The pup that we were supposed to be picking up tomorrow has been diagnosed by the vet with a small umbilical hernia.  The vet is not concerned at all and has said that he recommends no action until the pup is castrated at which point he would recommend putting in a small stitch.

I have no experience of this sort of thing or the implications...  Would it affect the dog physically at all?  We are hoping to compete with this pup in agility....

I had a pup with this , and it spontaneously improved as she grew older. I don't know if this is usual. I,m told its a relatively minor procedure to fix. Hope this helps.
Cathy

Have a read here: http://www.showdogsupersite.com/kenlclub/breedvet/umbilical.html</a>

My Jr had this when I picked her up. When I took her for her first injections the vet said he would repair it when I had her spayed.  It never caused her any problems but when I had her spayed at 6months he repaired it and charged me only an extra £20. I think they only cause a problem if you want to breed from the bitch.

Sorry just to add to that, certainly hasn't affected my dog physically, she can run for miles!

I have just bred a litter with mum having a umbilical hernia with no problems pup's don't have them at all.I take advice from a breeder with 30 years in my breed.The hernia did not get any bigger.

Hernia's can be hereditary!!  If it's as small as you say you could end up with it disappearing.  I've only had one puppy with a hernia and it came out on the day that he was being sold  He was at the vet the day before and had a full health check and it wasn't there.  He's the only puppy where I met the owners half way because they'd been to see him at 4 weeks.  Took him out of the car, gave him to them with all his paperwork etc. and then they came back to me a few minutes later with a definite hernia there.  I told them that I would give them the money to have it done or that I would just take him back home with me.  Luckily they kept him and he never had any problems.

Hi
I've had two with umbilical hernia's, Our bernese had hers repaired when she was spayed, was never up nor down with it and now you would never know it had been there. It was the closure type I think, not the inherited type though which sounds like what your pup has too if the vet isn't worried. In both the cases we had it was just like a little fatty bulge on the tummy.

Dogs in Canada had some things about hernias: I'll write the bit out of the book about:

Umbilical and abdominal hernias: Abdominal hernias generally occur secondary to trauma, but may be the result of a congenital defect. External abdominal hernias r defects in the external wall of the abdomen that allow the protrusion of abdominal contents. Internal abdominal hernias r those that occur through a ring of tissue confined within the abdomen or thorax. Hiatal hernias and diaphragmatic hernias r examples of internal abdominal hernias. The most common sites for traumatic abdominal hernias r the pre-pubic region and flank.Umbilical hernias are usually congenital and r lined by the peritoneal sac (abdominal lining). Umbilical hernias r thought to be inherited. Many male dogs that have umbilical hernias r also cryptorchid. The Airdale Terrier, Basenji and Pekingese r thought to have heritable umbilical hernias.

Most hernias r diagnosed on physical examination. Umbilical hernias usually present as a soft, ventral abdominal mass at the navel. Other causes of abdominal swellings r abscesses, cellutitis, hematomas, seromas and tumours and must be differentiated from a hernia. Suturing torn muscle edges or attaching the disrupted abdominal wall edge to a rib, the pubis or adjacent connective tissue will repair most hernias.

Many umbilical hernias resolve on their own in young animals, or stay small and aren't corrected until the animal is neutered. Spontaneous closure may occur as late as 6 months of age. Abdominal hernias secondary to bite wounds or vehicular trauma r usually contaminated and require lengthier surgery to repair. Drains and antibiotics r also generally needed.

Doing some reading from this book there are alot of hernias, never knew there was that many different kinds. Inguinal hernias, Diaphragmatic hernias, scrotal and femoral hernias, Perineal hernias, Peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernias, Incisional hernias.

Sorry so long :)

I think this applies to the poster

"Many umbilical hernias resolve on their own in young animals, or stay small and aren't corrected until the animal is neutered. Spontaneous closure may occur as late as 6 months of age. Abdominal hernias secondary to bite wounds or vehicular trauma r usually contaminated and require lengthier surgery to repair. Drains and antibiotics r also generally needed."

If the vet is sure it will be fine then leave it.  If you were plannin to have the pup castrated then I would condier it then.

I've had two bitches with hernia's.  One it went away and the other it is still there if you feel for it but neither have come to any harm and breeders vet and our vet and breed experts have all said it's fine and will not cause any problems.

I know Hernia's have been discussed alot on CD so have a search of the forum if you want to get more information on them.