What is an Umbilical Hernia?
Hernias can be quite common in dogs, especially in puppies.
Hernias in dogs are relatively common, especially with puppies. Much like in people, a hernia is a condition where the contents of a dog’s abdomen pushes through a tear or hole in the muscle wall or fatty tissue. Over 90% of hernia cases are due to genetics, as puppies are most commonly born with them.
What is an Umbilical hernia?
Shortly after a puppy is born the umbilical cord dries up, falls off, and the skin and abdominal wall close completely. Sometimes the skin over the umbilical area (the belly button) closes normally, but the abdominal wall does not close completely. This is called an umbilical hernia and is the most common type of hernias in puppies. In affected puppies a small amount of the fat from inside the abdomen frequently protrudes from the opening, creating a bump under the skin at the site of the belly button. Some umbilical hernias are “reducible,” meaning the fat can gently be pushed back into the abdomen, but it will protrude again with normal activity.
Some umbilical hernias are “non-reducible,” meaning the bump under the skin cannot be pushed back into the abdomen. This commonly happens when the umbilical site closes but a small amount of fat is trapped outside the abdominal wall. Sometimes these can heal on their own, however they may need to be surgically fixed when your puppy is spayed/neutered. It’s usually best to consult your vet, and they will advise on the best way to proceed.
What does Walnut Valley do with Umbilical Hernias?
We could take your puppy with an umbilical hernia to our vet and get it repaired prior to him/her going home with you. However, we at Walnut Valley Puppies feel that it is not in the best interest of the puppy to do so. Although the hernia surgery is very minor and every vet has done them, the puppy will still need to be put to sleep for the operation. At 7-8 weeks old your puppy is not in a good position to take on this type of treatment.
Instead, you will take the puppy home with the hernia. Be in contact with your vet about it and keep an eye on it. We then ask that you repair the umbilical hernia (if needed) when you get your puppy spayed/neutered. At that point your puppy is older and more stable and can handle a surgery better. The vet will then only have to put your puppy to sleep once and can do the hernia repair in the same surgery as the spay/neuter. As mentioned in the Purchase Agreement, Walnut Valley Puppies will then reimburse you for the additional cost of the hernia repair, if it is done at the time of spaying/neutering. (You are responsible for the cost of spaying/neutering)
The recovery time for a puppy after they are neutered is longer than that of a hernia repair which makes it the perfect time to perform this surgery.
What should I watch for with an Umbilical Hernia?
When doing your routine body checks on your puppy, please also check the umbilical area. It is common for the bump to stay the same size or gradually become smaller over time. It is also common for a reducible umbilical hernia to become non-reducible. The bump should always be soft, non-painful, and have normal appearing skin over it.
How is an Umbilical Hernia treated?
If an umbilical hernia is small, treatment is not necessary. Your dog is not in pain and the tear is so tiny that the intestine, fat or other organs can’t pass through. The best course of action is to wait and watch, especially if you have a puppy. The hernia may go away on its own by the time the pup is 6 months old. If not, consult your vet.
If you’re dealing with a large hernia, surgery is required to avoid strangulation. Luckily, this is not a complicated surgery.
The vet will make an incision in the hernial sac and push the contents back into the abdominal cavity.
Pictures of an Umbilical Hernia.
Here are some pictures of Umbilical Hernias in puppies...
If you still want more info, please let us know or contact your local vet.
Feel free to contact our vet as well!
Advance Veterinary Care (217) 347-2838.