Treatment of Vaginal Prolapse in Sheep and Goat
Vaginal and Uterine prolapse has been recorded in all animal species. It is most common in cow and ewe, less common in doe and rare in mare and is an emergency condition which needs prompt and immediate attention . It is simply an eversion of the uterus which turns inside out as it passes through the vagina. Prolapse of the uterus generally occurs immediately after or a few hours of parturition when the cervix is open and the uterus lacks tone . Prolapse that occur more than 24 hours post-partum is extremely rare and is complicated by partial closure of the cervix, making replacement difficult or even impossible . In the period immediately after prolapse occurs the tissues appear almost normal, but within a few hours it becomes enlarged and edematous. Some animals will develop hypovolaemic shock secondary to internal blood loss, laceration of the prolapsed organ or incarceration of abdominal viscera . The prolapse is visible as a large mass protruding from the vulva, often hanging down below the animal’s hock. The placenta may likely be retained during this period . It normally occurs during the third stage of labour at a time when the foetus has been expelled and the foetal cotyledons have separated from the maternal caruncles . The etiology of uterine prolapsed is unknown, but many factors have been associated with prolapsed . This include conditions such as poor uterine tone, increased straining caused by pain or discomfort after parturition, by excessive traction at assisted parturition or by the weight of retained foetal membranes. Conditions that increased intra-abdominal pressure including tympany and excessive estrogen content in feeds. Animals with uterine prolapse treated promptly recovers without complication while delay in treatment could result in death of animal in a matter of hour or so from internal haemorrhage caused by the weight of the organ which tears the mesovarium . Success of treatment depends on the type of case, the duration of the case, the degree of damage and contamination.
