We'd also like to hear from any of you who have goats and have any experience with using the caustic acid paste for debudding. A dairyman/vet told me it works fine for him on calves and dairy goats: he shaves around each little nub to remove hair; adds Vaseline around the nubs to prevent the acid for moving toward eyes, etc, uses a tongue-depressor to apply a blob of acid to each nub, hold and cuddles the baby for 30 minutes of so (while he watches the evening new) and then washes off the acid paste with cool water and a vinegar rinse.
I've read SO MUCH from people who 'heard' that this was 'horrible', 'inhumane', 'many horror stories' but I'd like to hear from someone who has really tried it and was it MORE painful than using the hot-iron to burn a ring around each little nub? I know it's a necessity to debud and I want to do what is LESS STRESSFUL for the baby and second, EASY AND SAFE to do.
Any advice? I'd really appreciate it. (The lady who used to do the debudding with the hot-iron for us is now 'out of business' and I need to learn myself or find someone local. The local vet will do it for $125 per goat!!! That is too cost prohibitive for me. HELP!!
