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Uterine torsion
Uterine torsion is the twisting of the full uterus on itself, like a bag that is twisted at its base. It occurs at the very end of gestation or at the very beginning of parturition. The passage closes: the lamb can no longer come out, and b...
What is it?
Uterine torsion is the twisting of the full uterus on itself, like a bag that is twisted at its base. It occurs at the very end of gestation or at the very beginning of parturition. The passage closes: the lamb can no longer come out, and blood circulation in the uterus gradually reduces. This is a particularly treacherous cause of blocked whelping, because it doesn't look like what the breeder expects. Nothing comes out, nothing is seen: no water pocket, no paws, no muzzle. The sheep grows or, on the contrary, no longer grows at all and simply appears dejected. Many breeders then waste time exploring and pulling, which achieves nothing since the canal is twisted upstream of the hand. The rule of thumb is simple: a full-term ewe that has been growing for a while without anything appearing, or that is in labor without progress, should call the veterinarian quickly. Every hour lost reduces the chances of saving the lamb, then the sheep.
Key point
A full-term ewe that is pushing without anything showing, or that is in labor without progress, is an emergency. You should neither explore repeatedly, nor pull, nor wait until the next day: the canal is twisted upstream of the hand and only the veterinarian can restore the passage.
Commonly observed signs
These signs are neither exhaustive nor specific. Only a veterinarian can establish a diagnosis.
Related signs — each one links to its page:
Full-term ewe showing signs of giving birth: isolation, agitation, scratching of the litter, then pushing efforts.
Nothing appears at the vulva: no water bag, no legs, no muzzle, even though labor seems to have started a while ago.
Or the ewe ceases all effort and simply remains lying down, dejected, in an attitude of giving birth which does not succeed. This discreet form is the most dangerous because it passes for fatigue.
Signs of stomach pain: the ewe looks at its side, lies down and gets up, scratches the ground, grinds its teeth.
Loss of appetite and cessation of rumination.
As the hours pass: deep depression, refusal to get up, rapid breathing, worsening condition.
The vulva often remains dry and the vagina gives the impression of a dead end when explored: this is an element that the veterinarian looks for, and repeated exploration by the breeder only damages the tissues.
A smelly brown liquid appears when the lamb has been dead for some time: the situation has then become an emergency for the ewe itself.
When to consult without delay
This list does not replace veterinary advice. It gathers situations that justify a prompt consultation.
Causes and risk factors
The full uterus hangs in the abdomen and can rotate on its axis when the ewe makes a sudden movement.
The circumstances most often involved are a sudden bed or rise, a slip, a fall, a jostling at the trough, a narrow passage, a transport or a run caused by a dog.
The movements of the lamb at the start of labor can also trigger the rotation.
A single litter and a large lamb, which leaves more room for the uterus, are more predisposed to this than a large litter.
A lack of exercise followed by a sudden exit, or a slippery floor in a sheepfold, increases the risk of poorly controlled movement.
Once the uterus is twisted, it does not return to its place on its own: the situation only gets worse.
End of gestation and very beginning of birth: this is the exclusive period of occurrence.
Single litter with a large lamb.
Slippery floors, steps, narrow passages, poorly laid out huts.
Jostling during feed distribution, full-term ewes forced to fight to eat.
Transport, batch change or rough handling at the end of gestation.
Disturbance by a dog, run or fall.
Full-term sheep left unattended, in which the blockage is not discovered until the next day.
Diagnosis and care
Diagnosis is the veterinarian's responsibility, based on clinical examination and laboratory tests. Care is decided case by case.
This is an obstetric emergency: the veterinarian must be called quickly, and not after several hours of trying.
Do not explore the sheep repeatedly and do not pull on anything: the canal is twisted upstream, there is nothing to grab, and repeated manipulations damage the tissues and compromise the outcome.
If you must explore once, do so with washed hands, single-use gloves, and plenty of lube, then stop.
The veterinarian confirms the torsion by examining the genital tract: he perceives the characteristic spiral folds and the impression of a cul-de-sac. It also specifies the direction of the twist, which conditions the maneuver.
At the same time, he evaluates the condition of the ewe, the probable vitality of the lamb and the time elapsed since the start of labor: this information, which only you can give, guides his decision. Write down the time you saw the ewe start to grow.
It rules out other causes of blocked delivery, in particular poor presentations and insufficient opening of the cervix, which relate to dystocia and behave differently.
Treatment
Two paths exist, and the choice is up to the veterinarian depending on the direction of the twisting, its degree, the condition of the ewe and the time that has elapsed.
