Uterine Prolapse in Pigs: Farrowing Emergency in Sows
- See your vet immediately. A uterine prolapse in a sow is a true emergency because the exposed uterus can swell, tear, bleed, and become contaminated very quickly.
- This problem usually happens during or soon after farrowing, often after prolonged straining, difficult delivery, or severe exhaustion of the uterus.
- Do not try to cut tissue, force it back in, or delay care. Keep the sow quiet, separate piglets if needed for safety, and protect the tissue from dirt and trauma while help is on the way.
- Treatment may include cleaning and replacing the uterus, medications for pain and infection risk, sutures to reduce recurrence, or humane euthanasia if the sow is unstable or the tissue is badly damaged.
- Future breeding may be affected, and some sows are culled after recovery because prolapse can recur.
What Is Uterine Prolapse in Pigs?
Uterine prolapse means part or all of the uterus turns inside out and comes out through the vulva. In pigs, this is most often seen during or shortly after farrowing. It is uncommon, but when it happens, it is a life-threatening reproductive emergency.
The exposed tissue is very delicate. It can become swollen, contaminated with bedding or manure, and injured by the sow stepping on it or continuing to strain. Heavy bleeding, shock, and rapid decline can follow, especially if the prolapse is large or has been present for more than a short time.
For pet parents and small-scale pig keepers, the key point is speed. A sow with a uterine prolapse needs urgent veterinary attention, not watchful waiting. Early treatment gives your vet the best chance to replace the uterus, control pain, reduce contamination, and discuss whether recovery and future breeding are realistic.
Symptoms of Uterine Prolapse in Pigs
- Large red, pink, or dark tissue mass protruding from the vulva
- Continued straining after delivering piglets
- Bleeding from the prolapsed tissue or vulva
- Swollen, dirty, or drying tissue exposed to bedding or manure
- Weakness, collapse, pale gums, or signs of shock
- Restlessness, pain, repeated getting up and down, or refusal to settle with piglets
- Foul odor or discolored tissue suggesting contamination or tissue death
Any visible tissue coming from the vulva of a sow during or after farrowing should be treated as urgent until your vet says otherwise. A large, fleshy mass, ongoing straining, or bleeding are especially concerning. If the sow seems weak, cold, pale, or unable to stand, this may mean shock and the situation is even more critical.
What Causes Uterine Prolapse in Pigs?
Uterine prolapse in sows is usually linked to intense abdominal straining around farrowing. Prolonged labor, difficult delivery, or strong contractions after piglets are born can push the uterus outward. In some cases, the uterus has become fatigued and loses normal tone after a long or difficult farrowing.
Several factors may raise the risk. These include dystocia, large litters, oversized piglets, older parity sows, poor muscle tone, and anything that increases pressure inside the abdomen. Constipation, discomfort, poor body condition, and management issues around farrowing may also contribute.
Trauma and handling can matter too. Rough obstetrical assistance, excessive traction, or delayed recognition of a farrowing problem may increase tissue injury and straining. Feed-related issues that affect reproductive tissues, including estrogenic mycotoxins in some situations, are also discussed in veterinary references as possible contributors to prolapse problems in pigs.
Sometimes there is not one single cause. Your vet will usually look at the whole picture, including the sow's age, litter size, farrowing history, body condition, housing, feed, and whether there were signs of dystocia before the prolapse happened.
How Is Uterine Prolapse in Pigs Diagnosed?
Diagnosis is often based on the physical exam. A uterine prolapse is usually recognizable because a large mass of reproductive tissue is visible outside the vulva during or after farrowing. Your vet will assess whether the tissue is still healthy enough to replace, how much swelling or contamination is present, and whether there is active bleeding.
Just as important as identifying the prolapse is checking the sow's overall stability. Your vet may evaluate heart rate, hydration, gum color, temperature, pain level, and signs of shock. They may also look for tears, retained piglets, retained placental tissue, or other farrowing complications that could change treatment decisions.
On farms with limited resources, diagnosis may remain mostly clinical and treatment-focused. In more advanced settings, your vet may add bloodwork, ultrasound, or post-event herd review if there are concerns about recurrent prolapse, farrowing management, nutrition, or infectious and toxic contributors.
Treatment Options for Uterine Prolapse in Pigs
Spectrum of Care means you have options. Here are treatment tiers at different price points.
Budget-Conscious Care
- Urgent farm call or same-day veterinary assessment
- Physical exam and stabilization planning
- Cleaning and lubrication of the prolapsed uterus if tissue is still viable
- Manual replacement by your vet when feasible
- Basic medications chosen by your vet, often including pain control and antibiotics based on contamination risk
- Short-term confinement and close monitoring for renewed straining, bleeding, or recurrence
- Discussion of whether humane euthanasia is the kindest option if prognosis is poor
Recommended Standard Treatment
- Emergency veterinary exam with sedation or restraint as needed
- Thorough cleaning, reduction of swelling, and careful replacement of the uterus
- Examination to ensure the uterine horns are fully returned and not still inverted
- Medications selected by your vet for pain, inflammation, and infection risk
- Vulvar retention sutures or other supportive measures when appropriate
- Monitoring for shock, hemorrhage, and repeat prolapse
- Follow-up discussion about culling versus future breeding based on recovery and recurrence risk
Advanced / Critical Care
- Intensive stabilization for shock, severe blood loss, or collapse
- Advanced sedation, anesthesia, or referral-level reproductive or surgical care when available
- Management of major tears, devitalized tissue, or complications that make simple replacement impossible
- Additional diagnostics such as bloodwork or ultrasound when they will change decisions
- Hospitalization or high-intensity monitoring
- Humane euthanasia and after-death evaluation when survival is unlikely or welfare is severely compromised
Cost estimates as of 2026-03. Actual costs vary by location, clinic, and individual case.
Questions to Ask Your Vet About Uterine Prolapse in Pigs
Bring these questions to your vet appointment to get the most out of your visit.
- Does this look like a complete uterine prolapse, and is the tissue still healthy enough to replace?
- Is my sow showing signs of shock, blood loss, or infection risk right now?
- What treatment options do we have on-farm versus referral, and what are the likely tradeoffs of each?
- What cost range should I expect for replacement, medications, follow-up care, or euthanasia if needed?
- What should I do with the piglets while the sow is being treated or recovering?
- What warning signs mean the prolapse has recurred or the sow is getting worse after treatment?
- Should this sow be bred again, or is culling the safer long-term plan?
- Are there herd or management factors, like constipation, farrowing supervision, feed quality, or mycotoxins, that we should review to help prevent this again?
How to Prevent Uterine Prolapse in Pigs
Not every uterine prolapse can be prevented, but good farrowing management can lower risk. The biggest practical step is close observation around farrowing so dystocia and prolonged straining are recognized early. If a sow is laboring hard without progress, call your vet sooner rather than later.
Support normal farrowing conditions as much as possible. That includes appropriate body condition, reliable water intake, comfortable housing, and a feeding program that helps reduce constipation around farrowing. Clean, low-stress farrowing areas also matter because exhausted or distressed sows may strain more and recover less well.
Review technique if assistance is needed. Rough traction or repeated internal manipulation can increase trauma, swelling, and later complications. If you are unsure whether a piglet is malpositioned or whether labor has stalled, your vet is the safest next step.
After any prolapse event, prevention becomes a herd-management conversation. Your vet may recommend reviewing parity patterns, litter size trends, feed quality, possible mycotoxin exposure, and farrowing protocols. Some recovered sows are not bred again because recurrence risk can be significant.