reported that Barbaro continues to progress to the point he was able to go outside for the first time and graze.
We also urge our readers to donate generously to The Barbaro Fund established by the folks at the New Bolton Center to help support their continuing efforts to pioneer new and innovative treatment for the catastrophic injuries suffered by our equine friends.
Editor’s Note: Due to the unprecedented response to this Talkin’ Horses chat, Dr. Richardson was unable to answer the more than 400 questions submitted. The questions below are a cross-section of those submitted, many of which were the same or similar in nature. Also, the numerous submissions of encouragement and concern for Barbaro and the New Bolton Center team will be forwarded to New Bolton. Thanks for your participation in Talkin’ Horses.
Ron Mitchell, Online Editor
Lynnwood, Washington
How do you currently assess Barbaro’s odds of survival. I know you’ve said his prognosis is poor, and he’s still not out of the woods, but have the odds for his survival improved at all since he contracted the laminitis?
Dr. Richardson
I think his chances of making it are better than I thought 6 weeks ago. The quality of healing of his LH foot at this time is good and I am increasingly optimistic that he may grow a good enough hoof to become comfortable in the long term.
Weirsdale, Florida
Dr. Richardson, actors are a dime a dozen; you are one in a million! Thank you for being given to Barbaro. Will Barbaro receive any water-related therapy? Thank you for being there and being you. Carole
Dr. Richardson
We have discussed and considered various forms of water exercise. Right now it is not feasible because of the cast on the right hind. It is possible that he may spend time in the water sometime in the future.
Monkton, Maryland
I was at the Preakness, and it is one of the most devastating things I have seen in a long time. My daughter wants to become an equine veterinarian. In fact, she would like to attend Penn. She is entering her freshman year of high school. Can you offer any advice on how to best prepare for undergrad and Veterinary School studies?
Dr. Richardson
Sure. Do as well as she can do in high school so that she gets into a good college/university and then do well there. Get appropriate guidance from counselors to take the required courses. Learn about the profession; spend time with veterinarians before she commits to this path. Most important, she should understand that being a veterinarian is NOT just about loving animals, it requires critical thinking and a genuine sense of scientific curiosity to become a good veterinarian.
New York, NY
First off, Dr. Richardson, thank you for everything you’ve done for Barbaro so far-- I cried when I saw the footage of him grazing. I don’t want to get my hopes up because I know he has a long path ahead of him, but you are doing amazing, amazing work and that footage made for a very happy day for me. My question is about laminitis. What are the chances of him developing it in one of his front legs, and are horses more prone to developing it again after they’ve been through it once, or no more so than a horse who hasn’t had it?
Dr. Richardson
Right now his chances of developing it in his front feet are fairly low because he is healthy and bearing good weight on both hind limbs. If he has any serious setback in terms of his hindlimb comfort, his front feet will definitely be at more risk.
http://www.bloodhorse.com/talkinhorses/images/BarbaroSlingTail.jpg He absolutely will always be at higher risk of having laminitis and other foot problems in the LH foot. A horse that has had it once definitely is at higher risk of having it again.
Everett, WA
In the grand scheme of things, this is a very minor detail, yet one nagging at my curiosity. What happened to Barbaro’s tail? I noticed it is very short in the video of him going out to graze. You, your staff, and the owners are to be commended for not giving up on this horse. I know he’s got a long way to go but a lot of people would have given up on him long ago. Thank you!
Dr. Richardson
When horses are recovered from general anesthesia, it is common practice to have a rope tied to their tail in order to help them balance as they get their footing. During the anesthetic recovery that took place in early July, he made a number of extremely violent moves and ripped out his long tail hairs during one of them.
Saint Louis, MO
Is there any greater risk of infection in the left hind leg since he is going outside? God Bless you for all the good work for animals you do.
Dr. Richardson
No. This is not a concern. His foot is always kept bandaged at this point, and the outdoors is certainly no “dirtier” than his stall.
Lake Orion, Michigan
Is the fact that Barbaro is still a relatively young horse (and a “young” 3-year-old) a benefit to the healing process, particularly with respect to the laminitis? I’ve been wondering whether or not a younger horse has a better chance of growing back a hoof that’s been affected by laminitis.
