Treatment of a mild early prolapse may require only simple cleaning of exposed tissues, application of ointment eg Hibitane cream or petroleum jelly and gently pushing the prolapse back into the vagina.
At this time, a decision needs to made whether to carry the cow through to calving or to send the cow to slaughter as many cases will recur. There also a genetic omponent and the possibility of this problem occurring in the cow’s heifer offspring.
Treatment of longer existing, more severe vaginal prolapses require veterinary attention with the use of epidural anaesthesia to reduce pain and straining
during the procedure. After the prolapse has been cleaned and replaced, the veterinarian will use sutures to maintain the tissues in their normal position. A course of antibiotic injections would be prescribed. A long term epidural anaesthetic may be administered if the cow continues to strain.
Sutures in the cow’s vulva will need to be removed to allow the cow to calve. However, some veterinarians use a method of suturing the cow’s cervix to the prepubic tendon which will hold the prolapsed tissues in their normal position and still allow the cow to calve with the suture in place.
Cows with vaginal prolapses which are within 7-14 days of parturition and which have colostrum in the udder may be considered suitable subjects to under go immediate caesarian section to increase the chance of getting a live calf.