quick advice, ewe prolapse *graphic picture*

[bloonskiller911]

Have you ever had a pregnant ewe prolapse? she should lamb any day and my wife just found her. do you know what to do. I have no harness or spoon. never thought about it. should I try to gently massage it back in. i'll post a picture but it is nasty

 

[bloonskiller911]

she was fine yesterday when I checked her

 

[Goat Whisperer]

I think @purplequeenvt has dealt with this before.

Maybe @SheepGirl & @BrownSheep have some advice!

 

[BrownSheep]

Personally, I've never had a ewe prolapse and would probably call a vet out.
If you do try to work it back in keep it clean.
I've read cold water and or sugar will help take away some of the swelling.
Elevating her rear end will help in placing it.

I would make a quick harness out of baling twine or something until you can get a proper one.

 

[OneFineAcre]

Personally, I've never had a ewe prolapse and would probably call a vet out.
If you do try to work it back in keep it clean.
I've read cold water and or sugar will help take away some of the swelling.
Elevating her rear end will help in placing it.

I would make a quick harness out of baling twine or something until you can get a proper one.

I've heard that about cold water and sugar

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Many years ago I had a doe with a prolapse and my vet suggested Preparation H! Hope you find something that will help!

 

[Ridgetop]

FIRST - determine if it is a vaginal or rectal prolapse. If it is a rectal prolapse you can use Prep H. A rectal prolapse in a heavily pregnant ewe can be common - use Preparation H a couple times a day. Do NOT use Prep H for a vaginal prolapse. You said she is due to lamb any time. Is she prolapsing from pushing too hard with dystocia? If a kid or lamb is stuck she could be pushing so hard that she is prolapsing instead of delivering the lamb. Or she may have delivered the lamb and prolapsed from excessive pushing afterward. Carefully check the vulva and feel if the birth canal is open. If it is, feel for a misplaced or crosswise lamb. If she is not due to lamb just yet and the birth canal is closed, then you will have to put the prolapse back in and sew her up or it will keep prolapsing. I have had both types. This prolapse doesn't look that bad. It will be easier if you have another person to help you, but you can do it yourself if necessary. First hose it off with very cold water to get all muck and straw off. Sugar will draw swelling down but might not be necessary. I have never used it. Cross tie ewe or put her in a stanchion because she won't like what you are doing. Next, get large curved carpet needle (large eye embroidery needle will work too) and dental floss. Put needle and floss in glass jar and cover with alcohol. you will need a pinch nose pliers to pull the needle through the skin. Get a glass bottle (long neck shape) and disinfect it with alcohol. Keep hosing off prolapse with coldest water possible. Use antibacterial soap to lubricate the neck of the bottle (the same antibacterial soap you use on your hands and arms when pulling lambs and kids). GENTLY try pushing the prolapsed tissue back inside, working around the edges to ease it in. Gently insert the bottle neck into the vagina, this is to keep the prolapse inside while you work the tissue in. Keep working the prolapse back inside. Once the prolapse is inside, take the needle and floss and sew the vagina shut with a large cross stitch. Top right to bottom left and top left to bottom right. The floss should form a large X across the vagina opening. Then give her a big dose of antibiotics. Pennicillin is easily obtained from your feed store. You will need to cut the stitching when the ewe is ready to lamb so she can deliver. My suggestion is that after she lambs and the lambs are weaned you cull her. She will probably prolapse again and prolapsing ewes are not good keepers. I also would not keep her daughters for breeding stock. Vaginl and rectal prolapse is more common in sheep that have been docked too short for the show ring. For our home flock we leave an inch of bone (about 2 knuckles) when docking.

 

[purplequeenvt]

I'm just now seeing this so hopefully you've got things sorted.

Your ewe is in labor in that picture. I can see placenta/water bag hanging from her prolapse.

My advice is probably too late to help, but in future....you need to get the prolapse cleaned off as best you can and get it back inside. White sugar will help shrink it down. It will be hard to shove things back in. Elevating her butt can help things fall back in place.

I hope things turned out well!

 

[Ridgetop]

How did dit turn out? Were you able to save the lambs and replace the prolapse?

 

[bloonskiller911]

my wife was able to replace the prolapse and pull the lamb. it was dead. the ewe died a few hours later. big lamb. just one of those things that happens unfortunately. fyi sugar does take the swelling out!! Thanks for all of the responses.