Dr. Richardson
There is no question about it. A younger horse heals more rapidly. Both his fractures and his LH hoof would be far more difficult to manage in an older horse.
Trinity, FL
You are an angel! My question is about the sling. Recent articles have stated that he is spending less time in the sling. If this is true, could that cause him to shift his weight to his front legs should he become uncomfortable? How do you monitor that? Thanks again from the Barbaromaniacs!
Dr. Richardson
He actually is spending no time at all in the sling right now. His comfort improved to the point that when he was in the sling, he wasn’t “using” it. The sling is only bearing the horse’s weight when he wants it to. It isn’t possible for a horse to continuously hang with all of their weight in the sling. If they do so, they nearly always eat and breathe poorly. Also, nearly all will get serious rub sores if they are constantly hanging in the sling.
Newport Beach, CA
How long before you can say that Barbaro is going to live for sure? Before he is able to leave the hospital?
Dr. Richardson
I will never say it is “for sure”. I anticipate that he will be hospitalized for several more months.
Oklahoma City, OK
Thank you for all you’ve done for this amazing, charismatic animal. What does it mean when you say that 80% of the hoof wall was removed? Is 80% of his left hind hoof basically gone? And how long does it generally take to re-grow the hoof wall?
Dr. Richardson
The hoof wall (the hard [keratinized] portion) including the sole was removed. We eventually removed about 90% of it. The time to completely regrow a hoof varies, but a reasonable estimate would be 9-12 months.
Omaha, NE
What have you and your team learned from this experience with Barbaro, thus far, that will assist you with future patients?
Dr. Richardson
This is basically too complex a question for this forum.
Gordo, Alabama
It is truly astounding how horses can get hurt and sick but also recover almost miraculously in a short period of time. Now look at Barbaro! Out grazing! Amazing, really. I was wondering, however, did he get sedated before going out? Weren’t you worried about him jumping for joy being out in the open? How did you keep him from acting up?
Dr. Richardson
He was not sedated. He is a remarkably intelligent and cooperative horse. Although he is feisty and coltish at times, he is not all that difficult to handle now. He seems to trust us and I really had no major concerns about his behavior. I was quite confident that he would be more interested in the grass than anything else.
Indianapolis, IN
With a break as severe as Barbaro’s --after optimum bone growth and fusion has occurred-- is the internal fixation hardware ever removed?
Dr. Richardson
The implants are only removed if they are associated with an ongoing infection. Otherwise, we will leave them in place.
Brookfield, IL
Dr. Richardson, how hard is it to separate your emotions from a patient you have dedicated so much of your time, energy, and expertise to? He seems to have captured the hearts of the nation. Has he captured your heart, too? You have mentioned before what an intelligent horse Barbaro is. Could you expound on that? What makes him smarter than any other horse you have been around or treated? I think his fans would love it if you bragged about him a little!
Dr. Richardson
I have been very attached to a lot of my patients. The type of work I do (unfortunately) does not always result in a quick fix so some of my successes and many of my failures stay in the hospital for a long time. I became a veterinarian because I loved horses, so it isn’t too hard to get attached to those that you work on for a long time. I am certainly not alone; we have had patients that are so popular that the nursing staff will show up to see them when they come back to the hospital for a follow-up visit.
Palm Bay, FL
Has there been any part of Barbaro’s treatment that was untried before and that might set a new standard of treatment for horses in the future?
Dr. Richardson
I choose not to go into this right now.
Conroe, Texas
I have a question about his laminitis. Since it was caused by uneven weight distribution, is he still going to be able to eat grain and alfalfa, or is that out of the question now? If he makes it through this, is he going to be able to have a normal diet?
Dr. Richardson
This is a common misconception. Alfalfa and grain do NOT cause laminitis in a case such as this. Overeating can cause laminitis but the mechanisms are quite different. A horse in Barbaro’s condition NEEDS to eat a lot of high quality feed in order to maintain his weight and optimize healing.
West Palm Beach, FL
Were you surprised at the intense media interest following the surgery (all those network morning TV shows) and the fact that it continues to this day (front page USA Today on Tuesday)?
