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PROLAPSES

A prolapse  is the displacement of part or all of an organ of the body from its normal position, usually downward or outward, resulting in its protruding from an orifice.

Prolapses occur in both female and male goats. Females can prolapse either their rectum or their vagina. Males can prolapse their rectum.

Rectal prolapses may occur in goats that are too fat, but they can also be the result of prolonged coughing. Vaginal prolapses usually occur when the doe is very heavy with kids.

Return the prolapsed organ to its original position inside the goat's body in the following manner:

Mix one-half gallon of warm water with an antibacterial product such as Chlorhexidine, Nolvasan, or Betadine solution. If these products are not available, use warm water only. After donning disposable gloves, stand the goat up on all four legs and gently pour the warm water solution over the entire surface of the prolapse, cleansing it of dirt and debris. Using a canister of white granulated sugar, shake it over the surface of the prolapse. In a few minutes' time, the sugar will begin to remove moisture from the prolapse, shrinking it to make it easier to reposition  inside the goat's body.   An iodine solution can be used if sugar is not available.

Using your gloved hands, carefully and gently squeeze the remaining moisture out of the prolapse and begin pushing it back inside the goat.      Use the flat palm of your hand as much as possible. This delicate tissue is easy to tear and repair is difficult. Care must be taken not to damage it. If the prolapse won't go back inside the body, gently lay the goat on its side and try again. Once the prolapse is back inside the goat's body, use your finger to push it back into its normal position inside the goat.

Using a gloved hand, apply Preparation H or generic equivalent topically three times a day to the vaginal or rectal area to reduce swelling and irritation. To minimize the chance of infection, administer penicillin subcutaneously (SQ) for 5 consecutive days at a dosage rate of  5  cc's per 100 pounds bodyweight.

Occasionally a rectal prolapse will re-occur. Repeat this procedure and it should remain inside the animal.

If coughing has caused the prolapse, dose the goat twice daily with Expectahist, an oral antihistamine/decongestant, until coughing stops. Robitussin DM can also be used.

Sometimes the prolapse is so swollen that a veterinarian's help is required. Years ago I took a yearling doe with a rectal prolapse to the vet.   Because the doe would not quit pushing outward as the vet tried to reposition the rectal prolapse inside, he administered a nerve-blocking injectable sedative above the tail at the base of her spine to relax the muscles until he could get the tissue back inside her. Then  he   placed a pursestring stitch in the opening, with instructions to remove it in four (4) days and adjust it if necessary to allow goat pills to pass out of her body. The doe was given Dexamethazone for two days to help reduce swelling (she was not pregnant . . .Dex induces labor in pregnant does) and I gave her the antibiotic Excenel RTU for 5 consecutive days.

Vaginal prolapses may require sutures to keep the organ inside the pregnant doe's body, since growing kids in the expanding uterus  are pushing on her  cervix and  into her vagina. If this is  necessary, you  must be present when the doe's water breaks, because the sutures will have to be cut in order for her to give birth.

If   you have a goat  who has had  repeated instances of prolapses and you are not overfeeding it, then you should consider culling it from your herd.

Suzanne W. Gasparotto, ONION CREEK RANCH, Texas   8.1.23

Taking reservations for GoatCamp™ 2023
Oct 23 - 26, 2023

FAMACHA training.
Doing microscopic fecal counts. Reading fecals.
Learn how to diagnose and treat illnesses and diseases
Nutrition: learn how to feed properly.
Tubing, injections, tattooing, eartagging, handling and restraints.
Hoof trimming, hoof care.
Necropsy demonstration
Diseases affecting goats
Drawing blood, disease testing
Selecting goats for breeding, market sales, etc
Marketing your animals
Humane slaughter demonstration
Breeding, Kidding, Kid care
Importance of private property rights to goat owners
and much more, all on a working goat ranch.

The GOATCAMP™ Instructors

DR. MARK SWENING, DVM - VETERINARIAN, Coleman, Texas Vet Clinic
DR. JAMES MILLER, DVM, LSU - PARASITOLOGIST
KENT MILLS, HI PRO FEEDS - NUTRITIONIST
DAN BYFIELD, AMERICAN LAND FOUNDATION - PROPERTY RIGHTS
BOB GLASS, PAN AMERICAN VET LABORATORY - SERUM DIAGNOSTICS
PAT COTTEN, BENDING TREE RANCH
SUZANNE GASPAROTTO, ONION CREEK RANCH

Classroom Instruction as well as Hands-on Work with Onion Creek Ranch goats on a working goat ranch

TUITION PER STUDENT - $550.00 IF RECEIVED BEFORE 10-1-23

$575.00 IF RECEIVED ON OR AFTER 10-1-23

Registration Form on the GoatCamp™page at www.tennesseemeatgoats.com

Additional Information or questions: Suzanne Gasparotto - 512-265-2090 (Texas) or email her at onioncreek@tennesseemeatgoats.com. Quicker response if you do NOT contact through website or Facebook.