Hi, I wondered if anyone could advise me.  Of a litter of terrier puppies we had nearly 7 weeks ago, there is one, a dog puppy, with an umbilical hernia.  He is one that I am planning to keep and one or two people have taken a look at it and think it will be fine but obviously I would like to be more sure.  It is a touch smaller than the size of a marble and the pup is the size of an average 7 and a half week old Border Terrier pup (he is a Parson Russell).  I read the article (on this site) on Umbilical Hernias and noted that they naturally close up by about 8 weeks, but not entirely so as there will still be matter protruding, preventing it from doing so.  How long shall I give it and by pushing it back once daily, am I helping it? (As it states in the article).  Many, many thanks.

Hi Kate - the size of a marble on a Parson sounds quite big.  Hernias sometimes close and sometimes do not - I would think one that size will not.  I have also heard the advice of pushing the contents back in.  I would probably get the vet to check it, there is always the risk of it strangulating.
I would point out that hernias are considered to be hereditary and that if you are considering showing or breeding, then it might make sense to reconsider your choice of puppy.  It can, of course, be operated on, but I would advise against breeding on from an affected dog.  Sorry not to be more helpful or hopeful.

Hi. My 19 week old CKCS pup has a hernia about the size of a 5p and it's the same size now as it was at 8 weeks when we got him. My vet has told me that it isn't a problem healthwise and that I can have it repaired (just a little internal stitch apparently) when he goes under for neutering later on. I thought that hernia's could happen to any pup - something to do with how the cord is bit/cut ect...didn't realise they were hereditory.

Hayley x

It can be a queastion of hereditary or a question of bad management by the bitch 'pulling' it!! LOL

I would still contend that there is a very strong chance of it being hereditary and as such, a dog with a hernia should not be bred from.

I didn't say you SHOULD breed from it!!!! Just stating that YES it can be caused by either things...but def shouldn't be bred from due to hereditary risk! Maybe I should have made it clearer before someone jumped down my throat!:rolleyes:

Sorry newfiedreams, didn't mean to jump down your throat at all!

No problem...

is it expensive to repair ? just curious
regards dawn

Hi, probably as expensive as a minor/major Op!! Not as much as a C Section, maybe as much as a neuter!(SP) Depends, I suppose like so many things some Vets charge very differently for different things! All the best, Dawn

Hi

My dog had a hurnia and I was told by the vet there would be no problems with it.  When she had an operation on her broken leg I decided to have the hurnia repaired and that cost me an additional £20.  She has since had a pup with no hurnia.

Take care
Janet
xx

nuttyhousewife, It costs about £150 to repair on it's own, but what most vets will suggest is to have it done at the same time as neutering (unless it should become strangulated) and then it would just be a little extra added on to the neutering price.

This article puts another perspective:
http://www.showdogsupersite.com/kenlclub/breedvet/umbilical.html

Hi

I have just read your link and thought it was very interesting.  I must admit I had wondered how to tell the difference with the two different types of hurnias.

Take care
Janet
xx