Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Alpaca health · Breeding & birthing

Uterine & Vaginal Prolapse in Alpacas

Updated 2026-10-02By the Dreamcatcher Alpacas editorial team2 peer-reviewed references
!

Emergency — call your vet now

This condition can kill within hours. Get veterinary help immediately.

Part or all of the uterus or vagina protruding from the vulva, usually right after birth. A true emergency.

Category
Breeding & birthing
Urgency
Emergency

Signs & symptoms

  • A large red mass protruding from the vulva
  • Straining, distress

What causes it?

Straining after birth, retained placenta, low calcium.

Risk factors

  • Assisted births
  • Older multiparous females

How vets diagnose it

Visual examination.

Treatment

Call the vet immediately. Keep the tissue clean and moist with a clean wet towel or plastic and keep the female calm and lying down.

Do not wait to see if it improves. Camelids hide illness, and by the time signs are obvious the problem is often advanced. Call your veterinarian.

Prevention

  • Prompt assistance during difficult births

Background

Uterine prolapse is a form of pelvic organ prolapse in which the uterus and a portion of the upper vagina protrude into the vaginal canal and, in severe cases, through the opening of the vagina. It is most often caused by injury or damage to structures that hold the uterus in place within the pelvic cavity. Symptoms may include vaginal fullness, pain with sexual intercourse, difficulty urinating, and urinary incontinence. Risk factors include older age, pregnancy, vaginal childbirth, obesity, chronic constipation, and chronic cough. Prevalence, based on physical exam alone, is estimated to be approximately 14%.From Wikipedia — “Uterine prolapse”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Research & references

PubMed lists 2 peer-reviewed papers on this topic in camelids. The most relevant include:

  1. Ventral midline caesarean section for dystocia secondary to failure to dilate the cervix in three alpacas. Saltet J, Dart AJ, Dart CM et al. Australian veterinary journal, 2000. PubMed 10904816 · DOI · cited 2×
  2. Infertility associated with persistent hymen in an alpaca and a llama. Tan RH, Dascanio JJ The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne, 2008. PubMed 19183735 · cited 6×

Frequently asked questions

What is uterine & Vaginal Prolapse in alpacas?
Part or all of the uterus or vagina protruding from the vulva, usually right after birth. A true emergency.
What are the signs of uterine & Vaginal Prolapse?
A large red mass protruding from the vulva and straining, distress.
How do you prevent uterine & Vaginal Prolapse?
Prompt assistance during difficult births.
Is uterine & Vaginal Prolapse an emergency?
Emergency — call your vet now. This condition can kill within hours. Get veterinary help immediately.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a veterinarian who has examined your animals. Camelid medicine uses many drugs “extra-label”, so dosing must come from your vet. In an emergency, call your vet first. Read our disclaimer · How we write and review content.