Vaginal prolapses (protrusion of the vagina) are most commonly observed during the last month of pregnancy or shortly after lambing. Many factors have been implicated in the cause of vaginal prolapse, such as hormonal/metabolic imbalances, overfat/overthin body condition, bulky feeds, lack of exercise, dystocia in previous pregnancies, increased abdominal pressure and fetal burden. Prolapses often recur in subsequent pregnancies.
The exposed vagina of affected ewes should be washed with soapy disinfectant solution and forced back into the ewe. A bearing retainer or “spoon” can be inserted and secured in the ewe to prevent further prolapsing. In a ewe that has lambed, sutures are used to secure the prolapse. Affected ewes and their offspring should probably not be kept in the flock for breeding animals due to the possibly hereditary nature of the problem.