Expert: Goatlady - 9/24/2008

Question
QUESTION: I love my 3 little boys. My first goats. When i got them in April, at 3 months old, they had been disbudded (tho' seems not a very good job because they all have multiple scurs) and had been banded for castration. All their scrotal sacs seemed to dry up and drop off just fine with no problems. But 2 days ago Alfalfa butted me...and it clicked in my brain with the small swelling i'd seen on one side of this groin...he probably has an undescended testicle. Dang. The vet is coming out this coming week to look at it. I hope to have the testicle surgically removed.
I really don't like billys. And now he's starting to pee on himself and follow the other guys with his tongue hanging out (literally).  
So.  Is the danger of this surgery prohibitive?...as in it should only be done in life-threatening condition? I don't want to give my guy away...but,... If he does have surgery..will that he-goat behavior diminish? (i hope)
Thanks very much for any advice.
colleen

ANSWER: Hi Colleen,
You are not going to like this but yes this is a surgery (along with ANY surgery that requires general anesthesia) for life threatening situations because goats do not typically do well under a general anesthesia- I have heard too many stories sadly of loss of life due to a surgery for  something  not life threatening to begin with and so many very sad goat owners. As far as his goat behavior changing  due to removal of a possible undescended testicle? Sometimes yes and sometimes no. Some wethers who have both testicles  removed successfully just seem to have more testosterone going and act out like a buck- most of the time this does diminish with age. The bright side of this is: usually an undescended testicle is not capable not creating live sperm due to the body temperature so the chance of him  breeding and the doe conceiving is very minimal- not impossible but highly unlikely. All wethers will start to go through a sort of rut because they are still boys even without the equipment. Rut is just beginning and will last through Feb-  the young boys will test themselves and act like they are intact many times- and some will never act out. IF the vet can do this with a local - go for it- But if he requires an general, I would not take the chance.
Do let me know what you decide and what the outcome is-

goatlady
Goat-Link.com

(PS I love my billys but that is personal preference most people never do like them, so you are in the majority here)  


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Outcome:  Well, i took my goat to the vet. They put the cone over his nose for the gas anesthetic. It was interesting to watch his little rectangular slit pupils dilate to large rectangles. Further local anesthetic, much washing, then the vet slit the area, popped out the testicle, clamped the vessels for 5 minutes while he scrubbed all again and gave an antibiotic shot, unclamped, then delivered my guy goat back into my lap (the goats ~50lbs) in the back of the pickup. It really was all done in 20 minutes, truck to truck. The goat hasn't peed on his face since. No drainage, no swelling, no flies. I'm lucky. Thank you for your help. I really appreciate having someone to consult.

Answer
Hi Colleen,

Thank you for letting me know how things worked out for you and your boy! I would add a tetanus antitoxin injection though for him just in case, won't hurt and can prevent a terrible outcome from  the wound being in contact with the soil. Just keep an eye on him and watch for any infection too.  Sounds like things went very well and quickly-
And hopefully this will end his behavior permanently. :) Keep me posted - Sounds like your vet is top notch! :)

goatlady
Goat-Link.com