i have a 8 week old staffie she has a little lump on her belly is this normal or is it as i suspect an umbillical hernia if it is does anybody know how serious it is? do i need to get it checked or will it just disapear?.It doesn't seem to bother her.

hi
it could be a hernia, young pups are pretty prone to them, also it could be the unbilical cord...i.e belly button. Some dogs have quite prominent ones at a young age.
If its a hernia, you will be able to push your finger in and feel your finger go through like a hole. If it is the umbilical cord...it will just be on the surface...
however...it is very hard to give a diagnosis and my best advice would be get straight down to the vet tomorrow morning. Dont give her any breakfast tomorrow morning ( in case she needs to be operated on, the vet might be able to fit her in). She is still very young though. Try not to let her over stretch or over excersise as this could make it worse. Their tissue is very soft and flims when young and so it would do more damage.
Let us know how you get on.
x

you can push your finger in it but there's no hole that i can feel it feels squidgy though do you think it's serious enough to get her in 2 the vets in the morning she has her jabs next week when she's 9weeks would it be ok to wait till then?

Hi Ellie,
One of my pups had what appeared to be a small umbilical hernia, sounding exactly like yours. What it probably is, is a small piece of abdominal fat stuck through the 'tummy button' hole, which has now closed behind it (and why you can't push it back). If that is indeed what it is, the vet will most likely do nothing until she needs surgery for something else and do it at the same time. Even 'proper' umbilical hernias, where there is a loop of bowel poking through the abdominal wall, are not usually repaired until the dog is about 6 months old if possible.

So if she were mine I would simply keep an eye out at it, and wait till her next routine vet visit and mention it then.
:)

hi, thanks very much for your help i feel a lot more at ease now, now all i have to do is stop her terrorising my 11 year old yorkie and bitting my toes whilst im on the computer :-)

My 6 month old pup had one from about 6 weeks old. It's a small amount of fat that is now stuck because the hole in the stomach has now closed. It's less than an inch in diameter and never caused any problems. It's his squishy button and I have grown rather fond of it now so it's here to stay. You vet will soon advise whether it is the same.

Hi Ellie,
My dobe pup, now nearly 6 months has the same thing, I worried it was an umbilical hernia, but I can't push my finger in a hole, so not sure. It hasn't been a problem but it has grown with her, though its not massive, about the size of my finger nail and raised about half a centimetre. I haven't had the need to go to the vets since her jabs lucky me, but I will mention it when we do go next. I wouldn't worry too much but keep an eye on it and if in doubt a trip to the vets is in order.
Bev

Hi
My five year old staffie has one too, I took him to the vets when I first got him ( he was 1 year old then) because I was slightly worried about it, but the vet said it was fine, just a fatty lump and it doesnt bother him at all :), infact in a sad way I think he looks kinda cute with a pokey out bellybutton, makes him look unique! :)