How to Trim Goat Hooves

Keeping your goat's hooves trimmed and clean will prevent disease and crippling. To trim hooves, you will need shears, a pocketknife, a rasp and a hoof pick.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Hoof Picks
• Hoof Plane
• Pet Collars
• Shears
• Hydrogen Peroxides
• Knife
• Lead Ropes
• Rasps

1. Place your goat in a milking stand or tie him securely to a post.

2. Pick up one foot.

3. Clean dirt out of the hoof with a hoof pick.

4. Use shears and slowly remove pieces of overgrown hoof.

5. Use a sharp knife to trim the bottom of the hoof. Cut one thin slice at a time. Stop when the hoof bottom looks pink.

6. Use a hoof rasp to make a smooth finish on the hoof.

Tips & Warnings

• If the hoof is badly shaped from a lack of trimming, work slowly on getting it back into shape. Work on the hoof every day or every other day.

• If you cut into the quick and it bleeds, wash the hoof and soak it in hydrogen peroxide or another disinfecting solution. Watch for infection.

• With properly trimmed hooves, your goat should stand flat, with toes even with the end of the foot.

• Children can clean the hoof with a pick, but all cutting should be done by an adult or young adult.