I've searched Google for half an hour using all the permutations of 'do horns get bruised'? that I've been able to think of, and all I get is information on how to stop cows bruising each other by dehorning them as calves.
I've found out from wikipedia that the horns of Bovidae are made of proteins covering living bone, so it seems to me that it would be possible for a horn to have a bone bruise, but I haven't found any reference to that online. Does anyone here know?
All I need is a plausible injury to a horned creature where one of his horns was whacked very hard but not hard enough to snap it off, just--if possible--bruise it. I also know that a horn can crack, and if I can't have it bruised I'll crack it instead, but I was hoping for a bruise.
Thanks guys! Very much appreciated as usual.
(P.S.-- I put 'veterinary care' for the tag, since that made the most sense, but should I add 'medicine (misc)' as well?