Prolapse in swine

Question 1

How many types of prolapses are there? name them

Answer 1

3

Prolapse of rectum - Rectal prolapse

Prolapse of the Vagina - Vaginal prolapse

Prolapse of the uterus - Uterine prolapse

Question 2

When is the swine more prone to rectal prolapse

Answer 2

early life, in growing pigs between 6-16 weeks of age

Usually happens at the peak of lactation, when the blood calcium is at its lowest.

Usually observed 10-18 days post-farrowing

Question 3

What are the reasons for rectal prolapse?

Answer 3

• The supporting tissue in the pelvic area is usually weak, and there is an excessive fat deposition in the pelvis
• Abdominal straining is also a reason, it can happen either due to coughing or due to continuous diarrhoea.

Question 4

How can we diagnose prolapse?

Answer 4

Its quite easy, because there is a huge, red thing sticking out.

The tricky part is determining which part is affected; rectum, vagina.

It can be either mild or severe.
- Mild: Only a small amount of mucous protruding through the anus
- Severe: extensive amounts of mucosa being permanently protruded

Question 5

What kind of methods could we use to solve the rectal prolapse?

Answer 5

3 methods

1. Replace and retain
2. Using corrugated tubing
3. Suture and amputate

Question 6

How would you perform the “replace and retain” method of rectal prolapse?

Answer 6

We need to place the pig upside down in a barrel, the pig won’t be able to bite or run away. The surgical area won’t have the abdominal pressure, and its easy to clean.
We use local anaesthesia around the prolapse.

We suture around the prolapse without tightening the suture. We push the rectum back and we then tightening the suture, leaving 1-2 fingers width open. If the prolapse is swollen we gently apply pressure on it to reduce it, we do this for 10-15 minutes. We give long-acting antibiotics. Could happen again after removing the suture after 7 days.

Question 7

How would you perform the “using corrugated tubing” method of rectal prolapse?

Answer 7

We need to place the pig upside down in a barrel, the pig won’t be able to bite or run away. The surgical area won’t have the abdominal pressure, and it’s easy to clean.
We use local anaesthesia around the prolapse.

We locate the rectal lumen, place a tube which is bout 2 cm in diameter and put a tight suture around it in order to cut of the blood supply. After a few days it will necrotise and fall off, and we will leave the tube acting as the rectum. We need long acting antibiotics

Question 8

How would you perform the “suture and amputate” method of rectal prolapse?

Answer 8

We need to place the pig upside down in a barrel, the pig won’t be able to bite or run away. The surgical area won’t have the abdominal pressure, and it’s easy to clean.
We use local anaesthesia around the prolapse.

We place two fingers into the prolapse, and 6mm from the skin we place overlapping interrupted sutures. After suturing we cut of everything outside of them, and in this case the pig needs to be sent to slaughter asap, everything will adhere and there will be infections.

Question 9

Why does the prolapse of vagina usually happen?

Answer 9

Usually happens in multiparous (producing more than one offspring) sows, the pelvic ligament is loosening and they also deposit fat there and at some time it reach the critical point where the prolapse of vagina. Always happens during pregnancy, because there is an increased abdominal pressure due to heavy piglet
the supporting tissue of the cervix becomes weak

Question 10

When is it normal for the vaginal prolpase to happen?

Answer 10

during pregnancy, because there is an increased abdominal pressure due to heavy piglets. Normally happens during the last trimester and within a week before parturition (birth)

Question 11

Give reasons for a vaginal prolapses

Answer 11

Basically everything that will cause a restrain on the abdomen
- Could accompany a rectal prolapse
- Urinary problem, such as bladder flexion or diversion
- An infection

Question 12

What would you do in case of a vaginal prolapse?

Answer 12

We always try to place the vagina back, keep the pig alive long enough for the piglets to be born

Question 13

How would you place the vagina back, in case of prolapse?

Answer 13

We restrain the sow, either farrowing crate or an individual stall at the pig farm. We use local anaesthesia, we use mattress suture which work by going in on one side of the vulva, through the tissue to the other side and back again where we tie a knot. We can also use tape sutures, it is flexible and it doesn’t cut the skin. The tape needs to be removed before farrowing. After farrowing we put the tape suture back and after weaning the sow need to be culled (sent for slaughter)

Question 14

What is the difference of a vaginal prolapse and a uterine prolapse?

Answer 14

A vaginal prolapse happens before birth, uterine prolapse happens after birth

Question 15

When does a uterine prolapse usually happen?

