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Barnyard Buddies:  question about sheep horns??  |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4205 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4205 Posts |
 Posted - Sep 03 2007 : 05:06:13 AM
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| I have a year and a half old wether, who has one horn that seems to still be growing. It has curled around, and is almost touching his jaw. Will this cause problems for him? What should I do? thanks Michele |
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Brew Crew
True Blue Farmgirl
676 Posts
Molly
Arizona
676 Posts |
Posted - Sep 03 2007 : 07:31:39 AM
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Uh-oh. I have seen this with goats and I think it can potentially be problematic, especially if it is still growing, because it can grow back around into the bone. There is a method (not sure what it is called?) where you can use a wire to 'saw' the horn off. You have to be careful, I know, not to go too short because I think there is a blood vessel there? You had better google it to be sure. . .Good luck!
"There is a Happy Dale far, far away. . ." -Arsenic and Old Lace |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4205 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4205 Posts |
Posted - Sep 03 2007 : 5:36:45 PM
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That is what I am afraid of Molly. Will see if anyone else has any ideas, and maybe give my vet a call and see what he says. I have been checking him every so often, and it is up against the jaw bone now. Yes I will google it too. Thanks
Michele |
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queenofdreamsz4u
True Blue Farmgirl
3845 Posts
Stephanie Suzanne
Smoky Mountains Tennessee
USA
3845 Posts |
Posted - Sep 04 2007 : 01:52:24 AM
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Yep, the blood vessels run into the horn and cutting it off at this point in the game is going to be a bloody mess and you also risk exposing the sinus cavity.
The horn is going to have to be cut by a vet or a tech that knows how to do it so they can cortarize (sp??) it to stop the bleeding. They will most likely pack it with medicine.
All in all it's not a good thing since it stresses the animal so much. If you want to have it done wait until the weather cools off a bit so the flys and other insects are down and make sure you check the Almanac as to the right dates to have an animal cut.
http://www.almanac.com/astrology/
Stephanie
"hold close your inner child and always listen to the gentle whispers" ~queenofdreamsz
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4205 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4205 Posts |
Posted - Sep 04 2007 : 03:49:39 AM
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Thanks for the advice Stephanie. I know what it is like to dehorn cattle. I am glad our herefords are polled. I had Jack crimped, to fix him, as he was supposed to of been banded, and it was not done. I thought it was going to kill him. He hardly moved for 3 days. When cattle are done,it does not seem to affect them. I will look up your astrology link.
Michele |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4205 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4205 Posts |
Posted - Sep 04 2007 : 03:57:37 AM
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Thanks for the link. And darn....I did not buy the right book. I had bought "The Almanac for Farmers and City Folk" I did not think it was the "Old Farmers Almanac", but thought well they changed the title. Will have to get the right one.
MIchele |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Sep 04 2007 : 06:55:46 AM
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in the short term, you can order an O B wire saw and handles.
Saw off only what you can closest to his jaw...then make an apointment with the vet to have the goat dehorned if you want.
since the horn buds are in tact, the horns will continue to grow unless they are completely cauterized at the skull level. this is better done when animals are really really young. It will be traumatic. Maybe the vet can heavily sedate the goat. |
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grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
Posted - Sep 04 2007 : 2:01:52 PM
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There is another way to handle this type of horn problem without the tramua and large vet bill.  We do it in sheep that have curled horns close to their face. You can take a piece of wood that will rest between the horn and the face ( modeled some clay and then baked it in the oven to make a perfect fit between the horn and face. They you can use vet wrap (that wrap that comes in bright colors) and wrap the piece to the horn. You will need to check it weekly but over time what you will be doing is forcing the horn to grow away from the face. I do recommend that you be very carefull about having horns removed once the animal is older. Nature would have not let this animal live for long so I also would not suggest he be used for breeding. You are breeding a problem! Hope that helps.
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/larkspurfunnyfarm |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4205 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4205 Posts |
Posted - Sep 05 2007 : 04:28:26 AM
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Grace, Jack is a sheep, and I understand what you are saying to do. He is fixed, so no worry about breeding. I was told that most of the time, fixing them, stops horn growth. Not in Jack's case. ( of course that is usually my luck ) Thanks for the advice.
Michele |
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grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
Posted - Sep 05 2007 : 08:27:39 AM
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Good Morning - I just wanted you to know that I have used this technique on one of my Icelandic Rams and also on a female Angora Goat. I have weithers who still have horn growth so I am not a believer in the stop growth issue. Also, there is the issue that animals with horns regulate their body temp thru their horns and when they lose their horns after they are about two months old the animal repeatly has problems with over heating. I wish you luck and I know you have Jack's best interest in mind. Please let us know the outcome. I keep track of animal issues and their outcome for future reference. Thanks and Stay Well.
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/larkspurfunnyfarm |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4205 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4205 Posts |
Posted - Sep 06 2007 : 04:58:49 AM
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Thanks Grace, I will let you know what happens. I have to get a Lymes shot for my dog, so will ask the vet what he thinks. Your idea sounds like the idea of using horn weights on cattle to train the horns to grow in a certain direction. I will be calling next week.
Michele |
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Tracey
True Blue Farmgirl
766 Posts
Tracey
State of Confusion
USA
766 Posts |
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grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
Posted - Sep 07 2007 : 7:34:47 PM
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You might also want to check in with Icelandic Breaders Association website. We have dealt with horned sheep for many years (I have for 11 years) and they would have some great advise for you in dealing with this problem. The biggest issues with sawing a horn are bleeding, infections, trauma and you will have to subject Jack to this treatment more then one time. Many of us have successfully corrected horns with removal and once corrected the problem is solved. Just for the record - I also would not removed my goats horns every because that is how a animal als cools themselves. Just my two horns worth.
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/larkspurfunnyfarm |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4205 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4205 Posts |
Posted - Sep 13 2007 : 05:12:15 AM
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I talked to the vet, he has not had alot of expierence with sheep. I told him Grace's idea and he thought that might work. So after I got home, from the vet's, I gave it a try. It has gotten too close to the jaw to get anything, but a thin sliver of wood inbetween. So I think it will need to be trimmed. The vet did say you could possibley trim off up to a half an inch, but you would have to be careful. I found a website for Jacobs sheep, that answered questions about horn problems. They said you can trim the ends taking off little bits, and watching carefully like you would trimming a hoof. So I think that is what we will have to try. Cause I don't think I can let this go, as it is pointing right into the jaw.
Michele |
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Barnyard Buddies: question about sheep horns?? |
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question about sheep horns??
