Why do domestic animals need their horns trimmed sometimes, while wild animals don't seem to need any trimming? Well, horns just keep on growing continuously, like our fingernails. But wild animals use them in daily activities like fighting for dominance, defending themselves from predators, or even digging, which naturally wears down their horns and keeps them at a healthy length. However, domestic animals don’t have the same need to use their horns as much, due to their protected environments, so they may occasionally need trimming to prevent overgrowth and discomfort. And since the outer part of the horn, away from the base, doesn’t have any nerves, the process is mostly painless.