Urgent!!! Anyone Know About Hernias

[DENISE517]

Maddie yelped really loud when my hubby picked her up. We turned her over and her hernia is twice the size it was and is really pink and red on one side.??? Can these burst???? Its where her ambolical cord was. It looks like an outie. I called the vet, but mine is close, emergency vet in another city wont give me much info. Called Jill, breeder, she is not home.

[Tiger's Mom]

sorry can't help but am sending you and Maddie warm kisses and hugs . . .hope you get help soon! Isn't she due for surgery????

[browniesmom622]

i dont know if this tells you anything

Hernias in Dogs and Cats
Hernias are bulges or tears in the body wall that allow body organs and tissue to pass into areas where they do not belong. They are quite similar to sidewall bulges on automobile tires. Some are a minor inconvenience while others are life-threatening conditions. Some are present from birth (congenital) while others are the result of injury. When the hernia’s contents can be pressed back into normal position it is called a reducible hernia. If the contents of the hernia do not receive adequate blood supply it is called a strangulated hernia.

Umbilical Hernias:
The umbilicus is your pet’s belly button. Congenital umbilical hernias are the most common of all. Since this may be an inherited trait, it is best not to breed pets with this condition. Very few breeders take this advice. Dogs and cats with umbilical hernias have a soft , painless swelling or bulge over their umbilicus. The swelling may come and go depending on the pet’s position and how much it has eaten. Small umbilical hernias contain nothing but a fatty veil called the omentum which normally covers the intestines. Larger umbilical hernias can contain loops of the intestine. Small hernias are not serious and sometimes close spontaneously. In male dogs I repair them when the pet is 12-18 weeks of age. In female pets I spay them through the defect at 5-6 month of age and sew the hernia shut on my way out. Large umbilical hernias can strangulate when a loop of intestine gets pinched off within it. The hernia’s fibrous ring squeezes off blood supply to the strangulated segment of intestine causing cell death and necrosis. This is a life threatening condition. Extremely large hernias are less dangerous then medium size ones. The large ones put no pressure on the intestines. They can be a challenge to close because of a scarcity of available tissue to lap over the defect. Sometimes a sterile synthetic fabric webbing is used as a patch. There is a misconception that cutting the umbilical cord off too close is the cause of this condition. I see more umbilical hernias in purebred dogs and cats than in crosses.

There is an old proverb that genetic defects come in threes. In severe cases of umbilical hernia the pet should be examined for cleft palate and heart abnormalities.

[Lacy's Mom]

Hernias can become strangulated which means that blood supply can be cut off and this is a very dangerous situation when this happens. I really wouldn't feel comfortable waiting until tomorrow to be seen by a vet.

[Dragonfly]

If she crys in pain I would say it is out she need to go the vet soon. I don't know if they are like humans I have had 3 removed because they would not go in, yes they can burst on humans that is what the doc said. IF IT WAS ME I WOULD BE SITTING AT THE VET HOSTIPAL.That is just me

[Lacy's Mom]

Here's some info. on when they become strangulated:

In the strangulated way, which can come about in a simple hernia until that moment, there are serious and defined symptoms of general disorder. The animal has fever, and the breathing is fast, laborious and the face expresses anxiety. The swelling is tense and painful when touched. In the beginning it can be red and inflamed, but if it isn't urgently attended, it can turn blue, and after 2 or 14 hours gangrene can install in that part of the organ. Then, the swelling goes down and it is not painful when touching it; the temperature falls below normal and the animal weakens alarmingly. Unobstructed hernia is generally preliminary to strangulation. Never leave your dog unattended when there is a hernia. Inattention can be dangerous for the animal. Consult with a veterinarian. If the animal refuses to be move, place him under a wide bandage (big pieces of a sheet) holding the ruptured zone and transfer him; do not obligate him to walk. He must be attended by a professional.

[alaskayorkie]

I agree with the posts saying it's potentially urgent. Please don't wait.

[chachi]

I would get her right to a vet

[Patti]

Hopefully you are on the way to a vet. Good luck,

[My2Furbabies]

My baby, Chloe, has two inguinal hernias that we are having fixed tomorrow! I would say if she is in pain I would definitely take her to the vet! Good luck and keep us posted!

[Lacy's Mom]

Originally Posted by My2Furbabies

My baby, Chloe, has two inguinal hernias that we are having fixed tomorrow! I would say if she is in pain I would definitely take her to the vet! Good luck and keep us posted!

Hope all goes well with her surgeries tomorrow. We will be thinking about you both. Glad you found another more reasonable vet. The blood work before any anesthesia is always advised. She should be fine at 4 pounds just make sure they use a safe anesthesia like isoflurane gas and no barbituate preinjection.

[DENISE517]

Thanks for all the advice. I called a yt friend and she gave me the number to her vet. They told me that if she was not puking, or just laying around that a fatty tissue was probably what was making it buldge out more. That is she started to puke at all to take her in immediately that the intestine could be up into the hernia. I felt a little better but was still scared. Maddie acts great, running and playing. I put her in her crate to keep her calm. I finally got ahold of someone who knew Dr. Boyce they gave me his cell phone number. He is the vet who is doing her surgery next month. He ask me all kinds of questions,and was very very nice and he said he felt very safe for me to wait til morning. He said the prospects of the intestines going up is very slim because it was so small to begin with. Size of a pencil eraser. He said the opening inside would be even smaller. He said that what has probably happen is small fatty deposits have passes thru and swelling it. He said its probably painful to her but not life threating. He said that is she pukes or act different at all to call his cell, no matter what time it is. He wants me to bring her in the morning. He said they probably wont wait until next month since she is in pain and will probably schedule surgery. She is also getting fixed at the same time so that they wont have to put her under twice. I'm so scared right now. He told me not to take her to the other city because they are quacks. They are just got to charge people crazy prices and do nothing. He was great. You guys I'm sleeping by her crate tonight on the floor. I swear I will just die if something happens to her. Please say a prayer for her. He also did say that the hernia isnt what bust but its the intestine going up into it and causes the intestine to bust or cut off blood supply. He said if there was 1% chance he even thought this was the case he would see her tonight, but he said for me to rest assure and just to keep an eye on her. What do you guys think. He is a great vet with very high standards and great a great rep. here in the town. I'm going to go nuts tonight!!!!
I will cry for a while then settle down, then do it all over again.

[Lacy's Mom]

I'm glad you were able to talk to a vet. I feel better knowing the symptoms are less than what they would be if the hernia had strangulated. He sounds confident in his opinion so get some sleep and take her in first thing in the morning.

[YorkyMommy]

Warm thoughts are being sent. Try and stay calm as your anxiety will be felt by her. It sounds like the vet is confident in his advice. Best of luck!

[carleirulesme]

Aww, I hope things go okay!!!
How is she this morning???