Should I Buy a Puppy With an Umbilical Hernia?

An Umbilical Hernia Puppy

If you think of buying a puppy, you must have asked yourself, “should I buy a puppy with an umbilical hernia?” Dog hernia is common in puppies. It occurs when the puppy’s stomach content pushes out the weak spot (belly button) to pass through.

Umbilical hernia in dogs may be congenital, meaning the dog was born with the disorder. This article highlights everything you need to know about umbilical hernia in puppies. Stay with us.

Dog after surgery

Can a Dog Get a Hernia?

Yes. In most cases, belly button hernia in dogs is a common occurrence. A puppy’s umbilical cord allows it to get nutrition from its mother before birth. This is how the puppy and its mother’s placenta connect. However, it becomes useless once the puppy is born.

Usually, the dog owner cuts it off, or the mother dog eats it. The remaining part forms the puppy’s belly button. Sometimes this place doesn’t heal completely, leading to a condition called an umbilical hernia.

Causes of Hernias in Puppies

At least 90% of cases of belly button hernia in puppies are genetically inherited; therefore, if the parents have a certain form of hernia, it is quite likely that their progeny will as well. Umbilical hernias typically develop in this manner.

The other frequent cause of hernias in puppies is trauma. A strong impact on the body wall, such as when hit by a car, can cause trauma. It’s called blunt force trauma. It tears the diaphragm or abdominal wall—as a result, enabling the abdominal organs to protrude.

Are Puppy Hernias Serious?

Belly button hernia in puppies is not often dangerous to their health. For example, your 8-week-old puppy with an umbilical hernia shouldn’t worry you. Most puppy hernias close up by themselves at about six months old.

A part of the intestines or other tissues can occasionally become stuck and strangulated. Rarely, part of the intestines or other tissues might get trapped and strangulated. This means blood does not flow to the tissue, thus causing death. This situation calls for immediate surgery.

What Does a Hernia on a Puppy Look Like?

You can quickly identify an umbilical hernia puppy based on the hernia’s appearance and location. Although a dog belly button lump or soft swelling under the skin in one of the typical hernia locations is a good indicator, your veterinarian will still want to ensure there isn’t a hole in the muscle wall underneath.

The intestines may slip in and out of the orifice if the hernia pops out or is larger than a pinkie finger. Intestine fragments have a chance of falling through the hernia opening at some point and becoming tangled or lodged. Your dog needs immediate surgery at that moment.

Another diagnostic procedure entails reducing the hernia by gently pressing the contents back into the stomach. These examinations are rapid, painless, and safe. Additional tests, like an ultrasound or X-ray, may sometimes be necessary. Sometimes, your vet might suspect an internal hernia when diagnosing the issue and gauging its seriousness.

Can a Puppy Umbilical Hernia Heal by Itself?

Hernias can occasionally heal on their own, but the severity of an umbilical hernia in a dog will determine how you treat it. In line with VCA Hospitals:

  • When a puppy is four months old, hernias under one centimeter in size may spontaneously heal.
  • If a hernia does not close by four months, the puppy should undergo surgery to fix it. The projecting tissue is gently pushed back through the aperture during surgery. Then, the vet does a few stitches to close it.
  • You can do the surgical repair concurrently with a puppy’s spaying or neutering. It is frequently either free with the spay/neuter procedure or costs an additional $100 to $200.
  • If the dog is healthy and this is a scheduled surgery, you should budget roughly between $150 and $400 if you have the hernia repair done apart from the sterilization surgery.

Depending on how severe the dog’s illness is, you could spend anywhere from $500 to several thousand dollars if you need to have it fixed quickly due to complications and infection. The umbilical hernia, in many cases, might be lethal if left untreated.

It’s crucial to have your veterinarian examine him once in a while to determine the severity of an umbilical hernia in your puppy. Umbilical hernias have no “home treatments,” thus the best course of action for your puppy’s sustained health is to follow your veterinarian’s recommendations.

Dog after Umbilical Hernia surgery

Puppy Umbilical Hernia Surgery Cost

Generally, a dog hernia surgery costs approximately $150 to $400 (US dollars). However, this varies depending on the hernia type, severity, and location. Expect that fee to go up if the hernia needs a different treatment because your puppy will require additional general anesthesia for the treatment.

Due to their greater complexity, some types of puppy umbilical hernias may cost significantly more to fix. Perineal, hiatal, and diaphragmatic hernia repairs can cost thousands of dollars since they take longer and require more resources than a straightforward umbilical hernia repair.

Some types of dog hernia surgery may, in some situations, be under pet insurance. If your puppy has pet insurance, get in touch with your provider to see if your existing plan covers the surgery.

Is an Umbilical Hernia Painful?

Just like in human beings, umbilical hernias in puppies are often painless. However, you may notice your pet is in pain, stands stiffly with his back arched, isn’t eating, or vomits if there is a blockage in the intestines. You must contact your veterinarian straight once if you see these symptoms.

Can a Puppy With an Umbilical Hernia be Bred?

It’s not advisable. No one should breed dogs suspected or known to have a genetic umbilical hernia. As a dog parent, you should examine and determine whether the umbilical hernia predisposition of your pet is genetic or mechanical before breeding. You can do this by looking at their family history.

