Goat Hoof Trimming

Fortunately, I took advantage of the cooler weather at the end of last week to trim the goat’s hooves.  While they are restrained, it is also a great time to do a more through grooming and do an overall body check. 

I did spend time with them as kids getting them used to various handling and restraint, but goats will be goats and they can be strong-minded and brutes.  I think they get even more stubborn as they get older.  Noah loves attention and being groomed, but he has gotten so stubborn about getting on the table for hoof trimming.  My husband built a great restraining table for me so it is easier on my back and makes it much easier and safer to restrain them while working.  Noah plants all 4 feet firmly on the ground and will not budge even while enticing him with a peanut or carrot.  I don’t like using force on any animal.  Now I use a head halter and a short lead to partially restrain him, lead with food along with a little push and shove technique.  Sorry, we did not have a third person available to take pictures so you could get an idea of this circus!  Once he is up there, I close the board that keeps their head “locked” in place and they can’t pull out.  He is a little ticked off, but doesn’t put up that much resistance for me to get the job done.  A little hay, grain or treat in the bowl by their head helps a little too.  Luckily, my goats were de-horned (process to remove the horn bud on their head) as very young kids so I don’t have to deal with horns banging into me!  De-horning is much safer for the handler; other goats and their horns can’t get caught or torn in the fencing.

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  Restraining Table

Noah looking at bit peeved wearing the head halter.

Looking a bit more relaxed now.

I make a good attempt to trim every 2-3 months.  I trimmed them in March before the spring muck season began.  It is especially important to keep their hooves trimmed during the wet muck season otherwise they could get hoof rot.  Hoof rot is an infection of the foot or hoof of the goat that is contagious, painful and causes lameness.  Overgrown hooves tend to turn inward and curl over the sole of the hoof, providing a moist, dark site for bacteria to grow.  Keeping up with hoof trimming reduces the likelihood of hoof rot, makes walking more comfortable especially with older goats with arthritis.

Goat or sheep hoof trimming is relatively simple and not as involved as trimming horses.  I use a hoof trimmer.  Some people will use a hoof knife and even a plane to ensure the hoof on both sides is flat and even.  Whiter hooves are softer and usually easier to trim than harder black hooves.

• Pick the foot up and under the goat to expose the under side of the hoof.
• Clean out any dirt with a hoof pick (red handle in picture).
• Trim the sidewall of the hoof to the heel so they are even and flat.  The sides are hard and thick nail-like.  The heel is a little fleshy, but more leather-like.  The middle part or the sole (“frog”) is also trimmed flat with the side and heel.  This portion can bleed so a little is taken off at a time until you just start to see pink.
• Dirt pockets on the tips or sides need to be totally trimmed out so dirt cannot deposit and cause hoof rot.
• The dewclaws are also trimmed.

"Before"

Not a clear image, but it is hard to snap a steady picture with Noah moving his foot.  Notice side wall growing over the middle sole and heel over grown.

"After"

 They do like to stomp, kick and be crabby at times so you have to trim fast, watch what you are doing and be ready for their tantrums.  So far, I still have all my fingers!  I hold the foot in my hand and calmly hold on until the tantrums are over then I continue trimming.  They resist the back feet the most. 

Now it’s time for brushing and a little hair trimming around their tail to clean them up.  Their wooly undercoat has completely shedded out at this point, but they are actively losing their long topcoat.  I look at the condition of their skin and coat along for the presence of parasites like mites or lice.  While I am doing that I check the color of their gums and whites of their eyes for general health.  Paleness is a sure sign of poor health or worms.  Goats don’t have teeth in the front top of their mouth, only on the bottom.  They have really sharp molars in the back to chomp on brushy stems.  They sometimes get abscesses in their cheeks from sharp teeth or brush rubbing against the inside of their mouth.  I palpate for lumps all over and feel for any signs of heat on their joints.  Other times, I might give a dose of worming paste in their mouth or vaccinate them.

Grooming Tools

Once I release the board restraining their head and neck then they jump off very happy.  Now is the fun part of getting them back in without everyone else getting lose!  That can turn into a circus too as the goats try to outsmart you.  Next it was Nellie’s turn.  She is a bit shy and much less stubborn.

Nellie

Nellie standing nice for me.  She is an Alpine (dairy goat) and Pygmy cross. She has the Pygmy belly.

Another job done.  I am so glad I got this done before the excessive heat this week.  Much easier on all of us! 

Hope you have a great 4^th of July!