Transcript Dehorning (Cornuectomy) - Dr. Brahmbhatt`s Class Handouts

Dehorning (Cornuectomy)
Disbudding
Pros and Cons of dehorning

PROS
 CONS (dehorning)
 Dangerous weapons
 tetanus
 Damage can done by fighting
 sinusitis
 Feedlots typically pay less money for horned animals
 myiasis
 Can cause damage to the facilities
 Abortion
 Horns may also become tangled in fences, branches, and other objects
 decreased milk production
 It is the best interest of the animal to remove the horns at the early age
 Death
 prolonged healing time of the
resultant surgical defect
 regrowth of the horns (scur
formation)

Longitudinal cross-section of a horn, showing extension of the
frontal sinus of the skull into the horn. Dehorning, which is
performed at the base of the horn, exposes the sinus

Disbudding destroys horn cells
Surgical Removal

Dehorning is usually performed on a conscious, sedated
animal with local anesthesia for control of pain.
Cornual nerve:
blocked halfway
between the
lateral horn base
and the lateral
canthus of the
eye
Needle placement for desensitizing
the cornual nerve in the bovine. The
cornual nerve follows the temporal
ridge to the base of the horn
Infratrochlear:
halfway
between the
medial horn
base
and the medial
canthus of the
eye
Anesthesia for dehorning in the goat.
A, Needle placement for desensitizing the
cornual branch of the lacrimal nerve.
B, Needle placement for desensitizing the
cornual branch of the infratrochlear nerve
Dehorning

Anesthesia


Feed and water should be withheld for 24 hrs. and 12 hrs., respectively
Xylazine 0.05 mg/lb (20 mg/ml) and butorphanol 0.05 mg/lb mixed
together and given IM or IV followed by local block


If general anesthesia is preferred



Tolazoline (reversal for xylazine) at 2 mg/lb
ketamine and valium can be added to the below protocol by mixing
ketamine and valium together 1:1 and administering 1cc/20lb of the
combination IV.
inhalation anesthesia may be used
Local block

1 cc of 1% lidocaine or bupivicaine SQ (cornual and infratrochlear)

lidocaine toxicity (muscular tremors, severe depression, hypotension and
occasionally convulsions) avoid using more than 13cc of 2% lidocaine per 100
lb
Dehorning
1. Surgical preparation
2. The skin is incised approximately 1.5 cm from the base of the horn (incorporate all germinal
or nonhaired epithelium in the horn removal to lessen the likelihood of regrowth or scur formation)
3. Assistant supporting the goat's head
4. Gigli wire is seated under the caudal aspect of the skin incision on one side and the horn is sawed off
in a cranial direction
5. Hemostasis can be applied to control hemorrhage from the superficial temporal artery
6. Remove all blood clots and bone chips/dust from the frontal sinuses
7. Bandage (nonadherant dressing (Adaptic®) covered with antibiotic ointment): EOD – week 1; SIW until sinuses’s close
8. Flunixin should be administered for 2-3 days post-operatively and antibiotic administration is at the discretion of the
surgeon. Tetanus antitoxin (500 IU) should always be given and a dose of a CD-T bacterin can also be administered
to boost immunity.
Chemical Cautery
Example Procedure for Dehorning
1. 10 min before dehorning calves are
sedated with xylazine (0.2 mg/kg IM).
2. Hair is clipped around each horn bud, a
thin film of caustic paste (2 cm diameter)
is rubbed into the scalp until each horn
bud is evenly coated, and a ring of
petroleum jelly is applied around the paste
to prevent spreading.
3. Calves are allowed to rest sternally until
recovered from sedation.
(A) Well-healed scabs after caustic paste dehorning
(B) Over-application of caustic paste can damage the calf.

Dehorning “Chiva”
Heat Cautery - Disbudding



This is he fast and almost bloodless method is popular,
specially in goat kids (3-7 days)
The tip of the disbudding iron is shaped in an open circle.
When the electric disbudding iron is sufficiently heated,
the tip is centered over the horn bud and applied with circular
“rocking” motion with light pressure





circular tip of the iron should be about ¾ of an inch in diameter
8 to 15 seconds
You will see a “copper-colored" ring around the horn bud if the procedure went as it
should
http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=dehorning+goats&www_google_domain=www.google.com&hl=en
&emb=0&aq=0&oq=dehorning+goat#
http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=dehorning+goats&www_google_domain=www.google.com&hl=en
&emb=0&aq=0&oq=dehorning+goat#
References


http://www.sheepandgoat.com/articles/castdoc
kdisb.html
http://veterinarycalendar.dvm360.com/avhc/art
icle/articleDetail.jsp?id=587158&sk=&date=&
pageID=2
Review







ID - Breeds
Terminology
http://quizlet.com/3852511/production-animal-finalflash-cards/
TPR of ruminants and PE
Gestation period of ruminants
Restraint
Management procedures: docking,
dehorning/debudding, castration