umbilical hernia

[silvia]

Hi !

 

I have posted this question on another thread, but i think it should be a separate argument and I am pretty sure most of you- among the professional breeders have a long experience on this!

 

Next Thu we booked a vet appointment to fix an umbilical hernia that Oberon had since his birth. Its very small, and they said is more a delayed closure (after the mother bites the umbilical cord) than a "true hernia", but, since it has not healed after 6th months of age, for peace of mind we have been suggested to fix it.

 

I read some controversy about the fact that umb. hernias may be an issue if we wish to breed him. His vet is of different opinion and she said is not a concern at all (as far as we know none of Oberon parents had some in the family, so is definitely something from the mom bite. )  Has anybody an experience on this?

 

We are not professional breeders, but it may be nice to find a girlfriend for Oberon at some point, we definitely dont exclude (and wish) it :)

thanks!!

[Howard Glansfield]

I can't see why it should make any difference in using him to be a dad.The vet is right.

Some years ago I had a dog with an umbilical hernia,he had it all his life.The vet's advice was to leave it alone as it was not causing any problems,nor did it.But I did worry about it strangulating.If I had a dog with one now I would have it fixed for my peace of mind.

[silvia]

we also thought we were going  to leave it.. I massage it and it goes in.. but then last week Oberon had kennel cough: when he was coughing I was terrified that the hernia may go out, so I wake up to massage it in... 

Is just myself: I am very anxious about strangulation.. Just for peace of mind, we thought we can fix it and that's it:)

 

The vet said he only has to rest for 2-3d after (walking on lead, etc), so it is a really minor operation.. and, since he'll be asleep,  we'll take the opportunity to have him hip-scored, since I really wish him this is the first and last anesthetic of his life:)  

 

re breeding: I think is very controversial, but I am happy to see that  it shoudnt be a problem (unless the hernia is a true, inherited one? ) . Carmel: at which age the Rua's one has disappeared?

 

[Carmel Murphy]

Ruas was gone by the time she was one, but I didnt worry as it was quite small anyway!! If you feel worried about it then get it fixed;o) As you say it is a small op. Good luck;o)

[Carmel Murphy]

My Rua had a small umbilical hernia as a pup too, but my vet said to leave it as it was so small that it would not cause any problems!! I used to massage it and gently push it in and in time it disappeared!! She had three litters and never had a problem! Only one of her pups (from 20 pups) had a large umbilical hernia and that did need to be operated on as it was going to cause a problem eventually! And Abbey also had a small one as a pup but it too has disappeared!

 

[Val Martin]

My Freya has a umbilical hernia and my Vet said it only needs fixed if I am planning to breed from her because of the extra pressure on it due to pregnancy. 

Four of the ten bitches I have owned have had hernias and none had problems.

I don't think hernia's are a hereditary problem so I would not worry about using your dog for breeding.

 

[Val Martin]

I have just looked up some dog breeders and Veterinary websites here in the UK and apparently Umbilical Hernia's are 90% genetic and dogs who have them should not be used for breeding.

[silvia]

Hi  val!

i know this is very controversial, see http://www.showdogsupersite.com/kenlclub/breedvet/umbilical.html

i think is because there are some (very rare) "true hernias" that are supposed to be inherited , and they comes from lines in which there was the problem, but this is not our case.

actually the kennel club in uk seems to aknwoledge that this is very common in puppies (several of them have this from the mom bite) and it seems not to be considered a concern.. I guess it boils down to look at the bloodline, but ultimately I wish to know what is the common sense that good breeders use in the uk. according to our vet this is not supposed to be a concern in our case, but who knows what other people will believe :0

  

[Sue and Cash]

I had a Brittany with a umbilical hernia, our vet said leave it alone if it doesn't bother you.  So we did.  He was fine his 10 yrs of life.  Our last setter had one also.   And again our vet said they could fix it when he was neutered, but we opted to leave it alone since it was so small and it didn't bother me. 

[silvia]

yup..  we also were offered to fix it if neutered, just because is one anestetic only.. but I didnt want to alterated Oberon, so we left it.. Now I think we'll fix it because it makes me a bit anxious, and also because we can use the anesthetic to have him hip scored...

 

now, plse dont laugh :) .. last week oberon had kennel cough and i noticed this little ball going out and in.. i knew nothing about kennel cough so I run to the vet immediately: I was thinking he was coughing because of strangulation.. :0

they had a good laugh and said it was the other way round: oberon had a normal cough and, because  of the effort, the hernia was going a little bit in and out...is large as a peanut, but this explain how concerned and paranoic I am :(

you are right, we could leave it.. but, in any case, since he got this, as for the breeding issue it doesnt matter if it is fixed or not, and for peace of mind, I'd like to have it fixed once at all.. I am VERY anxious , i know:)  

[graham edwards]

When showing and breeding Cavalier King Charles Spaniels some years ago we had a bitch with a small umbilical hernia and we were told by the "lounge chair specialists" that we could not breed with her. After talking to the vet and getting her advise, she performed a small "belly button tuck" and the bitch had three litters with no problems arising. Her opinion was it was caused by the mother pulling on the cord, My adise is, take the advise from your vet.

Graham.

[Teresa]

When I spayed Pitanga we found a rather big hernia. She had done ultrasounds (and had been touched by a vet!) before and during her pregnancy and we are sure it wasn't there, or if it was it was minimum - hernias don't just go unnoticed like this! Vet told me it would have been a problem if I had done another litter as she could easily out two fingers in the hole, so we got it fixed.

Most of Pitanga's brothers had hernias. Only one of her pups had a hernia - it was the very first one to be born and she bit too close, so I wasn't too concerned about inherited hernias.

If I was to breed from your dog, his hernia would not be a concern. Hips, eyes, heart would worry me a lot more when it comes to health concerns!