Dealing with Vaginal Prolapses

by Heather Smith Thomas

Vaginal prolapse--a pink mass of tissue about the size of a large grapefruit or volleyball--is a common problem, and can be caused by straining. Many things can cause a cow to strain until the vagina prolapses: vaginitis (inflammation of vagina), estrus, breeding, or labor during calving. Some cows have a structural weakness of the reproductive tract that allows part of the vagina to prolapse in late pregnancy, and this is an inherited problem.

Some bulls (whose mothers or female ancestors had this weakness) sire daughters that prolapse easily. Never keep a bull from a cow that prolapses, since he'll sire daughters with this same trait.

Most common cause of vaginal prolapse is pressure and weight of the large uterus in late pregnancy when the cow is lying down, especially if her hind end is slightly downhill. Mild prolapses (a bulge the size of an orange or grapefruit) usually go back in when the cow gets up. But if she starts to prolapse each time she lies down, or if she strains a little while lying down (as when passing manure), the tissues may be forced out farther--and cannot go back in. Sometimes the presence of a mild prolapse stimulates the cow to begin straining, making the situation worse. Then she has a mass of vaginal tissue bulging out, becoming damaged and dirty.

Once these tissues are turned inside out, the returning blood from the prolapsed area is restricted, making the tissue swell.

The longer it’s outside the body, the more swelling occurs, and the harder it is to replace. If a cow is near calving, this swelling may make birth difficult.

A vaginal prolapse should be repaired as soon as possible, even though it’s not life threatening. It can be serious however, if a cow prolapses when you'’re not watching her — earlier in pregnancy. If she’s on pasture and not observed, the prolapsed tissue that's swollen, dried out and fly-blown may become a life-threatening situation. Infection from damaged tissue can make the cow seriously ill.

If the prolapse is large (volleyball size) the bladder becomes involved; the urinary passage has pressure on it and the cow cannot urinate until the tissue is pushed back inside. She may strain to urinate (unsuccessfully), aggravating the problem further.

The tissue should be cleaned off before being pushed back in, or irritation from manure will cause inflammation and infection. Wash it gently with warm water and a mild disinfectant. If a prolapse has been out for several days, the tissues may be dry and damaged, and harder to clean up and push back in.
Some cows prolapse every calving season during late pregnancy, and continue to prolapse after tissues are replaced. To correct this chronic problem, clean up the protruding ball of tissue and push it back in, then take several stitches across the vulva to hold it closed and prevent future prolapses. Umbilical tape is less apt to pull out than regular suture thread. A curved surgical needle (large size) is best for making the stitches.

Stitches should be anchored in the haired skin at the sides of the vulva. This skin is thick and won’t tear out as easily as the skin of the vulva itself and is less painful for the cow when you are stitching. It usually takes at least three stitches to keep the vulva safely closed so the inner tissue cannot prolapse if the cow strains. She is still able to urinate through the stitches, but the vulva cannot open enough for prolapse. She must be watched closely, since stitches must be removed when she starts to calve or she’ll tear them out or have difficulty calving. When she goes into labor, the stitches can be cut and pulled out.

Once she’s calved, the pressure that caused the prolapse no longer exists, and she usually won’t do it again until late in the next pregnancy. Cull a cow if she prolapses, because she’ll likely repeat the situation next year. Offspring from such a cow should never be kept for breeding. ©