It should be okay to breed a dog with a hernia if you are positive that it is mechanical (occurred at whelping due to excessive pulling or an overeager dam) and not inherited.

Should I Buy a Puppy With an Umbilical Hernia?

You might be confused about whether or not you should buy a puppy with an umbilical hernia. Reputable breeders ought to be open to allowing your vet to evaluate the animal and give you an assessment of the hernia’s severity.

It’s possible. You shouldn’t worry about bringing the puppy home if you don’t want to breed it. You can take care of the hernia repair after spaying or neutering. However, If you intend to breed your dog, keep in mind that while you can breed a dog physically with a hernia, you will be perpetuating an unhealthy trait in the breed’s gene pool.

A responsible breeder will disclose this genetic history to prospective breeders, making your breeding difficult to sell to prospective buyers in the future.

Canine Breeds With a Predisposition Towards Umbilical Hernias

Canines may suffer complicated or uncomplicated umbilical hernias. The hernia can be problematic when an intestinal loop or other abdominal cavity contents slip through the opening (belly button) and become trapped.

A gentle swelling around the umbilicus is a sign of an uncomplicated umbilical hernia. This enlargement may vary in size and be cyclical. The dog will appear healthy if not. Some canine breeds predisposed to umbilical hernias include Basenji, Airedales, and Pekingese.

Other Types of Canine Hernias

Although umbilical hernias are the most common variety, dogs can also have hernias in other places outside the umbilicus. Here are different types of canine hernias:

Diaphragmatic Hernias

As the hernia extends into the diaphragm, diaphragmatic hernias can make it difficult for dogs to breathe properly. Physical trauma or a hereditary birth abnormality can bring about this kind of hernia.

Diaphragmatic hernia symptoms include vomiting, chronic weight loss, shallow or rapid breathing, difficulty breathing, muffled heart and lung sounds, severe respiratory problems, abnormal heart rhythm, an empty abdomen, and shock.

Inguinal Hernias

Commonly found in the groin of dogs, inguinal hernias range in severity from minor to possibly lethal, depending on where they develop and how large they are. Surgery will be necessary to preserve the dog if an inguinal hernia pushes into the intestines, bladder, or uterus, which can be fatal.

Older female dogs are more prone to developing inguinal hernias than puppies, who are also more vulnerable. The most common symptom of this hernia variant is a protrusion. Additional symptoms include lack of appetite, vomiting, depression or malaise, bloody urine, warmth in the affected area, noticeable pain, and frequent urination attempts.

Your dog can also develop congenital inguinal hernias or those present at birth. While most inguinal hernias are congenital, obesity, physical trauma, and pregnancy can also result in acquired inguinal hernias. You can spot a problem in your dog’s early stages by knowing whether hernias run in the family.

When the groin area palpates, the veterinarian can quickly identify inguinal hernias. X-rays or ultrasounds are necessary for irreducible inguinal hernias to check for organ entrapment. In most cases, uterus, intestines, or bladder complications accompany irreducible inguinal hernias.

Inguinal hernia

Hiatal Hernias

Similar to Diaphragmatic Hernias, which can develop from an injury or be present from birth in a dog, Hiatal Hernias appear in the stomach and diaphragm region. It is a congenital (or birth) defect in most veterinary patients.

A hiatal hernia can also result from trauma. Although it can affect any breed, the Bulldog and Chinese Shar-Pei appear to have higher hiatal hernias than other breeds. Hiatal hernias are prevalent in male dogs. Read our article and find out The Average Pitbull Life Expectancy Explained.

Regurgitation is one typical symptom of a hiatal hernia. It happens when your pet frequently throws up, forcing food up from the stomach through the mouth. Other symptoms include gagging, hypersalivation, dysphagia (difficulty eating), and vomiting. If your dog shows these symptoms, you must consult your veterinarian for further examination of your pet.

Perineal Hernias

A perineal hernia is a condition that weakens the pelvic diaphragm in dogs and cats. As a result, it affects areas around the anus occupied by the pelvic and abdominal organs (rectum, prostate, bladder, or fat). An unneutered middle-aged male dog is the usual patient for perineal hernias seen in the pelvis.

This condition’s origin is not entirely known. The great majority of instances involve middle-aged or older intact male dogs. A perineal hernia may occur due to anatomical causes, hormone imbalances, harm to the pelvic diaphragm’s nerves, tension brought on by enlarged prostate glands, and hormonal abnormalities.

Constipation, straining during bowel motions, and swelling around the anal region are some early warning indications of a perineal hernia. The pet may then lose its appetite as a result.

In Conclusion

Should you buy a puppy with an umbilical hernia? We hope this article has answered your question and provided more information on whether you should purchase a puppy with an umbilical hernia, depending on your awareness.

Ensure you have sufficient information about the puppy’s condition’s seriousness and that you are ready to handle the fallout. While a minor umbilical hernia can heal on its own and never give your puppy any problems, there’s still a chance it could get bigger and strangle them.

It’s usually wise to prepare for a surgical repair to be safe. Please consult your veterinarian, heed their instructions, and give your puppy the best opportunity for a typical, happy life.

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