Dr. Richardson
The level of interest and its persistence is surprising.
Philadelphia, PA
I admire the way you handle the intense media coverage of Barbaro, but I was curious as to how you really feel about doing all the television and print interviews. Do you enjoy informing the public about the horse, or do you view the media as an intrusion upon your time?
Dr. Richardson
I view it as a duty to the public that cares so much about this horse. I personally care a lot about the equine industry and I want people to understand that there are people like the Jacksons who truly care about their horses.
Marysville, WA
With laminitis being caused by uneven weight distribution, have you considered having Barbaro spend time in the recovery sling in the pool to ease the weight off all four limbs?
Dr. Richardson
Answered briefly above. His comfort right now is good enough that we are not considering it. We planned to do this if he became uncomfortable.
Elmont, NY
Why are you so passionate about horses. Was there a particular part in your life that made you very interested in working with them?
Dr. Richardson
A long story… Briefly, I decided to become a veterinarian after falling in love with horses as a rider/horseman.
Houston, TX
What factors play a part in determining when you will say Bobby is OUT OF THE WOODS?!
Dr. Richardson
An acceptably strong structure to his LH foot and complete integrity, comfort and strength in his RH leg.
Pittsburgh, PA
Dr. Richardson, can you please describe a day with Barbaro in regards to his schedule (including the grazing outings)? What occurs in regard to his treatments and care taking and at what times? I know many people would like to hear about his day.
Dr. Richardson
He gets ICU checks by the nurses four times daily (vital signs, checking how much he is eating, drinking, manure/urine production etc.) He is fed grain mixes four times daily. He receives free choice alfalfa and timothy mix hay. I change his LH foot bandage around 6 am and walk him about 30 minutes in the late afternoon. He is no longer being put in a sling. Previously, we were letting him out of the sling from about 7 pm until 9 am. The Jacksons and Mr. Matz visit at various times and Mrs. Jackson always brings some Lael Farm grass hand picked for him. He gets groomed and bathed at various times. Medications are given at various intervals. Previously he was on a number of constant intravenous infusions and epidural pain medication. His management is much simpler right now because he is doing so well.
Bloomington, IL
When you did the surgery on Barbaro, were the bones still “in place” or did you have to piece the bones back together? Was some of the bone removed? How much grafting was needed?
Dr. Richardson
No. They were markedly displaced. The long pastern bone was essentially exploded. Only a few free fragments of cortical (dense) bone were removed. These were pieces that were unattached to any shred of soft tissue. We used about 40 cc of cancellous bone graft taken from his right tuber coxae (“point of the hip”).
Mount Laurel, NJ
Given a perfect world and an optimum recovery for Barbaro, what is the best we can expect for him?
Dr. Richardson
I still believe there is a chance to save him to be a comfortable breeding stallion, capable of naturally covering mares.
Pittsburgh, PA
Why can’t some sort of weight sensing device be put on a horse’s hoof so a vet would know if there is unequal weight bearing following surgery?
Dr. Richardson
There is always unequal weight bearing. His bone was broken. We don’t expect him to have equal weight bearing. It is a matter of degree and, to some extent, luck whether or not they founder. Some horses can stand on three legs for months without developing laminitis. Others founder within days.
Toledo, OH
Do you have an opinion on the merits of polytrack or other artificial surfaces in reducing injury to racehorses?
Dr. Richardson
This is not my area of expertise but the evidence suggests that the new surfaces will help.
Davie, FL
I believe --as does everyone else in America-- that you are doing a magnificent job with Barbaro. Two questions: Was that one of the worst cases of laminitis you’ve seen when you said his chances for survival were “poor” a month or so back? And, is this horse just a physical specimen to the degree of athletes like Lebron James or Bo Jackson? With a horse being that athletic and strong, do they have a better chance to survive something like this than other horses do?
Dr. Richardson
See above. His age and athleticism are definitely big plusses for him. (I love the analogy to Lebron!)
