Scurs/Horns

[lilygrower]

Hi, Longtime lurker here with a problem. I have had a goat for over a year, she is two years old. I did not want a goat with horns, but she was the remaining goat out of a small group that was being dispersed. She only had one horn and a large scur. Of course, she turned out to be the sweetest, most gentle of the goats, loves attention and to be brushed. Anyway, I have been traveling over the last few weeks and just being back and spending time w/ my goats, I have noticed the scur has started growing and is curling around, heading back toward her head. I have been reading about scurs and horn removal and realize I need to talk to a vet, although no vets in my area specialize in goats. I am wondering if the best thing might be to put her down instead of the pain and expense of the scur trimming, especially if it will keep growing back. The goat is not registered, or used for breeding, I had the pasture and barn to give some unwanted former pets a home. My husband wants to "saw" the scur, I'm not so sure. Any thoughts?

[Alice In TX/MO]

Good gracious NO! Never ever put a good goat down due to a scur. Scur removal is temporarily painful. No big problem.

Wobble it and see if it's loose or if it's firmly attached to the skull. We just pop off wobbly scurs. Yes, the goat bleeds, but spray the spot with Blue Kote or some similar product, and she will be fine in a few minutes.

Another option is to cut it. One of my neighbors here is an expert in scur removal with a wire saw. Work fast and it gets hot enough to cauterize.

[Backfourty,MI.]

I would definately not put her down because of a scur. I would trim it back with heavy clippers or we bought a Horn Wire saw from Jeffers. Your only going to cut a half an inch or so off anyways & most likely when you try cutting or snipping it off if she jerks her head the whole thing will Pop off. In a little bit she won't even know anything happened.

[Backfourty,MI.]

We must have been typing at the same time Alice.

[Goat Servant]

Lilygrower this is not a death sentence. Find a goat person in your area for help. It can either be clipped and/or burned off.

we must hve all been posting at the same time

[andabigmac]

I'm bad because my first thought was to buy another goat to put in with her. They'll start butting heads and that should knock the scur off.

Horn wire saws or hoof nippers work too.

[thaiblue12]

Originally Posted by andabigmac

I'm bad because my first thought was to buy another goat to put in with her. They'll start butting heads and that should knock the scur off.

LoL that is what mine do so I never bother with removing them myself
It is only a couple of wethers that have scurs and when a doe is in heat they butt her or another wether and pop them off. Works for me and no real bleeding.

[lilygrower]

Thanks to everyone, this isn't going to come off on it's own, it's more like a damaged horn with a scur on the end. I noticed that it has grown even more over the last couple of days. Too close to the skull for a home attempt by somebody that doesn't know what they are doing. I have had scurs on other goat that have been knocked off, but I can't see that happening on this one.

[KnowOneSpecial]

You'll have to lay her down and work fast.

We had a vet that came out and surgically removed the horns. Unfortunately it was in July and hot. Buck had to have a bandage helmet on for 4 days. On Day 3 I noticed that it was starting to slide back and it showed some of the bone. When I went out on Day 4 his head was covered in maggots. GROSSEST THING I HAVE EVER SEEN. Luckily my vet came right over and he and DH took the helmet off, hosed him down and cleaned him off. Every night for a week we had to clean, wash, and disinfect his poor head. I also had to give him a dos e of pennicillan every day and a shot every 3 days.

Needless to say, my buck was very angry with me for a few days and wouldn't talk to me or come running for treats. To add insult to injury, the dang horn grew back! It grew back smaller and slower, but the vet and I decided I could cut his head off and he'd have horns growing out of his neck!

[lilygrower]

I called a vet who sees farm animals about an hour from my home and I arranged to bring the goat in so the vet could look at her. The vet told me she could cut the horns back, but they would most likely keep growing back so did I want the horns removed? Yes, a nasty process, but she was done in an hour and the cost was not as high as I expected. Now the work is up to me, keeping wound fly free. I have another goat who has a newly forming small nub and I will be watching closely to see if that is a scur or a horn. My newly dehorned goat was butting heads within an hour of arriving home and as of today will not let me anywhere near her. I hope I did the right thing as she was a real sweetheart who loved to be petted and brushed.

[beaniweeni]

I have a wether whose scur was growing right into the back of his eye socket. Took him to the vet who removed both (the other one was growing straight up). Now it's coming back. I won't have the vet do it again as she said she had to take a lot of skull off. There's no garantee (sp) that they won't grow back. I'd use the wire saw from now on. That God we didn't have the maggot thing going on.

[Alice In TX/MO]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHH!!!!!

Don't say the M word.

[chamoisee]

If you have comfrey, putting a comfrey poultice on it will speed the healing.