What can cause a goat to prolapse?

Answer 1

Usually a prolapsed uterus happens after parturition and can be due from an accident while giving birth or the hormones have not relaxed and are still telling the ewe to push until she prolapses her uterus.

Prolapsed rectum can be caused by a number of things, chronic cough (puts a constant strain and irritation on the rectum), Sex (females have a higher amount of internal fat than males, if they strain the rectal tissues are not held in place), Diarehha (also puts a constant strain on the rectum muscles), age (young lambs-post weaning-are prone to rectum prolapse than older lambs.

Hope that this helps.

The length of the tail can also predispose the sheep to prolapse when straining due to loose faeces, very hard dry faeces or coughing. As if the tail is cut too short the muscles in the perineum area do not develop as well as they should. Subclinical hypocalcaemia could also be a predisposing factor.

Answer 2

Goats can have different types of prolapses due to different reasons - intestinal, rectal, vaginal or uterine.

Intestinal is where the intestines poke through a vaginal tear or rupture and is called evisceration.

Rectal is rare but can follow vaginal or if they are continually straining due to diarrhoea or extremely dry feed.

Vaginal prolapses are due to the increased intrapelvic pressure in late pregnancy possibly due to multiple kids - sometimes the bladder can also prolapse.

Uterine prolapse are also rare but can happen with a retained placenta or due to constant straining due to pain/inflammation