Midlothian, TX
Certainly, everyone has told you how much your work is appreciated. I am in awe of you and your staff. You are truly dedicated to our beloved race horses. My question is how do you decide when to sleep or take a break!? You must be exhausted after these months of Barbaro’s care and the stress of the press.
Dr. Richardson
I am just one of MANY people taking care of Barbaro. It is a team effort with nurses, residents, interns, students and other staff.
Florence, Texas
Does hoof resection prevent rotation of the coffin bone in severe laminitis?
Dr. Richardson
Hoof resection doesn’t “prevent” rotation of the coffin bone. Rotation is defined by the coffin bone’s relationship to the hoof and by the relationship of the coffin bone to the middle phalanx (short pastern bone). When the hoof wall is gone, the former is irrelevant. The major thing that was done to treat the “rotation” of P3 was to cut the deep digital flexor tendon. That helps maintain the correct alignment of his phalanges (bones below the fetlock.)
Lewisville, NC
Do you or the staff at NBC plan to write a book about the experience of saving Barbaro? As a horsewoman for 35 years, I would love to read the story!
Dr. Richardson
In my spare time!!!
Poland, Ohio
If Barbaro heals and continues to mend, will he ever be able to gallop or amble in the pasture, or will he be restricted to walking only?
Dr. Richardson
[I]IF he fully recovers as defined above, he will be able to do more than walk.
Zurich, Switzerland
Did the left hind shoe you mention in the press release dated May 20th aggravate the laminitis in any way or did it slow its development? Would you recommend using these shoes in future? Thanks for all the extensive information.
Dr. Richardson
I don’t know that it had an effect one way or the other.
Weston, CT
Thanks for talking to us. What has been your favorite part of taking care of Barbaro? Is he a very affectionate charge?
Dr. Richardson
My favorite part initially was the challenge of the procedure and the aftercare. My favorite part now is simply trying to save his life. He is a very personable young colt, truly charismatic.
Santa Fe, NM
When you do the daily bandage change on Barbaro leg with the severe laminitis, does he accept it freely or is it necessary to sedate him?
Dr. Richardson
One of the most pleasant surprises over the last several weeks is his adaptation. He allows us to work on him while he is lying down. He allows us to simply tie him to the wall with a lead rope while we work on him (Michael Matz’s excellent horsemanship at work here!). We were sedating him when he was receiving local antibiotic infusions in his RH leg but those have been discontinued for weeks. He has not been sedated for anything recently.
Seattle, Washington
What are you using to treat the hoof for laminitis?
Dr. Richardson
I have been reluctant to and will not say what brand names we are using, but it is a very simple treatment. He basically gets his foot cleaned daily and a very generic antibiotic, the only thing we are putting on it is a silver sulfur diozine that is non-irritating. We put a padded bandage on his foot and put the foot in a boot which has several pieces of foam in the bottom.
Bensalem, PA
How far along is the pastern bone fusion in the right rear leg? How long will it be before the bone is fused completely?
Dr. Richardson
It looked excellent during the last cast change. We only assess it carefully when we have the cast is off because the x-ray doesn’t go clearly through the cast. It looked like it was really progressing well. We did that procedure in early July and the soonest I would expect it to be solid enough to take out of the cast would be early September. But it could be later. It is all depending upon what it looks like.
San Marino, CA
I would like to know what the normal mortality/survival rate is for a case of laminitis like Barbaro’s.
Dr. Richardson
I don’t know the answer to that because a lot of people just don’t treat this severe of a case that often. Treating the laminitis is a nursing skill. Plus, people shouldn’t lose track of the fact that Barbaro has two problems, and I still have to focus on the injury to his right rear.
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Lake Forest, Ca.
How many staff attend to Barbaro on a daily basis?
Dr. Richardson
On a 24-hour basis there are probably at least six nurses that go through the IC unit. Among professional staff, there would one resident and myself. At the moment, we don’t have any students on the case because they are on other cases. The students learn more on other cases—surgical cases-- than with him because he is more of nursing challenge.
Richmond, VA
Since your dad was an M.D., did you ever feel any pressure to go to medical school instead of getting your D.V.M.?
