Half-a-Wether?

[GoatiePal]

Hi~ I'm new to all this, so not sure how it works. I have a peculiar goat issue for which I'm seeking advice. I recently became keeper and buddy of two Nigerian Dwarfs, Moe and Bentley. About a month ago, I noticed Bentley wasn't as 'wethered' looking as Moe. Bent began showing his penis, peeing on his leg and trying to mate with Moe, lots of vocalization as well. I spoke to a vet and showed photos. I did take Bent in to have his 'missed' testicle removed. The vet and her co-vet could not find another testicle. Needless to say, Bent is now larger and more 'buck-like' that ever and poor Moe can't keep away from him. I'm afraid Bent will get ill from being all over Moe's rear with his mouth and Moe will continue to be an abused victim. Is there any 'hormone' depressant I can administer to help my situation? I just love those spoiled kids like crazy, so getting rid of one is not even on the radar. Thanks.

 

[Ferguson K]

Tagging a few folks who may have encountered this.

I know in horses they can be proud cut, meaning hormones are still there . Maybe he was cut late. Maybe he's got hormones floating around in there. I'm not sure . If the vet can't find testicles, they're not there.

 

[Ferguson K]

@Southern by choice @Goat Whisperer @babsbag @frustratedearthmother @OneFineAcre

 

[Ferguson K]

Also, pictures would be helpful.

 

[Latestarter]

Welcome to BYH! Sorry you're having this issue... I'm sure it's driving you and the true wether; Moe, crazy. So if the vet says there's no nuts left, get a doe or two and put her/them in there and see what happens. If the doe gets pregnant you either have a medical miracle or need to get a better vet. You might have to partition their enclosure so they can see each other but can't directly contact each other. That way they'll still have some companionship but Moe won't be so abused. Hope you can figure it out and get it "fixed"... (sorry - bad pun ) Meanwhile, please make yourself at home. Browse around and jump in when you feel the need. We actually have a very active goat group.

 

[babsbag]

Did they look for an un-descended testicle? Maybe do a sonogram or x-ray? It sure sounds like he is still intact.

 

[GoatiePal]

Did they look for an un-descended testicle? Maybe do a sonogram or x-ray? It sure sounds like he is still intact.

Thanks, Ferguson K, Latestarter, and Babsbag, Yes, the vets looked. Last month when they looked, there was just a flat, single hangy down thing where his testicles should be. It felt flat. Today when I checked, I think I felt something inside. Could an undescended become descended? And if so, could that be removed? I know, as Ferguson K suggested, and thanks for that reply, there must be hormones racing around, but Bentley doesn't have that billy odor I hear about. The vet said he'd smell really odiferous by now if he was a true buck. I question if an X-ray would show anything, but maybe. I hate to put him into such a stressful situation unless I was sure it would show something conclusive. What I'm gathering from all the replies is that there isn't much I can do, but live with the situation. Thanks to all who've offered advice/opinions. I'll keep everything under consideration and see how it goes. And all I really wanted was something fun and easy to do in my senior years. Nothing's ever easy anymore. I'll just monitor and adjust as necessary.

 

[GoatiePal]

Also, pictures would be helpful.

Okay, Ferguson K let me see if I can get a photo to you.

 

[babsbag]

Yes, un-descened can descend and they can also retract. Hide and seek comes to mind. Does he look different than your other wether?

So I take it that he was not banded? If he had been banded there would be no sac at all. So the other option is that he was surgically castrated or they used a burdizzo. In the case of the burdizzo perhaps they didn't get it crushed enough. It will continue to grow and they will have buck like behavior. Surgical castration is pretty hard to mess up if both testes are there. But I would think that with a sonogram a vet could see what was there, or collect some semen and do a sperm count.

I have three intact bucks right now that are less than a year old and only one smells and he lives with mature bucks. The other two don't have a buck odor at all. I certainly wouldn't just live with it; I would figure it out if you are keeping him for the long haul. If the testicle is in the abdomen it is non functioning but can still cause hormonal bucky behavior.

 

[misfitmorgan]

I was going to mention that too. Our buck we just sold did not have a strong buck odor until he was 3-4yrs old and only during rut.