Vaginal and cervical prolapse (Vaginal prolapse)
Prolapse of the vagina and cervix often occurs during the last third of gestation, including immediately after farrowing.
Description
Prolapse of vagina and cervix often occur during the last third of gestation, including the immediate pre-partum period.
Symptoms
Sows
- During the initial phase tissues protrude from the lips of the vulva when the sow is laying and return to their normal position when the sow stands.
- In advanced pregnancies prolapse can remain outside.
- Tissues are swollen over time.
Lactating and nursing piglets, and fattening
- Not present.
Causes / Contributing Factors
- It is normally present in older and fat sows that are in advanced gestation and whose abdomen has grown dramatically in size.
- It is a response to increased abdominal pressure along with a relaxation of structures that strengthen the cervix.
- It is more common in older sows.
- Increased incidence seen in sows that are tied, while staying in pens that have slippery floors.
- Sows resting on floors overly sloped towards the back of the cage.
- High levels of intake, especially starchy feed, produce an abnormal fermentation, lots of gas and an increased abdominal pressure.
- There is a relation with mycotoxins, especially estrogenic mycotoxins.
Diagnosis
- It is based on clinical signs.
Control/Prevention
- Move the sow to a corral with freedom of movement, where it is not immobilized.
- If the prolapse remains out when the sow is standing, it must be repaired and perform a suture around the vulva.
- If the sow is about to give birth, the floor of the farrowing cage must be lifted using some boards to create a slope towards the feeder. In this way, when the sow lies down, the weight of the unborn piglets will take the uterus forward and the vagina will remain inside. In these circumstances the sow usually gives birth normally.
- If the vagina remains prolapsed when farrow is near, the cervix will not open completely and you can lose both the sow and her litter. In these cases a suture should be placed along the lips of the vulva to maintain the prolapse inside. Once it reaches the time of delivery the suture can be loosened.
- The sow must be culled after weaning.
