What to do with retained testicle?? Difficult situation!

Whitehedge Farm · #1 07/15/09, 10:39 PM

I have a 6 week old nubian buckling- that was one of 2 and our first baby goats! He has defiantly been "claimed" by my 6 yr old son who loves him very much! We named the 2 boys (Ben and Jerry)

Big problem is when I took him I to get dis budded at the vet- she informed me that he had one retained testicle. She went ahead and took the other one so at least he wouldn't be fertile, but now is is as she said he would he is starting to act like a buck, mounting his brother, etc.

I have another vet that said he could do the surgery for around $200. But this is a lot of $$ of my family right now! Especially for a pet goat!

So what should I do? I feel like it would break my sons heart to get "rid" of him. (sell him for meat right?)
Is there anything else I can do with him??
My son is at his dads for another 2 weeks so I want to decide something while he is gone at least.

Please help with ideas or support

Anne

hoofinitnorth · #2 07/16/09, 02:41 PM

Sorry this has happened to you. Beware, a retained testicle does not mean that he won't be fertile!

On the other hand, the mounting issue is one that doesn't necessarily stop (or fail to start) with wethers. The does do it too to show dominance.

susanne · #3 07/16/09, 03:26 PM

at least in dogs, i heart that retained testicles are cause for more aggressive animals.
might be the case later on for a buck too???

**mygoat** · #4 07/16/09, 09:51 PM

200.00 is outrageous. find another vet. I seem to remember my vet charging my friend like 25-50.00 for the same issue a few years ago.

Other than that, the 'wether' WILL stink like a buck at least to some degree. It will be aggressive and be 'stupid' like a buck. It will pee on it's face and legs. And, there is a chance he would be fertile. All around buck issues for no purpose except annoyance.

I know they're your first kids but keeping this guy with one testicle sounds like a no-no, to me. Either get the surgery or eat 'em. Every baby is cute, sure, but there will be more next year. And, this guy won't be so cute when he is around 150lbs, stinky, and comes up to give you a 'kiss' with his urine soaked face. Also, he's taking up the space and food that you could be offering to a productive buck or doe.

Whitehedge Farm · #5 07/16/09, 10:14 PM

Well the goat vet said initially that it would be "hundreds" and very risky. She strongly suggested selling him for meat ASAP. But my 6 yr old son was IN THE ROOM when she said this- the look on his face I will never forget. He was devastated. My horse vet is the one that quoted me around $200. I think it is not as simple as it sounds- as you are not sure exactly where it is hidden, and could involve moving around a lot of stuff to get to it.

I know for SURE that I don't want to keep him with the one retained! Just really need to figure out the best way to handle it with my son.

Starsmom · #6 07/17/09, 07:15 AM

Has your son ever been around a buck in rut? Maybe taking him to see one and how they smell and behave and tell him that your little guy will be like that because he has a medical condition that prevents wethering him. Maybe a little show and tell will help. Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words.

Tallabred · #7 07/17/09, 10:45 AM

If they are bottle fed switch him with another buckling while your son is gone. My babies are hard to tell apart - my children would never know if I switched them.

Or trade him for another that your son can pick out because your buckling needs another job than a pet.

Or you "tried" the surgery and he died.

When I was little we had a dog that needed a job on a farm. I believed it then.

Bricheze · #8 07/17/09, 03:16 PM

'The "Tried" the surgery but he didn't make it' is a pretty good idea if you cant find a reasonable cost. I would probably try and do the surgery myself anyways. Look for a goat vet that will actually quote you a real price!

DQ · #9 07/17/09, 04:19 PM

I think it is a teaching oppurtunity. both for a bit of a biology lesson and a life lesson. sometimes with animals we have to make hard choices for financial reasons or others. my daughters (4yr) favorite doe went to the butcher several weeks back. she was cae positive and I explained to her about the disease and that the responsible thing we had to do was to put her down and that wasting the meat wouldn't be right. it was a little easier in that the goat wasn't a "baby" anymore and I gave her plenty of time to digest it. we stopped playing with the goat and if she ever brought it up I reminded her of the eventual fate. honestly I think this is one of those things that kids would be better off if the reality were just explained. its a great time to talk about consequences, decisions, and how to deal with animals and dollars responsibly. you might be surprised how well he will handle it if given a bit of time to adjust to the idea. my daughter is proud to explain to people what the deal was with the two cae + goats and to tell people that they are now in our freezer so they can't pass "the disease" as she calls it, on to other goats. knowledge is a powerful tool and a welcome source of pride.

I would make sure he understands about a testicle being retained. how those testicles create hormones that can make the males dangerous and obnoxious. explain how normally we are able to remove them easily but in this case it would cost alot of money that simply isn't in the budget. expalin that he could make babies that you didn't want and that there would be alot of expense involved to house him separatly forever and that he wouldn't be much fun to play with anyway.

RiverPines · #10 07/17/09, 04:24 PM

Keep the goat and in time your son wont like him anymore, especially when he isnt cute and a grown buck! Then you wont have to lie or play games with your son.

Other option just get rid of the goat and be honest with the child and teach him life stinks sometimes. He will have to learn that sooner or later.

hoofinitnorth · #11 07/17/09, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tallabred

If they are bottle fed switch him with another buckling while your son is gone. My babies are hard to tell apart - my children would never know if I switched them.

Careful, I don't think that works for all kids! A friend bought two goats from me that look a lot alike until you spend time with them (both gold and white, both the same age Nigerians, etc.). My friend has a 2-year-old daughter and she could *always* tell the two goats apart from the first day she visited the farm to the next time she came out and they were a month older! AMAZING! She and one of these goats (and it's mother who is still here) have a very special bond.

Tallabred · #12 07/17/09, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hoofinitnorth

2-year-old daughter and she could *always* tell the two goats apart from the first day

Well of course - that was a girl! :wink:

saanengirl · #13 07/20/09, 10:24 AM

Actually, $200 is not unreasonable for that type of surgery, particularly if the testicle is in the abdomen. Goats tend to be very sensitive to anesthesia, and this procedure would require full anesthesia. Think of this procedure as being similar to getting your dog spayed. One of my neighbors has a horse that is bilaterally criptorchid (both testicles are in the abdomen). She has been quoted more than $1500 for the surgery.