Answer 15

always happens AFTER farrowing, usually 2-3 hrs after. Can also happen during farrowing after the last piglet is out.

Question 16

Why does a uterine prolapse usually happen?

Answer 16

this is due to some nutritional imbalance or a long and hard parturition, the uterus becomes a huge sack without muscles and it might enter the birth canal and then pushed out due to the contractions.

Question 17

Are there several types of uterine prolapses? if so, how many and what are they called?

Answer 17

2 types:
Partial and complete uterine prolapse

Question 18

What is a partial uterine prolapse?

Answer 18

Only one horn comes out, there might still be piglets left in the other.

Question 19

What is a complete uterine prolapse?

Answer 19

Both horns come out and the uterus is turned inside out. In this case its very hard to save its life.

Question 20

What are the clinical signs of a uterine prolapse?

Answer 20

The clinical signs are quite obvious.

A sow in labour which has a huge, dark red mass from the vulva and the sow becomes anaemic and pale.

Question 21

What is the prognosis of a uterine prolapse?

Answer 21

Very poor due to the large blood loss which can lead to shock

Question 22

What is the treatment methods of a uterine prolapse?

Answer 22

• utanashia of the sow, which is most normal

Question 23

Can we try to fix the uterine prolapse?

Answer 23

If it is a partial uterine prolapse, we can try to replace it or do an amputation

Question 24

Before we can euthanise a sow with a uterine prolapse, what is important to do?

Answer 24

Before euthanasia we need to stimulate the colostrum, with oxytocin, let down for 5-10 minutes so the piglet get to drink the first drops.

If they don’t receive the colostrum, they wont have the immunoglobulins necessary to survive.

Question 25

Why is it important for the piglet to recieve the colustrum?

Answer 25

If they don’t receive the colostrum, they wont have the immunoglobulins necessary to survive.

Question 26

How much, and which route, of oxytocin is adviced to give a sow?

Answer 26

IM
10 international units of oxytocin

Question 27

How would we perform a amputation in case of uterine prolapse?

Answer 27

The replacement of the uterus can be done if its not complete. We sedate the animal, use clean towel to lift the uterus of the ground. To reduce the oedema of the uterus we use cold water, in some cases we use hygroscopic materials such as sugar.

Once the oedema is gone we rase the sow by the hind legs to create a slope, we might need to drain the bladder. We use our lubricated hand or a small bottle to give a longer reach. If the replacement is done incorrectly, the prolapse will happen again. We also need to make sure the uterus is gone from the birth canal to prevent the animal for pushing it out again.

Question 28

EXAM QUESTION
Which is the most commonly used hygroscopic material used in case of uterine prolapse?
A. Salt
B. Sugar
C. Baking powder
D. Flour

Answer 28

B. Sugar

Question 29

Name factors that will be affectiong the prolapses

Answer 29

1. Nutritional factors
2. Physical factors
3. Hormonal factors
4. Environmental factors
5. Other factors

Question 30

What do we mean by nutritional factors?

Answer 30

Poor quality of the feed or the feed is too concentrated, it will cause fat deposition in the pelvic region and this is one of the reasons of prolapses

Hypocalcaemia prevents proper muscle contraction.
Lack of water, vitamin deficiencies and a high estrogenic-content feeds

The normal function of oestrogen is to cause local oedema in the reproduction tract to ease penetration and parturition. Some feed partials contains oestrogen; plants, mycotoxin F2 (produced by fungus)

Question 31

What do we mean by physical factors?

Answer 31

The boar causes some sort of injury, and the pain causes straining. In older sows the pelvic diaphragm is weakened, not strong enough to hold the organs.
there could be a problem with the farrowing crate: slope of the floor.

Question 32

What do we mean by hormonal factors?

Answer 32

Oestrogen, before farrowing there is a high relaxing production to loosen the ligaments.

Question 33

What do we mean by environmental factors?

Answer 33

Poorly designed farrowing crates and the piglets might bite the prolapse if the crate is too small

Question 34

What do we mean by other factors?

Answer 34

anything that causes straining of the animal; cough, diarrhoea, fat deposition

Question 35

Name important factors for a prolapse to end up successfull for the pig, and the best chance for a full recovery

Answer 35

We need to keep the animal free of stress, and administer pain relief.

The shorter and smaller portion hanging out, the better prognosis.

The best chance for full recovery: successful replacement, no added stress, no environment change, and a small/short prolapse.

In case of a severe prolapse, the sow should be euthanized or culled as soon as possible.