Umbilical Hernia in Dogs

Digg

Del.icio.us

Stumble

Umbilical Hernia in Dogs

By: Dr. Debra Primovic

Section: Overview

See Larger Image

An umbilical hernia is a condition in which abdominal contents protrude through the abdominal wall at the area of the umbilicus. Small hernias are generally not a problem. It is recommended to electively repair a larger hernia due to the risk of intestinal loop strangulation.

The exact cause of an umbilical hernia is unknown although most are thought to be inherited. It is most commonly a congenital malformation caused by flawed embryogenesis. The umbilical opening is normal until birth as it contains blood vessels that pass through from the mother to the fetus. This opening closes at birth in the normal pet and a hernia results if the opening fails to close.

Umbilical hernias are more common in dogs than cats. They occur on the midline of the abdominal wall through the umbilical ring and can be a variety of sizes from very small to very big. The hernia appears as a soft abdominal mass at the area of the umbilicus.

Depending on the size of the opening, abdominal structures such as falciform fat or omentum can float into the opening. This generally does not cause a problem. However, if the opening is large enough, an intestinal loop can become trapped which can become a life-threatening problem. For this reason, it is recommended that larger hernias be closed after diagnosis. This is most often done concurrently with the spay or castration surgery.

Some male dogs with umbilical herniation may also have the concurrent abnormality of a retained testicle, referred to as cryptorchidism.

Some breeds are predisposed to umbilical hernias; including Airedales, Pekingese, and basenji.

What to Watch For

Soft abdominal mass at area of umbilicus

Signs of intestinal strangulation:

Larger painful hernia sac that may be warm to the touch

Vomiting

Abdominal discomfort or pain

Anorexia

Depression

Diagnosis

Definitive diagnosis of an umbilical hernia is by physical examination. Generally the contents of the hernia sack can be displaced back into the abdomen. This allows your veterinarian to determine the size of the hernia opening. The size of the hernia that is of most concern is that size which is similar to an intestinal loop. This size has the risk of allowing a loop of intestine to drop into the hernia and become trapped causing a life- threatening "strangulation". Hernias that are smaller, thus too small for a loop to enter, or larger, in which loops can freely come and go, are at lower risk for potential strangulation.

Occasionally, radiographs with contrast material may be used to diagnose strangulated hernias.

Abdominal ultrasound may be used to determine the size and contents of the hernia in some cases.

Treatment

Small umbilical hernias may close spontaneously in young animals. Spontaneous closure may occur up to 6 months of age.

Some small umbilical hernias may not be repaired and pets may live their entire lives with them without any problem.

Larger hernias should be repaired. This repair is commonly performed at the time of the spay or neuter surgery since the pet will be already anesthetized. The surgery consists of manually reducing the contents of the hernia into the abdomen followed by the surgeon making an incision over the hernial sac. The border tissue of the hernia is removed and the abdominal wall is closed. This surgery is fairly routine. The location of the surgery for an umbilical hernia is very close to the location in which an incision is made in the body wall for a "spay" procedure in a female. For this reason, most all umbilical hernias, regardless of size, may be repaired at the same time as the spay in female pets.

Home Care and Prevention

Bring your pet to the veterinarian if he has a history of a hernia and if the hernia appears larger, the abdomen is painful or your pet is vomiting, depressed or not eating. These signs can be a medical emergency.

If surgical management is done, watch for potential complications after surgery, including:

Incision problems such as redness, swelling or discharge

Recurrence of swelling

Because the condition is thought to be inherited, it can be prevented by not breeding pets with umbilical hernias.

Printable Version

Digg

Del.icio.us

Stumble

Share this Article with a Friend Email To:

Have a Pet Question?

Send Your Pet Question to Dr. Jon
and His Staff of Veterinarians

Dr. Jon's Newsletter

Yes! Send Me the Latest Health Information, Pet Tips, Pet Stories and more...

Search Over 15,000 articles

1 Spaying (Ovariohysterectomy) in Dogs
Spaying is a surgical procedure in which both ovaries and most of the uterus are removed from the body. This procedure is usually done to prevent pregnancy but is also important in the treatment of certain...
Read More
2 What is Anesthesia?
Anesthesia is the total loss of feeling or sensation. It is primarily associated with the loss of painful sensations, which allows surgery or procedures to be performed without causing pain.
Read More
3 What Is a Castration (Neuter)?
A castration (neuter) is the surgical removal of the male reproductive organs (testicles). This procedure is most often performed to prevent pregnancy but may be necessary to treat or prevent certain illnesses....
Read More

Over 10,000 Veterinarian Approved Articles

Dogs & Puppies

Dog Breeds

labrador retriever, golden retriever, yorkshire terriers, german shepherds, beagle, boxers

Dog Medication

dog allergy medication, dog pain medication, dog anxiety medication, dog flea medication

Dog Products

dog bowls, dog crates, dog toys, dog beds, dog ramps, dog food storage, dog tags

Dog Symptoms

dog vomiting, dog limping, dog diarrhea, dog bad breath, dog coughing, dog seizures

Dog Health

dog cancer, dog diabetes, dog epilepsy, dog hip dysplasia, dog health, sick dog

Dog Care

dog vaccination, dog microchipping, dog grooming, dog neutering, dog spaying, dogs mating

Dog Training

dog aggression, dog barking, dog chewing, dog behavior, dog jumping, dog whisperer

Dog Pictures

puppy pictures, funny dogs, cute dogs, dog breeds, sleeping dogs, silly dogs, small dogs

Cats

Cat Breeds

persian, siamese cats, devon rex, ragdoll cats, sphynx, maine coon cat

Cat Medication

cat flea medication, cat heartworm control, cat tick medications

Cat Products

cat litter box, cat food, cat bed, cat flea collar, cat carrier, cat urine odor

Cat Symptoms

cat vomiting, cat limping, cat diarrhea, cat bad breath, cat coughing

Cat Health

cat health, cat liver cancer, cat diabetes, cat scratch fever, cat aids, sick cat

Cat Care

cat vaccination, cat grooming, cat microchipping, cat neutering, cat spaying

Cat Behavior

cat urine marking, cat furniture scratching, cat litterbox training, cat toilet training, cat fears

Cat Pictures

cute cats, funny cats, playful cats, fat cats, jumping cats, lazy cats, sleeping cats, cute kittens

1 What is Anesthesia?
Anesthesia is the total loss of feeling or sensation. It is primarily associated with the loss of painful sensations, which allows surgery or procedures to be performed without causing pain.
Read More
2 Spaying (Ovariohysterectomy) in Dogs
Spaying is a surgical procedure in which both ovaries and most of the uterus are removed from the body. This procedure is usually done to prevent pregnancy but is also important in the treatment of certain...
Read More
3 What Is a Castration (Neuter)?
A castration (neuter) is the surgical removal of the male reproductive organs (testicles). This procedure is most often performed to prevent pregnancy but may be necessary to treat or prevent certain illnesses....
Read More

Umbilical Hernia in Dogs

Umbilical Hernia in Dogs

Related Articles

Over 10,000 Veterinarian Approved Articles