The first consists of untwisting the uterus by rolling the ewe in a specific direction, often by holding the uterus in place using a board supported on its side. This maneuver seems simple to describe, but done the wrong way or without supporting the uterus, it aggravates the torsion and can tear the organ. It cannot be improvised and is not a breeder's gesture.
The second is cesarean section, which becomes necessary when the maneuver fails, when the torsion is old, or when the cervix does not open despite untwisting.
Once passage is re-established, birthing can continue naturally or the lamb can be removed carefully.
The ewe then receives antibiotic and anti-inflammatory treatment, and general support if it is dehydrated or in shock.
The risk of infection of the uterus and retention of the placenta after the episode is significant: the ewe must be closely monitored over the following days.
Lambs, often born weakened, need warmth and colostrum quickly; If the ewe does not come into milk, adoption or artificial breastfeeding must be organized.
The meat and milk withdrawal periods for the medicines used must be requested and respected.
Treatment depends on the cause and the animal's condition: it must be determined by a veterinarian. No self-medication.
Prevention
There is no perfect prevention, because twisting results from movement, but several measures actually reduce the risk.
Remove slippery floors, steps and narrow passages in the routes used by full-term ewes.
Avoid jostling at the trough: sufficient feeding places, calm distribution, no competition for ewes at the end of gestation.
No dogs running the ewes to term, no rough handling, no transport in the final weeks.
Maintain regular activity rather than long periods of immobility followed by sudden outings.
Monitor the full-term ewes closely, several times a day and especially at night during the lambing season: what saves here is to spot early on a lambing that is not progressing.
Remember a simple guideline, to be clarified by your veterinarian according to your breeding behavior: a ewe which is growing freely without anything appearing, or which is in labor without progress, should not be left like this until the next day.
Train everyone who supervises lambing not to pull and to call.
Possible complications
Death of the lamb, all the more certain as the delay lengthens.
Decomposition of the lamb in the womb, with widespread infection and death of the ewe.
Tearing or rupture of the uterus during a poorly conducted untwisting maneuver.
Gangrene of the uterine wall when the torsion is long-standing and blood circulation has been interrupted.
Metritis, retained placenta and infertility after the episode.
Ewe not giving milk, with mortality of surviving lambs.
Cost of a cesarean section and early reform in the most damaged cases.
When to see a veterinarian
A full-term ewe has been growing for a while and nothing appears at the vulva: call immediately the next day.
A sheep appears to be in labor then stops, lies down and is defeated without anything having come out.
She looks at her side, scratches, grinds her teeth, no longer eats or ruminates even though she is full term.
You explore and you feel like you've reached a dead end, without being able to reach the lamb: stop immediately and call.
A smelly brown liquid flows out: the situation is already serious for the sheep.
A birth is not progressing despite correct assistance: do not pull more, call.
After the episode, the ewe has a fever, a foul-smelling discharge, or does not produce milk.
Prognosis
The prognosis depends above all on the delay. Torsion taken care of early often corrects well, the lamb is born alive and the ewe recovers. After several hours, the lamb is generally lost and the lining of the uterus begins to suffer: the prognosis for the ewe itself deteriorates. An old twist, with a damaged uterus or a decomposing lamb, puts the ewe's life at stake despite surgery. Ewes that survive can generally be returned to breeding: Uterine torsion is not a problem that systematically recurs. This decision is made with the veterinarian depending on the condition of the uterus.
Frequently asked questions
My sheep is growing but I can't find anything inside, what's happening?
This is the typical description of a womb twist: the uterus is twisted upstream of your hand, so there is nothing to reach and nothing to pull. Continuing to explore only damages the tissue. Call the veterinarian, he or she will be able to restore the passage.
I was told that the sheep needs to be rolled, can I do it myself?
No. The maneuver exists, but it must be done in the right direction, which only an examination can determine, and while holding the uterus in place. Done randomly, it worsens the torsion and can tear the uterus. It's a veterinary gesture.
How long can I wait before calling?
As little as possible. Every hour decreases the chances of saving the lamb, then puts the ewe in danger. A full-term ewe that is pushing without results, or that is in labor without any progress, should not be left until the next day. Note the start time of the efforts: this information is valuable for the veterinarian.
Will this happen again at the next lambing?
This is not a problem that systematically recurs: it results from a movement, not from a permanent abnormality in the ewe. A female who has recovered well can generally be returned to breeding, after advice from the veterinarian on the condition of her uterus.
References
FAO — Organisation des Nations unies pour l'alimentation et l'agriculture
Content reviewed by the TunisieVet editorial team · Updated 11 August 2026
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