Posted by Sandy Logan on January 16, 2001 at 16:29:37:
In Reply to: Wethering an older animal posted by Sherry on January 15, 2001 at 21:32:32:
Hi Sherry
I have had my vet casterate over the years by all three ways, Banding,Burdizzo, and Surgery.
Banding by all means is the most painful and the pain will last the longest. With a goat as large has a three year old is the percedure will take up to 3 or 4 weeks or more for the testicles to drop off. Banding on young animals would be easy and without to much pain, but with him being at three years old he is very large.If i had a wether at three years old i would have my vet us the anethesia gas precedure. My vet used the gas to put my doe to sleep last year that had to have a c-section and the precedure went great. Onced the surgery was over my doe came around pretty soon. Maybe 35 minutes to a 45 minutes after the surgery was complete. . My doe did die two days after the surgery, but not due to the surgery or the gas precedure. She was carrying triplets and went down with pregnancy toxemia and she didn't ever go into labor. She was down 2 days before the surgery with treatments but my vet and I decided the surgery was our best chance. The surgery to save the babies was my only chance in saving her and or the babies. We did save three babies. My vet has also used a local sadation to num the area around the testical when I had her clap several wethers about 5 years ago using the Burdizzo claps. At that time my boys were 3 months old. I still have them and they are doing great. One more way you may think about is having your vet use the gas precedure and then clap him while he is under the gas. When he wakes up he will never know anything happened..LOL..
This procedure will cost a little, but your big boy will not remember a thing. He will be sore for a couple of days. But not bad. You would have to take him to your vets office for the precedure. If your vet is not to far from your home then you could bring your goat home before he wakes completely up. I have pictures of the c-section that my vet done last year. E-mail me if you would like to see them and i will send them to you.. In the pictures you can see the gas being given to my doe. In the future if i have to have any thing major done to any of my goats I will request the anesthesia gas precedure. Well thats all I have to say for now.. What works for one person with their goats doesn't mean it's for everyone and their goats.. I wish you luck..
Sandy e-mail mseffieL@aol.com