Banding incomplete! - started 5 weeks ago

goatgang · #1 06/18/05, 09:01 PM

We are new goat owners. We purchased a 10 week old pygmy male- we assumed it was a wether. Our paperwork said fixed male. The seller's idea of fixed was that she had banded him the day before we picked him up. I didn't realize this for a couple of days. I know ignorance - but we were busy trying to keep the 6 week old doe in our new pen. I decided to let the banding proceed. I was told it would take about 3 weeks. In the last couple of days the sack is starting to hang. It looks a little bloody underneath but no pus. The sack is disconnected but is still hanging on because it looks like the cord is attached.
What should I do?

Thank you

marvella · #2 06/19/05, 08:24 AM

i would just leave it alone, as long as he isn't having any obvious symptoms of infection. it will finish fallng off by itself. it takes a little longer if the goat is a little older than the normal banding age. many goat breeders band them at birth. i wait until they are 3 or 4 months old to prevent urinary calculi, as i don't use these goats for meat.

Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians · #3 06/19/05, 10:22 AM

Millions of goats, sheep and calves are banded like this yearly in the US. It's rarely a problem. Go to your bigger feedstore in your area or TSC and purchase a topical spray. Fural is best, Bluewound Coat is second. Spray the area daily until it simply falls off. This will also help keep flies off the area. Think dry, nothing oily (like Solaracaine) no antibiotic ointments or salves. Even 7% Iodine would be better than nothing. Fural should be part of your goat kit anyway.

Did the breeder give your guy a tetanus shot?

Read the threads on Urinary Calculi, make sure he has a diet that is made for a wether. He is not a breeding buck, nor a doe. Don't overfeed grain, once grown he really needs none. If you feed grain, have ammonium chloride in it, if you don't he will get UC. Do not topdress grain that does contain AC, with anything else, no snacks, no treats, only hay and minerals and of course clean water always. Vicki

BamaSuzy · #4 06/19/05, 02:46 PM

Vicki, thanks for mentioning the need to wait until they are between 3 and 4 months old....I don't know how many "goat people" have been insisting that we go ahead and have our little buck fixed NOW and he is only one week and one day old! Others say it's way batter to wait because it gives their urninary tracks time to develop!