Can Dogs Get Hernias? How to Tell if Your Dog May Need Surgery

You may have heard of hernias in people, but did you know that dogs can get hernias, too? Some hernias in dogs are very common, like the dog umbilical hernia, while others are quite rare, like the peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia (PPDH). To help you learn more about hernias in dogs, check out my top 10 frequently asked questions about dog hernias.

What is a Dog Hernia?

A dog hernia occurs when an organ or tissue bulges through an abnormal opening in the abdominal wall, a muscle or other area of the body. While hernias often occur in the abdomen, they may happen in other areas of the body as well.

What Causes a Dog Hernia?

Many types of hernias are congenital, which means that your dog was born with a hernia. He may have inherited the hernia from his mother or father, or both. Hernias can also happen as a result of a traumatic injury, such as being hit by a car.

5 Different Types of Dog Hernias

When many people think of the word "hernia," they think of the common umbilical hernia, which occurs at the umbilicus (belly button) due to incomplete closure of the umbilical ring after birth. The umbilical hernia is one of the most common types of dog hernias, but there are other types of hernias as well. Other types of dog hernias include:

1. Diaphragmatic hernia, in which organs from the abdomen pass through an abnormal hole in the diaphragm and enter the chest cavity.
2. Hiatal hernia, a type of diaphragmatic hernia in which the stomach protrudes through the diaphragm at a normal opening called the hiatus.
3. Perineal hernia is a protrusion of a rectal wall, pelvic organs or abdominal contents through the pelvic diaphragm and into the region surrounding the anus.
4. Inguinal hernia, which occurs in the groin region, near where your dog's hind leg connects to his body. Abdominal contents may become trapped in the hernia.
5. Peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia (PPDH) is a congenital condition in which the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum) abnormally connects to the sac surrounding the heart (pericardium) through the diaphragm, allowing abdominal contents to protrude into the chest cavity.

Other types of hernias may occur secondary to trauma or other medical conditions, such as herniation of an intervertebral disc following a back injury. Each type of hernia has its own range of symptoms, required diagnostics and treatment needs. To keep things simple, this article will primarily focus on canine umbilical hernias, which are a very common type of hernia in dogs.

Symptoms of Dog Hernias

Each type of canine hernia has its own array of symptoms depending on its location and severity. For simplicity, we'll focus on umbilical hernias in dogs. A dog umbilical hernia is usually easy to identify as a soft, protruding bump under the skin on your dog's belly. In rare cases, abdominal fat or intestines may become trapped in the hernia, causing symptoms such as:

• Swelling
• Pain
• Vomiting
• Appetite loss
• Redness

If these symptoms occur, see your veterinarian right away. Entrapped abdominal contents can be life-threatening, so don't delay in seeking veterinary care.

How are Dog Hernias Diagnosed?

Dog umbilical hernias are usually easily diagnosed by physical examination alone. More complicated hernias, such as those described above, may require additional diagnostics such as an ultrasound to visualize the contents of the hernia. Severe hernias may even require advanced diagnostic imaging such as a CT scan or MRI. If your pet needs to have surgery to correct the hernia, blood work will also be necessary prior to the procedure to ensure your pet is healthy enough to undergo anesthesia.

Dog Hernia surgery: What to Expect

Umbilical hernias in dogs are fairly simple to repair, particularly if they are small. Many veterinarians recommend performing this surgery at the same time that your pet is spayed or neutered, so that they only have to go under general anesthesia once.

The procedure

To repair a dog hernia, your veterinarian first makes an incision in the skin just over the area of the hernia, until the hernia can be visualized. Then he or she will make an incision around the hernia, ensuring that all hernia contents are safely returned to the abdomen. The hernia will then be sutured closed. The skin layers are then sutured closed.

After that, your pet is taken off anesthesia and allowed to recover in a quiet area under close monitoring from the veterinary team. Your pet will stay in the hospital for a few hours for monitoring and then will go home to you later the same day.

Recovery

Your dog will need to rest for at least a week following the surgery to allow time for the surgery site to heal. You may also be required to give your dog some medications for pain following the procedure. Be sure to follow your veterinarian's instructions closely, and return to the veterinary clinic for any required follow-up visits.

How Much Does Dog Hernia Surgery Cost?

The cost of hernia surgery for a dog varies depending on the type of hernia, its severity, and your geographic location. In general, the cost for a dog umbilical hernia repair is relatively inexpensive. Pet owners should expect to pay approximately $150 to $400 for the hernia repair if it is included with the spay or neuter procedure. If the hernia is to be repaired separately, expect that cost to increase as your pet will need a separate round of general anesthesia for the procedure.

Other types of dog hernias can be much more expensive to repair because they are much more complex. Pet owners should expect to spend into the thousands to repair perineal, hiatal or diaphragmatic hernias, as these procedures take longer and require more materials than a simple umbilical hernia surgery.

In some cases, pet insurance may help cover the cost of some types of dog hernia surgery. If your dog is covered by pet insurance, contact your carrier to find out if your dog's procedure is covered under your current plan.

Can a Dog Hernia Heal Itself?

Some inguinal hernias in puppies will resolve on their own with time, as long as they are not causing any problems for the puppy. Other types of hernias, however, do not resolve on their own and can be dangerous if left untreated. If your dog has a hernia, always consult your veterinarian for advice on how best to address the hernia.

Can a Dog Live with a Hernia?

Small umbilical hernias that are not causing any problems for your dog may be okay to leave untreated if your veterinarian has examined the hernia and determined it to be safe enough to ignore.

Larger umbilical hernias and other, more serious types of hernias, should not be left untreated as they can pose a threat to your dog's health if organs or tissue should become entrapped in the hernia. This is an emergency situation and requires immediate veterinary care.

CareCredit Financing for Dog Hernia Surgery

Whether you're headed to the vet for a routine checkup or hernia repair surgery, the CareCredit credit card is here to help manage your veterinary costs not covered by insurance.* Use our Acceptance Locator or download the CareCredit Mobile App to find a veterinary care provider near you who accepts the CareCredit credit card.

Author Bio

Dr. Elizabeth Racine is a small animal general practice veterinarian and freelance writer. She covers both human and veterinary medicine with a special interest in nutrition, internal medicine, and veterinary behavior.