Ask Lafeber

Cloacal prolapse causes

What are some of the causes of cloacal prolapse if not hormonal?

Hi Amy,

Hormonal causes can include the male straining from wanting to mate, or a female trying to lay an egg. Sometimes the hen is too young or too old, the egg is too large, or it doesn’t have a shell. Another common cause is Avian Papillomavirus. Obesity can be a cause, abdominal mass/tumor, poor nutrition, infection that causes gastrointestinal bloating, constipation or true diarrhea. Basically anything that causes straining, can result in a prolapse. As Dr. Tully said, it isn’t exactly common or rare, so we say it isn’t uncommon.

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda