Just a quick question as i called my vet and they said not to worry.... but i cant help it...
2 or my pups have got like what can only described as little balloons where their cord was, i know the mum may have cut them a bit close but will they be ok, my vet said they go away on there own.
but i just wanted to aks your advice, any body know about this problem..

thanks in advance

Umbilical hernia are very common, far more common that most breeds admit. And yes, they will diminish and when adult you may well not be able to feel them.

Many thanks, i can put my mind at rest.

Actually Nova's comments aren't quite right!  Many vets feel that this is a hereditary condition and nothing to do with the bitches biting the cord to close.  Also not all of them go or diminish it depends upon how severe the hernia is and sometimes the dogs will more than likely need operating on.

Luckily I've only ever had one pup with this many years ago.  Don't know why but Shih Tzu's seem to suffer badly with this.

> Actually Nova's comments aren't quite right!

I just said they were common, too common to my mind. I don't subscribe to the bitch did it theory either I think it is hereditary and you would be surprised, or may be your wouldn't, how many there are about.

True sometimes they need to be operated on but the OP's vet said they would go and if the vet said it I expect they will.

Ours had one when we got her at 11 weeks - didn't cause her any problems and it was removed when she was spayed.

But by the OP's message it looks as though they only spoke to the vet?  Maybe I'm getting it wrong and not reading it correctly????? 

What breed do you have Nova or worried about?  I've had my breed for 16 years now and only once had one with an umbilical hernia, which didn't appear until it was 8 weeks old, actually on the day it was sold!

With my Pomeranian's in 28 years of having them I cannot remember ever owning one with one.

Not getting at you but just interested, as I said in my previous post I know Shih Tzu's seem prone to them.

There is a slight difference between a full hernia, in which you can get intestines getting trapped, which is a severe condition, and in which case an operation is inevitable, and a late closure. A late closure will in fact disappear, if you keep pushing the fatty tissue back every day. In the end, as it closes, the little "blob" will stay inside for good. If you do nothing, a little bit of tissue will be trapped on the outside. This will not mean anything to the dog itself.
Although, if it's a bitch meant for breeding, I'd choose another one. It's thought to be heredetary, and could be a problem if a bitch carried a big, heavy litter.
HTH, Karen

Very common in the Cavalier also, but vet has said that they are heredatory (cant spell tonight),

Linda

This article wil elaborate: http://www.showdogsupersite.com/kenlclub/breedvet/umbilical.html

My friend has a GSD pup that has an umbilical hernia. Her vet has also advised her that it is nothing to be concerned about and as she will be having her spayed later on he has said if necessary he can deal with the hernia at the same time.
jane

Hi,

My American cocker bit the cord too close on her one and only pup and we noticed a rather large lump when she was 4 weeks old, the vet said that he would have to operate at some stage as it was large and the chances of it becomming "strangulated" were high but he wouldn't have liked to operate at that time as she was so young and he would prefer to do it when she was about 3 months old, it grew very quickly and at 9 weeks old the vet said he needed to operate then, she was also spayed at the same time, i do know that some hernia's grow over and right themselves but it does need a very close eye and if you notice it getting bigger or no smaller then take the pup straight back to the vets..good luck

I would let your vet take a look at the pups when you get them vet checked.  I have a 11 year old TT who had an umbilical hernia.  It never bothered her, she had one litter (none of the pups had hernias & although I believe her dam produced one more pup with a hernia).  She was spayed at 8 years old & it was then operated on (without my knowledge actually).

My current vet has just had a litter of labs & one pup had a hernia.  This pup had a hole in the "mound" so she operated on her at 5 weeks of age (approximately). 

> at 9 weeks old the vet said he needed to operate then, she was also spayed at the same time

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