We just disbudded our first baby tonight. He was a little older than recommened, but it couldn't be helped because I didn't have the iron earlier. He is 12 days old today.....his horn nubs still seemed pretty small, they easily fit inside the dehorner tip. (a Rhineheart 30)

Anyhow, we clipped his head, then burned the circles...got a nice copper ring almost immediately, then touched it up a bit.

He went right to mom and got a mouthful of milk after we put him back in.

Now he keeps trying to scratch at his head with his hind feet--is that normal? He is also letting out little sad cries :( He seems to be jumping and moving around just fine, but then goes and lays down in his spot and cries a bit.

Just worried that we did something wrong, so I'd like to know if he is acting normally?

Thanks

Tracy

-- Tracy (zebella@mindspring.com), March 17, 2002

Answers

Sounds normal to me. :o) Ours scratch often for a few hours afterwards and will sorta wimper and mope around for a while. By the next day they are back to normal. I've noticed when it's done on the younger ones they seem to bounce back sooner. I think they scratch because it itches and they can't figure out what happened. Unfortunatly too much scratching makes the areas bleed, but they're usually fine. Good luck!

-- Sharon in AL (sharonspaws@aol.com), March 17, 2002.

Yep, sounds normal to me too. You can try to apply a little ice to the head to help with swelling or pain. he should be better in about a day.

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), March 17, 2002.

Oh thank you guys so much!!! I was worried that we did something wrong- I'm glad to know they usually act like that.

-- Tracy (zebella@mindspring.com), March 17, 2002.

I give all my kids a baby aspirin right after disbudding. My vet said that it will help with any after pain and the swelling of the burned area near the disbud site.

-- shari (smillers@snowcrest.net), March 18, 2002.

I've never had a single kid who exhibited any after effects of disbudding, including scratching, whimpering or anything. But then I get on it as soon as the nubs appear, even within days. That might be the key. At that age they're too dumb to know better!

-- Lynn (moonspinner@bluefrognet.net), March 18, 2002.

It's unanimous! Sounds normal to me too. Immediately after removing the iron, I spray Solarcaine on it. Don't get it in their eyes. I'm not sure if it helps them, but I feel better doing it.

-- Charleen in WNY (harperhillfarm@yahoo.com), March 18, 2002.