Hoof Trimming Job

We trimmed the goats hooves today. Not such a huge job because there are only four goats. Two 2 year olds and two 8 month old goats.

The older goats hooves were in a bit of a state, lots of wet weather and not a lot of rough hard surface to wear their hooves down naturally. I think that they are missing some calcium in their diet because their hooves are delaminating a bit. Dirt and crud is getting in between the white hoof material (sole) and the fibrous horny outer shell of the hoof. This is also because of the wet weather.

We just got some kelp to improve their diet a bit, so that should help somewhat (kelp helps to improve their coat and hooves as well as improving their gut flora.

The kids hooves were much easier, the hooves are a lot smaller and softer. Cutting Darius was a bit of a problem, though. I cut a little too much off a rear toe and he bled a little bit. I immediately cleaned the hoof with methylated spirits and then ran in and got some iodine to apply to the bleed.

The blood vessels that run through the hoof are not very big and it is difficult to transfer any bacteria into the hoof through such a small vessel (particularly because after they are cut, when the goat puts pressure on the sole, the sole flexes and closes the vessels). Nevertheless, better to be safe than sorry, so the iodine helps to clean the wound. The bleed lasted for about 5 minutes and then it was all clean again. Still, I’m keeping the goats in the back yard for a couple of hours before they go back into their field (less chance of faecal material being in contact with the hoof before it is better healed).

I need to research the delamination problem and see what I can do to prevent or reduce it.

This weekends hoof trimming was only a light trim. I will need to do some more trimming and rasping in the coming weeks to get them into better shape.

Getting the hooves into better shape reduces the pressure on the goats pastern and so improves their gait and, longer term, improves the goats back health.

I could not have done the hoof trimming without the help of my lovely wife.