Canine Hernias

[hippiechick]

Hi Everyone

Some of you probably remember when HippieDog Hank fell out the car window.

A few months later, I noticed a lump on his belly - lower than his ribcage but higher than his
private parts - about the size of a golf ball, and squishy. When we were at the vet last fall
for a routine visit, I asked her about it and she said it was "probably a hernia - lots of
puppies are born with them" and then said it was something so minor that they could repair it
some time when they're cleaning his teeth, but that it wasn't worth putting him under for by
itself.

It never occured to me to ask if the hernia could have been caused by his fall from the car &
hard landing on the ground.

Over the past couple weeks, he's been vomiting pretty regularly, and I'm now starting to wonder
if there's food trapped in that little pocket, or if he's having digestive trouble because of
the hernia?

Anyone have any experience with this type of situation?


Thanks!

[Coyote_Bandit]

1. Get some bloodwork done

The dog could have a problem with his pancreas or kidneys. If so, it is important that it be diagnosed and treated ASAP.

When I got my Gizmo as a young puppy he threw up quite often. I thought he just had a sensitive stomach and kept trying different foods. He got sicker. He had pancreatitis and quickly developed secondary renal failure. He may have had a genetic predisposition. He may have eaten something he shouldn't have in the yard (though I don't have any idea what that might have been and he was supervised when he was outside). It is possible that my then two year old nephew could have fed him some fatty people food even though their interaction was supervised. He's a little dog and weighed about six pounds at the time. It would only have required a little bit to sicken him. Whatever the cause, he has permanent damage to his kidneys. Gizmo is almost five years old now. I have bloodwork done regularly to monitor his renal function. While the ratios are skewed, all the values have been within normal range for several years now. His activities are restricted during hot and cold weather. He takes vitamins to build up his immune system. I try to monitor his water intake to make sure he is getting plenty of liquids to help flush his system. He has a poor appetite and eats a restricted prescription diet that is low in fat, protein, sodium and phosphorous - and has highly concentrated caloric content.

I really don't know anything about hernias in dogs. My experience is that dogs that repeatedly throw up can have serious health problems. I'm hoping that is not the case with your furkid.