Saturday 9 AM to 4 PM
Saturday 9 AM to 4 PM
Umbilical Hernia
What is an Umbilical Hernia?
Seen more commonly in the dog than the cat, an umbilical hernia is a condition whereby the abdominal contents protrude through the abdominal wall at the area of the umbilicus, or the “belly button”. It is commonly seen as a small, soft swelling where the umbilical cord was attached. A hernia occurs when the muscles of the body wall fail to close.
Small hernias are generally not a problem. However, it is recommended to electively repair larger hernias (and some smaller ones) due to the risk of intestinal loop strangulation (the stop of blood flow to the loop of intestine). This is most often done concurrently with a spay or neuter surgery, although can be done on its own as well.
How is an Umbilical Hernia Treated?
A day procedure performed under general anesthesia, the surgery consists of manually reducing the contents of the hernia into the abdomen followed by the veterinarian making an incision over the hernial sac, or the soft swelling area. The border tissue of the hernia is removed and the abdominal wall is closed.
Post Operative Care
You may expect your pet to go home with pain medication and/or an antibiotic. A technician will discuss the post-operative care and medications with you before taking your animal home. The healing process typically takes about 10-14 days before the sutures can be removed. A follow-up appointment may or may not be necessary. It is highly recommended with all surgical procedures that your pet wear an Elizabethan collar, or e-collar to keep the pet from interfering with the surgical site. Ask us for more options to help keep your pet from touching the surgical site.
