Keeping goats requires a bit of care when it comes to their hooves. Here at the Snohomish and Monroe Co-Op we have all of the tools and products necessary to support healthy, trimmed hooves.
For first time goat keepers, trimming goat hooves can be intimidating. There is living tissue beneath hooves, and we never want to hurt our animals. But there’s always a risk of cutting too much. The best policy to avoid trimming off too much of the hoof is to trim regularly and gradually. Hoof trimming should happen about every other month. This way you will become familiar with the shape of the goat hoof, and not worry about needing to trim all at once, with the risk of cutting too much.
You’ll need some tools to get started with you goat’s hoof trimming:
- Hoof Trimming Shears
- Filing Rasp
- Hoof Pic
- Blood Stop Powder (often found in the dog grooming section) or Corn Starch
- Milking Station or Stanchion to secure your goat.
- Treats or Sweet Grain Feed for distraction
If you don’t have something on the list, visit us at the Snohomish and Monroe Co-Op and we’ll help you find what you need.
To trim hooves, first secure your goat in a milking station or stanchion. Goats are not huge fans of hoof trimming activity. Place a favorite grain in the bucket of your stand for your goat to munch on. This will help it feel a bit happier about the whole situation. A sweet feed like our Snoco Hoffman Goat, Wet Cob, or Barnyard Blend are great choices for distracting your goat during hoof-trimming sessions. Providing yummy treats will help your goats associate hoof trimming sessions with good feelings.
Second, let your goat throw a fit about the hoof trimming process. You will be bending the leg you’re working on at the knee to get a good grip and position for trimming the hoof. Your goat will likely not be happy about this uncomfortable position and interruption to their treat. Give them time to stomp around and try to get you off their hoof before beginning the trimming process. If you give them time to get their protest out of the way before actually starting to trim, there’s less of a chance for you to make a mistake.
Start with a front hoof, move to the back hooves, and finish on the other front hoof. The reason for this rhythm is rooted in goat psychology. In the wild, goats are prey animals. Large predators will often catch goats by their hind legs. Therefore, the instinct of your goat will be to fight you, especially during trimming of the back hooves. Starting at the front, and finishing at the front, with treats and soft words during the trimming of the back hooves, will help keep your goat in a cooperative mental state.
Once your goat is over their fit about their current situation, run your hand down a leg, towards the hoof and lift the lower leg, bending it at the knee joint. If necessary, wipe away mud and use the hoof pick to clear out excess mud and manure from the bottom of the foot. Be careful to not dig or scrape too hard as the center is softer tissue than the outer rim.
Examine the hoof for general good structure. Is there any odor, soft spots on the outer hoof, and rotting? Note any areas of tenderness and look for the cause. If the ground has been very wet, the goat may have early signs of hoof scald. Hoof rot has a particular smell and is caused by fungus and bacteria. You can find treatments for hoof rot like Dr. Naylor’s Hoof & Heel at the Snohomish and Monroe Co-Op.
Line the trimming shears up with the overgrown part of the hoof, called the hoof wall, and slowly start to cut that part off. Make smooth, shallow strokes to trim. This way you won’t cut too close. The hoof wall should be trimmed so that it’s even with the rest of the hoof, Trim the heel, also called the frog, gradually as well. It should be clipped down until it is even with the sole of the hoof.
If your goat has extreme overgrown goat hooves, you might need to work in slow, frequent trimmings to get the shape back to normal.
It will be obvious when you are getting close to the quick of the hoof. The quick is where blood flows into the goat’s food. When you are getting close, the hoof begins to turn pink. When you see any sign of pink on the hoof, you’ll know it’s been trimmed enough. Use your filing rasp to even out your cuts, and to create a smooth even footing for your goat.
If you do end up cutting too much and your goat starts to bleed, don’t panic. Sprinkle a healthy dose of blood stop powder or corn starch on the hoof. This should help the blood stop quickly. Monitor your goat to make sure no infection develops.
Work as quickly as you can on the back hooves to limit stress to your animal as much as possible. While your goat may never be completely comfortable during hoof trimming, a continued regular routine will reduce the anxiety.
Healthy hooves are integral to healthy goats. Visit us at the Snohomish and Monroe Co-Op for all of the supplies you need to support the healthy and happiness of your goats.
