Surgical scur removal.

Date sort Score sort
encgoatlady

encgoatlady

Hatching
Jul 2, 2015
2
0
7
Hello,
I purchased a beautiful Alpine wether that was disbudded too late and is now growing scurs. The scurs seem to be very firmly attached, not wobbly like another wether I have. If they were wobbly I would not be concerned.

He is now almost 3 months old and I have found a vet who says he can remove them surgically if we get it done within the next few weeks. After that, it will be too much of an ordeal.

I have read that horn removal is a nightmare, but this is a scur removal and he is still a baby. I really do not want to have to get rid of this wether or deal with a bigger problem down the road.

Advice, anyone??
 
Just get the scurs off. Also, you might see if you can find a goat owner around that has an electric dehorning iron. After the vet takes the scurs off, watch carefully for any signs of regrowth. At the first sign that the scurs are reappearing, get them burned off. Just for the record, we have taken horns off mature goats. It is messy, but, contrary to what your vet says, it is really not all that big a deal.
 
I'm going to have to disagree some. Now is not the time of year to be putting open holes into the goat's head. (Although I do agree the longer you wait the harder it will be) It will require daily bandaging, and aggressive management to keep flies at bay. You have to keep the holes covered until the skull grows closed, as these are holes open directly into the goat's head.
Why not just keep them cut back?
 
H Diamond said:
I'm going to have to disagree some. Now is not the time of year to be putting open holes into the goat's head. (Although I do agree the longer you wait the harder it will be) It will require daily bandaging, and aggressive management to keep flies at bay. You have to keep the holes covered until the skull grows closed, as these are holes open directly into the goat's head.
Why not just keep them cut back?
Click to expand...
We have removed many many horns from mature goats at all times of the year with minimal problems. I'll tell you what we did. After the horns were removed, we would completely fill the holes, if any, with an antibiotic powder. Then we would put a sanitary napkin (the mini pads work well) over the holes and secured the pad with duct tape wrapped around the head. The mini pads are soft, absorbant, and about the right size. The duct tape worked better for us than vet wrap. We changed the bandage every day or so and added more antibiotic powder until the holes closed. The holes close up faster than you would think. You probably will not have any holes at all with scurs. If flies are a problem, get some screw worm spray at the feed store and spray the bandage and top of the head. Putting off scur removal will make a bigger mess. They just keep growing, get bigger, and get harder to remove. Be sure to give a tetanus shot. You can also put the animal on a course of injectable antibiotics to prevent infection if you or your vet think it is prudent.
 
Well, I'm speaking from personal experience as well. We had it done, it was not pretty. The goat felt like crap for several days (and I have an amazing vet). I imagine if the scurs are solid and not lose, you will probably still get holes. But, ask 20 people, get 20 answers. :) Good luck with your critter!
 
cassie said:
We have removed many many horns from mature goats at all times of the year with minimal problems. I'll tell you what we did. After the horns were removed, we would completely fill the holes, if any, with an antibiotic powder. Then we would put a sanitary napkin (the mini pads work well) over the holes and secured the pad with duct tape wrapped around the head. The mini pads are soft, absorbant, and about the right size. The duct tape worked better for us than vet wrap. We changed the bandage every day or so and added more antibiotic powder until the holes closed. The holes close up faster than you would think. You probably will not have any holes at all with scurs. If flies are a problem, get some screw worm spray at the feed store and spray the bandage and top of the head. Putting off scur removal will make a bigger mess. They just keep growing, get bigger, and get harder to remove. Be sure to give a tetanus shot. You can also put the animal on a course of injectable antibiotics to prevent infection if you or your vet think it is prudent.
Click to expand...

I would like to remove some scurs by myself. How do you remove the scur? A have a couple bucks that have about an inch or inch and a half scur, a little wobbly. I have an x50 disbudding iron. I also have horse hoof nippers. Could you tell me how I would go about getting the scur off the best way?
 
sehudgins said:
I would like to remove some scurs by myself. How do you remove the scur? A have a couple bucks that have about an inch or inch and a half scur, a little wobbly. I have an x50 disbudding iron. I also have horse hoof nippers. Could you tell me how I would go about getting the scur off the best way?
Click to expand...
From what you describe you ought to be able to just whack them off with the hoof nippers. Cut them as close to the head as you can and then burn them with the dehorning iron. Watch carefully as they heal. At the first sign of regrowth, and there may not be any, hit it with the dehorning iron again. Be sure to give the bucks a tetanus shot. This last is important.
 

Similar threads

jnicholes
    • Love
    • Sad
How to cope with dog death.
2 3
Replies
25
Views
2K
BigBlueHen53
BigBlueHen53
chicknmania
More complications with bumblefood
Replies
9
Views
824
chicknmania
chicknmania
D
    • Like
Is skull cap healing properly? -Injury
Replies
3
Views
568
plumtheserma
plumtheserma
IndigoAngel
Prolapse with soft shell egg presenting
Replies
2
Views
102
IndigoAngel
IndigoAngel
CalBickieMomma
    • Like
Question about Canker ... Again
2
Replies
10
Views
559
CalBickieMomma
CalBickieMomma

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom