by Terry Lidral
BST talked with Dr. Meredyth Jones DVM, MS, DACVIM-LA, Food Animal Medicine and Surgery, Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine about horn health.
BST: What is a horn made up of?
Dr. Jones: Horns are a live bone extension of the skull covered in keratin and other proteins, similar to a fingernail or hoof. Horns communicate with the frontal sinuses (behind the forehead), which among other things produce mucus and play a role in shock absorption.
BST: What are the problems that can be developed in the horn?
Dr. Jones: Most of the horn problems are related to infection of the horn or associated sinuses. These horn infections start usually in two ways. In rodeo cattle, we often start to see horn problems when tipping begins. Because the horn is an extension of the sinus, when the horn is tipped short enough that the sinus cavity is opened, dirt, bacteria and other contamination can establish infections of the horn and sinus. We also see trauma to the horn from fighting, knocking the horn in the alley, knocking against equipment, etc. and the bacteria can enter through a resulting crack leading to an infection.
The natural behavior of many bulls is to dig with their horn ends, especially right after they have been tipped. When the horn is tipped, the end is open a bit so when bulls dig in the dirt they can pack that into the horn and the bacteria in the dirt can set up an infection.
BST: What are the signs of a horn infection?
Dr. Jones: Early signs of horn infection may be just that a bull seems off, doesn’t buck as well, doesn’t eat as well, may have discharge out of his nose (usually only one but it can be both), discharge and odor from the end of the horn, and he may press his head against things. One of the first tests I like to do on bulls that are sick is to put them in the chute and put one hand on each horn. Fortunately most horn infections are unilateral or one-sided. Infected horns will be substantially warmer than normal horns. Anytime a bull starts to act off, especially if there is nasal discharge, the animal should be evaluated by a veterinarian.
Hoof care is another essential for peak bucking bull performance. Read about it here: https://buckingstocktalk.com/hoof-care-and-maintenance-strong-foundation-for-peak-performance/
BST: What happens in a horn infection and how does it progress?
Dr. Jones: As the bacteria multiply and damage the tissue in the horn, white blood cells try to come to the rescue, which produces pus. Because there’s not many places for it to go or paths of least resistance, a little pus will come out the end of the horn, but a lot will go in closer to the interior of the skull and deeper and deeper into the sinus. This is where it has the potential to do damage to more important anatomical structures. Cattle are very good about laying down protein and forming scar tissue in response to infection and, if these infections are allowed to progress, they will lay down that tissue in the sinus, narrowing the passage, making it harder to flush out the infection. In cases that have become chronic, I have even seen the infection enter the brain case.
BST: What are the treatments for horn infections?
Dr. Jones: Treatment of horn infections can range from local flushing and antibiotics all the way up to removal of the horn. Serious infections may require trephination or drilling into the sinus and aggressive flushing for several days. In early cases, we may just need to remove a small amount of horn, flush it and have the animals recover quickly. In cases that have become chronic, more or all of the horn may have to be removed and the sinus may need to be opened on the forehead. When the sinus has severely narrowed, additional holes in the head may be required in an attempt to get all of the infection out. The goal is to get the infection to flush out through the nose.
Systemic antibiotics (those given by injection or orally) don’t do a great job getting into the horn tissues when drainage hasn’t been established, so just giving doses of antibiotics is usually unsuccessful without opening the horn.
BST: How important is early detection and treatment of horn infections?
Dr. Jones: The key to successful horn infection management is early detection and aggressive treatment. Our goal is always to establish drainage of the horn infection down through the sinus and out the nose. The longer a case goes on, the more inflammatory tissue forms, making flushing more difficult to accomplish. In those early phases at the first signs, along with administering antibiotics, a veterinarian may be able to get the infection cleared up with minimal tipping and flushing. Taking a wait-and-see approach means that the infection is progressing and protein and scar tissue are being laid down in the sinus. No one wants to take the whole horn or drill holes, but sometimes those are the only choices left once the infection has progressed.
BST: What can be done to ensure horn health?
Dr. Jones: Horn infection is a condition that we know that all horned bucking bulls are susceptible to and so they should be monitored very closely for it. It’s important to keep watch for those early signs. Routine care would include feeding out of lowered troughs, ensuring that tipped horns are kept as clean as possible and frequently monitoring for cracks and other damage.
Tipped horns, especially those that have just been done, need to be kept clean. When feeding, lowered troughs will prevent feed from coming in contact with the open horn tip, decreasing the risk of contamination and aiding in keeping the horn healthy.
BST: What can be done to prevent horn infections?
Dr. Jones: The best advice I can give is actually what not to do. Don’t put pine tar or otherwise seal the end of the horn. Sealing can trap bacteria and dirt inside the horn and allow it to fester into infection. We as veterinarians will occasionally cover the end of the horn while we are treating, but it is a temporary cover, such as a PVC end cap duct taped to the horn, not something that seals the horn end shut. Horns can also become contaminated by raised feeders, where the hay can fall down into the open horn end. So, if these feeders are used, it may be prudent to use a tub or trough for feeding until the horn has had a chance to heal.
Dr. Meredyth Jones is a large animal specialist veterinarian at the Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She works with all types of cattle, goats, sheep, pigs and camelids. She enjoys working with bucking bulls, working to maintain their health and well-being
Author: Terry Lidral
Terry Lidral is a western writer/journalist who lives in Idaho. She is the publisher and editor of the online magazine Bucking Stock Talk and the online magazine Western Living Journal. Her publishing credits include Storyteller for Real American Cowboy Magazine, writing feature articles for Humps N Horns Magazine as well as a wide variety of national and international web sites, historical magazines and news publications. She is known for her "up close and personal" profiles of celebrities and industry moguls such as NPR's Tom Bodett; PBR's Wiley Petersen and D.H. Page, PRCA's Sammy Andrews, Cindy Rosser and Julio Moreno to name a few. She has been applauded for her way of making a personal connection between her readers and her subjects. She indulges in her love of rodeo by serving as an associate board member for the Caldwell Night Rodeo. She is also an accomplished trainer and handler in dog agility. Her shelties Amelie and Milo are titled in NADAC, USDAA and AKC.
