Vaginal and cervical prolapse

Prolapse of the vagina and cervix often occurs during the last third of gestation, including immediately after farrowing.

Alternative names: Vaginal prolapse

Prolapse of the vagina and cervix often occurs during the last third of gestation, including immediately after farrowing.

Sows

• During the initial phase, tissues protrude from the lips of the vulva when the sow is lying and return to their normal position when the sow stands.
• In later gestation, the prolapse can remain external.
• Tissues swell over time.

Nursing pigs, transition, and fattening stages

• Not seen.

• It is normally seen in older and fatter sows that are in late gestation and whose abdomen has grown dramatically in size.
• It is a result of increased abdominal pressure along with a relaxation of the structures that strengthen the cervix.
• It is more common in older sows.
• Increased incidence seen in sows that are tethered in pens with slippery floors.
• Sows resting on floors that are overly sloped towards the back of the cage.
• High feed intake, especially starchy feed. This produces abnormal fermentation, lots of gas, and increased abdominal pressure.
• It can be related to mycotoxins, especially estrogenic mycotoxins.

• Based on clinical signs.

• Move the sow to a corral with freedom of movement, where it is not immobilized.
• If the prolapse remains external when the sow is standing, it must be repaired performing a suture around the vulva.
• If the prolapsed sow is about to farrow, 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 bring the uterus forward and the vagina will remain inside. In these circumstances the sow usually farrows normally.
• If the vagina remains prolapsed when the sow nears farrowing, 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 keep the prolapse inside. When it reaches time to farrow, the suture can be loosened.
• The sow must be culled after weaning.