Prolapse | opossumcare

Prolapse:

I am hearing about an unprecedented number of prolapse’s happening in baby possums this year so I felt it necessary to create some information on this subject.

So, what is a prolapse, exactly?

A rectal prolapse occurs when part of the large intestine's lowest section (rectum) slips outside the muscular opening at the end of the digestive tract (anus). A prolapse can sometimes be treated with stool softeners, suppositories and other medications. But surgery is often needed to treat rectal prolapse.

What causes a rectal prolapse?

The most common causes of rectal and anal prolapse in animals include:

Straining to poop because of severe diarrhea.
Chronic constipation.
Parasites.
Inflammation of the intestinal tract.

Some of the most common reasons for constipation in animals include: (I highlighted the most common cause in baby possums)

Ingested items such as toys, dirt, grass, or fabric pieces (clothing, rugs, clothes or towels)
Abscessed or blocked anal sacks.
Insufficient fiber in diet.
Dehydration!!!
Enlarged prostate.
Ingested hair from excessive self-grooming.
Insufficient daily exercise.

Constipation is probably the number 1 cause of prolapse, especially in babies, but diarrhea can cause it to happen as well because in both scenarios, the baby is straining to move their bowels.

Signs of constipation include:

Baby is suddenly not going as often as before.
Stools appear dry, very firm/hard, perhaps smaller in size, maybe tinged with blood.
Bloated belly.
Baby may be more lethargic and less apt to eat.

How to treat constipation: There are a number of things you can try to reverse constipation, but its important to recognize the difference between things that help an animal pass stool and actually treating the root cause of the constipation itself so it doesn’t become a chronic issue.

PUSH those fluids! An animal not drinking enough is a major cause of constipation. Depending on the size of your baby, use a feeding tube, pipette or syringe to give them fluids several times throughout the day. Use any of the following hydration recipes below.
Slippery Elm: This herb will lubricate the intestinal tract, allowing the stool to pass. It is NOT a cure for constipation, it only temporarily helps the animal empty its bowels. You can mix ¼ capsule in with formula or pureed food and feed via a syringe. Use it for only 3 days or so.
Spearmint Tea: I have used this on a constipated baby and it seemed to really help. Spearmint helps to relax the intestinal walls so things will start moving again. Like slippery elm, it doesn’t remedy constipation itself, it just helps relieve some of the symptoms. Make sure to use 100% pure spearmint tea (not peppermint). Give a few drops 3-4 times a day.
Exercise: when animals have very little space to move around in, this can cause constipation. Give them enough space to roam around and provide an exercise wheel for them to run on.
Over-grooming: Excessive grooming can cause fur to build up, causing a blockage. Animals over-groom for a number of reasons, but stress and anxiety is one of the top reasons. Add some enrichment into their enclosures (see my Boredom Buster ideas in the files section of this group).
Fiber: Probably not anything to worry about in young babies.
Karo syrup: (a few drops) sometimes helps to loosen the bowels, but again, you still need to figure out the underlying cause.

Hydration Fluids:

One-part lactated Ringers to 1 part bottled water orally.
One-part Pedialyte to 3 parts bottled water.
Unsweetened coconut water.
1 cup bottled water, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1/4 teaspoon salt.
One part apple juice to 5 parts bottled water.

Diarrhea - Possible causes:

Formula: This is often a problem with babies, while they are trying to adjust to foods and formula that are foreign to them. This is why we add lactase drops to formula, as it helps their bodies digest it more easily, but even then, sometimes babies can be extra sensitive.

Solid foods (Peters Food Recipe): Again, you are introducing new foods and sometimes that can upset their digestive track. If diarrhea or constipation occurs, back off the amount of food you are offering and go back to offering more formula and then slowly work your way back up to more solid foods.

Medication: Many different medications can cause both diarrhea or constipation. Pain meds, for example, often cause constipation, while antibiotics often cause diarrhea (or sometimes constipation). It’s important when giving antibiotics to also include Nystatin to prevent a yeast infection AND a good probiotic to help replace the healthy gut flora that antibiotics destroy.

Stress/Anxiety: Some babies are very frightened to be in captivity, and all that anxiety can definitely lead to digestive upsets. Keep them in a quiet room, away from other people and household pets to help reduce their stress levels. Consider giving them a few drops of the Bach’s Flower Remedy called “Rescue Remedy”.

Parasites: Babies can certainly carry parasites but they are not usually present in high enough numbers as to cause an intestinal blockage. However, roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, Coccidia, or Giardia can all cause diarrhea.

Bacterial Infection: Worth considering if everything else you have tried has failed.

For more serious, stubborn cases of diarrhea, the addition of Metrodiazinole (Flagyl) can be helpful. A stool sample should be analyzed for parasitic infections.

What to do if you find a prolapse: Finding a prolapse can be very frightening and depending on the severity, it can be life threatening, and may need surgical intervention.

Seek veterinary care.
Make a paste with plain white sugar and water and pack it all over the prolapse. (It can help reduce the swelling).
Keep the area moist AT ALL TIMES to prevent sensitive tissue from drying out.
Preparation H will also help reduce the swelling AND keep the area moist

Images:

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