1
Can you please give me some information on umbilical hernias?
2
I recently discovered a lump on my 4 yr old spayed Border Collie's belly, which two vets have independently diagnosed as a hernia. She has no apparent side effects and does not seem to be bothered by it. Both vets said that usually they leave hernias alone, however one said that because she is a fairly active dog (trail riding and agility), that he recommends surgery to fix the hernia. How should I decide if it is worth the risks of surgery?
1
Can you please give me some information on umbilical hernias?
A hernia is the protrusion of an organ through the wall of the body cavity that normally contains it. An umbilical hernia occurs when at birth the abdominal wall does not close at the site of the umbilicus. Depending on the size of the opening and the organ protruding umbilical hernias can potentially have serious consequences. Usually they need to be repaired surgically. If you suspect that your pet has an umbilical hernia, please schedule an examination with your veterinarian to determine the most appropriate treatment.
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2
I recently discovered a lump on my 4 yr old spayed Border Collie's belly, which two vets have independently diagnosed as a hernia. She has no apparent side effects and does not seem to be bothered by it. Both vets said that usually they leave hernias alone, however one said that because she is a fairly active dog (trail riding and agility), that he recommends surgery to fix the hernia. How should I decide if it is worth the risks of surgery?
A hernia is an opening in the abdominal wall and muscle. Often if they are very small, they pose no problems. However depending on the size of the opening, the location and the weakness of the abdominal wall the intestines could get stuck in the opening. If this happens it could be a serious problem that would require immediate veterinary attention. Surgery to repair the hernia would be the best option to prevent that from happening. The final decision should be made with your veterinarian taking into consideration the size and location of the hernia, the activity level of your dog and her present health status.
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