Barbaro's cast was changed on Monday and his vet says his injured leg has healed surprisingly well. As well as changing his cast, vets at Penn's George D. Widener Hospital also trimmed his feet and applied a new shoe on the right hind foot.
"We placed Barbaro under general anesthesia to remove the old cast on his right hind limb and took new radiographs to assess the continued healing of the original injuries," said Dr. Dean Richardson, Chief of Surgery.
"I was pleased with the continued progression of healing and the overall condition of this leg."
Barbaro had another successful pool-recovery, and was resting comfortably in his stall after the procedure. A few hours after recovery, he was taken back outside to graze and was comfortable on both hind legs.
"There are no signs of infection and the primary incisions have healed surprisingly well," said Dr. Richardson. "Because he has had a cast on for so long, there are a few cast sores, but nothing serious."
Barbaro's left hind foot, which had laminitis, continues to gradually improve.
"There is good growth along the quarters (closer to the heel) but there will need to be much more healing along the front of the hoof," said Dr. Richardson, who cautioned that "we still have many months of healing ahead of us."
Barbaro remains in the Intensive Care Unit of the University of Pennsylvania's George D. Widener Hospital, where he is recovering from injuries suffered at the Preakness on May 20.
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