[tommytink]

I have a ram lamb with a broken horn. At first it was stood straight up, guess he had his head through the fence and damaged it when he pulled back. Now it’s dangling and flopping about. The horn base is healed and looks to be starting to regrow but the original horn is still attached by flesh. I have brought him in and sprayed the area twice so far with iodine in the hopes of drying it out and it dropping off but I don’t think this would be a quick solution. Anyone dealt with this and have an  idea of what I could do? I don’t think I can just snip it off??

[tommytink]

The horn is completely removed from the horn bud now, which has started to regrow already. It was wobbly for quite a while and I think it started to heal and regrow underneath the wobbly horn. So old horn is detached from his head but is still attached to him with a portion of flesh. I don’t think I can snip through the flesh, I wondered if I could tie cotton around it and continue with the iodine in the hopes of cutting off blood supply and it dropping off?

[Fleecewife]

Perhaps a pic would help?  It depends on what the 'flesh' is: if it's a nerve or blood vessel then cutting through it would be painful or could lead to more bleeding. If it's just general tissue then yes, tying something round it very tightly would work, maybe snip above the tie.  Having the broken bit flapping around will be annoying and startling the lamb.  As everything has stopped bleeding and appears to be healing then I think tying off the flesh bit is fine. If you are concerned that it would be painful, the vet can inject a local anaesthetic into the area so the lamb won't feel it.
Don't forget the use of clean cobwebs to stop bleeding - works well with gouting broken horns, but it takes a few webs (it helps the clot to form)

[tommytink]

Pics attached. Think it’s going to be a vet job. Was starting to look a bit gammy despite the iodine so have now sprayed with blue spray and will take him to vet tomorrow to deal with it. Feel so sorry for him. You can see he hasn’t had much luck with horns. I haven’t injected anything as the most recent thing I’ve got open is four months old and never sure how effective it is seeing as packaging always says get rid of it after a month. Don’t know whether I should vet wrap it to his head to stop it flopping around or just leave him be now 

[Fleecewife]

Some sheep stick their heads through mesh and others don't.  I had a line of Soays which all had shortened horns from the habit, but the rest of the flock didn't break theirs.


Urgh, looking at that, yes it's a vet job, to get it cleaned up and the dangling bit removed.  The danger with broken horns is infection, which has quite a direct track to the brain, so a broken horn can lead, via infection, to death.  It's a shame as horned sheep are so attractive 
From your description I didn't think it was so bad - a picture says a thousand words 

[tommytink]

From your description I didn't think it was so bad - a picture says a thousand words 

I know, right?! Feel so sorry for the little lad. He’s had a really  time with his horns. I think I posted before about him when he damaged his other horn and it wouldn’t stop bleeding. The actual horn area is now healed over so that’s good. Hopefully the antibiotic spray will help keep infection at bay and I’ll get him down vets tomorrow and get it off.
Unfortunately both our breeds have horned tups. They are nice when they look right but trimming ones heading in the wrong direction and dealing with breaks is a pain. I guess I should be grateful the ewes are polled!

[Fleecewife]

Our ewes are horned too and especially in the multihorns the horns can be easily damaged so we are well up on horn injuries 

[tommytink]

Just to update, yesterday morning we found a hornless little lamb! And this was in the hay under the rack. Suspect he may have got it caught in there and yanked it off. Area on his head was firm, no gunk, so sprayed up with the blue stuff and have him a jab to cover. It was in my head overnight that I should’ve taped it down but guess not doing that saved me a vet bill. Him and his pal are now back out with the others and no doubt a lot happier for it.