Dr. Richardson
None whatsoever. When I went to college I wasn’t going to be a medical “anything.” The only reason I became a vet is because I was hooked on horses. Later I found out I had a thing for medicine and surgery[COLOR=#000000]
Poplar Grove, IL
[/COLOR][/COLOR]Were you watching the Preakness when Barbaro’s accident occurred and what were your thoughts?
Dr. Richardson
Yes, I was watching it and I felt very sick to my stomach when is saw it. I knew immediately it was very, very severe injury. I pretty much thought exclusively in medical terms, about the nature of the fracture, whether the skin was broken and considering where he was I figured right away he would come to me.
Versailles, KY
Why did you decide to take on Barbaro’s case with its high profile when other veterinarians have said they probably wouldn’t have touched it?
Dr. Richardson
That’s what I do. This is why I get up in the morning. This is the type of cases have worked my whole career to get better at. I certainly can’t imagine not wanting to try this. I am sure some would not have wanted it because it is so high profile. I certainly don’t think I am not the only person who could have helped him.
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Lexington, KY
Has a hyperbaric chamber or hyperbaric oxygen been used in the treatment of Barbaro? If not, do you think it would have helped? I have read that they help speed the healing process.
Dr. Richardson
No. It has been discussed but at no point did we think it was really necessary. There is mixed science on use of hyperbaric therapy for normal tissue. There are indications where it has a benefit, but there is not enough science to support its use for normal tissue healing.
Madison, MS
Dr. Richardson, has the experience of having Barbaro as a patient changed your life in any way, and, if so, how? Thank you for your wonderful, skillful, compassionate care for Barbaro.
Dr. Richardson
Certainly, right now, it’s very odd to go to the racetrack at Saratoga and have people ask for your autograph. That just does not happen to vets. But really no it has not changed my life. I am still busy here in the hospital with other cases and my regular clients. It’s jus that Barbaro takes up more time. I have always been a pretty busy surgeon. I have not played as much golf lately.
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Wheaton, IL
If you had to choose one factor that has allowed Barbaro to do as well as he has since the laminitis, what would it be?
Dr. Richardson
It’s hard to pick one thing because there are so many factors. The first thing is that our timing on the procedure that was done with the hoof section was good. If I had to pick one I would say our ability to manage his pain early on was helpful. I think our pain management techniques in the early stages of laminitis were very successful.
Lawrenceville, New Jersey
We’ve read many articles that state how much our wonderful Barbaro has touched you. Can you please elaborate how you feel about Barbaro and specifically, what makes this horse so special to you.
Dr. Richardson
The only reason I became a vet was because I fell in love with horses, and I became very involved working with horses. If you do that, you get to point where you love working on horses. I can’t deny the fact he is a very smart and particularly charismatic horse. He is remarkably quick to pick up when you’re trying to help him. Those are the sorts of things that make you like the horse a lot. You are also talking about being in the presence of greatness, and I think he truly was a great horse who did not have a chance to show it. All those things combined, it is hard not to be emotionally involved with it. I also have a long relationship with and like for the Jacksons and Matzes.
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Tiruppur, India
I belong to a family trust set up to start a veterinary hospital. Apart from technical excellence, what are the core values and principles that we should develop and sustain in our staff?
Dr. Richardson
The most important thing for any professional staff of a hospital is a commitment to excellence, no matter what their position is from top to bottom.
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Los Angeles, CA
Dr. Richardson, thanks so much for your outstanding work on Barbaro. We’re all praying for the recovery to continue to go well. What percentage of euthanized racehorses would have a shot at survival if their owners were as committed to their horses’ well-being as the Jacksons are with Barbaro? Is there anything you’d like to see racing do about it?
Dr. Richardson
It is important for people to understand it is quite expensive. If money were no object and there was a commitment by the owners, there are a fair number of euthanized horses who could be saved. Certainly many horses are put down because the expense of saving them is more than their value and that is certainly an understandable decision on the part of many people. It is also important to keep in mind that Barbaro has not been saved yet. It is not like anyone can say it has been proven. I certainly can’t emphasize that enough, and unfortunately it is the truth. Until he is doing what a normal horse can do I am not going to consider it a success.[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR]
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