Problem Scur on Doe

[Backfourty,MI.]

I have a doe with a scur I'm going to have to nip back since it is curling around to her head. Never had to do this before & wondering what I should use to cut it? Wondering if it's going to hurt her or bleed? Really not looking forward to doing this but if I wait too long I won't be able to get clippers or something in there to cut it back.

[Alice In TX/MO]

I use garden loppers. Often, just getting hold of it with the loppers, will cause the scur to pull off. Yup, it bleeds. Use that charcoal puffer wound stuff on it.

http://www.doversaddlery.com/product..._pn_E_X1-22326

[rootsandwings]

i use bolt cutters on my buck. if you cut back a little at a time (like correcting hooves) it won't bleed.

[Backfourty,MI.]

Thanks Alice, I'll pick up some of the Wonder Dust before I attemp cutting it off.
What kind of Garden Loppers do you use? The long handled one's like for cutting tree branches?
I don't think this is going to fall off, it seems like it's on there pretty secure. The breeder had her vet disbud this doe when she was a baby & I think they burned her too late. I do hate scurs for this very reason.

Wondering if I should Band it after cutting it back but not sure if I want to do that or not yet. When someone bands a scur or horn does it still grow back eventually?

[Backfourty,MI.]

I'll look around here & see what we have that may work. I was thinking of maybe only taking a half inch or so off at a time & hoping it doesn't bleed but better have the wonder dust just in case I think.

[Farm Lady]

The best thing I did was to invest in a horn wire saw. This cuts thru horns so fast and easy. Use to be a struggle cutting off a couple of inches of the bucks horns.

[Alice In TX/MO]

Yes, the long handled loppers. Put the goat in the milk stand and grab it with the jaws of the saw.

If the scur is wobbly rather than hard rooted like a horn, it will probably pop off.

I have a horn wire saw, too, but restraining the goat is a challenge when you need both hands for the wire saw! If you cut close to the head, it may bleed arterial blood, spurting. This is what happened when my vet cut scurs off my Alpine buck this summer.

I have banded scurs. It traumatized me and the goats.

[Backfourty,MI.]

Ok, I don't want any traumatized goats or humans here so no Banding of horns or scurs going to take place.

Where do you buy the wire horn saw? Anyone have a picture? I want to be prepared if I can't get the loppers or bolt cutters in there or at the right angle.

[RedSonja]

I've used horse hoof nippers to trim scurs before, just be sure to do small slices at a time. You can do a bit at a time too, you don't have to trim the whole thing at one sitting. I've heard the blood vessels recede after the horn tip is cut so if you just tip the horn/scur at the same time you do her hooves, you might have less chance of blood.

-Sonja

[Farm Lady]

I got my wire saw out of Hoegger Supply. Put the goat in a milk stand, make a small groove so the wire can get a good bit and off you go. Works well for me because as the goat is pulling away he is putting on enough tension so I can zip right thru the horn. I usually don't take off more than an inch at a time, wait a couple of weeks so the blood supply moves back and then take off more. This goes so quick that the trauma doesn't last very long, one animal cracker for a treat and all is well in the barnyard.

[Alice In TX/MO]

http://www.hoeggerfarmyard.com/xcart/Horn-Wire-Saw.html

[Backfourty,MI.]

Thanks everyone, for all the help & ideas. I know I can always count on you folks here to help when I need it.