Puppy umbilical hernias

An umbilical hernia is an opening in the muscle under the skin where the umbilical cord was. We breed no dogs known or suspected to have a genetic predisposition to umbilical hernias.

The presence in utero of umbilical cord itself causes the opening in the muscle, and usually the umbilical region closes on its own shortly after birth.

Umbilical hernias can also be caused by events at birth, such as a mom especially eager to separate the umbilical cord. In these cases, the mom inadvertently pulls too hard on the umbilical cord and can enlarge the opening. These tend to be slight hernias and most go away as the puppy matures. Sometimes, they need to be repaired, and this can be done at the same time your puppy is spayed or neutered.

There are other types of hernias, so always discuss type and treatment with your vet.