Buying a Puppy with Herniated Umbilical cord ? - Page 1

Hi Everyone,

I just  went to look at a Beautiful Sable German Shepherd Pup.

At a Breeder's home..AKC Reg. Great Pup. However, When I was petting  the Puppy she rolled over

for me to scratch her tummy and I noticed a Dollar coin sized bump on her belly. I was taken back and asked the Breeder "What is this"? She said it was from where the mother dog chewed off the Umbilical cord. I am very concerned about this.

I have NOT purchased the puppy. I was considering buying her before I saw this. Tomorrow Morning the breeder is taking her to her Vet to have it checked out and I am going to meet her there. Depending on what the Vet says..I don't know if I should buy this puppy, I really like her....But Is this something I should stear clear of ? Should I still consider buying this pup? Has anyone experienced this? Any Suggestions? By the way the Puppy is 3 and a half months old. She was born on April 15th.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

hernias are normally no big deal at all. usually you can just leave it and its a small thing to have done when you get xrays or spay/neuter

if you like the pup, don't hesitate to buy it. getting it checked by a vet for other things isn't a bad idea though

One of my female GSD has umbillacle hernia,she has never had a problem,we did get it checked out 5 years ago as a pup.I do keep checking it for any changes,she has had 2 litters and it did noy affect it at all,so if you like the pup from my own experience i would go for it. Good luck to you ,let us know what you decide and what the vet says.

Regards SS

Call your own vet for advice.  Some hernias require surgical intervention.

Usually no issues,  can be fixed very easily if you have the puppy spayed if the vet considers it an issue.

Most disappear as the pup gets bigger but yes the larger ones would need a stich or two. But yes if the pup is what you are looking for than I wouldn't let the hernia stop you from getting it

SMALL Umbilical hernias are usually caused by the mother pulling too hard on the cord at birth, causing the hernia - small ones would appear to be the size around as the tip of a little (pinkie) finger.  These will not cause problems, do not need to be repaired (usually they will close on their own and just be an "outie" - the dollop of fat deposited there will be seen but there is no actual hernia).  As a breeder I will make sure the small hernia is pointed out to the buyers, so they are aware.  Larger umbilical hernias (sounds like this one is large, if it's the size of a dollar coin on a small puppy) it will not close on it's own, will need to be repaired and could cause problems if it is not repaired.  However the repair is "easy" and could be done when the dog is spayed.  I would get a large hernia repaired before selling or placing a pup.

molly

Large ones can cause BIG problems if a loop of bowel slips out through the opening, and becomes strangulated. They should be fixed, as Sue-Ann said above. Smaller ones sometimes close on their own, and are generally no big deal. My 17 mo. old female has one. I'll ask to have it fixed if I ever get her spayed, and will watch it carefully if I decide to breed her.

This is a simple problem to resolve. If you really like this pup, ask that the owner take it to her vet, and you take it to your vet and see what the opinions are on whether it should be repaired. Such hernias are VERY common and normally they cause absolutely no problem. While true that a really large one could entrap bowel, I have never heard of that happening in a pup. The repair, if it need be made, should be simple and inexpensive. Many times the pup will grow and the hernia will be so minor that it will not be noticed. If in need of repair, unless exceptionally large, it can wait until hip/elbow x-rays are done.

I have seen many, many pups with such hernias and they are generally not an issue. Some vets believe they MUST be fixed, many do not.