small hernia question
 

hey gals, let me know what you know about hernia's. vinny is 12 weeks old and i got him a week ago. he went to the vet last week and all is well. yesterday i noticed a lump on his belly which looks like an umbilical cord hernia. it is about the size of a pea. i have read this could be passed on from the parents. is this true?
let me know what you think

thanks
lisa

Hernias are not always inherited. An umbilical hernia abe the result of a pup being born slightly early or more commonly, by a bitch who was a bit rough with the chewing of the umbilical cord. (which is why I prefer to cut the cords myself) Just to name a few, but not all possible causes.
The hernia may be small and may never cause a problem, or it may need to be repaired surgically--your vet will be able to tell you for sure. They will recommend surgery if they are afraid it is large enough that intestinal strangulation is a danger. If your vet suggest surgery to correct, I would NOT hesitate to proceed with it.
It is DEFINATELY something you and your vet need to keep an eye on. Just because it starts off small doesn't mean it will stay that way. Sometime becoming too hot or rigorous play can stretch and tear it.
I had a Peke years ago to die from one. :( He was about 6 years old and it had always been small. He went for a check one day and our vet said she wanted to keep an eye on it, see him back in a month to evaluate it again. Sadly, he died as a result of it before his follow up visit. Also had a Dauchsaund (sp?) die from one as well, but that was YEARS ago (I was 7?), who knows what the procudures for treatment were then...

Long story short, they can be very serious and you should definately make sure that it is being monitored. Hope this helps.:)

thanks so much. i will take him to the vets tomorrow. he is due for shots anyway