Vaginal Prolapse in Cows
- See your vet promptly if tissue is protruding from the vulva, especially in a pregnant cow in the last trimester.
- Vaginal prolapse in cows usually happens late in pregnancy and may start only when the cow is lying down, then become constant.
- Early cases can often be cleaned, replaced, and retained with a vulvar suture, but delayed treatment raises the risk of swelling, trauma, infection, bladder problems, and tissue death.
- Cows that have had a vaginal prolapse are more likely to prolapse again in future pregnancies, so herd-level breeding decisions matter.
What Is Vaginal Prolapse in Cows?
Vaginal prolapse in cows is a condition where part of the vaginal wall turns outward and protrudes through the vulva. It is most common in mature cows during the last trimester of pregnancy, when hormonal changes and increased abdominal pressure make the tissues of the birth canal looser and easier to evert.
Early cases may appear only when the cow is lying down, with a pink to red mass visible at the vulva that slips back in when she stands. More advanced cases stay out all the time and can include the cervix. If the tissue remains exposed, it becomes swollen, irritated, contaminated, and more difficult to replace.
This is different from a uterine prolapse, which happens after calving and is a true emergency. A vaginal prolapse usually occurs before calving, but it still needs timely veterinary attention because the bladder can become trapped, the tissue can tear, and severe chronic cases may become necrotic.
Symptoms of Vaginal Prolapse in Cows
- Small pink or red bulge from the vulva when the cow is lying down, which disappears when she stands
- Persistent protruding mass from the vulva even when standing
- Visible cervix within the prolapsed tissue in more advanced cases
- Straining, repeated pushing, or tail raising
- Swollen, dry, dirty, or traumatized exposed tissue
- Difficulty urinating or reduced urine flow if the bladder is involved
- Restlessness, discomfort, or frequent lying down and getting up
- Foul odor, dark tissue, bleeding, or obvious tissue damage in severe chronic cases
Mild, intermittent prolapse can become a more serious problem quickly, especially in late gestation. You should worry more if the tissue stays out while the cow is standing, looks dark or damaged, is contaminated with bedding or manure, or if the cow is straining hard or having trouble passing urine. Those signs raise concern for bladder involvement, infection, or tissue death and should prompt a same-day call to your vet.
What Causes Vaginal Prolapse in Cows?
Vaginal prolapse in cows is usually caused by a combination of late-pregnancy hormone effects and increased pressure inside the abdomen. As calving approaches, estrogen and relaxin soften the tissues of the pelvic canal and perineum. At the same time, the growing uterus, rumen fill, body fat, and time spent lying down can all increase pressure that pushes the vaginal floor outward.
Some cows are more predisposed than others. Breed risk has been reported in Brahman, Brahman crossbred, and Hereford cattle, and there appears to be a hereditary component. That is one reason many herd veterinarians recommend not retaining affected females or their replacement daughters for breeding.
Other contributing factors can include obesity, limited exercise, repeated straining, and exposure to estrogenic compounds. In some settings, estrogenic plants or estrogen-like substances have been linked to prolapse risk. The condition can also occur in heifers, though it is more common in mature pregnant cows.
How Is Vaginal Prolapse in Cows Diagnosed?
Your vet usually diagnoses vaginal prolapse by physical examination and by looking at when the prolapse occurs, how much tissue is involved, and whether the cervix or bladder may be part of the prolapsed mass. Many veterinarians grade the prolapse from intermittent and mild to chronic and severe, because that helps guide treatment and prognosis.
The exam also focuses on tissue health. Your vet will look for swelling, drying, contamination, lacerations, bleeding, infection, and areas of necrosis. If the cow is straining hard or the prolapse is large, your vet may assess whether the bladder is trapped, because a distended bladder can prevent replacement and may need to be emptied first.
Diagnosis also includes making sure this is not a uterine prolapse, vaginal tear, or another reproductive emergency. In a pregnant cow, your vet may evaluate stage of gestation and watch closely for signs of impending labor, because any retention suture must be removed before calving.
Treatment Options for Vaginal Prolapse in Cows
Spectrum of Care means you have options. Here are treatment tiers at different price points.
Budget-Conscious Care
- Farm call and physical examination
- Cleaning and lubrication of exposed tissue
- Manual replacement if tissue is still healthy and swelling is limited
- Epidural anesthesia when needed to reduce straining
- Short-term monitoring plan and calving watch instructions
Recommended Standard Treatment
- Farm call and reproductive examination
- Epidural anesthesia
- Thorough lavage and reduction of the prolapse
- Bladder decompression if needed
- Retention with a Buhner or similar vulvar suture
- Follow-up instructions for urination, tissue swelling, and suture removal before calving
Advanced / Critical Care
- Emergency or after-hours farm call
- Management of severe swelling, trauma, infection, or necrotic tissue
- Advanced retention or fixation techniques such as vaginopexy or Johnson button-type procedures when appropriate
- Treatment of bladder involvement or urinary obstruction
- Sedation, additional medications, or humane euthanasia discussion for nonviable tissue or evisceration
Cost estimates as of 2026-03. Actual costs vary by location, clinic, and individual case.
Questions to Ask Your Vet About Vaginal Prolapse in Cows
Bring these questions to your vet appointment to get the most out of your visit.
- You can ask your vet whether this looks like a mild intermittent prolapse or a more advanced continuous prolapse.
- You can ask your vet if the cervix or bladder seems to be involved and how that changes urgency.
- You can ask your vet what retention method they recommend for this cow and why.
- You can ask your vet how often the cow should be checked after replacement and what warning signs mean a recheck is needed.
- You can ask your vet exactly when the suture should be removed if the cow starts calving.
- You can ask your vet whether this cow should stay in the breeding herd after recovery.
- You can ask your vet if body condition, feed management, or limited exercise may have contributed in this case.
- You can ask your vet what realistic total cost range to expect, including farm call, anesthesia, suture placement, and follow-up.
How to Prevent Vaginal Prolapse in Cows
Not every case can be prevented, but herd management can lower risk. Work with your vet on body condition goals so late-gestation cows are not overly fat, and avoid management that encourages prolonged recumbency or poor exercise. Good bunk space, steady forage intake, and minimizing excessive rumen distention may also help reduce abdominal pressure in heavily pregnant cows.
Breeding decisions matter. Because vaginal prolapse has a hereditary component and recurrence is common, many veterinarians and beef extension programs advise culling affected cows from the breeding herd and avoiding keeping their daughters as replacements. That approach can reduce future herd risk over time.
Review feed and pasture exposures if multiple animals are affected. Estrogenic plants or estrogen-like compounds can contribute in some situations. Close observation during the last trimester is also important. Catching an intermittent prolapse early gives your vet the best chance to replace the tissue before it becomes swollen, contaminated, or permanently damaged.