by Meg A Wright

Created on: July 07, 2009   Last Updated: July 08, 2009

Unless absolutely necessary for showing purposes, I recommend de-horning your goats both for their safety as well as your own. Due to the fact farm goats do not need their horns for protection as in the wild, it is much more difficult to maintain and can easily become a hindrance or even danger.

In 4-H, most countries and states require wethers to be dehorned as a safety to 4-Hers. It is recommended to do the same with does, but often does need the horns to be judged to their breed specifications.

However, if you do have a goat with horns who has broken one or the other, follow these steps to insure their continued health.

First remove the goat to a small confined area away from other animals, this calm environment will be safer for examining your goat and providing treatment. Check first to see if it is a break or a crack; a crack will only need to be closely monitored while a break may require vet assistance. Check to see how deep the break is and how close it is to the skull. Due to the fact that the horn is in close proximity to both the frontal lobe of the brain as well as the sinus cavities, a break close to the head will require immediate attention by a veterinarian.

If the break is clean and high, clean it out with a solution of Betadine and water. Then wrap the horn with a bandage to protect the break while it heals.

If the break is close to the head, part of the horn is still hanging on or looks to be older and infected, call the vet immediately. If the break is close to the head, the like hood is that it will be very bloody and it will be necessary for you to control the bleeding as soon as possible to save the life of your goat. Cayenne pepper will help clot the blood, or if you do not keep pepper in your house try cornstarch, baking soda/powder, or flour in that order. What you need to do is to provide a clotting system for the animal since it is bleeding too fast for the blood to do that on its own. Then using sterile cloths or the cleanest cloths you have, place them over the wound and bandage it until the vet comes. This will keep out dirt as well as continue to prevent the excess bleeding.

The vet will help you completely stop the bleeding, remove excess horn, and sterilize the area before showing you the correct bandaging. You will need to change the bandage as directed to make sure the area stays clean and free from infection. Be sure to completely cover the whole wound. At that time the vet may also opt to give the animal a tetanus shot to add in the fight against infection. After the injury, schedule appointments with the vet for regular check-ups and keep a close eye on your animal. After healing, your goat should live a normal healthy life.

To see a visual of the bandaging used for a broken horn, click here. Be warned, a few of the photos are mildly graphic in nature due to the severity of the break.

Learn more about this author, Meg A Wright.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.