Prolapse Uterus

ONThorsegirl · #1 04/18/06, 08:01 PM

This week we had a NCC/Suffolk Ewe 13 months old, she lambed out a wonderful Ram lamb she was bred to our Oxford Ram. She had a good lambing, there was no blood, it seemed to go smooth, she dropped her cleanings and is happy as could be. But the next day she prolapsed. So I gave her a shot of Penicillin, yesterday and nothing new. Today I picked up some more penicillin and some Ewe Spoons-- for Prolapse. I washed the ewe up with Iodine based soap, cleaned her all up with warm water, Once it was cleaned I pushed it gently back in. I fixed up the Ewe spoon and everything should hopefully be back to normal.

How did I do? Whats your luck with this..did she breed back? This is the first ever prolapse I had to do and I'm pretty proud I did it by my self.

What could I have done differently and also what do you think made her prolapse a day later?

Melissa

Celtic_Knot · #2 04/19/06, 12:16 AM

Eww the most yummiest thing to do at lambing time. As for breeding back mine never get the chance. It's hereditary and most likley she'll do it again next year and her children will too. Unless there were extenuating circumstances like an abnormaly large lamb or a hard birth they get sent down the line with thier babies at weaning time. I would warn against washing any live tissue with iodine. You kill tissue with iodine. It is very harsh, I only use it for dipping navles. Betadine is just as effective but with less damage to the cells. And I wouldn't wash with water afterwards betadine works just as well. Unless you boil the water there could be bacteria living in it so you just went and introduced a new culture to your clean area. Other then that sounds good. Hope she stays in for ya

**Ross** · #3 04/19/06, 03:01 AM

I've always found prolapses to be far more management based (so the genetics don't fit the management) more than a fault. Started docking tails longer about 4 years ago, and almost like magic prolapses disappeared. Culling offenders certainly helped but I have retained especially good looking ewes and simply ensured they got more exorsize, .......and docked their lambs tails longer. Zero prolapses in a 120 ewes this year. We've had as many as 17 in 200 which is approaching 10% !!! I'd say the leading two reasons for all prolapses are exersize (muscle tone) and tail dock.

ONThorsegirl · #4 04/19/06, 03:11 PM

This ewe was in Good Shape she was about 135 pounds. Mostly North Country Cheviot with a bit of Suffolk. The Lamb was 9 pounds. Her tail is docked normal it covers everything, no bum to show any where. Her Mother never prolapsed. This is only our second prolapse since we started with sheep. About 5 years ago we had a ewe prolapse before lambing and then after she lambed everything was normal and she never did it since.

Melissa

Somerhill · #5 04/25/06, 10:05 AM

What kind of prolapse are we talking about? Vagina or uterine?

Vaginal - cull the ewe. Its often hereditary, and NOT worth the trouble and worry and possible loss of ewe and lambs if it happens again next year.

Uterine - everything I've read or heard says its not hereditary, nor is it likely to happen again. Put ewe over a low gate to raise her hindquarters off the ground and tilt the body. Wash with warm, soapy water, sprinkle with sugar(shrinks the tissues), and replace carefully so as not to tear the uterus. Give banamine shots to reduce pain and swelling, as well as irritation that was causing ewe to strain.
Follow up with antibiotics. (personally, I've never replaced a uterus, on our farm, its a vets job)

He has drugs available to shrink the uterus and aid in the replacement. He may also choose to add a couple stitches to keep her from pushing it out again.

Best wishes
Lisa at Somerhill
www.somerhillfarm.com